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 Cofund ( 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 15 calls for proposals. Until now, over 200 pan-European research projects have been funded in 14 calls.

Biodiversa+: Current Co-fund Call 2026/2027 BiodivFuture

The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation) as a partner of Biodiversa+ is pleased to announce the launch of the 2026–2027 joint call for research proposals on the topic "Novel ecosystems: biodiversity, socio-ecological consequences and future trajectories" BiodivFuture(externer Link)).

Scope of the Call

BiodivFuture focuses on supporting future-looking research and innovation that will address biodiversity and novel ecosystems, as well as their socio-ecological dynamics and consequences relating to the sustainability goals of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework(externer Link), and associated future pathways and trajectories of change. The call covers investigating the causes (drivers), effects (biological responses), and outcomes (including opportunities, risks and trade-offs) of current and future trajectories of change in all relevant realms (terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal areas), in all regions of the world. It aims at funding novel, high-quality transnational research with potential for societal and political impact that will significantly improve our understanding of novel ecosystems with holistic, systemic, and integrated approaches.

In the face of inevitable and potentially irreversible change, knowledge generated under this call should ultimately lead to actions to achieve impacts that sustain resilient, interconnected, diverse and ecologically functioning ecosystems. This could include critical reflection on what constitutes ecosystem states that best preserve or restore natural resources by taking multiple costs and benefits (trade-offs) into account and the diversity of contexts, scales, perspectives and world views. Well-functioning ecosystems should benefit people and protect nature at scales from local to global and emphasise biodiversity, trophic complexity, economic vitality, and societal well-being.

Themes

Research priorities covered by BiodivFuture are structured into three non-mutually exclusive themes. Projects are welcome to address one or several of these themes.

• Theme A: Novel ecosystem functioning
• Theme B: Pathways to novel ecosystems
• Theme C: Biodiversity benefits and Equity in the context of novel ecosystem

Call Schedule

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).(externer Link)

For applicants applying for funds from Germany, full proposals shall be submitted via EPSS AND via elan. 

Timetable of the call

• Deadline for pre-proposals submission (mandatory): 10 November 2026, 12:00 (noon) CET (11:00 UTC)
• Results of the evaluation of the first step: mid-February 2027
• Deadline for full-proposals submission: 16 April 2027, 12:00 (noon) CEST (10:00 UTC)
• Deadline for full-proposals submission to DFG: 25 April 2027, 00:00 CEST (22:00 UTC, previous day)Recommendations for funding: Late September to early October 2027
• Start of the projects: Between 1 December 2027 and 1 April 2028

Eligibility

German applicants can find details in the eligibility criteria and the German funding organisations’ rules(Download), as well as in the slides from the information webinar from 10 September 2026(Download). For the DFG, the eligibility requirements comply with the standard rules for DFG research grants and include members of universities of applied sciences (HAW). The maximum budget requirements stated in the funding organisation rules must be met in order to be eligible to apply.

Evaluation process

Research proposals (in English only) must be submitted electronically. They 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, and are strongly encouraged to pursue inter- and transdisciplinary approaches. They should span a wide range of relevant academic disciplines and include non-academic stakeholders to co-produce actionable impactful knowledge while adhering to the ethics and principles of responsible research.

Transnational Research Consortia

Over 30 funding organisations from 25 countries are joining this call, together with the European Commission. To be eligible, 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.

Biodiversa+ webpage (regularly updated)(externer Link). 

Information and Key Documents

Please Make sure to carefully read all the supporting call documents:

• Announcement of Opportunity(externer Link) (including the call text detailing the scope of the call)
• Pre-proposal application form(externer Link) (for information only; the actual form is to be completed on the EPSS(externer Link))
• Full proposal application form(externer Link) (for information only; the actual form is to be completed on the EPSS(externer Link) in Step 2)
• Checklist for applicants(externer Link)
• Assessment criteria(externer Link)
• Data policy(externer Link)
• Conflict of interest, confidentiality and non-disclosure policy(externer Link).
• Frequently Asked Questions(externer Link)

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 40 countries(externer Link).

_{* (as of April 2026)}

Further Information

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