TÜBİTAK will support biodiversity projects up to 175 thousand euros

According to the information obtained by the AA correspondent from TÜBİTAK, the 2026 call titled "New Ecosystems: Biodiversity, Socio-Ecological Consequences and Future Trends - BiodivFuture" within the scope of Ufuk Avrupa, European Biodiversity Partnership (BiodivERsA+) has been opened for applications.

The European Biodiversity Partnership, which includes 81 partners from 40 countries, aims to produce actionable information that will stop and reverse the decline in biodiversity. The partnership aims to ensure that European nature is on the path to recovery by 2030 and that people live in harmony with nature by 2050.

3 main headings were determined

The call covers the causes, impacts and consequences of current and future changes in terrestrial, freshwater, marine and coastal ecosystems in all regions of the world. The aim is to develop scientific knowledge that will create social impact and support decision-making mechanisms through research.

Under the theme of "Functioning of New Ecosystems", the connections of ecosystems with sociocultural and socioeconomic dynamics will be examined. The risk of extinction of species, their continuity and recovery potential, as well as genetic diversity and adaptation capacity to climate change are among the topics that can be investigated.

The theme of "Pathways to New Ecosystems" focuses on the survival of ecosystems in the face of uncertainties and change processes occurring at different times. Analyzing the causes of ecosystem and biodiversity change, developing future scenarios with data and models, and evaluating the reactions of biodiversity and society to different development courses come to the fore.

With the theme "Biodiversity Benefits in the Context of New Ecosystems", the fair sharing of benefits in the nature-friendly transformation process will be discussed. The costs and benefits of ecosystem management, who the decisions affect, and the participation of communities in management processes through information sharing will be examined.

The information obtained from the projects is expected to contribute to actions aimed at protecting ecosystems that are interconnected and maintain their ecological functions.

Partnership from at least three countries required

International consortiums must include suitable partners from at least three countries participating in the call and request support from at least three different funding organizations. Among the partners, it is also required that there be organizations from at least two different European Union members or countries associated with Horizon Europe participating in the call.

Higher education institutions, training and research hospitals, research infrastructures, other public institutions and organizations from Türkiye and capital companies resident in Türkiye with a trade registry certificate can apply.

In addition to the international application, partners in Türkiye will be required to make a national application to TÜBİTAK.

Support rate will reach 100 percent

The project duration within the scope of the program will be a maximum of 36 months. The total contribution that can be requested from TÜBİTAK, excluding institutional shares and project incentive bonuses, cannot exceed 175 thousand euros per project. The upper limit per executive organization will be 100 thousand euros for universities, training and research hospitals, research infrastructures and other public institutions and organizations, and 175 thousand euros for private institutions.

Through the accepted budgets, universities, training and research hospitals, research infrastructures and other public institutions and organizations will be supported by 100 percent, large-scale private organizations by 60 percent, and SMEs by 75 percent.

First stage national applications will end on November 16

In the two-stage application and evaluation process, first stage international project proposals will be submitted until November 10. National applications to TÜBİTAK will be made by November 16, and electronic signature procedures will be completed by November 19.

The international application deadline for projects invited to the second stage will be April 16, 2027.

The projects to be supported are expected to be announced in September 2027, and the work will begin between December 1, 2027 and April 1, 2028.