Only 9 per cent of the projects submitted to the European CBHE 2026 call were successful. Among the mere four successful projects with a Czech coordinator is FOREST-BRIDGE, which was awarded to the Faculty of Forestry and Wood Sciences of the Czech University of Life Sciences (FLD CZU).
The FOREST-BRIDGE project, which focuses on cooperation with South American countries, received funding under the European Capacity Building in Higher Education (CBHE) 2026 call for proposals under the Erasmus+ programme.
The results of the call as a whole testify to the exceptionally high level of competition. Out of a total of 2,109 applications submitted, only 180 projects were selected – meaning that approximately 9 per cent of applications were successful. The Czech Republic participated in 99 project applications, and among the approved projects there are only four with a Czech coordinator. One of these is FOREST-BRIDGE, coordinated by the Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague.
This project will link European expertise with the needs of forestry education in Chile, Peru and Bolivia. The project aims to focus on modernising study programmes, utilising new technologies such as GIS, drones and artificial intelligence, and strengthening the links between universities and the professional world. It will also involve the establishment of the Forestry Hub as a platform for collaboration between universities, experts and other stakeholders in the forestry sector. Another key aspect of the project is supporting students with limited opportunities, particularly indigenous peoples and women, and enhancing graduates’ employability. The principal investigator for FLD CZU is Ing. Radek Rinn, Ph.D.
Success in this call for proposals confirms the FLD's strong position in international collaboration and its ability to hold its own against significant European competition. At the same time, FOREST-BRIDGE will open up further opportunities for developing cooperation with higher education and professional partners in South America and for sharing knowledge and experience in the field of higher education.