Scientific Visit Sponsorship

1. BACKGROUND

Forests   are   the    key   to    addressing   interconnected    global   challenges    of   sustainable development. These for example include climate change, food and water security, biodiversity conservation   as   well   as   the   transformation   towards   a   bioeconomy.   All   these   issues   will underpin society’s ability to prosper within the renewable boundaries of our planet.

The   International   Union   of   Forest   Research   Organizations   (IUFRO)   is   conscious   of   the importance of connecting the young forest science community

to address challenges facing forests and forestry.   Broadly, we strive to   provide these future   leaders with international experience to better equip them to address future global challenges and identify, create and fully utilise emerging opportunities.

In 2025-2026, IUFRO’s Special Programme for Development of Capacities will offer a limited number of sponsorships, each up to EUR 5 000, for Scientific Visits (SV) as part of its Scientist Assistance   Programme (SAP). These sponsorships are specifically intended for early-career scientists1 affiliated with IUFRO member organizations, enabling them to conduct research at a forest research institution abroad.

The desired outcome is to provide both the beneficiary and their affiliated institution with the opportunity to   build   research collaboration and capacity and to provide opportunities extending beyond the initial scientific exchange. The goals for the beneficiary are broad and could   include   for   example,   skills   development,   establishing   productive   relationships   with scientific   peers   in   the   host   country,   using   the   visit   to   benefit   their   own   research   and,   if possible,

publishing of scientific material.

The duration of a scientific visit should be between 2 and 3 months. The exact length will depend on factors such as the complexity and scope of the proposed project, the location of the host institution, and the availability of complementary funding sources. Applicants are encouraged   to   justify   the   duration   based   on   their   research   objectives   and    logistical considerations.

While the delivery of a scientific publication (such as a journal article, chapter(s) in a book or similar publications) is not an official requirement, applicants are nevertheless encouraged to submit proposals with such a goal in mind. This scientific publication would preferably be co-authored by the beneficiary and at least

one scientist of the respective member institution hosting the visit.

1   Early Career Scientist – is a scientist who has completed their MSc or PhD degree in forestry or related fields, is 35 years old or younger, and who is locally affiliated with an institution of research and higher learning in

their country of residence.

2. HOW TO APPLY

Potential applicants are required to contact the potential host institution prior to applying   for an SV sponsorship. Together they shall develop and agree on essential elements for the SV sponsorship application including a project proposal and work plan, timing and duration of the proposed visit, and a mentor in the host country.

Candidates interested in applying for an SV sponsorship should complete the online SV Application Form, submit their complete application documents in one PDF including all required application documents (listed below) by 31 July 2025.   The PDF document should be submitted with a filename following the format “SV_FirstnameLastnameCountry.pdf”

Please submit the documents to this link Application Files

Required application documents:

□   Work   plan   outlining   the   details   of   the   scientific   visit,   approved   by   host   institution (template in ANNEX 1)

Endorsement letter by applicant's host institution (template in

□   ANNEX 2 )

□   Endorsement by the applicant's Head of Department

□   Curriculum vitae of applicant

□   Curriculum vitae of mentor

The application deadline is 31 July 2025. Only complete applications will be considered.

Project proposals should address a topic of significance to IUFRO's Post-2020 Strategy(https://www.iufro.org/publications/iufro-post-2020-strategy),in particular by addressing one or more of the five thematic areas defined in the strategy (see ANNEX 3) .‍‍

The duration of the scientific visit should be agreed between the applicant and host institution and last approximately three months, unless additional funding has been sourced to undertake a more extensive exchange.   In this case, the activities funded by the additional funds should be included in the work plan.

We emphasise that applicants should contact the host institution which they plan to work   with prior to applying for support. Applicants should have tentatively agreed on the scope of scientific project, the associated work plan and the suitable dates for the planned research visit with the potential host institution. The applicant will be responsible for all arrangements that need to be made prior to and during scientific visit.

Applicants will be asked to confirm their acceptance of the sponsorship by returning a signed acceptance letter via email within one week of receiving the offer.

3. EVALUATION CRITERIA

The applicants will be selected on a competitive basis following the selection criteria provided below. Applicants will be informed of the outcome by the 30th   September 2025.

The following criteria will be used to select successful candidates:

-   Originality and relevance of the research topic

-   Applicant’s previous experience and work on the proposed research topic

-   Overall quality of the work plan

-   Feasibility of the work planned at the host institution

-   Geographic and gender balance

Applicants that have not previously been awarded a sponsorship for a scientific visit will have preference.

4. FUNDING

The maximum amount for sponsorship is EUR 5.000. The funding should cover travel and subsistence costs for the period of the sponsorship. We strongly encourage seeking complementary funding sources.

5. HOST INSTITUTION

The applicant will be responsible for obtaining the agreement of the host institution before submitting their application. While the applicant needs to be affiliated with a member organisation of IUFRO, the host institution need not necessarily be a member institution.

Once selected to receive a sponsorship, beneficiaries will be required to contact the host institution and initiate the intended project well in advance of their visit.

6. REPORTING

Beneficiaries are expected to provide IUFRO with short monthly updates on the scientific   visit to be published on the IUFRO website, as well as appropriate social media platforms.

Upon the conclusion of the scientific visit, the beneficiary will be expected to deliver a detailed report on the work conducted, conclusions drawn, skills acquired, professional relationships established and future plans relating to the visit within four weeks of leaving the host institution (template in ANNEX 4).

In the case of an intended scientific publication, a draft should be provided, co-authored by at least one scientist from the member institute hosting the visit.

7. TIMELINE

8. CONTACT

Should you have any questions regarding the SV sponsorship application, please contact IUFRO-SPDC at spdc@iufro.org.