The overarching aim of the call is to support projects that will address the development and/or proof of concepts on novel strategies, methods, processes or products designed to support the forestry and forest-based industries including their respective partners, resellers, consumers and end-users in remaining competitive and efficient providers of sustainable bio-products and services. Currently underutilised potential in the forest-based sector shall be used to develop novel ideas and create new markets.
The co-funded joint transnational call will address the whole forest-based value chain in two areas (for focal topics for each of the themes, please see the Call text under “Links and downloads” below):
A. Innovative sustainable management of multifunctional forests
B. Innovative industrial production and processing technologies, products, concepts and services
As these topics covering the whole forest value chain are cross-cutting, applicants are encouraged to make best use of interdisciplinary systems approaches, and to take a look at improving the impact and integration of social research and economics in this sector.
As the following issues pertain to all parts of the value chain, they may be addressed in each part where appropriate:
- Digitalization (integration of the above topics with state-of-the-art information and communication technology across company boundaries)• Implications to and from EU and national policy frameworks for the Forest-based sector
- Innovative business concepts (incl. business ecosystems) and value added esp. for rural areas
- Organisation, harmonisation and standardisation of data storage, formats and protocols; Creation of meta-databases
- Societal perceptions and dialogue about the forestry and wood production sector, its products and contributions towards a sustainable society
- Future development of global circular bio-economy markets and their implication on the European forest based sector
Interdisciplinary collaboration and involvement of companies and stakeholders are highly welcome.
Consortia may cover basic and/or applied research and/or industrial research and development, close-to-market research and innovation actions. Please check the national annexes for specific national funding requirements.
Funding is available for innovative, industrially relevant research and development projects. This means that a significant step beyond the state of the art is an absolute pre-requisite.
Please note that some specific topics may be out of scope of a certain national programme! You should always check with all relevant funding organisations for your consortium before handing in a proposal.
More information and downloads are here