Call 01 - single stage (2027)

Home Funding Calls for proposals Accelerating the transition to a nature positive economy: Integrating biodiversity into the private sector Accelerating the transition to a nature positive economy: Integrating biodiversity into the private sector HORIZON-CL6-2027-01-BIODIV-05 Topic Call for proposal Internal navigation General information Topic description Destination Conditions and documents Budget overview Partner search announcements Start submission Topic Q&As Get support General information Programme Horizon Europe (HORIZON) Call Call 01 - single stage (2027) (HORIZON-CL6-2027-01) Type of action HORIZON-RIA HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions Type of MGA HORIZON Lump Sum Grant [HORIZON-AG-LS] Forthcoming Deadline model single-stage Planned opening date 20 April 2027 Deadline date 22 September 2027 17:00:00 Brussels time Topic description Expected Outcome: Project results are expected to contribute to all the following expected outcomes, driving transformative change for biodiversity and nature positive economic practices: overall, the economic case for biodiversity protection, restoration, sustainable use and the delivery of ecosystem services upon which all life depends, is strengthened including through robust assessments of the cost of inaction; businesses are better able to mainstream biodiversity considerations in decision-making, fostering transformative business models that enhance inclusion for biodiversity, particularly for start-ups and SMEs, including nature-based enterprises[1]. Leveraging synergies in business action on climate to strengthen overall resilience also needs to be considered; policy and decision makers benefit from improved knowledge to drive transformative policy including fiscal reforms to align economic incentives with nature positive investments and scalable biodiversity finance mechanisms (including blended finance, green bonds, nature credits, ecosystem service markets, etc.); to ensure clear evaluation frameworks for effectiveness, policy and decision makers have access to improved measurement and reporting of economic and business impacts, dependencies, and efforts on biodiversity. Scope: Current economic systems are often driven by growth models and competitive pressures that prioritise short-term profits and speed over the long-term health of ecosystems. These systems also fail to account for environmental externalities, making nature positive solutions appear less affordable than they truly are. This has led to the exploitation of natural resources, habitat destruction, and loss of biodiversity, which in turn has significant negative impacts on both the environment and human well-being. Safeguarding biodiversity and ecosystem services is not just important, it is essential to preserving life on Earth, as they underpin the very systems that sustain all human and natural life. As these systems continue, the consequences are becoming increasingly clear: climate change, soil degradation, water scarcity, pollution and species extinction, all of which undermine the foundations of human society, business, and future prosperity. A nature positive economy, on the other hand, focuses on restoring and enhancing the natural systems that support life on Earth, ultimately benefiting and improving the resilience of our economy. The topic should work to achieve the objectives and the implementation of the European Green Deal, the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030, the ‘Roadmap towards nature Credits’, EU Sustainable Finance Policy including the EU Taxonomy for Sustainable Activities, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF, and notably targets 14, 15, 18 and 19) and the Task Force on Nature Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD). Proposals should: support decision-making for a nature positive economy by addressing knowledge and practice gaps, advancing transparent and standardised biodiversity metrics, improving accessibility of assessment methods and data, integrating economic risks related to biodiversity loss into corporate strategies and reporting. Where possible lessons learned should inform and scale-up initiatives to achieve a nature positive economy also beyond the European context; improve the knowledge on effective biodiversity incentives including through fiscal reforms and phasing out harmful subsidies to support the development of policies and financial strategies for nature positive investments; pilot innovative financial mechanisms and valuation approaches in real-world business contexts, including instruments for mobilising private finance such as nature credits, to strengthen the business case for biodiversity protection, restoration and sustainable use, including through Nature-based Solutions; carry out demonstration actions to help integrate research into policy and practice and to demonstrate operational pathways for long term transformative change and for the acceleration of nature positive economy; use and build on available biodiversity data sources, including from biodiversity monitoring schemes, for the purpose of developing corporate strategies and sustainability metrics in the private sector. This includes considering the potential of AI; develop, analyse and/or promote ways of making sustainability reporting more accessible, efficient, and accurate for businesses of all sizes and particularly for start-ups and SMEs, with a view to promote an equitable and manageable compliance framework. Leveraging AI, digital automation and sector specific insights is encouraged. Proposals should seek to address some knowledge gaps identified by the relevant IPBES assessments and if appropriate, provide recommendations to policy makers. Proposals should create synergies with and build on results of other relevant EU-funded projects on biodiversity, economics and finance, and ensure cooperation with the European partnership Biodiversa+. To this end, proposals should include dedicated tasks and appropriate resources for coordination measures. Proposals should foresee appropriate resources to ensure close cooperation with the EC Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD) and its Science Service. Proposals should also foresee links with voluntary market initiatives, e.g., the TNFD or others. Proposals must follow a multi-actor approach, engaging researchers, businesses, financial institutions, public authorities, policy makers, and civil society to co-develop and apply solutions. [1] For more information on nature-based enterprises please refer to page 6 and 8 of the European Commission Expert Publication (2022): The vital role of nature-based solutions in a nature positive economy: https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/85aeb571-c69c-11ec-b6f4-01aa75ed71a1 Show more Topic destination Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2026-27) This destination will mostly support the EU Commission priority ‘Sustaining our quality of life: food security, water and nature’. The implementation of the EU Green Deal[1] will continue to guide R&I in this destination. R&I will develop knowledge and tools to support the implementation of the EU biodiversity strategy for 2030[2] and notably the EU Nature Restoration Regulation[3], including with the development of nature credits as proposed in the Nature Credits Roadmap[4]. This destination will also address the EU proposal for a Directive on soil monitoring and resilience[5], the EU proposal for a Regulation on a forest monitoring framework[6] and will inform deliberations on EU biodiversity policy after 2030, thus protecting our natural world. Nature-based Solutions are deep-rooted in this destination, which will support the EU climate adaptation strategy[7] and the EU climate mitigation targets by maintaining or improving natural carbon sinks, since natural ecosystems store large amounts of carbon globally and ecosystems’ carbon sequestration potential is tightly linked to their biological diversity. R&I should particularly assess the ecosystems ongoing ability to sequester carbon and, if necessary, focus more on ecosystems that reliably do so while also providing benefits to biodiversity. Actions will contribute to the European Ocean Pact[8], to the European Water Resilience Strategy[9] and to the EU legislative proposal on pollutants in EU waters[10] (update of chemical substances listed for control). R&I activities for sustainable farming, fishing and aquaculture will be supported in alignment with the Vision for Agriculture and Food[11], the Vision for Fisheries and Aquaculture towards 2040[12], as well as with the environmental objectives of the Common Agricultural Policy[13] and the EU Action Plan for the Development of Organic Production[14]. These efforts will enhance biodiversity and climate-resilient farming practices, ensuring the long-term competitiveness of these sectors within ecological boundaries, and foster innovation to drive sustainable food production. R&I actions under this destination will encourage international cooperation in line with the global approach on R&I, contributing to EU international biodiversity commitments, notably those taken under the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)[15], which defines targets for the medium term (2030) and goals for the long term (2050). This destination will also support the Paris Agreement[16], the Sustainable Development Goals[17] and the United Nations agreement on biodiversity beyond national jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement)[18]. Support to processes of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES)[19] will be continued. Complementarities and synergies will be ensured with the activities supported by the co-funded partnerships Biodiversa+[20], Water4All[21] and the co-funded partnership on Agroecology[22], and LIFE[23] projects, particularly on nature restoration and protection. The destination supports unlocking the unique assets for research and innovation of the EU outermost regions, in line with the EU strategy for outermost regions[24]. Expected impact: Proposals for topics under this destination should set out a credible pathway contributing to “putting biodiversity on a path to recovery, and protecting and restoring ecosystems and their services”, and more specifically to one or more of the following expected impacts: Knowledge on biodiversity status and trends and drivers of biodiversity loss is improved; Innovations, methods, pathways, models and tools are available and used to protect healthy and resilient ecosystems and to restore degraded ones, ensuring the continuous provision of ecosystem services, including for adaptation and/or mitigation to climate change; The ongoing biodiversity crisis and its consequences, notably on ecosystem functioning and their services, and the need to monitor, protect, restore and sustainably use biodiversity are better understood to better benefit the whole society in an inclusive way; Policymakers and stakeholders, all relevant economic sectors and society are aware and well informed of relevant challenges and opportunities of biodiversity protection, restoration and sustainable use, leading to better implementation of the biodiversity legislation and better valuation of ecosystem services, leading to transformative change towards a nature positive economy; Farmers, foresters, land and sea managers, fishers and aquaculture producers have access to key information, and test and implement biodiversity-friendly management practices, while safeguarding food and water security and fostering competitiveness, demonstrating the long-term sustainability of these sectors; Progress towards international commitments worldwide on biodiversity is made. [1] The European Green Deal - European Commission [2] Biodiversity strategy for 2030 - European Commission [3] Regulation - EU - 2024/1991 - EN - EUR-Lex [4] EUR-Lex - 52025DC0374 - EN - EUR-Lex [5] EUR-Lex - 52023PC0416 - EN - EUR-Lex [6] Proposal for a Regulation on [... συνέχεια στην επίσημη πρόσκληση]