Biodiversa+ has launched its 2026–2027 Joint Call, BiodivFuture, for transnational research and innovation projects on:
“Novel ecosystems: biodiversity, socio-ecological consequences and future trajectories.”
The call supports future-looking research and innovation addressing biodiversity and novel ecosystems, their socio-ecological dynamics and consequences, and future pathways and trajectories of change.
It covers the causes and drivers of change, biological responses, and outcomes including opportunities, risks and trade-offs across terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal areas, in all regions of the world.
The call aims to fund novel, high-quality transnational research with potential for societal and political impact, using holistic, systemic and integrated approaches.
About Biodiversa+
Biodiversa+ is the European Biodiversity Partnership, bringing together research organisations, funding organisations and environmental policy actors to strengthen biodiversity research and support its impact on policy and society.
The partnership works to support biodiversity research and contribute to transformative change and the goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
For the BiodivFuture call, more than 30 funding organisations from 25 countries, together with the European Commission, have provisionally committed financial support.
What Is a Novel Ecosystem?
The call uses the concept of novel ecosystems to describe ecosystems that have been substantially shaped by human influence and differ from historical conditions.
The conceptual framework generally includes:
- New ecological communities, including species occurring outside their historical native ranges.
- Interactions and processes consistent with a self-organised, functioning ecosystem.
- Changes substantial enough that returning to previous conditions is unlikely, with or without human intervention.
Because different disciplines and perspectives use different definitions of novel ecosystems, applicants must explain how their proposed research addresses the concept.
Research Themes
Projects may address one or several of the three non-mutually exclusive themes.
Theme A – Novel Ecosystem Functioning
Research on the functioning of novel ecosystems and their links to socio-cultural and socio-economic dynamics, including identifying mechanisms and developing approaches that can facilitate biodiversity gains.
Theme B – Pathways to Novel Ecosystems
Research on robust, plausible and concrete pathways to novel ecosystems and the associated socio-ecological dynamics under conditions of uncertainty and changing environments.
Theme C – Biodiversity Benefits and Equity in the Context of Novel Ecosystems
Research on the fair and equitable sharing of biodiversity benefits in the context of novel ecosystems, supported by inclusive, collaborative and investment-oriented pathways for nature-positive socio-ecological transformation.
What Kind of Research Is Supported?
BiodivFuture seeks to support research that can improve understanding of novel ecosystems and generate knowledge that contributes to action.
Proposals should consider, where relevant:
- Biodiversity and ecosystem change
- Socio-ecological dynamics
- Future trajectories of change
- Risks, opportunities and trade-offs
- Resilient, interconnected, diverse and ecologically functioning ecosystems
- Societal and political impacts
- Nature-positive transformation
- Different contexts, scales, perspectives and world views
Research proposals are strongly encouraged to use interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches and to involve non-academic stakeholders in the co-production of actionable knowledge.
Who Can Apply?
The call is open to eligible research organisations, subject to the national and regional eligibility requirements of the participating funding organisations.
Research consortia must include teams from a minimum of 3 countries financially participating in the call, including at least two different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
The main applicant or project coordinator must be employed by an eligible organisation in one of the countries participating in the call. The project coordinator cannot be self-financed.
Each research partner requesting funding must comply with the eligibility criteria and funding rules of the relevant national or regional funding organisation.
Important: Not all EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries are participating in the call. Applicants must check the specific funding and eligibility rules that apply to each partner.
Funding
Approximately €40 million has been provisionally committed to the call by participating countries and the European Commission.
Funding for individual partners is provided through the relevant national or regional funding organisation. Therefore, the amount and eligible costs depend on the funding rules applicable to each participating country.
Application Process
BiodivFuture uses a two-step application process.
Step 1 – Pre-Proposal
Submission of a pre-proposal is mandatory.
Applicants must submit their pre-proposals in English through the Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS).
The pre-proposal requires information about the project consortium, a five-page project description, and the required budget for each partner.
Deadline:
10 November 2026 at 12:00 noon CET (11:00 UTC).
Only applicants successful at the first stage will be invited to submit a full proposal.
Step 2 – Full Proposal
Applicants invited to the second stage will submit their full proposals in English through the EPSS.
Deadline:
16 April 2027 at 12:00 noon CEST (10:00 UTC).
Applications must be submitted online through the EPSS. Applications sent by email will not be accepted.
Evaluation Criteria
At the pre-proposal stage, proposals will be assessed based on:
- Fit to the scope of the call
- Novelty of the research
- Impact
At the full proposal stage, proposals will be assessed based on:
- Scientific excellence
- Quality and efficiency of implementation
- Impact, including expected societal and policy impact and stakeholder engagement.
Research proposals should demonstrate significant transnational added value and are strongly encouraged to use inter- and transdisciplinary approaches.
Key Dates
Call launched: 9 September 2026
Pre-proposal deadline: 10 November 2026, 12:00 CET
Results of first-stage evaluation: Mid-February 2027
Full proposal deadline: 16 April 2027, 12:00 CEST
Recommendations for funding: Late September to early October 2027
Expected project start: Between 1 December 2027 and 1 April 2028.
Partner Search
Biodiversa+ provides a Partner Search Tool for researchers looking to build or join eligible international research consortia.
Because the call requires collaboration between researchers from multiple financially participating countries, applicants are encouraged to identify suitable partners and build their consortium before submitting a pre-proposal.
Important Documents
Applicants are encouraged to carefully read the official call documents, including:
- Announcement of Opportunity
- Pre-proposal application form
- Full proposal application form
- Checklist for applicants
- Assessment criteria
- Data policy
- Conflict of interest, confidentiality and non-disclosure policy
- Frequently Asked Questions
- And the national and regional funding rules
Each research partner requesting funding must comply with the eligibility requirements of its relevant national or regional funding organisation.
