HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-10: Strengthening forest research for the support of Ukraine — expected outcomes, evaluation and traps

Topic	HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-CIRCBIO-10
Status	Forthcoming
Call	HORIZON-CL6-2027-01 — Call 01 - single stage (2027)
Destination	Circular economy and biobased sectors (2026-27)
Type of action	Research and Innovation Actions · lump sum
Opening	20 April 2027
Deadline	22 September 2027
Budget	around EUR 6 million per project · 1 project expected · EUR 6 million in total
Part B page limit	45 pages (standard application form; check your call)
Template	Work Programme 2026–2027 application form

Expected outcomes

Projects should contribute to all of the expected outcomes. The topic says: “Successful proposals should support the recovery, resilience, and EU integration of Ukraine’s forest sector, addressing the compounded impacts of climate change and Russia’s war of aggression. Project results are expected to contribute to all of the following expected outcomes:”

EO1 Ukrainian decision-makers and policymakers gain access to robust scientific data, tools, and methodologies for developing and implementing evidence-based policies that are aligned with EU forest-related polic i es.
EO2 recovery, restoration, sustainable management and development of Ukraine’s war-affected forests through improved governance, enhanced institutional capacity, and the implementation of sustainable forest management practices that address the impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss and Russian invasion.
EO3 strengthened Ukrainian forest research and education systems, providing a solid evidence basis for forestry policy development, supporting students and educators, and promoting innovation in forest science.
EO4 expanded national and international cooperation and the development of a national forest monitoring system, enabling knowledge exchange and global cooperation in sustainable forestry.
EO5 accelerated alignment of Ukraine’s forest governance, legislation, and technical standards with EU acquis communautaire, reinforcing its path toward EU accession and long-term convergence with European environmental (including biodiversity) and climate goals.

Expected impacts named in the destination

The wider, long-term effects the destination seeks. Your outcomes feed them; they are not project deliverables.

EI1 Improved climate change adaptation and mitigation through the transition to a more sustainable and circular economy and bioeconomy, underpinned by biotechnologies and sustainable industrial solutions, such as carbon capture and utilisation and recovery of materials, water and energy.
EI2 Industrial competitiveness, sustainability and strategic autonomy are improved through the development of safe, sustainable, circular and/or bio-based value chains. This is done by promoting the efficient and circular use of secondary materials and water, fostering the multi-functionality of forests, and ensuring the sustainable supply of critical resources from land and sea.
EI3 Living conditions for individuals and communities are improved through innovative, affordable and sustainable safe and sustainable by design products and services based on circular and/or bio-based solutions while demonstrating a reduction of environmental and climate pressures.
EI4 Advanced societal transformation based on a systemic approach, as well as people’s involvement and integration of social sciences and humanities for fair, safe, sustainable and circular value chains, sustainable consumption patterns, environmental justice, gender equality and social inclusion.

What evaluators will look for in this topic

Expected outcomes

Projects should contribute to all of the expected outcomes.
For each outcome (EO1 to EO5), name who will use or adopt your results (a specific group, not “industry” or “society”), how they get them, and the indicator that shows the change, with baseline, target and date.
Use the topic's own words for each outcome, so the evaluator can tick it off.

What the scope asks for

Evaluators check the proposal against these sentences of the scope. Answer each one visibly, in the call's own words.

“Proposals should develop innovative research, policy, and capacity-building actions that contribute to the post-war recovery and sustainable transformation of Ukraine’s forest sector.”
“Proposals should explore diverse approaches and methods but should clearly address Ukraine’s unique context.”
“Proposals should:. strengthen Ukrainian forest research systems and their integration into policy by expanding data collection, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and providing scientific support to equip decision-makers with evidence for policy development and implementation;. enhance international collaboration and forest science diplomacy in the context of Ukraine’s recovery, by building partnerships for sustainable forest management, support…”

Conditions that shape the proposal

Part B, sections 1–3: 45 pages (standard application form). Text beyond the limit is not read; tables and figures count.
Lump sum: the budget is fixed per work package and paid when each work package is completed. Every work package needs activities and deliverables an evaluator can verify, and the effort must match the money.
Other Eligible Conditions: “The following additional eligibility criteria apply: the participation of at least one research institution or relevant public authority from Ukraine in the consortium is mandatory.”

Impact pathway and traps

International cooperation is part of the scope. Explain what the non-EU partners add and how the cooperation is organised.
Policy or regulation is in scope. Name the policy owners you will reach and what you will give them.
Keep outputs, outcomes and impacts apart: what you deliver, what changes when others use it, and the long-term effect.
For each destination impact you claim, show which of your outcomes feeds it. Destination impacts are long-term effects, not project deliverables.
Name the barriers outside the project (regulation, markets, user behaviour) that could block uptake, and what you will do if they do.
Section 2.3 (the summary canvas) is optional on this call; the old split into scientific, economic and societal impact is no longer required.

The scope, as published

To address the pressing challenges posed by climate change, biodiversity loss and Russia's war against Ukraine, significant advancements in forest science, education, and international collaboration are essential. The war has caused severe damage to Ukraine’s forests, exacerbated institutional and capacity issues in forestry governance and research and innovation, and highlighted the need for capacity building and knowledge exchange. Another key priority for the coming years will be the full digitalisation of Ukraine’s forest cadastre to establish a reliable, transparent, and accessible system for forest governance and scientific research. Proposals should develop innovative research, policy, and capacity-building actions that contribute to the post-war recovery and sustainable transformation of Ukraine’s forest sector. Proposals should explore diverse approaches and methods but should clearly address Ukraine’s unique context. Anticipated Ukrainian stakeholders to be involved include local and regional authorities, national ministries and public agencies, academic and research institutions, forest owners and managers, local communities, civil society organizations, NGOs, forest industry representatives, and educational institutions. The action under this topic is relevant to EU policies related to the recovery and sustainable management of forests, including the EU forest strategy for 2030, the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, the European Green Deal, the EU climate adaptation strategy, and the Nature Restoration Regulation. Proposals should: strengthen Ukrainian forest research systems and their integration into policy by expanding data collection, enhancing stakeholder engagement, and providing scientific support to equip decision-makers with evidence for policy development and implementation; enhance international collaboration and forest science diplomacy in the context of Ukraine’s recovery, by building partnerships for sustainable forest management, support the digitalisation of Ukraine’s forest cadastre to enable transparent, accurate, and accessible forest data and establish a comprehensive, continuous forest monitoring system, aligned with EU and global policies; strengthen Ukrainian institutional and governance capacity by improving frameworks and research institutions to ensure the long-term resilience and effectiveness of sustainable forest management practices; promote innovation in Ukrainian forest education and training by modernizing curricula, supporting student mobility and international research collaboration, and developing lifelong learning programmes for forestry professionals; contribute to the alignment of Ukrainian forestry-related legislation, inspection systems, and standards with EU legislation as a core component of the EU accession and integration process.

Source and attribution

Topic text from the official topic page on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, retrieved 19 October 2026. © European Union, reused under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU (CC BY 4.0). Changes: the expected outcomes and impacts are split into numbered statements, long passages are shortened, and the evaluator checklist is GrantWise's own commentary. Your call and the Work Programme always win; check them before you submit. GrantWise is independent and not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the European Commission.

Expected outcomes

Expected impacts named in the destination

What evaluators will look for in this topic

Expected outcomes

What the scope asks for

Conditions that shape the proposal

Impact pathway and traps

Other topics in HORIZON-CL6-2027-01

Source and attribution