FOREST

The objectives directly address the Horizon Europe Destination “Circular economy and bioeconomy sectors” and Expected Impact 29 of Cluster 6. They align with the EU Competitiveness Compass, supporting innovation, decarbonisation, and strategic autonomy. Through integrated R&I the Partnership advances EU’s goals for climate neutrality, biodiversity, and circular economy. The partneship addresses the following General Objectives (GO): 

1. GO1: Implement a robust & transformative European R&I programme focusing on forests, forestry and the forest-based sector, which enhances and complements relevant Strategic Research and Innovation Agendas from EU, member states and associated countries.
   
2. GO2: Foster the development and expansion of collaborations between research and practice, enhance global collaboration on forest-related questions, and facilitate the co-creation and dissemination of knowledge and solutions to create wider societal benefits.
3. GO3: Accelerate the transition to a sustainable and circular forest-based bioeconomy and strengthen the role of forests and forestry in climate resilience, biodiversity and the delivery of key ecosystem services.
   
4. GO4: Improve links between R&I and policy making and provide science-based support for policy making in EU, Member States and Associated Countries.

The FOREST Partnership is designed to deliver on its objectives through a coordinated, multi-actor, and interdisciplinary approach that aligns with key EU policy frameworks including the EU Competitiveness Compass, the European Green Deal, the EU Forest Strategy, the Circular Economy Action plan and the Biodiversity Strategy.

It leverages national and regional R&I resources across Member States and Associated Countries, through structured joint calls, shared infrastructures, and harmonised data protocols, ensuring excellence with policy relevance. Furthermore, FOREST will enhance scientific collaboration activities of research institutes and researchers on European and global level including focused and topic-specific knowledge exchange and mutual learning.

FOREST adopts a systemic methodology that integrates ecological, technological, economic, and social dimensions. The work packages are designed to reflect this integration, with cross-cutting themes such as climate resilience, bioeconomy innovation, and forest governance. Interdisciplinary collaboration is embedded throughout, with active involvement of emerging, social sciences and humanities to address societal impacts, stakeholder perceptions, and policy uptake. Gender, inclusivity and diversity dimension is considered in both research content and stakeholder engagement strategies, enhancing knowledge production and dissemination. Open science practices will be implemented rigorously, including FAIR data management, open access publishing, and citizen science initiatives where appropriate.

The methodology also emphasises scalability and replicability of results, with mechanisms for knowledge transfer, capacity building, and policy dialogue. Strategic foresight and scenario modelling support adaptive planning, while continuous monitoring and evaluation ensure responsiveness to emerging challenges and opportunities.
Overall, the methodological framework is designed to maximise impact, establish a long-lasting best adapted cooperation to foster innovation, and support evidence-based policymaking for sustainable forest management across Europe.

The FOREST Partnership adopts a comprehensive, multi-layered methodology designed to deliver o systemic transformation of the forest and forest-based sectors in Europe. The methodology is grounded in a robust intervention logic that integrates interdisciplinary research, stakeholder co-creation, and strategic alignment with EU and global policy frameworks.

The methodology combines top-down strategic coordination (via SRIA and TAP actions) with bottom-up innovation (via Living Labs, stakeholder engagement, and open calls), ensuring both alignment and responsiveness.

The Partnership will pool national resources and align research agendas through:

• Joint Calls: Seven co-funded transnational calls will be launched (WP3), informed by horizon scanning and stakeholder consultations (WP2).
  
• Thematic Annual Programming (TAP): Two or more TAP actions will align national projects around shared priorities (WP4.4).
  
• Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA): Continuously updated through foresight and gap analysis (WP2), ensuring responsiveness to emerging challenges. Note: For the SRIA, please find attached a copy of the final draft version dated 05 September 2025, included as part of the Annex ‘Financial Support to Third Parties’.
  
• International Dimension: Strengthen international collaboration in research and contribute to global R&I agenda setting and policy processes (WP5).
  

This coordination is underpinned by strong commitment from 100 partners across 28 countries, representing ministries, funding agencies, research organisations, and special service providers.