Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026

Guidance for applicants and projects under the Horizon Work Programme 2026 to engage with the Science Service for Biodiversity

The Horizon Europe 2026-2027 Work Programme for Cluster 6: Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment highlights the growing importance of structured cooperation between EU-funded biodiversity projects, the European Commission (EC) Knowledge Centre for Biodiversity (KCBD), its Science Service, and other initiatives working on the drivers of biodiversity decline. 

As part of Europe’s efforts to reinforce the science-policy interface and support evidence-informed decision-making, the Work Programme recognises the need for coordinated, transparent and policy-responsive mechanisms that can effectively translate scientific knowledge into actionable insights for biodiversity policy. In this context, the Science Service for Biodiversity, currently being developed through BioAgora, is intended to provide a long-term mechanism for mobilising and synthesising biodiversity knowledge in response to EU policy needs, including those linked to the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the Nature Restoration Regulation. 

For new Horizon Europe consortia, this creates an important opportunity to plan from the proposal stage how their results, expertise and networks can contribute to the Science Service and support evidence-informed biodiversity policy.

A strengthened science-policy interface

The 2026-2027 Work Programme - Cluster 6 emphasises the importance of:

• Bridging the gap between science and policy by strengthening co-creation, collaboration and coordination and enabling dialogue among researchers, policymakers, practitioners and other relevant knowledge holders.
• Responding to policy needs through structured request mechanisms that ensure decision-makers have access to timely, relevant and credible knowledge when it is most needed. 
• Fostering collaboration across disciplines and sectors by bringing together diverse expertise and perspectives to address complex biodiversity challenges.
• Supporting the uptake of research results to ensure that knowledge generated through EU-funded projects informs real-world decisions. 

The Work Programme also opens new opportunities for researchers and organisations to engage with and contribute to the Science Service for Biodiversity.

How does BioAgora relate to the Science Service for Biodiversity?

BioAgora is an EU-funded coordination and support project, mandated by the European Commission to co-create the Science Service for Biodiversity by June 2027. 

The Science Service will be the scientific pillar of the KCBD - a central knowledge hub for biodiversity-related policy-making. It is designed to connect researchers, experts, practitioners and citizen science professionals with EU institutions through structured knowledge-sharing mechanisms. 

As part of the development of the Science Service for Biodiversity, BioAgora:

• pilots and tests key Science Service functions, including responding to EC policy requests, supporting capacity building, and contributing to horizon scanning and research prioritisation; 

• supports the activation and development of Knowledge Exchange Networks (KENs) as thematic communities of practice, fostering collaboration, coordination and co-creation among researchers, practitioners, policy-makers and other knowledge holders; 

• establishes governance and ethical structures to ensure transparency, inclusiveness and accountability; 

• develops a sustainability-focused business plan to support the long-term operation of the Science Service; 

• launches an accessible digital platform that enables stakeholders to participate in and benefit from Science Service activities.

How to engage with the Science Service: Your pathways

Whether you are submitting a Horizon Europe proposal or participate in an ongoing project, you are encouraged to engage with the Science Service for Biodiversity in the following ways: 

1. Contribute to knowledge requests

EU-funded projects can play a vital role in responding to knowledge requests from the EC. These are focused, time-sensitive questions linked to ongoing or emerging EU policy priorities. The Science Service, through BioAgora, coordinates expert input and facilitates the co-creation of responses that help ensure biodiversity knowledge feeds directly and effectively into EU decision-making processes. 

Projects can contribute in multiple ways, depending on the nature of the request, policy needs and project interests: 

a) Content Contributions

Projects and their experts may contribute by:

• Joining expert panels in response to urgent knowledge needs
• Participating in Eklipse Expert Working Groups mandated by the EC to address more in-depth, complex questions that require a consolidated knowledge base.
• Submitting data, evidence or knowledge to open calls for knowledge. This helps to avoid duplication of efforts, strengthens the framing of the request, and increases the potential for policy impact
• Reviewing:

          o    Draft methodological protocols (within Eklipse processes)

          o    Draft knowledge overviews or evidence synthesis reports

• Sharing Calls for Experts and Calls for Knowledge in their networks to increase outreach. 

Experts contributing to requests are acknowledged in the resulting policy-relevant outputs, ensuring visibility of their contributions and their impact on policy, science and practice.

 

b) Process Contributions

Projects may also play an active role in coordinating or facilitating knowledge request processes, including:

• Acting as focal point for an urgent request, which may involve:

          o    Facilitating expert panels

          o    Liaising with EC requesters

          o    Managing timelines and deliverables

          o    Identifying and engaging relevant contributors

Please note that individuals acting as focal points cannot simultaneously participate as experts in the same request. 

• Organising or supporting events such as workshops, webinars or stakeholder consultations linked to a knowledge request
• Hosting capacity development events to improve the understanding of the Science Service and increase stakeholder engagement
• Organising activities that align with the objectives of relevant EU project clusters

Indicative Resource Estimates

To support resource planning within projects, here are example time commitments:

• Focal point for an urgent request: ~1–2 person-months per request
• Eklipse Expert Working Group member: ~10% FTE over an average period of 12 months
• Reviewing outputs (e.g. knowledge syntheses): ~0.5 to 1 day, depending on complexity and length

Flexible Contribution Pathways

Project contributions can remain flexible and open in the proposal phase. Activities may evolve in response to emerging policy needs and project developments, allowing projects to tailor their contributions throughout their lifetime.

2. Participate in events and potentially co-organise events with BioAgora and/or the Science Service

Join events and sessions organised by BioAgora and/or the Science Service for Biodiversity. Exchange knowledge, engage in dialogue on relevant topics, co-create shared priorities, and build relationships with key stakeholders. These interactions can help align your research with legislative and strategic biodiversity policy processes.  

3. Join a Knowledge Exchange Network

Several topical Knowledge Exchange Networks are active under BioAgora, addressing priority biodiversity topics, with more expected to emerge through the Science Service. They act as gateways into policy processes. Where there is a clear thematic fit, projects may connect with relevant KENs to explore how their expertise, results, data, networks or planned activities can contribute to ongoing exchanges, capacity-building needs, co-creation processes or policy-request mechanisms. 

Why This Matters

There is a growing urgency for knowledge-driven biodiversity policy-making. The Horizon Europe 2026 Work Programme places the Science Service for Biodiversity at the centre of this shift, creating a direct route for your research to impact EU policy.

This is not just an opportunity, but also an invitation for biodiversity-related consortia to engage meaningfully, plan for policy impact, and contribute to a more sustainable future for Europe.  

Start engaging today! Visit bioagora.eu or contact us at contact@bioagora.eu. Follow BioAgora on LinkedIn and Bluesky to stay informed about the latest opportunities, activities and developments.