WoodStock grants for SMEs

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. 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.

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
Estimated timeline

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 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 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.

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

be submitted through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal before the call deadline
be in line with the description and involve participant(s) from EU Member State(s) or countries associated with Horizon Europe
demonstrate how they will achieve at least ambition level I for each of the NEB values (together, sustainable, beautiful), using the NEB Compass
demonstrate how they will facilitate the use of at least one type of currently underutilised wood source types: hardwood, damaged wood, low-quality wood, and post-consumer and residual wood as defined by the WoodStock project

Only proposals meeting these criteria will be further evaluated.

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

Criterion	What we are looking for
1. New European Bauhaus	Embedding 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.
2. Circularity	Demonstrating in qualitative and quantitative ways the benefits in local wood use, resource efficiency, zero-waste design, longevity, and environmental gains. This criteria will be evaluated based on WoodStock design guidelines that are now under development.
3. Community-based	Integrating clearly into the local community through co-creation activities, local employment, or a positive social impact.
4. Scalability	Providing a realistic and concise plan for scaling and replicating the innovation to increase the potential for positive impact.
5. Systemic	Contributing 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 applicant	Proving demonstrated expertise, experience, equipment, and networks to achieve the project objectives.

Funding overview

Each selected project may receive up to €50,000 in financial support.

€30,000 will be paid upon signing the agreement. A progress report is required after one year, and the final payment will be made following positive evaluation and submission of an actual cost overview after 1.5 years.

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.

Expectations of grant awardees

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.

Milestone	Date
Publication of the call	September 2026
Online info session for potential applicants	To be announced
Deadline for submitting	December 2026
Evaluation period	January 2027
Information to applicants	February 2027
Signature of the grant agreements	February – March 2027
Starting date of the actions	March - April 2027 (latest)
Progress report	After 1 year
Final reporting	After 1.5 year
Reports of the actions evaluated	October 2028
Final payments	October 2028