Call for Proposals 2026

Use the matchmaking platform to find your consortium partners. Confirm your partners meet the eligibility requirements (see consortium composition criteria – Section 6.1 of the Call text). Involve your institutional leadership early in the process, importantly in the next stage of self-assessment.

Each HEI in your consortium should complete the HEInnovate self-assessment during the submission window (October 2026 – January 2027) to inform your Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP). This can be done individually or as a group of HEIs. Join the HEInnovate info session on 6 November to find our how this works.

Your IVAP is your proposal. Use the Part B template linked on this Call page and in the application portal to shape it, using HEInnovate insights to inform your project’s direction.

Ensure each partner is registered and has an active PIC code, which you will need to enter in your application.

Log in to the EIT HEI Call 2026 Application Portal and start your application

Fill in key application content, including partner details, upload key supporting application documents, complete KPI tables, and insert your project budget. Follow all prompts and ensure no field is left blank.

Upload your completed Part B template in the designated tab, upload the budget excel (using the provided template), and for each HEI, upload the signed top management commitment letter, accreditation proof, HEInnovate results, associated partner commitment letters (if you have associated partners), and any other required annexes in the correct formats (PDF, Word, Excel).

Review all sections, confirm consistency between Part A and Part B. Consider having a colleague review before submission.

Submit your completed application well before the deadline (13 January 2027, 17:00 CET) to avoid last-minute issues. You will receive a confirmation email upon submission.

Join our community of innovators and change-makers working together to advance higher education innovation across Europe. Connect with peers, share and access practical knowledge, and become part of a trusted network that supports collaboration long after individual projects end.

Yes. Projects must contribute to all three Policy Objectives. However, the approach, activities and expected
results should be tailored to the needs, priorities and maturity of the participating HEIs.

Each participating HEI must complete the HEInnovate self-assessment. Its findings should inform the
consortium’s Innovation Vision Action Plan (IVAP), including the choice of Funded Actions and the activities
proposed. Projects are not expected to address every Specific Objective or Sub-objective. They should
explain why their chosen priorities are relevant and how the proposed intervention will contribute to
sustainable institutional change.

For details, see Sections 2.3 and 2.4 of the Call text.

The Call supports EU priorities on competitiveness, innovation, skills and the development of deep-tech
and manufacturing capabilities. Relevant policy frameworks include the European Competitiveness Agenda,
the New European Innovation Agenda, the Clean Industrial Deal, the Union of Skills and the STEM
Education Strategic Plan. It also supports stronger pathways from research to market, in line with the EU
Start-up and Scale-up Strategy and EU knowledge valorisation policy.

Applicants should explain how their project contributes to the relevant priorities rather than simply listing
policy documents.

For details, see Section 2.1 of the Call text.

The Call aims to strengthen HEIs as drivers of manufacturing and deep-tech innovation by connecting three
dimensions: STEM talent development, institutional innovation capacity and ecosystem integration.

Projects should develop the competences needed to innovate and commercialise knowledge and
technologies; strengthen the institutional structures and processes that support innovation and
entrepreneurship; and connect HEIs with businesses, investors, entrepreneurs, research organisations and
other relevant innovation actors. The aim is to create more connected and sustainable pathways from
research and knowledge to validation, commercialisation, industrial application and market uptake.

For details, see Sections 2.1 and 2.2 of the Call text.

STEM broadly covers the following fields of education under the International Standard Classification of
Education (ISCED):

• Natural sciences, mathematics and statistics (field 05).
• Information and Communication Technologies (field 06).
• Engineering, manufacturing and construction (field 07).

Related interdisciplinary fields and studies are also included, as specified in the Call. Projects should
demonstrate the relevance of their target groups and activities to manufacturing and deep-tech innovation.

For details, see Section 2.5.1 of the Call text.

Projects should help HEIs move from fragmented support activities towards more connected pathways for
innovation. This involves strengthening links between research, talent development, technology transfer,
entrepreneurship and institutional innovation support, while connecting these capabilities with the
external expertise, infrastructure, investment and markets needed to advance innovations and start-ups.

The objective is to help promising knowledge and technologies progress towards validation,
commercialisation, industrial application and market uptake.

HEI leadership is expected to support the project from the proposal stage through implementation and to
help embed innovation and entrepreneurship in institutional strategies, structures and practices.

Each HEI participating as a funded beneficiary must provide the required top-management Commitment
Letter using the official template available through the Application Portal. The letter must identify the
faculties, departments or equivalent units involved, as required by the Call.

Projects should also explain how leadership will remain engaged and how the changes supported by the
project can be sustained beyond the funding period

For details, see Sections 3.1 and 4 of the Call text

Applications must be submitted by consortia that meet the eligibility and composition requirements in the
Call text. In summary, the consortium must include:

• At least three HEIs established in three different countries eligible for Horizon Europe, with at least
  one HEI established in an EU Member State.
• At least two industry partners and/or industry representative organisations, whether public or
  private.
• An HEI acting as project coordinator.

The consortium should reflect the Knowledge Triangle by connecting higher education, research and
business. Industry partners operating in manufacturing or industrial technologies, and organisations with
relevant expertise in innovation and pathways from research to market, are particularly encouraged.

Applicants must also meet the Call’s requirements concerning the faculties, departments or equivalent
units involved in each participating HEI.

For details, see Section 4 of the Call text.

Previous EIT HEI participants may apply, subject to the eligibility requirements. Organisations funded as
beneficiaries under the EIT HEI Call 2025 (Cohort 5) are not eligible to participate as funded beneficiaries in Call 2026. [List of Cohort 5 Partners]

Previous project coordinators may apply again, including as coordinators, provided the proposed
consortium meets the eligibility criteria and the project demonstrates clear additionality. The proposal
must not simply continue or replicate activities funded previously.

Organisations from Cohorts 1 – 4 are encouraged to build on their experience as Innovation and
Entrepreneurship Pioneers. They should explain how their experience will add value to the new project, for
example by scaling or institutionalising successful approaches, transferring knowledge, mentoring less
experienced partners or sharing good practices with the wider EIT HEI Community.

For details, see Sections 3.4 and 4 of the Call text.

The IVAP is the project proposal and strategic action plan submitted through the Application Portal. It
consists of two parts:

• Part A – Technical Information: completed online and covering the project and partner details,
  operational capacity, Funded Actions, KPIs, KIC alignment, work packages, deliverables, milestones,
  risks and budget.
• Part B – Narrative Content: completed using the Word template and covering Excellence, Impact,
  and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation.

Both parts must be completed and submitted through the Application Portal in accordance with the Call
instructions.

For details, see Section 13.2 of the Call text and the Project Design and Implementation Guide.

A strong IVAP presents a coherent, evidence-based intervention. It should show a clear connection
between institutional needs, the Call’s Policy Objectives, the selected Funded Actions, planned activities,
expected results, KPIs and longer-term institutional change.

It should also demonstrate meaningful leadership engagement, a complementary consortium, relevant
links with the selected EIT KICs, realistic implementation arrangements and a credible plan for sustaining
results beyond the funding period.

Applicants should consult the award criteria and sub-criteria in Section 11.1 of the Call text.

Applicants should set targets that are ambitious but achievable given the consortium’s capacity, the
participating HEIs’ needs and the proposed activities.

Targets should be supported by a credible delivery plan, including clear responsibilities, appropriate
resources and a realistic explanation of how the project will achieve them. Applicants should not select
targets solely to maximise the figures in the proposal.

Absolutely, you can download the full FAQs here: