Apply for First FOREST Partnership Joint Call

Deadline: 02-Dec-2026

The FORESTPathways Joint Call provides up to €40 million in total public funding for transnational research and innovation projects focused on resilient forests, sustainable forest management, and the development of sustainable forest-based sectors. Launched by the European FOREST Partnership, the call brings together 36 research funding organisations from 27 countries and supports collaborative projects addressing climate resilience, multifunctional forest management, innovative wood-based products, forest value chains, markets, and governance. Funded projects are expected to generate new knowledge, develop practical solutions, and support implementation across research, policy, forest management, and industry. Projects will run for 36 months and are expected to start between December 2027 and April 2028. FORESTPathways is the first Joint Call launched by the European FOREST Partnership. The initiative aims to mobilise research and innovation to support the transition towards a sustainable forest bioeconomy while strengthening the resilience and competitiveness of forest-based sectors.

The call brings together:

The initiative seeks to reduce fragmentation in forest research and encourage collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and national borders. Up to €40 million in total public funding is available under the FORESTPathways Joint Call. Funding will be provided through participating national and regional funding agencies, together with support from the European Union.

The call supports:

Projects funded through the call will have a duration of: Applicants should therefore consider the long-term implementation, collaboration, and research requirements associated with a three-year transnational project. Proposals are invited under four main topics. This topic focuses on strengthening the ability of forest systems to respond to climate-related pressures and changing environmental conditions.

Research may contribute to:

This topic focuses on forest management approaches that can respond to changing conditions while maintaining the multiple functions and benefits provided by forests. Research can address the multifunctional role of forests and approaches that support sustainable management while balancing different environmental, economic, and societal needs. This topic focuses on timber and the development of innovative wood-based products. Research and innovation may contribute to: This topic addresses the economic, market, governance, and value-chain dimensions of the forest-based sector.

Research may explore:

The Joint Call aims to support the transformation of Europe’s forest-based sector through collaborative research and innovation.

Key objectives include:

Projects are expected to go beyond generating scientific knowledge.

Funded research should contribute to:

Applicants should therefore demonstrate how their research can contribute to implementation in relevant policy, management, or industry contexts. The FORESTPathways Joint Call is aligned with major European policy frameworks concerning forests, biodiversity, climate, and the bioeconomy.

These include:

This policy alignment reflects the call’s focus on sustainable forest management, biodiversity, climate resilience, and the development of sustainable forest-based economies. The FORESTPathways Joint Call brings together funding organisations and research communities across multiple countries. Cross-border collaboration can help projects: The call specifically encourages collaboration across disciplines, sectors, and national boundaries. The call is relevant to research and innovation teams working on: Applicants should ensure that their proposed research fits one of the four specified topics and contributes to the broader objectives of the call. Applicants should clearly demonstrate how their proposed project addresses a relevant forest research and innovation challenge.

A strong proposal should explain:

Applicants should avoid:

Applicants can strengthen their proposals by: FORESTPathways is the first Joint Call of the European FOREST Partnership, supporting transnational research and innovation projects focused on resilient forests and sustainable forest-based sectors. Up to €40 million in total public funding is available for projects under the call. Projects will have a duration of 36 months. Funded projects are expected to start between December 2027 and April 2028. The European FOREST Partnership’s first Joint Call brings together 36 research funding organisations from 27 countries. The four topics are Climate-Resilient Forest Systems; Adaptive and Multifunctional Forest Management Systems; Timber and Innovative Wood-Based Products; and Forest Value Chains, Markets and Governance. Yes. Adaptive and multifunctional forest management is one of the four main research topics. Yes. The call includes a dedicated topic on timber and innovative wood-based products. Yes. Forest value chains, markets, and governance are specifically included as one of the four main topics. Projects are expected to generate new knowledge, develop practical solutions, and contribute to implementation in policy, forest management, or industry. The call is aligned with the European Green Deal, EU Forest Strategy for 2030, EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and EU Bioeconomy Strategy. The FORESTPathways Joint Call provides up to €40 million to support collaborative research and innovation aimed at building resilient forests and sustainable forest-based sectors. By bringing together research funding organisations across 27 countries and supporting projects on climate resilience, multifunctional forest management, innovative wood products, and forest value chains, the initiative seeks to strengthen scientific collaboration, innovation, and practical solutions for Europe’s forest bioeconomy. For more information, visit European FOREST Partnership.