Since the first call in June 2025, the Innovation Pool of the Competence Centre Landscape Resilience (CLaRe) has funded nine projects across
Short-Term Scientific Missions (STSM), student projects, outreach activities and interdisciplinary initiatives. Eight projects have already been completed,
demonstrating the programme’s rapid and visible impact.
The funded activities range from international research collaboration and field campaigns to creative science communication formats, including a public lecture
series and other outreach outputs. While the second call (early 2026) has just concluded and projects are currently under evaluation, the first funding round
already illustrates how targeted support can strengthen research quality, international collaboration and societal engagement.
Several STSM projects strengthened international research collaboration and deepened comparative perspectives in landscape resilience research.
Research stays enabled in-person exchange with international experts and helped refine analyses, interpretations and manuscripts.
The research stay in the UK strengthened the cross-country comparability of our agroforestry study and deepened my understanding of national contexts. Presenting and critically discussing our results with experts enriched the analytical perspective and fostered a genuine co-learning process. The mission also initiated new international collaborations and significantly enhanced both the scientific quality and the potential impact of the article.
The Innovation Pool also supported early-career researchers and students by enabling extensive empirical work, independent data collection and hands-on
experience in research-driven field campaigns. These projects contributed original data and strengthened capacity building in the field.
The support enabled extensive fieldwork as part of my Master’s thesis, including independent data collection across multiple study regions that would not have been feasible within the regular framework of the degree programme. It allowed me to contribute original empirical data to research on forest disturbance and landscape resilience and significantly strengthened both the scientific quality of the project and my development as an early-career researcher.
Outreach projects made research accessible beyond academia and fostered dialogue between science and society. Creative formats and collaborations helped translate scientific
insights into inclusive learning experiences and strengthened the visibility of landscape resilience research.
The funding was highly motivating and personally meaningful. It provided the resources to implement an original outreach idea, experiment with creative formats, and shape the project according to the conviction that forest science should be accessible and relevant to everyone. It made it possible to translate research into inclusive learning experiences and build bridges between science, practice, and society.
The support was central to the success of this STSM. It enabled in-person collaboration and exchange that would otherwise not have been possible. In times where online meetings are common, the depth and quality of direct communication cannot be overstated — clear and fruitful exchange is vital for academic excellence.
The funding was instrumental to the success of our project. It enabled our international team to access cutting-edge digital forestry tools, undertake an intensive field
campaign in Oklahoma, and pioneer innovative research approaches. This made it possible to address urgent questions about wildfire resilience in the Cross Timbers and
strengthen scientific collaboration across continents.
The funding was essential for carrying out this project and establishing formal collaborations. It supported travel and fieldwork in a remote region, enabled the
establishment of baseline information, and facilitated international collaboration, capacity building, and long-term research partnerships.
Traditional academic funding frequently overlooks outreach and science communication. This grant allowed us to bring together a team of experts, think ambitiously, and
take creative approaches that enriched our societal impact as scientists.
Outlook: The second call (early 2026) has closed and submitted projects are currently under evaluation. Further project results and outputs will be shared throughout 2026.
Innovation Pool: First interim assessment after the first funding round
International collaboration and research
Fieldwork and early-career development
Outreach and societal impact
Further voices from funded projects
Vanessa Volckens
Simon Schulze
Michela Audisio
Guy Low
Thomas Hay & José Ortega
Sharat Paligi
Christina Hackmann