SEED4EU+ 2026 | Call for applications for the academic year 2026-2027

The text below does not reflect the entire content of the announcement, but contains selected excerpts from the call.

Goal

As part of its commitment to strengthening research collaboration across the Alliance, this call provides seed funding for the development of innovative joint research projects involving researchers from the 4EU+ member universities. The programme aims to support the establishment of new research partnerships, the consolidation of existing collaborations, and the development of ambitious research initiatives with the potential to attract external national, European and international funding.

The call seeks to foster interdisciplinary and inter-institutional cooperation, contribute to the development of sustainable research networks, and strengthen the Alliance's ambition to build One Comprehensive Research-Intensive European University.

Scope

The call is open to all scientific fields and disciplines. Proposed projects should contribute to the objectives of the 4EU+ Strategy 2025–2035 and fit thematically within at least one of the 4EU+ Flagships:

• Flagship 1: Urban Health and Demographic Change

• Flagship 2: Europeanness: multilingualism, pluralities, citizenship

• Flagship 3: Digitisation – Modelling – Transformation

• Flagship 4: Environmental transitions

The call supports research-focused collaborative projects involving researchers from at least three 4EU+ member universities. Funding is intended as a starting point for the development of long-term research cooperation and should contribute to the preparation of future applications for external funding at national, European or international level.

Outreach and dissemination activities may be included where relevant to the project's objectives and expected impact.

Eligibility

The call is open to researchers and academics who hold a PhD and are affiliated with any of the eight 4EU+ member universities.

Proposals should be submitted by teams comprising participants from at least three of the 4EU+ member universities.

Applications submitted under the SEED4EU+ Early Career funding line must be coordinated exclusively by Early Career Researchers. Both the Principal Investigator (PI) and all Local Project Coordinators must meet the definition below of an Early Career Researcher.

For the purpose of this call, Early Career Researchers are researchers who obtained their PhD 2-10 years prior to the project start date (January 2027) and are in the process of establishing their academic independence.

The eligibility window of the above definition may be extended in duly documented cases of career breaks, including maternity, paternity or parental leave, long-term illness, national service, clinical training, disability-related reduced working time, or other justified circumstances affecting the research career trajectory. Applicants should contact their local 4EU+ Office regarding eligibility extensions.

Applications submitted under the SEED4EU+ Standard funding line are open to all eligible researchers meeting the general eligibility requirements.

How to Apply

All proposals must be submitted electronically via the online application form no later than by 13 October 2026, 4 pm CET.