New CASA study on ERA-NETs and COST Actions in the forest-based sector.

This study assesses the impact of past and existing ERA-Nets and COST Actions within and related to the European forest-based sector. Its findings contribute to the scope and role of the SCAR strategic group for forests and forestry research and innovation (R&I). The results of the study highlight the importance of the ERA-NET and COST funding schemes to initiate and implement future-oriented forest-related research and innovation projects through transnational networks and collaborative actions. The ERA-NET scheme has proven to be the perfect instrument for bottom-up, well-tailored research and innovation actions fostering considerable transfer and market impact. European-level research and development actions are well-suited for the forest-based sector, because many questions can be considered too specific to be addressed only through national funding programs.