Background

Biodiversa+ is a network of agencies and ministries programming and funding pan-European research on biodiversity and ecosystem services on a competitive basis.

BiodivERsA was established in 2005, the DFG joined BiodivERsA in November 2010. BiodivERsA has continuously been funded under the EU Framework Progammes FP6, FP 7 Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe(externer Link).

Since its start, two ERA-Nets (BiodivERsA and BiodivERsA2) and three ERA-Net Cofunds (BiodivERsA3, BiodivScen and BiodivClim) have come to an end. Currently, one ERA-Net Cofunds ( BiodivRestore) and a European Co-funded Partnership (Biodiversa+), which started in autumn 2021 and focusses on Rescuing biodiversity to safeguard life on Earth, are running. 

Since its beginning in 2005, the network has launched 14 calls for proposals. Until now, over 200 pan-European research projects have been funded in 13 calls.

For main achievements of BiodivERsA for research on biodiversity, ecosystem services and nature-based solutions between 2008-2021, see the BiodivERsA Main Achievements brochure(Download).

Biodiversa+: Current Co-fund Call 2025/2026

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) as a partner of Biodiversa+ is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025–2026 joint call for research proposals on the topic “Restoration of ecosystem functioning, integrity and connectivity” (referred to as BiodivConnect)(externer Link).

Scope of the Call

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, at scales from local to regional to cross-border and global, including their evaluation. The call covers restoration efforts for biodiversity in all types of ecosystems and habitats, in all regions of the world, 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. Projects should support progress towards international biodiversity commitments, also beyond 2030, under the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, and relevant biodiversity policy objectives at different levels in Europe and globally.

Topics

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 2: Transferability and scaling of nature restoration efforts
• Topic 3: Resilience and sustainability of restoration efforts

Main Steps of the Call

The call is planned to be officially launched on 9 September 2025. A two-step application procedure will be used with a closing date for pre-proposal submission in early November 2025. A first evaluation of pre-proposals will be organised and the deadline to submit full proposals will be early April 2026.

Proposals (in English only) will have to be submitted electronically. Pre-proposals shall be submitted via an Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS) only. For applicants applying for funds from Germany, full proposals shall be submitted via EPSS AND via elan. 

Eligibility

To be eligible, research consortia will have to include teams from a minimum of 3 countries financially participating in the call, including at least 2 from EU Member States or EU Associated Countries.

Please note that it is crucial that all applicants of a consortium comply with their national/regional funding rules and commit especially to Annex 5 of the Horizon Europe Annotated Grant Agreement. These funding rules will be available at the time the call is launched in September.

For the DFG, the eligibility requirements comply with the standard rules for DFG research grants and include members of universities of applied sciences (HAW). However, in this call, applicants from Germany can apply to the DFG and the BMFTR/PTJ only for a maximum of € 210,000 per project (excluding overhead costs; calculation of personnel costs according to BMFTR funding guidelines). More details will be announced with the funding organisation rules on the Biodiversa+ website in September.

Assessment Criteria

The research proposals will be evaluated by independent experts against the following criteria: 

• Step 1 (pre-proposal stage): fit to the scope of the call, novelty of the research and impact
• Step 2 (full proposal stage): (scientific) excellence, quality and efficiency of the implementation (of the project plan) and impact (including expected societal/policy impact, and approach to stakeholder engagement)

Research proposals are expected to demonstrate significant transnational added value and to be interdisciplinary, involving multiple academic disciplines. Proposals are also strongly encouraged to be transdisciplinary to include non-academic stakeholders working together with researchers to co-produce new knowledge relevant for society.

Detailed instructions regarding submission, eligibility, evaluation criteria and other relevant information will be published with the official call announcement in September.

Transnational Research Consortia

At this stage, a global budget of over €40 million has been provisionally reserved by 32 countries together with the European Commission. The countries which have expressed a preliminary interest in participating in the call are listed on the Biodiversa+ webpage (regularly updated)(externer Link). 

Biodiversa+ Mailing List and Information Webinar

You can register for the Biodiversa+ mailing list to be kept updated on latest information regarding this major upcoming research funding opportunity.

 

Save the date!
An information webinar(externer Link) for potential applicants will be organised on 11 September 2025 from 1 pm to 3 pm CEST. During this webinar, time will be dedicated for you to interact and ask questions to funders from Germany (DFG and BMFTR/PTJ). 

European Co-funded Partnership Biodiversa+ (10/2021-9/2028)

Activities, objectives, goals and vision

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European Partnership on biodiversity

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Partners

Biodiversa+ currently* gathers 81 partners from 39 countries(externer Link).

_{* (as of August 2025)}

Further Information

For further information, please see the Biodiversa+ website(externer Link).