Official call identifier: Biodiversa-plus
Objective of the call
The 2026–2027 Biodiversa+ Joint Transnational Call “BiodivFuture” supports forward-looking transnational research and innovation on novel ecosystems and their biodiversity, socio-ecological dynamics, consequences and future trajectories. Projects should produce actionable knowledge that can inform policy, management and nature-positive transformation while contributing to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030.
Scope of activities
The call covers terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems and is structured around three non-mutually exclusive themes.
Theme A – Novel Ecosystem Functioning
Research on the functioning of novel ecosystems and their links with socio-cultural and socio-economic dynamics, including ecosystem integrity, biodiversity outcomes, ecosystem services, genetic diversity, modelling, monitoring tools and indicators.
Theme B – Pathways to Novel Ecosystems
Research on plausible future ecosystem pathways, drivers of ecological change, biodiversity trajectories, uncertainty, resilience, regime shifts, spatial planning and socio-ecological responses.
Theme C – Biodiversity Benefits and Equity in the Context of Novel Ecosystems
Research on costs, benefits and trade-offs; equity and justice; governance; participatory approaches; diverse knowledge systems; stewardship; societal acceptance; decision-support tools; and sustainable management of novel ecosystems.
Projects may address one or several themes. Interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research is strongly encouraged, including engagement with stakeholders such as local communities, Indigenous Peoples, policy makers, local governments and industry. Projects may use approaches including modelling, remote sensing, eDNA, genomics, monitoring, pilot testing and validation in real-world contexts.
Eligible applicants
Eligibility is determined by the national or regional Funding Organisation financing each partner.
Research entities and private-sector organisations, including for-profit and non-profit organisations, may participate where eligible under the rules of their respective Funding Organisation.
Each consortium must include:
- Eligible partners from at least 3 different countries participating in the call
- Funding requests to at least 3 different participating Funding Organisations
- At least 2 partners from different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries participating in the call
- A Project Partner Coordinator eligible for funding from a participating Funding Organisation.
National and regional eligibility rules apply separately to every funded partner. The current call involves participating Funding Organisations covering countries including Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Israel, Italy–Bolzano, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, Türkiye and the United Kingdom, subject to the individual Funding Organisation rules.
Funding conditions
Type of support: National and regional research and innovation grants under the Horizon Europe co-funded Biodiversa+ Partnership
Funding rate: There is no common funding rate for all applicants. Funding rates are determined by each participating national or regional Funding Organisation.
Maximum grant per beneficiary: There is no common call-wide maximum. Individual Funding Organisations may define maximum funding per project and/or partner.
The call aims to fund medium-sized transnational projects with an indicative average total project budget of approximately EUR 1.2–1.5 million. This is an indication rather than a formal minimum or maximum.
Total call budget: More than EUR 40 million, including the European Commission contribution. Approximately EUR 33 million was provisionally reserved by participating national and regional Funding Organisations in the call document.
For Slovenia, the Ministry of Education, Science and Youth has a reserved budget of EUR 900,000, subject to its national funding rules.
Project duration: 3 years
Deadline for submission
The call follows a mandatory two-step procedure through the Biodiversa+ Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS). Proposals must be written in English.
- Pre-proposal deadline: 10 November 2026 at 12:00 CET. The pre-proposal includes consortium information, partner budgets and a five-page project description.
- Full-proposal deadline: 16 April 2027 at 12:00 CEST. Only invited consortia may submit a full proposal, including a 16-page project description.