Open call for Annual Research Networks in the Nordic Region

The aim of the call is to promote collaboration and increase synergy within forest research in the Nordic region related to bioeconomy or the focus areas of the SNS strategy:

• Forest resources as a base for value creation and rural development
• Climate change adaptation and mitigation
• Safeguarding of forest biodiversity

Strengthening the resilience of the Nordic forest sector is therefore essential to better cope with these, often unpredictable, events in the future. SNS and ForBioeconomy wish to emphasize the importance of networks addressing the issue of resilience. They particularly encourage networks addressing their topics with an interdisciplinary approach, and networks working atthe interface of science and policy. However, they do also invite more traditional networks to apply.

Aim

The aim of the network call is to:

• Strengthen forest research in the Nordic region.
• Bridge gaps between research and practice.
• Promote collaboration across sectors within a sustainable bioeconomy.
• Link national research projects, which otherwise would be carried out on a national level, but where considerable positive outcomes can be reached through a wider regional scope.

Funding Information

• Successful applicants may receive funds of maximum 200 000 SEK for activities over the course of one year (2025), covering at most 50% of the total budget for the network.

Activities and Participation

• Network grants are for activities over the course of one year (2025).
• Aspects of the prioritized focus areas must be addressed.
• Researchers or communication officers at research institutions are eligible to apply.
• Stakeholders are encouraged to be involved but cannot be main applicant.
• The main applicant must be a researcher or a communication officer at a Nordic research institution.
• Applicants in funded networks should represent at least five different countries consisting of at least three research institutions from different countries in the Nordic region.
• Applicants of relevance for the activities of the network from outside of the Nordic region can also be included.
• Each gender must be represented by a minimum of 40% of the applicants and the participants in the network.
• PhD students and early career researchers (in the first 10 years of research activities) should be included in the network.

Network Outcome

• Network outputs should be useful for the Nordic community and should include knowledge exchange across national borders through e.g. arranging workshops, seminars, scientific meetings or open conferences –IRL, digital, or hybrid. Networks could also produce peer-reviewed scientific papers, communicate research results, design policy recommendations based on research findings, write large-scale research funding applications, and create or maintain databases or websites.

Criteria

• Applicants in funded networks should represent at least five different countries, consisting of at least three research institutions from different countries in the Nordic region (The Nordic region is defined as Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden and the autonomous areas of the Faroe Islands, Greenland and Åland Islands).
• Applicants of relevance for the activities of the network from outside of the Nordic region can also be included. However, the main applicant must be a researcher or a communication officer at a Nordic research institution.

For more information, visit Nordic Forest Research (SNS).