European UnionDeadline PassedNon-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
European partnership: Forests and Forestry for a Sustainable Future
HORIZON Programme Cofund Actions
Funding Amount
Up to €10.0M
Deadline
17/09/2025
Eligible Organization Types
Non-profit, Private Business, Research Institution, Public Institution, Other
Trusted by
What is the European partnership: Forests and Forestry for a Sustainable Future Call?
Grant Description
This call supports the creation of a long-term European partnership to mobilise research and innovation for a sustainable forest-based bioeconomy. It addresses the fragmentation of forestry research across Member States and Associated Countries by bringing together public institutions, research organisations, industry, non-governmental organisations and other stakeholders. The aim is to develop new knowledge, tools and guidelines that enhance forest sector value, biodiversity conservation and cl...
Required Results for Successful Funding
Expected Outcomes
The partnership will deliver: 1. A robust, co-created European R&I system for forests and forestry, with complementary transnational research agendas, strengthened collaborations across Member States and Associated Countries, and enhanced EU leadership in the international forest agenda. 2. Established consistency between social, environmental and economic dimensions of forests, with improved understanding of their interplay for policy relevance. 3. Increased knowledge of forest functioning in climate action and ecosystem protection/restoration, plus guidelines for innovative, adaptive forestry regimes tailored to European regions to meet climate mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity and bioeconomy targets. 4. Advanced understanding of forests’ roles in achieving climate neutrality and biodiversity objectives under accelerating climate change. 5. New knowledge and tools for timely, consistent and comprehensive monitoring of forest condition, biodiversity, resilience and productivity. 6. Innovative methods and processes supporting major transitions in the sustainable forest-based bioeconomy—including increased carbon removals and ecosystem restoration—towards higher added value. 7. Better insight into emerging green forestry business models (e.g. carbon farming, ecotourism, payments for environmental services), with identification of trends and bottlenecks to inform future policy and market development.
Funded areas
Scope Requirements
Proposals must:
• Align with the European Green Deal, EU forest strategy for 2030, EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, EU bioeconomy strategy, industrial strategy, circular economy action plan and relevant regulations (LULUCF, Nature Restoration, forest monitoring).
• Address all SRIA-defined priorities: identify R&I gaps; strengthen alignment of European and national programmes; develop systemic, inclusive solutions; balance social, environmental and economic forest functions and stakeholder values; reinforce collaboration on forest ecosystem resilience to climate- and human-driven hazards; innovate adaptive forestry regimes for mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity and bioeconomy objectives; promote cascading use of forest products, higher added value, rural job creation and bio-industry development; focus on sector-level sustainability transformations; implement comprehensive forest and soil health monitoring with early-warning; and intensify international cooperation against global challenges (climate mitigation, imported deforestation).
• Mobilise a wide range of partners (ministries, funding agencies, RPOs, infrastructures, foresters, industry, NGOs, networks), with clear governance enabling open membership and stakeholder engagement.
• Allocate resources for cooperation with existing EU initiatives, platforms, science–policy interfaces, Copernicus, EOSC and relevant Missions/partnerships.
• Integrate social sciences and humanities, citizen empowerment in co-design/co-creation/co-assessment, and ensure data are FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable).
• Demonstrate practical implementation: pooling of national/regional funds, joint calls design, third-party grant management and inclusion of strategic third-country partners and international organisations.
• Plan for a partnership duration of 7–10 years with dynamic governance to include new partners and adapt to evolving needs.
• Align with the European Green Deal, EU forest strategy for 2030, EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, EU bioeconomy strategy, industrial strategy, circular economy action plan and relevant regulations (LULUCF, Nature Restoration, forest monitoring).
• Address all SRIA-defined priorities: identify R&I gaps; strengthen alignment of European and national programmes; develop systemic, inclusive solutions; balance social, environmental and economic forest functions and stakeholder values; reinforce collaboration on forest ecosystem resilience to climate- and human-driven hazards; innovate adaptive forestry regimes for mitigation, adaptation, biodiversity and bioeconomy objectives; promote cascading use of forest products, higher added value, rural job creation and bio-industry development; focus on sector-level sustainability transformations; implement comprehensive forest and soil health monitoring with early-warning; and intensify international cooperation against global challenges (climate mitigation, imported deforestation).
• Mobilise a wide range of partners (ministries, funding agencies, RPOs, infrastructures, foresters, industry, NGOs, networks), with clear governance enabling open membership and stakeholder engagement.
• Allocate resources for cooperation with existing EU initiatives, platforms, science–policy interfaces, Copernicus, EOSC and relevant Missions/partnerships.
• Integrate social sciences and humanities, citizen empowerment in co-design/co-creation/co-assessment, and ensure data are FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Re-usable).
• Demonstrate practical implementation: pooling of national/regional funds, joint calls design, third-party grant management and inclusion of strategic third-country partners and international organisations.
• Plan for a partnership duration of 7–10 years with dynamic governance to include new partners and adapt to evolving needs.
Additional Conditions for Applicants
Special Conditions
• Type of action: Horizon Europe Programme Cofund Action (HORIZON-COFUND), budget-based MGA, single-stage procedure.
• Opening date: 06 May 2025; Deadline: 17 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Funding rate: 30 % of eligible costs.
• Beneficiaries must pool national/regional contributions (financial and/or in-kind) and may provide grants to third parties up to €10 million each (no Article 207 threshold). Exceptionally higher amounts are possible if duly justified.
• Eligible participants: public organisations from EU Member States and Associated Countries; targeted integration of Ukraine; non-eligible third countries may participate at own cost or via specific national provisions.
• Proposals must comply with General Annexes A–G: page limits and layout (Annex A/E), eligibility (Annex B/C), evaluation criteria and processes (Annex D/F), MGA conditions (Annex G).
• Use the specific HE COFUND application form; evaluation via standard HE COFUND template.
• Must describe governance, stakeholder engagement, resource pooling, joint call management, third-party grant modalities, and practical collaboration mechanisms.
• Data management plan adhering to FAIR principles; include social sciences and humanities; citizen empowerment and cross-articulation with EOSC.
• Demonstrate synergies with EU Missions, partnerships (CBE JU, Biodiversa+, etc.), Copernicus, JRC cooperation and other relevant initiatives.
• Duration: 7–10 years; partnership open to new members over its lifetime.
• Opening date: 06 May 2025; Deadline: 17 September 2025, 17:00 Brussels time.
• Funding rate: 30 % of eligible costs.
• Beneficiaries must pool national/regional contributions (financial and/or in-kind) and may provide grants to third parties up to €10 million each (no Article 207 threshold). Exceptionally higher amounts are possible if duly justified.
• Eligible participants: public organisations from EU Member States and Associated Countries; targeted integration of Ukraine; non-eligible third countries may participate at own cost or via specific national provisions.
• Proposals must comply with General Annexes A–G: page limits and layout (Annex A/E), eligibility (Annex B/C), evaluation criteria and processes (Annex D/F), MGA conditions (Annex G).
• Use the specific HE COFUND application form; evaluation via standard HE COFUND template.
• Must describe governance, stakeholder engagement, resource pooling, joint call management, third-party grant modalities, and practical collaboration mechanisms.
• Data management plan adhering to FAIR principles; include social sciences and humanities; citizen empowerment and cross-articulation with EOSC.
• Demonstrate synergies with EU Missions, partnerships (CBE JU, Biodiversa+, etc.), Copernicus, JRC cooperation and other relevant initiatives.
• Duration: 7–10 years; partnership open to new members over its lifetime.
Important dates
Open from: 06/05/2025
Deadline:17/09/2025
Application period has ended
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