WoodStock grants for SMEs

The call is open from 15 September 2026 to 15 December 2026 at 17:00. 
Call documents:
- Presentation online infosession 1 September 2026
- WoodStock Design guidelines
- Template WoodStock grants proposal (word document)
- Template - WoodStock grants budget (excel document)
- Terms of the call
- SME Self-assessment | EU Funding & Tenders Portal​

Start your application here

Register first
Click the purple REGISTER button (+) and enter your details. Once you have registered, Evalato will send you an email with a personal login link and PIN code. Use these to access the applicant portal and start your application.

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How to apply

Applications must be submitted online through Evalato, the dedicated application platform for the WoodStock grants. Applications submitted by email or through any other channel will not be considered.

 

Submit your application in 6 steps

 

  1. Go to the WoodStock application portal
    Access the WoodStock grants application portal in Evalato through this webpage ('Start your application here') and create an account or log in with your existing account.
     
  2. Start your application
    Select the WoodStock Grants programme and click Apply or Start application. Edit your application any time using the link you have received by email​ after registration.
     
  3. Complete and upload your application
    Complete the WoodStock application form and upload it to the portal, together with all required supporting documents. These may include the budget template, visual material in PDF format and, for consortia, letters of support.
     
  4. Check your files
    Each uploaded file may be a maximum of 20 MB. Larger files must be compressed or split into smaller files before uploading.

    You can save your application as a draft and return to it later. Evalato will flag any mandatory information that is still missing before you submit.
     
  5. Submit your application
    Once your application is complete, click Submit. Only fully submitted applications received before the deadline will be considered.

    Only one application per solution may be submitted.
     
  6. Keep your confirmation email
    After successful submission, you will automatically receive a confirmation email from Evalato. Please keep this email as proof that your application was submitted on time.

 

Application deadline

Submit your application by 15 December 2026 at 17:00 CET.

person-typing-on-laptop

Funding to support climate-smart wood construction solutions

Transforming the construction sector requires forward-thinking solutions. The WoodStock grants offer a unique opportunity for SMEs, start-ups, non-profit organisations, or consortia led by one of these to make better use of underutilised wood in construction and develop climate-smart wood construction solutions beyond Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5.

Through this call, four selected projects will receive up to €50,000 each to test, validate, and scale up innovative zero-waste solutions in real-world contexts. 

The committee will award a maximum of one grant per EU Member State (or Horizon Europe associated country (Pillar 2) - based on the country of the lead applicant only. One project will be granted per underutilised wood source type (hardwood, low-quality wood, damaged wood, post-consumer wood and residual wood). If a wood source type has no application that reaches 3 points on every evaluation criterion, the overall second-best proposal from among the other underutilised wood source types will be granted instead.  

The call for grants will be opened on 15 September. By joining the WoodStock project, grant recipients will contribute to activating the European wood construction market and to demonstrating the feasibility and scalability of circular approaches across the value chain.

Download the slides of the info session from 1 September 2026. 

On this page:

  • Why this call matters
  • Who can apply
  • Selection process
  • Funding overview
  • Activities that may qualify for financial support
  • Expectations of grant awardees
  • How to apply
  • Estimated timeline
group workshop

Why this call matters

The construction sector is central to Europe’s climate transition. At the same time, significant volumes of hardwood, residual wood, low-quality wood, and damaged wood remain until today underutilised. Unlocking this potential can reduce waste, strengthen local value chains, and create sustainable economic opportunities.

The WoodStock grants support this transition by supporting 1-year projects that combine innovation, circularity, and community engagement — embedding the New European Bauhaus (NEB) values of together, sustainable, and beautiful into practical construction solutions.

 

Through this call, four selected projects will receive financial support from the funding body Ghent University to:


Develop and demonstrate climate-smart wood construction solutions beyond TRL5


Facilitate the use of underutilised wood (hardwood, residual wood, low-quality wood, damaged wood)


Contribute to zero-waste design and circular construction


Engage in co-creation with local communities and industry actors


Gain visibility through WoodStock, the WoodBook and the European Wood Construction Observatory

Who can apply

Eligible applicants must be:

  • an SME, start-up, or non-profit organisation
  • or a consortium led by an SME, start-up, or non-profit organisation

 

Applicants must be based in an EU Member State or a country associated with Horizon Europe (Pillar 2).

We encourage professionals from architecture, design, forestry, wood industries, construction, and green building sectors, as well as members of the New European Bauhaus community to apply. Interdisciplinary collaboration across the wood construction value chain is strongly encouraged.

Two-step selection process

Step 1 – eligibility criteria

 

Proposals must 

 

Only proposals meeting these criteria will be further evaluated.

 

Please note that there is a strict prohibition of double funding from the EU budget. Applicants will be required to confirm that the project, in whole or in part, has not received funding from any other EU grant and has not been or will not be submitted for funding under any other EU grant.

neb compass

 

Step 2 – evaluation criteria

Eligible proposals will be scored (0–5 points per criterion). Each proposal must score at least 3 points for each evaluation criterion. Based on the overall scores, all proposals that meet the threshold will be ranked. 

The six evaluation criteria are

CriterionWhat we are looking for
1. New European BauhausEmbedding the NEB values (together, sustainable, beautiful). Applicants should specify their ambitions levels and demonstrate how they make use of the NEB working principles: participatory processes, multi-level engagement, and transdisciplinary approach. Applicants can consult the WoodStock design guidelines for inspiration on how to apply the NEB values to concepts using underutilised wood.
2. CircularityDemonstrating in qualitative and quantitative ways the benefits in local wood use, resource efficiency, zero-waste design, longevity, and environmental gains. This criterion will be evaluated based on WoodStock design guidelines.
3. Community-basedIntegrating clearly into the local community through co-creation activities, local employment, or a positive social impact.
4. ScalabilityProviding a realistic and concise plan for scaling and replicating the innovation to increase the potential for positive impact.
5. SystemicContributing to systemic change across the wood construction value chain. Consortia that create meaningful collaborations between otherwise disconnected actors will be preferred.
6. Capacity of the applicantProving demonstrated expertise, experience, equipment, and networks to achieve the project objectives.

The following two criteria provide added value for the selection, but they are not subject to the minimum threshold of 3 points.

CriterionWhat we are looking for
Innovative business modelProposals with a clear plan for a circular and (environmentally and socially) sustainable business model will be preferred, supported by the sustainable business model canvas (NEB Toolbox)
Existing building stockSolutions applicable to upgrading the existing building stock (including renovation, building extensions, or valorisation of underused urban spaces) will be preferred.
wood

Funding overview

Each selected project may receive up to €50,000 in financial support. Expected duration of participation is set to 1 year.

€30,000 will be paid upon signing the agreement. A progress report is required after 6 months and a final report after 1 year. The final payment will be made following positive evaluation.

The selection committee may adjust proposed budgets if necessary (without exceeding €50,000).

Activities that qualify for financial support

Funding may be used for one or more of the following activities:


Demonstration
Prototyping, experimental set-up of innovations related to WoodStock


Testing
Physical and mechanical validation, certification preparation


Co-creation
Activities with local actors and users to improve the solution and embed them in the local value chain and community


Training
Workshops to develop new skills and knowledge


Dissemination
Communication about the solutions to a wide audience (including video production) (max. 20% of total budget)

Eligible expenses may include equipment, laboratory testing, materials, logistics and multimedia production and staff costs related to the above-mentioned activities.

Expectations of grant awardees

construction

Selected projects are expected to:

  • develop climate-smart wood construction solutions beyond TRL5
  • jointly organise one co-creation session with a WoodStock Living Lab in the Netherlands, France, Slovenia, Poland, Ireland or Norway. 
  • document successful and unsuccessful innovation steps they have made, and lessons learned throughout the process
  • share experiences and lessons learned with the WoodStock consortium
  • contribute to the WoodBook and the European Wood Construction Observatory
  • align dissemination with the WoodStock communication partner and contribute to WoodStock communication materials by providing input. 

For questions about the call, please contact grants@woodstockproject.eu.

Estimated timeline

MilestoneDate
Online info session for potential applicants5 June 2026 (1PM - 2PM)
Online info session for potential applicants - ppt1 September 2026 (4PM - 5PM)
Publication of the call15 September 2026
Deadline for submitting15 December 2026 17:00
Expected duration of participation1 year project
Evaluation periodJanuary 2027
Information to applicantsFebruary 2027
Signature of the grant agreementsFebruary – March 2027
Starting date of the actionsMarch - April 2027 (latest)
Progress reportAfter 6 months
Final reporting, including financial reportAfter 1 year
Reports of the actions evaluatedSeptember 2028
Final paymentsOctober 2028

Funding restrictions defined by the European Commission or the Research Executive Agency for Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) may also apply. 

 

Please note that there is a strict prohibition of double funding from the EU budget. Applicants will be required to confirm that the project, in whole or in part, has not received funding from any other EU grant and has not been or will not be submitted for funding under any other EU grant. 

 

In case an SME is involved in multiple project applications, please be aware that the total amount of funding received within the WoodStock grants cannot exceed € 60,000, in accordance with Financial Support to Third Parties regulations. 

Ready to apply?

The call is open from 15 September 2026 to 15 December 2026 at 17:00.

Join WoodStock and help shape the future of climate-smart wood construction in Europe.

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