Wood is a renewable material that stores carbon throughout its lifetime. Yet in many parts of Europe, it remains underused in the construction sector.
The WoodStock project aims to change this. In September 2026, the project will launch a grant call offering funding to four projects that will test, further develop, and scale zero‑waste wood construction solutions beyond Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5. Each project may receive up to €50,000.
“The call is open to SMEs, start-ups and non-profit organisations, either individually or in consortia led by one of these. Applicants must be established in an EU Member State or a country associated with Horizon Europe, such as Norway,” says senior researcher Gry Alfredsen, who coordinates WoodStock at NIBIO.
Making better use of wood resources that currently go to waste
The construction sector plays a key role in Europe’s climate transition. At the same time, large volumes of hardwood, residual wood, low-quality wood and damaged wood remain underutilised.
The grants will support projects that apply circular thinking, improve resource efficiency, and strengthen collaboration across the wood construction value chain.
“Projects are also expected to promote the values of the New European Bauhaus (NEB) initiative – community, sustainability and aesthetics,” Alfredsen explains.
“Beyond technological innovation, proposals should demonstrate the ability to engage local communities, scale up solutions and contribute to lasting change in how we build.”
What can the funding be used for?
The grants may support activities such as testing and demonstration of new solutions, validation and documentation for further use and certification, and collaboration with local stakeholders.
Funding may also cover training, workshops and other capacity‑building activities, as well as dissemination of results.
“The goal is to develop solutions that can be applied in practice, further developed, and used in future construction projects,” says Alfredsen.
“We encourage SMEs, innovators, designers, architects, and professionals in forestry and construction to stay informed and start developing project ideas now.“
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Info box 1: WoodStock
NIBIO is a partner in WoodStock, which is coordinated by Ghent University in Belgium. The EU project includes 13 European partners, including research institutes, universities, industry associations, and SMEs.
WoodStock has four main objectives:
- Map forest and wood resources through material flow analyses, carbon accounting and dynamic life‑cycle assessments
- Develop circular and zero‑waste product and building designs that support human health and well‑being
- Develop integrated frameworks for policymaking, innovation and business strategies
- Establish a European observatory for wood construction and a NEB laboratory
Website: https://woodstockproject.eu/
Info box 2: Grant call information
The grant call will open in September 2026 and close in December 2026.
Applications must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
The full call document, including guidelines and submission instructions, will be published soon.
More information on eligibility, evaluation criteria, funding conditions and the call timeline is available on the WoodStock website.
Info box 3: New European Bauhaus (NEB)
The New European Bauhaus (NEB), an initiative of the European Commission, promotes sustainable, inclusive and aesthetically meaningful living environments across Europe.
NEB brings together citizens, experts, businesses and public institutions to reimagine how we design and build. It serves as a space for experimentation and collaboration, encouraging broad participation across disciplines and sectors.
The initiative is built on three inseparable values:
- Sustainability: From climate goals and circular economy to pollution reduction and biodiversity
- Aesthetics: Experiences and design that go beyond functionality
- Inclusion: Valuing diversity and ensuring accessible and affordable solutions for all