Co-design of the SPSI Methodological Infrastructure of the Future Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD)

The grant opportunity focuses on the BioAgora project, which aims to establish a robust methodological infrastructure for the future Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD). This cascade funding grant invites legal entities, either as single applicants or in consortia, to create an evidence-based framework supporting biodiversity policy at the science-policy-society interface. The total funding available is €165,000, and projects must be designed to last up to 13 months, with a deadline for applications on August 31, 2025.

Eligible applicants must be legal entities eligible under the EU Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme, excluding members of the BioAgora consortium and entities under EU sanctions. The project emphasizes interdisciplinary collaboration among experts to develop methodologies for synthesizing scientific knowledge into policy advice. This initiative aligns with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal, addressing urgent needs in biodiversity governance.

The application process is a single-stage submission via an online portal, requiring various supporting documents, including a declaration of honor and a legal entity form. Successful proposals will contribute to the establishment of a Methods Expert Group responsible for guiding methodological development and providing hands-on advice for urgent requests related to biodiversity policies.

The grant supports the strategic objectives of Horizon Europe, which sets aside a portion of its budget for biodiversity initiatives. The overarching goal is to enhance the SSBD's capacity to deliver relevant knowledge and foster effective decision-making in biodiversity policy, thereby strengthening connections between scientific research and policy implementation across Europe.

The BioAgora project is launching a cascade funding call to support the development of a robust methodological infrastructure for the future Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD). The call, titled "Co-design of the SPSI Methodological Infrastructure of the Future Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD)," invites experts to identify a diverse range of methods and approaches at the science-policy-society interface (SPSI) to create an evidence-based framework supporting biodiversity policy.

BioAgora is a collaborative European project funded by the Horizon Europe programme. It aims to connect research results on biodiversity to the needs of decision-making through a tailored dialogue between scientists, other knowledge holders, and policy actors. The main outcome will be the establishment of a fair and functional Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD), which will orchestrate processes and initiatives at the SPSI at the European level by providing the scientific pillar of the EU’s Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD). The SPSI refers to “the social processes which encompass relations between scientists and other societal actors in the policy process, and which allow for exchanges, co-evolution, and joint construction of knowledge with the aim of enriching decision-making”. The SSBD will better link scientific and non-scientific knowledge with policymaking and implementation, respond more effectively to the current scattered landscape of actors and knowledge holders at the SPSI, and identify future knowledge and policy needs. By creating an inclusive platform where diverse actors can contribute to biodiversity conservation efforts, the SSBD will fully support the ecological transition required by the European Green Deal and the European Union’s (EU) Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 (BDS2030).

This funding call specifically targets the development within the SSBD of a dedicated Methods Expert Group on Advancing Science Policy Interface. This group will provide strategic and operational guidance on identifying, selecting, and applying appropriate knowledge synthesis and overview methodologies in response to policy-relevant questions at the SPSI. The selected proposal is expected to assess and propose a robust methodological framework that can underpin all SSBD processes, including a mobilisation strategy to engage a broad expert community around methodological development and implementation. This includes establishing a network of experts to foster knowledge exchange on methods applied in science-policy interfaces and biodiversity governance. The project should produce a clear overview of available methods and propose practical guidelines for their use in different contexts, ranging from in-depth, long-term assessments to time-sensitive, short-term requests. A central task will be to directly support all ongoing urgent request processes during the funding period, offering hands-on methodological advice and enabling real-time testing and refinement of the proposed approach.

The goal is to ensure methodological rigor, transparency, and adaptability across SSBD activities, ultimately strengthening the service’s capacity to deliver robust and relevant knowledge for EU biodiversity policy.

Key Dates and Details:

Opening date: 27 May 2025
Deadline: 31 August 2025, 20:00 (Brussels time)
Deadline model: single-stage
Expected duration of participation: Maximum 13 months, starting earliest in December 2025
Total funding available: 165,000.00 €
Project acronym: BioAgora
Full name of the EU funded project: Bio Knowledge Agora: Developing the Science Service for European Research and Biodiversity Policymaking
Grant agreement number: 101059438
Topic: HORIZON-CL6-2021-BIODIV-01-19 - 2029-12-31T17:00:00.000Z

Eligibility Criteria:

Applications can be submitted by one legal entity or a consortium of legal entities.
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for the grant:
The main applicant is a legal entity (legal person). If the application is submitted by a consortium (grouping of legal persons represented by a coordinator), the criterion of being a legal entity applies to all consortium participants.
The applicant is eligible for funding under the EU Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme. If the application is submitted by a consortium, this criterion applies to all the consortium participants.
Applications not fulfilling the above-stated eligibility criteria will be rejected.
Furthermore, the following legal entities will not be eligible for funding:
Entities subject to EU restrictive measures, e.g. entities listed within the EU Sanction map.
Restrictive measures imposed by the EU may target governments of third countries, or non-state entities (e.g. companies) and individuals (such as terrorist groups and terrorists).
Organizations which are consortium members of BioAgora cannot submit grant applications nor can they be a partner in the grant applications.

Application Process:

Applications shall only be submitted by the main applicant (coordinator, as applicable) by filling out an online application form and uploading the respective documents.
Only proposals from eligible applicants will be evaluated.
Applicants must use the following documents and adhere to all eligibility and submission instructions:
Annex 1 - Guidelines for applicants
Annex 2 - Application Form (template)
Annex 3 - Declaration of Honour (template) to be signed by authorised representatives of each party participating in an application
Annex 4 - Legal Entity Form (template) to be completed by all consortium partners (signed by authorised representatives)
Annex 5 - Letter(s) of Commitment (template) from consortium partners (signed by authorised representatives)
Annex 6 - Beneficiary’s Bank account information form (template) for the lead applicant (only needs to be completed by successful applicants)
Annex 7 - Sub-grant agreement (template) that the successful applicants will be requested to sign
Annex 8 - List of examples of requests received so far by BioAgora
Link to BioAgora website with all documents: The Financial Support for Third Parties

Proposals should demonstrate strong interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary collaboration and bring together method experts, knowledge holders, and actors from across Europe involved in biodiversity policy support. Special attention should be paid to inclusiveness and innovative combinations of methods and tools.

In summary, this funding opportunity aims to establish a Methods Expert Group within the Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD) to enhance the science-policy interface for biodiversity governance in Europe. The project seeks to develop a robust methodological framework, engage a broad expert community, and provide practical guidance on knowledge synthesis and overview methodologies. The selected project will receive 165,000 EUR and is expected to run for a maximum of 13 months. The call is open to legal entities and consortia eligible for funding under the EU Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme, with a deadline for submissions on August 31, 2025. The project will contribute to the European Green Deal and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 by strengthening the link between scientific knowledge and biodiversity policymaking.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are legal entities, which can be either a single legal entity or a consortium of legal entities. The main applicant must be a legal entity (legal person). If the application is submitted by a consortium (grouping of legal persons represented by a coordinator), the criterion of being a legal entity applies to all consortium participants. Organizations which are consortium members of BioAgora cannot submit grant applications nor can they be a partner in the grant applications. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are not eligible for funding.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a cascade funding grant.

Consortium Requirement: Either a single applicant or a consortium of multiple applicants is allowed. Applications can be submitted by one legal entity or a consortium of legal entities.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The applicant must be eligible for funding under the EU Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme. If the application is submitted by a consortium, this criterion applies to all the consortium participants. This suggests that the geographic eligibility aligns with the Horizon Europe program, which generally includes EU member states, associated countries, and potentially other countries based on specific agreements.

Target Sector: The target sector is biodiversity, specifically focusing on the science-policy-society interface (SPSI) to support biodiversity policy. It also involves method development and knowledge synthesis. The project aims to develop a methodological infrastructure for the Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD).

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the opportunity is focused on Europe and the European Union due to its connection to the Horizon Europe program and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.

Project Stage: The project stage appears to be focused on development and validation, specifically the development of a methodological framework and its practical application in real-time requests. It involves assessing existing methods, proposing guidelines, and supporting ongoing processes, suggesting a move beyond pure research towards practical implementation.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 165,000.00 €.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by the announcement on the EU’s Funding & Tender Portal and the availability of guidelines and application forms.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of a grant.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be a single-stage process, as indicated by the "Deadline model: single-stage".

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This opportunity is a cascade funding grant offered by BioAgora, a Horizon Europe project, to support the development of a robust methodological infrastructure for the future Science Service for Biodiversity (SSBD). The call aims to engage experts in identifying and refining methods and approaches at the science-policy-society interface to create an evidence-based framework that supports biodiversity policy within the European Union. The selected project will establish a Methods Expert Group to provide guidance on knowledge synthesis and overview methodologies, develop a methodological framework for SSBD processes, and support urgent request processes with methodological advice. The funding is available to legal entities, either as single applicants or consortia, that are eligible for funding under the EU Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme. The total funding available is 165,000 €, and the project duration should not exceed 13 months. The application deadline is August 31, 2025. The application process is a single-stage process and requires the submission of an online application form along with several supporting documents, including guidelines, application form, declaration of honor, legal entity form, letters of commitment, and bank account information. The goal is to strengthen the SSBD's capacity to deliver relevant knowledge for EU biodiversity policy by ensuring methodological rigor, transparency, and adaptability across its activities. Organizations which are consortium members of BioAgora cannot submit grant applications nor can they be a partner in the grant applications. Entities subject to EU restrictive measures are not eligible for funding.