2025-2026 Joint Call
Restoration of ecosystem functioning,
integrity, and connectivity
#BiodivConnect
Biodiversa+ is pleased to announce that its 5th annual Joint Call for transnational research projects BiodivConnect is now open.
Co-funded by the European Commission, this call, along with actions from the Flagship Programme “Supporting protection and restoration of biodiversity and ecosystem across land and sea,” aims to achieve one of Biodiversa+’s strategic objectives: producing actionable knowledge for transformative change to halt and reverse biodiversity decline.
The online platform (EPSS) to submit your pre-proposal will be available soon.
This call is focused on fostering innovative research to be integrated into nature restoration practices for interconnected and well-functioning ecosystems and habitats, with special consideration for long-term sustainability and future-proofing of restoration efforts across spatial scales, including their evaluation.
The call covers restoration efforts for biodiversity in all types of ecosystems and habitats, in all regions of the world, encompassing all realms (terrestrial, marine, coastal and freshwater). 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.
They will be expected to demonstrate academic excellence with potential for societal and policy impact regarding biodiversity, aiming to connect science, society, policy, and practices for efficient and sustainable nature restoration.
Overall, BiodivConnect should support progress towards international biodiversity commitments by and beyond 2030, under the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, and relevant biodiversity policy objectives at different levels in Europe and globally.
Topics
To adequately address the key challenges of nature restoration, it is essential to support knowledge exchange and capacity building across disciplines and societal sectors, and acknowledge, appreciate and integrate multiple forms of knowledge. This call is arranged into three main topics that partly overlap. Project proposals can address one or more of these main topics.
Topic 1: Setting restoration targets and measuring success
Topic 1 will address the need for coherent and operational restoration targets and measurements of 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: Scaling and transferability of nature restoration efforts
Topic 2 will address the need for a better understanding of the possibilities and methods for meaningful and effective scaling and transferability of nature restoration efforts. There are many examples of successful local restoration efforts across the world, however the scale of the biodiversity crisis necessitates advancements in approaches and processes for reproducing successful efforts across different socio-economic and environmental contexts.
Topic 3: Long-term sustainability of restoration efforts
Topic 3 will address the need for long-term sustainability of restored species, habitats and ecosystems, including resilience to climate change and other pressures. Given future environmental and societal changes, it will not be possible to rely solely on historical and current datasets and models to predict likely pathways to successful restoration. There is also a need for advanced predictive modelling and anticipatory strategic foresight based on policy learning, as well as the development of entirely novel approaches to restoration, experimental approaches with high risk tolerance, and/or open-ended restoration efforts such as rewilding.
Applicants must carefully read the announcement of opportunity that further details the scope of the call.
Don’t miss the information webinar
A two-step application procedure will apply, with a mandatory submission of pre-proposals at the first step and submission of full proposals at the second step, via the Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS).
- Launch of the call: Tuesday 9 September 2025
- Deadline for pre-proposals submission (mandatory): Friday 7 November 2025, 12:00 CET
- Results of the evaluation of the first step: mid-February 2026
- Deadline for full-proposals submission: Tuesday 14 of April 2026, 12:00 CEST
- Recommendations for funding: late September 2026
- Start of the projects: between 1st of December 2026 and 1st of April 2027
Look for a partner or a project to join
To be eligible, transnational research consortia must be composed of eligible research partners from minimum 3 different countries financially participating in the call and requesting support from minimum 3 different Funding Organisations; including at least two different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries.
Not all EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries financially participate in this call. Only the countries listed below are eligible for funding.
Proposals must be exclusively written in English.
Check the participating organisations and their rules
At least 36 funding organisations from 29 countries are joining this call and have reserved, together with the European Commission, a total amount of ca. 40M€.
The full up-to-date list of funding organisations participating in this Call, their reserved budgets and their national / regional eligibility rules and participation modalities are available here. Each research partner involved in a proposal must comply with the eligibility criteria and rules of its national / regional funding organisations.
Biodiversa+ would like to support countries and regions with research communities that have been less responsive in the past Biodiversa+ calls. Therefore, for your information, a list of concerned funding organisations has been identified: BNSF (Bulgaria), NARD (Moldova), and SAS (Slovakia).
Maximise your chances
Research proposals will be evaluated by independent experts against the following criteria:
- At step 1 (pre-proposal stage): (1) Fit to the scope of the call, (2) novelty of the research and (3) impact;
- At step 2 (full proposal stage): (1) [Scientific] excellence, (2) quality and efficiency of the implementation [of the project plan], and (3) impact (including expected societal impact which includes policy impact, and approach to stakeholder engagement).
Research proposals shall demonstrate significant transnational added value of the project. In addition, they are expected to be interdisciplinary, involving as needed multiple academic disciplines (natural sciences, technical sciences, social sciences, humanities and art). Proposals are also strongly encouraged to be transdisciplinary to include non-academic stakeholders working together with researchers to co-produce knowledge of high relevance for society and end-user oriented.
Applicants must carefully read the detailed assessment criteria.
Make sure to carefully read all the supporting call documents:
- Announcement of Opportunity (including the call text detailing the scope of the call)
- Pre-proposal application form (for information only; the actual form is to be completed on the EPSS)
- Full proposal application form (for information only; the actual form is to be completed on the EPSS in Step 2)
- Checklist for applicants
- Assessment criteria
- Data policy
- Conflict of interest, confidentiality and non-disclosure policy.
- Frequently Asked Questions
Stay Informed: visit our website regularly for updates or subscribe to our newsletter to receive the latest information directly!
Contact
Please note that each research partner in a project who is requesting funding under this call must comply with the eligibility criteria and rules of its national / regional funding organisation. For specific questions related to the budget, eligibility criteria and rules of your funding organisation, please contact your Funding Organisation Contact Point (FCP). All national / regional eligibility & funding rules and associated information including the Funding Organisation Contact Point are available here.
- For general questions regarding the call:
Biodiversa+ Call Secretariat
ANR, Agence Nationale de la Recherche
biodiversa.cs@agencerecherche.fr
- For technical questions regarding the EPSS:
Taavi Tiirik
EPSS technical helpdesk
epss.biodiversa@g.etag.ee
Be aware of all relevant European initiatives and choose wisely which one would be best suited for your projects. For topics with a strong focus on water and health, the Water4All 2025 Joint Transnational Call is recommended. For topics with a strong focus on circular urban economies transition pathways, the DUT 2025 Joint Transnational Call is recommended. For topics with a strong focus on ocean economy and sustainability, the SBEP 2025 Joint Transnational Call is recommended.