Innovation News

To support FTP stakeholders, FTP analyzed the published Horizon Europe Work Programmes 2023 -2024 and identified the Call topics relevant for the forest-based sector. As a result, around 70 Call topics with a budget of € 1 billion were identified as relevant or indirectly relevant to the forest-based sector. These relevant Calls topics were mainly […]

In April/May 2025, The European Commission (EC) will publish its Work Programme (WP) for 2025, gathering the call topics for this year. Having had a first look at the draft documents, here is an overview of some relevant calls for the forest-based sector: Forest & Forestry (Opening date: 06/05/2025 – Closing date: 17/09/2025) Woodworking (Opening […]

The Forest-based Sector Technology Platform (FTP) is pleased to highlight an opportunity for large companies and SMEs in the bio-based industries: the BIC Open Innovation Competition 2025. This initiative, led by the Bio-based Industries Consortium (BIC), fosters collaboration between industry leaders, SMEs, and startups to drive forward innovative solutions for key challenges in the sector. […]

Every year on 21 March, we celebrate the International Day of Forests, highlighting the crucial role that forests play in sustaining life on Earth. This year’s theme, “Forests and Food”, highlights the important contribution of forests to food security, nutrition, and sustainable livelihoods. Across Europe, innovative projects are working to enhance the link between forests […]

The Circular Bio-based Europe (CBE JU) has published its Annual Work Programme for 2025 on 18 December 2024. The document is composed of 13 topics with a budget of 165 m€. FTP has selected 9 call topics that are of interest to the forest-based sector (125 m€), mainly to the Pulp & Paper Industries, with […]

The next Horizon Europe Work Programme for 2025 is expected to be officially published around March or April 2025. However, Science|Business has already released preliminary drafts for Clusters 4 and 5, allowing an early glimpse into potential opportunities for the forest-based sector. FTP has reviewed these drafts and identified several calls of particular relevance. Woodworking: […]

The European Commission has announced significant updates to the Innovation Fund in 2024, continuing its focus on accelerating the deployment of low-carbon technologies across Europe. This year, two primary funding mechanisms have been launched: the Innovation Fund 2024 Call and the Innovation Fund 2024 Auction. This funding could be primarily of interest to the pulp […]

Following the hearings in November, the European Parliament approved the new Commissioners at the end of the month, enabling the European Commission to officially assume office on 1 December 2024. In her address to the Parliament, Ursula von der Leyen stressed that the Commission will prioritize “research and innovation, science, and technology as the heart […]

FTP represents its members and the forest-based value chain in several key European Partnerships, including Processes4Planet, Built4People and CBE JU. These partnerships bring together stakeholders from industry, research, and public sectors to address pressing societal challenges and foster innovation within specific industries. To further expand its influence, FTP has now joined another important partnership, Made […]

FTP joined 17 other European Technology Platforms (ETPs) to call on the European Commission to reaffirm their support for the strategic role of ETPs in the next EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation succeeding Horizon Europe (FP10). The statement reminds the role and importance of ETPs as platforms that mobilised a broad range of […]

According to an internal memo, the European Commission proposes consolidating existing research and innovation funds, including the European Research Council (ERC) and European Innovation Council (EIC), into a unified European Competitiveness Fund. Expected to launch under the next multiannual budget in 2028, this “mega-fund” aims to simplify and strengthen EU initiatives for innovation, productivity, and […]