[Call for projects Biodiversa+] Restoration of ecosystem functioning, integrity and connectivity (BiodivConnect)

Biodiversa+ will launch on 9th of September its new transnational research call, co-funded by the European Commission. The Call will be on ” Restoration of ecosystem functioning, integrity and connectivity (BiodivConnect)”. Get ready and start building your project !

The BiodivConnect is launched by the European Biodiversity Partnership under Horizon Europe –Biodiversa+. As part of the flagship programme “Supporting protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystems across land and sea”, it will help to achieve one of the partnership’s strategic objectives: produce actionable (i.e., practically usable) knowledge for transformative change to halt and reverse biodiversity decline (Biodiversa+ Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda).

SCOPE AND RESEARCH PRIORITIES

BiodivConnect aims to support progress towards international biodiversity commitments at European and global levels by 2030 and beyond (for example, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework). It is focused on fostering innovative research to be integrated into nature restoration practices for interconnected and well-functioning ecosystems and habitats. Special consideration is given to long-term sustainability and future-proofing of restoration efforts, at scales from local to regional to cross-border and global, including their evaluation.

The call covers restoration efforts for biodiversity in all types of ecosystems and habitats, in all regions of the world, supporting high-quality research and innovation projects on biodiversity and ecosystem restoration with holistic, systemic, and integrated approaches. Projects that will be proposed under this call can focus on a wide range of aspects, e.g.: different categories of indicators, multiple scales for restoration upscaling; ecological, socio-economic, and socio-cultural dimensions; and/or varying levels of environmental regulations and policies needing alignment.

BiodivConnect call is arranged into three main topics that partly overlap. Project proposals can address one or more of these main topics.

• Topic 1: Setting (coherent and operational) restoration targets and measuring success…

… in terms of ecosystem functioning, integrity and connectivity. Projects are expected to consider shifting baselines and integration of ecological, cultural and social contexts, with objective-based or reference-based approaches.

• Topic 2: (meaningful) Transferability and (effective) scaling of nature restoration efforts…

… for a better understanding of the possibilities and methods across different socio-economic and environmental contexts. 

• Topic 3: Resilience and sustainability of restoration efforts…

… in the long term for restored species, habitats, and ecosystems, including resilience to climate and other pressures.

BUILDING TRANSNATIONAL RESEARCH CONSORTIA

Research consortia will have to include teams from a minimum of 3 countries financially participating in the Call, including at least 2 from EU Member States or EU Associated Countries.

A total budget of ca. 40 million euros has been provisionally reserved by the European Commission together with 32 countries which expressed a preliminary interest.

Pending confirmation, these countries are: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Faroe Islands, France, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Netherlands (the), Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, Türkiye.

MAIN STEPS OF THE CALL AND EVALUATION PROCESS

The call is planned to be officially launched on 9^th of September 2025. A two-step application procedure will be used.

Research proposals (in English only) will have to be submitted electronically. They will be evaluated by independent experts against the following criteria:

• At step 1 (pre-proposals): Fit to the scope of the call, novelty of the research, and impact at step 1 (pre-proposal step);
• At step 2 (full proposals): [Scientific] Excellence, quality and efficiency of the implementation (of the project plan) and impact (including expected societal/policy impact, and approach to stakeholder engagement)

Research proposals shall demonstrate significant transnational added value of the project, and are expected to be interdisciplinary, involving multiple academic disciplines. Proposals are also strongly encouraged to be transdisciplinary to include non-academic stakeholders working together with researchers to co-produce new knowledge relevant for society.

Detailed instructions regarding submission, eligibility and evaluation criteria and other relevant information will be published with the official call announcement early September 2026.