Call for
Proposal 2025: Challenges in Forest Management, Climate change, Biodiversity, Ecosystem Services & Forest Products
About Organisation
VELUX Stiftung is a Swiss-based foundation committed to supporting innovative research and practical solutions in areas that benefit people and the environment. Founded with the vision of promoting scientific progress and societal impact, the foundation focuses its efforts on fields where there is a clear need for action and where new approaches can foster long-term change. VELUX Stiftung’s key areas of funding include daylight research, healthy ageing, ophthalmology, and sustainable forestry.
In the forestry domain, the foundation aims to bridge the gap between scientific research and real-world application by encouraging interdisciplinary collaboration and community engagement. Through its Forestry Funding Program, VELUX Stiftung supports forward-thinking projects that address pressing ecological challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change. The foundation is particularly interested in projects that integrate science with practical forestry practices, promote sustainable management strategies, and build resilience in forest ecosystems. VELUX Stiftung places strong emphasis on knowledge transfer, stakeholder involvement, and the development of scalable and impactful tools. Its support structure encourages long-term stewardship and innovation, helping ensure that both forests and communities can thrive together.
About the Grant
The VELUX Stiftung Forestry Funding Program supports impactful projects that combine scientific research with practical forest management strategies. Running from 2022 to 2026, the program is designed to foster resilient and productive forests that can sustain biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and offer critical ecosystem services for generations to come. It encourages projects that shift traditional views on forest use, integrating ecological, economic, and social dimensions.
Two core project categories are funded: Research Projects, which focus on novel and transformative scientific inquiries into sustainable forestry, and Science-Practice Projects, which emphasize the application of scientific findings to real-world forestry practices. Each project must engage stakeholders meaningfully and dedicate at least 10% of its budget to activities that ensure knowledge transfer, such as training, outreach, or communication tools.
The program targets system-changing ideas that move beyond short-term interventions. It supports interdisciplinary efforts, collaborative frameworks, and long-term behavioral incentives aimed at improving forest stewardship. Emphasis is placed on solutions that are innovative, applicable, and aligned with one or more of the foundation’s thematic focus areas, including biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation, sustainable product use, and behavioral tools that promote forest sustainability.
Who can Apply?
The VELUX Stiftung Forestry Program is open to researchers, institutions, and practitioner groups committed to sustainable forest management. Eligible applicants include universities, non-profit organizations, research institutes, and collaborations involving scientists and forestry practitioners. Both early-career and experienced professionals are encouraged to apply, provided the project demonstrates scientific merit and practical applicability.
To qualify, applicants must propose projects that align with the program’s core objectives: advancing sustainable forest practices, addressing climate and biodiversity challenges, and facilitating science-practice collaboration. Proposals should involve interdisciplinary approaches and participatory methods that ensure strong engagement from stakeholders and end-users. For Research Projects, originality, innovation, and relevance to global forest management challenges are key. For Science-Practice Projects, applicants must show how the scientific evidence will be translated into actionable tools or guidelines and integrated into practice.
A minimum of 10% of the total project budget must be dedicated to knowledge dissemination activities. Projects that focus on underrepresented issues or regions and those with the potential for systemic, long-term change in forestry practices are prioritized. Applicants uncertain about their project’s fit within the program scope can submit an abstract for preliminary feedback from the foundation.
How to Apply?
Interested applicants should prepare a comprehensive proposal that outlines project objectives, methodology, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge transfer plans. Applications undergo a three-stage evaluation process: internal screening, scientific committee review, and final decision by the Foundation Board. Detailed guidelines, including requirements and evaluation criteria, will be available with the next call in April 2025. For early feedback, applicants may submit an abstract for preliminary alignment review.
Application Deadline
The submission deadline for the 2025 call is 22 September 2025 at 23:59 CEST. Applicants must ensure all required documents are complete and submitted before the specified cut-off.
Last Date To Apply
The final date to apply for the VELUX Stiftung Forestry Funding Program’s next cycle is 22nd September 2025, with final funding decisions expected in March 2026.
Grant Amount
Grant amounts vary based on the scope and impact of the project. Applicants are expected to budget for robust implementation and allocate at least 10% to stakeholder engagement and knowledge dissemination.
Last Date To Apply
For more information, please visit the grant website here.
