FOREST– The European Partnership FOrests, forestry, and the forest-based sector: REsearch and innovation for a Sustainable Transition– is pleased to announce that its first Joint Call 2026 FORESTPathways “ Building Knowledge and Solutions for Resilient Forests and Sustainable Forest-Based Futures” is now open.
The deadline for pre-proposals submission is 2 December 2026, 13:00 CET.
Call objectives:
Forests play a critical role in climate regulation, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem services, and the bioeconomy, while facing increasing pressures from climate change, disturbances, and competing societal demands. Addressing these challenges requires coordinated and policy-relevant research and innovation that strengthens resilience, sustainability, and the multifunctional role of forests.
The call is aligned with key European policy frameworks, including the European Green Deal, the EU Forest Strategy for 2030, the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030, and the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, as well as related policy developments relevant to climate, biodiversity, forest monitoring, and the circular economy.
This joint call supports transnational research and innovation activities across the spectrum from fundamental research to applied research and, where appropriate, demonstration activities. Projects are expected to generate new knowledge, develop practical solutions, and contribute to implementation in policy, management, or industry contexts, while considering diversity of forests and forest-based sector.
Czech applicants can participate in the following topics, which will have their own ranking list and evaluation mechanism:
- Climate-Resilient Forest Systems (“How forests function and respond to climate change”)
- Adaptive and Multifunctional Forest Management Systems (“How forests should be managed under changing conditions”)
- Timber and Innovative Wood-Based Products (“How wood is transformed into innovative products”)
- Forest Value Chains, Markets and Governance (“How forest-based sectors, markets and governance are organised”)
The call for proposals is governed by international rules that apply equally to applicants from all participating countries. In addition to the international rules, Czech applicants must also meet the national conditions. Applicants participating in applied research projects will therefore need to meet the national conditions based on the SIGMA programme.
Please note that for Czech Applicants to be eligible, results of the project must be applicable in the environment of the Czech Republic (Applicability of foreseen project outputs and their employment in the conditions of the Czech Republic will be assessed during the national eligibility check).
The total financial amount of TA CR support for the call for Czech applicants in international projects is EUR 500 000. The maximum financial amount of support per project is EUR 170 000. The maximum intensity of support for the Czech side of the project is 80% of the total eligible costs of the project.
Project consortia must include:
- at least three independent legal entities
- from at least three different EU Member States or associated countries participating in the Joint Call,
- including at least two countries eligible for EU funding (see chapter 3 “Participating countries and organisations” in the Call Announcement).
Participating countries*:
Austria (BMLUK/FFG), Belgium (FNRS, FWO), Croatia (MZOM), Czech Republic (TA ČR), Estonia (ETAG, MoC), Finland (MMM, AKA, BF), France (ANR), Germany (BMFTR/FZJ-Pt), Hungary (NKFIH), Iceland (RANNIS), Ireland (DAFM), Italy (MASAF, Autonomous Province Bolzano/Bozen (BOZEN)), Latvia (LZP, LAAFS), Lithuania (LMT), Netherlands (LVVN), Norway (RCN), Poland (NCBR), Republic of Moldova (ANCD), Romania (ANC), Slovakia (CVTI SR), Slovenia (MESY), Spain (AEI, CDTI), Sweden (SWEA, VINNOVA, FORMAS), Switzerland (SNSF), Turkey (TUBITAK), United Kingdom (DEFRA)
* To see the list of currently participating countries and providers, visit the FOREST Parnership website.
Proposals (in English only) will have to be submitted electronically. Instructions regarding submission, eligibility and evaluation criteria and other relevant information is published in the official Call documents on the FOREST Parnership website.
SAVE THE DATE: an information webinar for potential applicants will be organised on 17 September 2026, at 10:00 CET. Registration is available here.
For more information visit www.tacr.cz/en or FOREST Partnership website.
18 September 2026