New European Partnership to Improve Animal Health and Welfare

The FWF is part of a new European Commission research and innovation initiative on animal health and welfare. Research institutions and funding organizations are working together to move Europe towards healthy and sustainable animal production systems and significantly improve the welfare of livestock.

April 29, 2024

Cattle standing in a cow pasture — The 86 partners in the new European Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare EUPAHW are dedicated to animal welfare research. © Unsplash/Jonas Koel

This year, the European Commission launched the European Partnership for Animal Health and Welfare (EUPAHW). 56 leading European research institutions and 30 funding organizations, including the Austrian Science Fund (FWF), have joined forces to combat infectious diseases in animals and improve animal welfare. In addition, the "One Health and One Welfare" approach is intended to have a social impact.

€360 million for animal welfare research

The new partnership is expected to invest €360 million over seven years to fund relevant research and facilitate collaborations between all stakeholders. 50% of the budget is being provided by the framework program for research and innovation "Horizon Europe" and 50% by the EUPAHW partner institutions.

Animal health research projects

The objectives of the EUPAHW are in line with the European Green Deal and its "Farm to Fork" strategy for a fair, healthy, and environmentally friendly food system. The partnership includes both short-term applied and strategic research. The focus is on infectious diseases in land and water animals, the prudent use of antimicrobial agents, and ensuring a high level of animal welfare at every stage of an animal's life.

Submitting applications to the FWF

Applications for the new program can be submitted to the FWF by universities, non-university research institutions, and non-profit organizations that are active in the field of animal health and welfare research. The maximum funding period is 36 months and the requirements specified in the application guidelines of the FWF's Principal Investigator Projects program apply. Funding decisions are made by the Scientific Board based on a recommendation from the Call Secretariat. Pre-proposals are being accepted from May 8 to July 3, 2024.