Open Call: Space for Climate and Energy #1

The Creative Industries Fund NL wants to connect and strengthen spatial policy at all scale levels and is launching the new Spatial Design Voucher Scheme for this purpose. The scheme has a term of one year and is in line with the major tasks from the National Environmental Vision (NOVI). The Open Call for Climate and Energy #1 focuses on the spatial implications of local and regional climate and energy measures. Submit your application no later than 31 August, 2021!

The Open Call for Climate and Energy #1 focuses on the spatial implications of local and regional climate and energy measures. As a result of climate change, we will increasingly have to take extreme weather conditions into account when designing our physical living environment. At the same time, we must organise our energy supply more sustainably in order to limit these consequences as much as possible. Both assignments have an enormous spatial impact and that regularly leads to abrasive interests. In order to increase public support for physical interventions, it is important to involve the environment more closely in the development of new plans. Design research can help with this. It offers the opportunity to think beyond the established frameworks, to relate tasks - via an area-oriented approach - to each other, to clarify the actors involved and their interests and to arrive at more integrated and widely supported solutions together.

Open Call Room for climate and energy #1

• budget € 500,000
• continuous submission from 1 June to 31 August, 2021
• results will follow within six weeks after submission
• project start date within one month after granting
• project duration is 1 to 3 months
• €10,000 to €30,000 incl. VAT per innovation voucher
• about 25 proposals will be selected
• Positively assessed proposals submitted no later than 15 July will meet in week 32 for the start of the knowledge exchange process
• Positively assessed proposals submitted no later than 31 August will meet in week 38 for the start of the knowledge exchange process

Climate and energy are inextricably linked. Global warming and the associated climate change can be largely attributed to the emission of greenhouse gases, such as CO2, which are released, among other things, when energy is extracted from fossil sources. Containing our increasing energy needs and switching to more sustainable energy sources is therefore the key to reducing these emissions. In addition to measures and strategies to inhibit or stop climate change – also known as mitigation – it is important to investigate how we can adapt our country to the changing climate through adaptation. This includes absorbing and buffering peak showers that occur more frequently; to the use of the stored water during dry periods and the greening of living environments to reduce heat stress. But also to increase our water safety and security; and strengthening our cities, towns and landscapes, which are increasingly confronted with fluctuating groundwater levels and subsidence.

For example, how can we save energy in a smart way in the built environment? How can climate and energy measures be used to improve neighbourhoods? Which linking opportunities in the area of space and climate can be identified in the regional energy strategies? How does coordination between regions regarding the energy transition take place and how do we solve the puzzle on a national scale? Which scenarios for a climate-proof design in the Netherlands are promising and how can we link them across the scale levels?

Who is this call for?
Interested public or semi-public organisations, such as municipalities, provinces, water boards, corporations, implementing organisations and umbrella regional partnerships, can submit an application for an innovation voucher together with spatial designers and researchers, and vice versa.

This call is aimed at innovators who want to work in an investigative manner together with local and regional partners on opportunities and solutions for energy transition and climate adaptation, and the associated opportunities for spatial quality. The vouchers are intended to finance the costs of research by design into a concrete case or design question, with specific attention also being paid to the way in which collaboration takes place and results and insights are shared.

More information via the website of the Creative Industries Fund NL