With Europe’s construction sector under pressure to cut emissions, four innovators could receive a grant of up to €50,000 each to test and scale circular building solutions using underutilised wood.
Europe cannot meet its climate goals without transforming how it builds. The construction sector consumes vast quantities of resources and generates significant waste, while large volumes of potentially valuable underutilised wood – including hardwood, residual, damaged, low-quality and post-consumer wood – offer opportunities to reduce waste and support more circular construction. To help turn that potential into practical solutions, the Horizon Europe WoodStock project is launching a new grant call on 15 September 2026.
“Climate-smart construction is about using the right wood, in smarter ways, with less waste and stronger links between designers, builders, communities and local value chains,” explains Stijn Brancart, WoodStock project partner from TU Delft, coordinator of the grants. “With these grants, we want to demonstrate the feasibility and scalability of circular approaches across the value chain.”
SMEs, start-ups, non-profit organisations and consortia led by one of these can apply for funding to develop, test and scale wood construction solutions that make better use of underutilised wood. A total of €200,000 will be made available. Four selected projects will each receive up to €50,000 to bring innovative, zero-waste wood construction solutions beyond Technology Readiness Level 5 and validate them in practical construction settings.
The call focuses on solutions that specifically use hardwood, low-quality wood, damaged wood, residual wood or post-consumer wood in construction. By creating new applications for this underused wood, WoodStock aims to reduce waste, strengthen local value chains and demonstrate how circular design can contribute to Europe’s climate transition.
To support potential applicants, WoodStock will organise two online information sessions – on Friday 5 June 2026 at 13:00 CEST and on Tuesday 1 September 2026 at 16:00 CEST.
Proposals should demonstrate how they contribute to circular construction, resource efficiency, zero-waste design and the New European Bauhaus values of together, sustainable and beautiful. Funded activities may include demonstration and prototyping, physical and mechanical testing, certification preparation, co-creation with local stakeholders, training workshops and dissemination activities. Selected projects will organise one co-creation session with one of the WoodStock Living Labs in the Netherlands, France, Slovenia, Poland, Ireland or Norway.
Brancart is looking forward to the applications, adding: “The construction sector urgently needs solutions that can move from promising idea to everyday building practice. We are looking for projects that show how underutilised wood can be tested, applied and scaled, and help make climate-smart construction the new standard.”
More information about the grant is available at: www.woodstockproject.eu/woodstock-grants
