Open the first call for the European Partnership FOREST, with the participation of the CDTI Innovation

The European Partnership FOREST, forestry and the forest-based sector: REsearch and innovation for a Sustainable Transition (FOREST) has launched its first callfor joint funding of transnational research and innovation projects aimed at boosting the resilience and sustainability of forests and the forest sector.

The initiative, co-financed by the European Union within the framework of Horizon Europe, seeks to promote the development of resilient and multifunctional forest masses that contribute to the mitigation and adaptation to climate change, the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable economic development. It also aims to promote the transformation of the forestry sector into a knowledge-intensive, resource-efficient and innovative industry.

Thematic areas

The call for proposals is structured into four thematic modules:

• Theme 1. Climate-resilient forest systems
• Theme 2. Adaptive and multifunctional forest management systems
• Item 3. Wood and innovative products based on wood
• Item 4. Forest value chains, markets and governance

The call promotes an interdisciplinary approach and collaboration between different types of organizations, such as universities, companies, industrial organizations, local and regional administrations, research agencies and NGOs. Consortia shall be composed of entities from at least three participating countries, in accordance with the conditions set out in the call, and projects shall clearly demonstrate the added value of transnational collaboration (see annex IV).

Grants from the CDTI Innovation

The CDTI Innovation will grant subsidies to Spanish companies whose projects have been selected in the international call for proposals. The amount will be determined on a case-by-case basis according to the actual eligible cost of the project, the characteristics of the company and the budgetary availability, respecting the aid intensity limits established in the General Block Exemption Regulation: 60% for small businesses, 50% for medium-sized businesses and 40% for large businesses. In case of budgetary availability by the CDTI, the aid intensity may reach 70% for all entities.

Submission of applications

The announcement takes place in two phases:

• Deadline for submission of pre-proposals: December 2, 2026, at 13:00 CET
• Deadline for submission of complete proposals: June 2, 2027, at 13:00 CET

Each Spanish company participating in a consortium and applying for CDTI funding must submit, through the CDTI Innovation electronic headquarters, a preliminary PAR application before December 2, 2026. This request consists of an online form accompanied by a technical report, in Spanish, which describes the R&D activities that the company will develop and the budget corresponding to its participation in the international project.

Search for partners

The call has a partner search tool to facilitate the identification of potential collaborators.

In addition, on October 6, 2026, at 10:00 CET, an online networking session will take place to facilitate the creation of consortia and the search for partners.

Contact

It is recommended that each partner contacts their funding agency as soon as possible, as soon as they have a project idea.

For more information on the call and personalized advice on the proposal, Spanish companies can contact the Deputy Directorate of Technological Cooperation of the CDTI Innovation through the email partenariadoshe@cdti.es or telephone (+34) 91 581 04 89.

CDTI Innovation

The Center for Technological Development and Innovation, CDTI E.P.E. It is the innovation agency of the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities, whose objective is the promotion of technological innovation in the business environment. The mission of the CDTI is to ensure that the Spanish business fabric generates and transforms scientific and technical knowledge into globally competitive, sustainable and inclusive growth. In 2025, within the framework of the Strategic Plan 2024-2027, the CDTI provided 2,423 million euros of support to Spanish companies and startups.

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