European FOREST Research and Innovation Ecosystem

Project Information

EUFORE

Grant agreement ID: 101081788

DOI

10.3030/101081788

EC signature date 27 September 2022

Start date 1 November 2022

End date 31 October 2026

Funded under

• Food, Bioeconomy Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment

Total cost

€ 3 996 391,25

EU contribution

€ 3 996 390,00

Coordinated by

EUROPEAN FOREST INSTITUTE
Finland

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EUFORE (European FOREST Research and Innovation Ecosystem)

Reporting period: 2024-05-01 to 2025-10-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The EUFORE project supports the preparation for a possible European research and innovation partnership on forests under the Horizon Europe Programme. It aims to develop a sustainable, transnational, co-creative environment to define, implement, and evaluate research and innovation (R&I) agendas and roadmaps for the entire forest-based value chains in Europe. The project will assess, and outline research needs and provide a platform for increased R&I cooperation, coordination, and joint funding for forestry and the forest-based sector, thus supporting the implementation of the new EU forest strategy. EUFORE outputs include a strategic R&I agenda for forestry and the forest-based sector (SRIA), along with accompanying implementation measures and stakeholder commitments. These will be codesigned with key relevant actors, in a multi-actor approach. The project team continuously facilitates and strives to implement broad stakeholder engagement via diverse participation mechanisms, all designed to instill a sense of co-ownership of the SRIA preparation process and thus secure support for its implementation. To enable its stakeholders to reach informed decisions, EUFORE provides them with all the necessary information i.e. a review of European R&I activity in the sector, funding, and governance; information on societal expectations towards the sector; analysis of the policy environment and its R&I implications; and foresight on how the sector might develop, and what the future supply of and demand for its ecosystem services and products may be.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

In WP1, work on mapping the development of research production (T1.1) innovation capacities (T1.2) as well as on mapping and analyzing research and innovation funding and its governance at both European and national levels (T1.3) has commenced. A literature review on funding and governance of European forest-based sector research and innovation (R&I) has been performed, as well as an analysis of European-funded R&I projects for forests and the forest-based sector (T1.3). WP 2 launched a European survey for analysing societal demands towards forests (T2.1) commenced the research protocol for examining European policies (T2.2) analysed future trends for forests & wood supply and wood demand, and started to prepare scenarios for identifying realistic potentials and expectations and future R&I needs (T2.3) as well as identifying and synthesizing recent relevant Horizon Scanning and other foresight exercises related to the forest sector (T2.4).
WP3 designed and published a stakeholder engagement protocol (T3.1) launched the Stakeholder Engagement Hub (T3.2) conducted six regional stakeholder workshops, and co-organized the first general stakeholder meeting (T3.5). The EUFORE project made significant progress in co-creating the SRIA (T3.5) by implementing Thematic Working Groups. In these groups the stakeholders elaborated the first draft of the SRIA. WP4 produced an effective communication, dissemination, and exploitation plan to ensure the EUFORE project’s successful outreach (T4.1) designing a starter kit with promotional materials, call-to-action videos, an infographic, and a poster (T4.2 T4.3).EUFORE actively participated in SCAR FOREST activities, supported the European Partnership on Forests and Forestry proposal, and coordinated with national funders in the ForestValue projects further enhancing engagement and collaboration (T4.4). WP5 successfully established and coordinated the overall working procedures in the project, including the facilitation of productive working relationships amongst the WPs and internal project communication given the overall objectives and the management of the project's relationships and continuous dialogue with stakeholders and the wider public (T5.1). It also continuously ensured the quality of all deliverables and outputs delivered to the European Commission (T5.2).

During the second reporting period, the project made strong progress across all work packages: WP1 completed its core analytical deliverables on research, innovation, and funding landscapes and advanced scientific publications; WP2 delivered planned reports, engaged stakeholders on the future of European forests and policies, and progressed toward scientific outputs and dissemination; WP3 significantly expanded stakeholder engagement at regional, national, and European levels, culminating in the development and publication of the SRIA and its Roadmap, with broad commitment from funding organisations; WP4 ensured continuous communication and visibility of project activities while supporting partner engagement and the co-creation of the SRIA; and WP5 provided effective overall coordination, quality assurance, and management, ensuring timely delivery, strong collaboration, and integration of cross-cutting priorities throughout the project.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

During the second reporting period, EUFORE achieved substantial progress across all work packages, delivering key analyses on European forest R&I structures, policy impacts, innovation dynamics, and future scenarios, and finalising the co‑created Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) and its Roadmap. These results are expected to significantly support the preparation of the future European Partnership on Forests and Forestry, strengthen evidence‑based policymaking, and enhance coordination of research, funding, and stakeholder engagement across Europe. The work has already contributed to improved understanding of research capacities, innovation barriers, evolving societal expectations, and future supply–demand trends for forest resources. To ensure further uptake and long‑term success, additional efforts are needed in areas such as continued refinement of the R&I knowledge base, demonstration and piloting through Living Labs, harmonised and accessible funding and governance mechanisms, support for market entry and standardisation of innovative wood products, stakeholder engagement beyond the project lifetime, and sustained international cooperation. Strengthening access to data, ensuring stable funding frameworks, and improving cross‑sectoral policy coherence will also be essential to maintaining momentum and enabling the SRIA’s implementation. Overall, EUFORE’s results provide a robust foundation for increased R&I coordination, improved innovation ecosystems, and long‑term impact on forest sustainability, resilience, and competitiveness across Europe.