Strengthening forest research for the support of Ukraine

Overview

The grant opportunity HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-10 aims to strengthen forest research to support the recovery, resilience, and EU integration of Ukraine's forest sector following the impacts of climate change and the war. This Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action (RIA) will provide €6 million in funding as a lump sum grant. Mandatory participation from at least one Ukrainian research institution or public authority is required in each consortium, which can include organizations from EU Member States, associated countries, and other eligible entities.

The grant will be awarded through a single-stage application process, opening on April 20, 2027, and closing on September 22, 2027. The expected outcomes focus on providing Ukrainian decision-makers with scientific data for evidence-based policy, supporting sustainable management of war-affected forests, enhancing forest research and education systems, and promoting international cooperation.

The proposals should address challenges linked to climate change and biodiversity while developing innovative research and policy actions for Ukraine's post-war recovery and sustainable transformation. Projects must align with various EU policies related to forest governance, including the EU forest strategy for 2030 and the European Green Deal.

The consortium must also adhere to specific eligibility criteria outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide, and the final proposals will be evaluated on excellence, implementation, and impact according to standardized criteria.

The opportunity represents a strategic investment towards rebuilding Ukraine's forest sector, enhancing its governance capabilities, and fostering international collaboration in sustainable forestry.

Detail

This is a Horizon Europe call for proposals aimed at strengthening forest research to support Ukraine, specifically addressing the recovery, resilience, and EU integration of Ukraine's forest sector in light of climate change and the war of aggression by Russia. The call, designated as HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-10, falls under the Horizon Europe Programme, specifically Call 01, which is a single-stage call for 2027. It is a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) with a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] type of Model Grant Agreement (MGA). The planned opening date is 20 April 2027, and the deadline for submission is 22 September 2027, at 17:00:00 Brussels time. The total budget for the topic is 6,000,000 EUR for the year 2027, and it is expected that around one grant will be awarded.

The expected outcomes of successful proposals include:
1. Providing Ukrainian decision-makers and policymakers with access to robust scientific data, tools, and methodologies for developing and implementing evidence-based policies aligned with EU forest-related policies.
2. Supporting the recovery, restoration, sustainable management, and development of Ukraine’s war-affected forests through improved governance, enhanced institutional capacity, and the implementation of sustainable forest management practices that address the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, and the Russian invasion.
3. Strengthening Ukrainian forest research and education systems, providing a solid evidence basis for forestry policy development, supporting students and educators, and promoting innovation in forest science.
4. Expanding national and international cooperation and developing a national forest monitoring system, enabling knowledge exchange and global cooperation in sustainable forestry.
5. Accelerating the alignment of Ukraine’s forest governance, legislation, and technical standards with EU acquis communautaire, reinforcing its path toward EU accession and long-term convergence with European environmental (including biodiversity) and climate goals.

The scope of the proposals should include:
Addressing the challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss, and the war by advancing forest science, education, and international collaboration.
Developing innovative research, policy, and capacity-building actions that contribute to the post-war recovery and sustainable transformation of Ukraine’s forest sector.
Exploring diverse approaches and methods while addressing Ukraine’s unique context.
Involving Ukrainian stakeholders such as local and regional authorities, national ministries and public agencies, academic and research institutions, forest owners and managers, local communities, civil society organizations, NGOs, forest industry representatives, and educational institutions.
Aligning with EU policies related to the recovery and sustainable management of forests, including the EU forest strategy for 2030, the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, the European Green Deal, the EU climate adaptation strategy, and the Nature Restoration Regulation.

Proposals should specifically:
Strengthen Ukrainian forest research systems and their integration into policy by expanding data collection, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and providing scientific support to equip decision-makers with evidence for policy development and implementation.
Enhance international collaboration and forest science diplomacy in the context of Ukraine’s recovery by building partnerships for sustainable forest management, supporting the digitalization of Ukraine’s forest cadastre to enable transparent, accurate, and accessible forest data, and establishing a comprehensive, continuous forest monitoring system aligned with EU and global policies.
Strengthen Ukrainian institutional and governance capacity by improving frameworks and research institutions to ensure the long-term resilience and effectiveness of sustainable forest management practices.
Promote innovation in Ukrainian forest education and training by modernizing curricula, supporting student mobility and international research collaboration, and developing lifelong learning programs for forestry professionals.
Contribute to the alignment of Ukrainian forestry-related legislation, inspection systems, and standards with EU legislation as a core component of the EU accession and integration process.

General conditions for admissibility include:
Proposal page limit and layout as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
Eligible countries as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes, with specific provisions for non-EU/non-Associated Countries as detailed in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
Mandatory participation of at least one research institution or relevant public authority from Ukraine in the consortium.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Evaluation and award criteria, scoring, and thresholds as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Submission and evaluation processes as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021, with further details in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Application and evaluation forms, as well as the model grant agreement, are available in the Submission System. Additional documents include the HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027, the HE Programme Guide, the HE Framework Programme 2021/695, the HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764, the EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509, and various guidance documents related to legal entity validation, financial capacity assessment, and the Funding & Tenders Portal.

The call aims to bolster Ukraine's forest sector by providing financial support and resources for research, innovation, and policy development. It seeks to align Ukraine's forestry practices with EU standards, promote sustainable forest management, and enhance the sector's resilience to climate change and other challenges. The call emphasizes the importance of international collaboration and the involvement of Ukrainian stakeholders in the recovery and transformation of the forest sector. The funding mechanism is based on lump sum contributions, and detailed guidance is provided for applicants regarding eligibility criteria, submission processes, and evaluation procedures.

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Breakdown

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types include local and regional authorities, national ministries and public agencies, academic and research institutions, forest owners and managers, local communities, civil society organizations, NGOs, forest industry representatives, and educational institutions. The participation of at least one research institution or relevant public authority from Ukraine in the consortium is mandatory. Other non-EU/non-Associated Countries may also be eligible, subject to specific provisions as outlined in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Lump Sum Grant under the HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) or HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) or HORIZON Innovation Actions (HORIZON-IA).

Consortium Requirement: A consortium is required, and it must include at least one research institution or relevant public authority from Ukraine.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): While the primary focus is on Ukrainian stakeholders, the opportunity is open to a number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries. Eligibility is described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The target sector is the forest sector, with a focus on biodiversity, circular bioeconomy (CIRCBIO), and zero pollution. It also encompasses research, policy, capacity building, education, climate adaptation, and digitalization within the context of sustainable forest management.

Mentioned Countries: Ukraine is explicitly mentioned as a key beneficiary and participant. Other non-EU and non-associated countries may also be eligible.

Project Stage: The project stage encompasses a range of activities, including research, innovation, policy development, capacity building, restoration, and digitalization, suggesting a focus on development, validation, demonstration, and implementation.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic and type of action:
HORIZON-RIA: Typically ranges from EUR 6 million to EUR 24 million, with contributions around EUR 4 million to EUR 8 million per grant.
HORIZON-CSA: EUR 3 million to EUR 7 million, with contributions around EUR 3 million to EUR 7 million per grant.
HORIZON-IA: EUR 10 million to EUR 14 million, with contributions around EUR 5 million to EUR 7 million per grant.

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

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

Application Stages: The application process is a single-stage process.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding requirements are not explicitly mentioned, but eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme.

Summary: This opportunity is a Horizon Europe grant call focused on strengthening forest research and supporting the recovery, resilience, and EU integration of Ukraine’s forest sector. It addresses the impacts of climate change and the war in Ukraine by funding research, innovation, policy development, capacity building, and digitalization efforts. Eligible applicants include a wide range of stakeholders, such as research institutions, public authorities, NGOs, and industry representatives, with mandatory participation of at least one Ukrainian entity in each consortium. The funding is provided as a lump sum, with varying amounts depending on the type of action (RIA, CSA, or IA) and specific topic, ranging from EUR 3 million to EUR 24 million. The call aims to align Ukraine’s forest governance and legislation with EU standards, promote sustainable forest management practices, and enhance international collaboration in forest science. The application process is a single-stage open call, and proposals should contribute to specific expected outcomes related to policy development, forest restoration, research and education systems, international cooperation, and EU integration. The call is structured around several topics related to biodiversity, circular bioeconomy, and zero pollution, each with its own budget and indicative number of grants.

Short Summary

Impact
Strengthening forest research to support the recovery, resilience, and EU integration of Ukraine's forest sector, addressing the impacts of climate change and the war in Ukraine.
Applicant
Research institutions, universities, public authorities, and related research organizations, with mandatory participation of at least one Ukrainian entity in the consortium.
Developments
Funding for research, innovation, policy development, capacity building, and digitalization efforts in the forestry sector.
Applicant Type
Research institutions, universities, public authorities, NGOs, and industry representatives.
Consortium
Mandatory participation of at least one research institution or relevant public authority from Ukraine in the consortium.
Funding Amount
€6,000,000 per grant, with one expected grant allocated to this specific topic.
Countries
Ukraine is explicitly mentioned as the primary focus, with participation from EU Member States and associated countries allowed.
Industry
Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Actions (HORIZON-RIA) targeting the forestry sector.

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