The Switzerland-based Velux Stiftung Foundation supports forestry research in Switzerland and globally. Its Forestry Program supports solution-oriented research based on an interaction between science and practitioners. The overall objective of the funding program is to improve sustainable forest management that addresses the pressing problems of climate change and biodiversity loss as well as society’s need for forest products. The Foundation is supporting both Research Projects (Innovative, novel, outside-of-the-box research that has a high potential to change forestry practice) and Science-Practice Projects (collaboration between researchers and practitioners to improve accessibility and comprehensibility of specified forest management findings relevant to stakeholders).

Goals
The overall objective of the Forestry Program is to improve sustainable forest management that addresses the pressing problems of climate change and biodiversity loss as well as society’s need for forest products.
• The program shall contribute to a change of perspective in sustainable forest management and in the use and value of forests.
• The envisaged change of perspective shall be solution-oriented and based on an interaction between scientists and practitioners.
• The program shall contribute to the integration of evidence-based science into forestry practice.
• Financial innovation and improved framework conditions should provide leverage for the implementation of sustainable
forest management, resulting in forests that can conserve biodiversity, act as a carbon sink and supply forest products.

Thematic focus of the Call:
– Innovative and integrative sustainable forest management to develop and provide solutions for adapting to or mitigating climate change, promoting biodiversity, providing resilient ecosystems services and supplying sustainable forest products.
– Incentives or tools for action and behavioral change towards sustainable forest management by transforming theoretical and abstract values of forest products and services. 

Support is available for:
1. Research projects: Innovative, novel, outside-of-the-box research that has a high potential to change forestry practice. Projects need to be participatory (including stakeholders) and can have an interdisciplinary approach. 10 % of the budget needs to be spent for knowledge transfer and the proposed approach should be of general interest. 

2. Science-practice projects: Science-practice projects aim to facilitate collaboration between researchers and practitioners to improve accessibility and comprehensibility of specified forest management findings relevant to stakeholders. Dialogue, knowledge exchange or co-production should lead to deliverables such as tools and resources or communication products. Applications must demonstrate the commitment of the collaborating parties and the continuity of the approach.

Velux Stiftung Proposal Deadline: 09/22/2025
UD White Paper Deadline: 07/14/2025
Link to FOA Here: Velux Stiftung Challenges in Forest Management RFP

PI Eligibility:  Individuals with the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to carry out the proposed research as a Principal Investigator (PI) are invited to work with their organizations to develop an application. Individuals from underrepresented groups as well as individuals with disabilities are always encouraged to apply.

Institutional Limit: An organization can submit a maximum of two applications per call (in the role as institution of the PI or co-PI).

Application Information:  Faculty that would like to apply must first submit a Letter of Intent. If more than two PIs submit LOIs, a limited submission competition will be conducted.