EU project ‘Creating NEBourhoods Together’ in Munich-Neuperlach demonstrates how urban space can be transformed – a model for Europe

The EU project ‘Creating NEBourhoods Together’ in Munich-Neuperlach has become a model for sustainable urban development, urban transformation and co-creation across europe. For two and a half years, more than 80 experts from administration, science, start-ups and civil society worked together with more than 100 citizens - in the middle of the neighbourhood, with real challenges.

The result of the project: 14 practical pilot projects

‘Creating NEBourhoods together’ ended on 31 March 2025 and presented its project results. In Neuperlach, real urban laboratories have been created: for more biodiversity (keyword: animal-aided design), for energy cooperatives, for circular building renovation and for public spaces that bring togetheryoung and old.

The principle of co-responsibility is particularly strong. It was not just about participation, but about real co-creation: from the workshop container to the solar-powered ‘nesting stool’ sculpture and ‘urban gardening’ with senior citizens.

Ursula von der Leyen summed it up when she visited Neuperlach:

‘I am so enthusiastic about what I have heard here that I would like to implement it all over Europe.’

A handbook for Europe: ‘NEBourhoods for Tomorrow’

The project's findings, methods and recipes for success have been documented in the ‘Replication Handbook’. It offers communities, initiatives and companies a practical guide to transformation: from planning to implementation and further development, because transformation is a growth process.

The publication shows how co-creation, entrepreneurship and artistic perspectives can be intertwined. It also shows how urban experiments – be they hackathons, testbeds or student projects – can have a long-term impact.

During the application phase, BayFOR supported the coordinator and the consortium in the technical and content-related design of the EU application and in clarifying financial and administrative issues. As a funded partner in NEBourhoods, BayFOR supported and accompanied the project management and communication with interested professional groups.

Contact at BayFOR

Simone Wiegand
Project manager for NEBourhoods
E-mail: wiegand@bayfor.org

Dr Daniel Kießling
Scientific Officer, ICT, Engineering & Natural Sciences 
E-mail: kiessling@bayfor.org