Forestry - European observatory of climate change impacts and demonstration network of climate smart restoration pilots

Overview

Supports the development of applications and AI solutions leveraging the ForestWard Observatory to assess climate change impacts on European forests and guide climate-smart restoration. Targets researchers, tech developers, and forest management stakeholders.

Who Can Apply

Consortia of legal entities (e.g., research institutions, SMEs, public bodies, NGOs) from eligible EU Member States and associated countries. Single applicants are not permitted.

Funding Details

Total budget: EUR 6 million. Funding rate: up to 100% of eligible costs for non-profit entities; up to 70% for for-profit entities. Co-funding may be required for certain activities.

What Is Funded

Development of AI-driven tools and applications utilizing data from the ForestWard Observatory, including:

• Climate impact modeling and risk assessment for forests.
• Decision-support systems for climate-smart forest restoration and management.
• Data integration and visualization platforms for forest monitoring.
• Pilots demonstrating scalable solutions for forest resilience.

Technology / Maturity Requirements

Proposals must demonstrate access to and utilization of the ForestWard Observatory’s datasets. AI solutions should be at a minimum Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4-5, with potential to reach TRL 6-7 by project end.

Key Dates

• Open date: 2026-02-02
• Deadline: 2026-04-02T22:00:00Z

Application Process (High-Level)

Single-stage submission via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Proposals must include a detailed technical plan, consortium agreement, and budget breakdown.

Geographic Scope & Language

Open to applicants from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. Applications must be submitted in English.

Notes

• Preference for projects with clear pathways to practical implementation and scalability.
• Proposals must align with the ForestWard Observatory’s objectives and data infrastructure.
• Excludes activities unrelated to climate change impacts on forests or lacking AI/data-driven components.