Apply for the ECIU Research Seed Programme 2026
The seed programme 2026 will be released soon
About
Researchers from ECIU member institutions can now submit proposals until the deadline, on 30 November 2026.
The Seed Programme consists of two action lines:
- SP 1: Blended Mobility to Create New Consortia
- SP 2: Seed Projects for Existing Consortia
Both actions support the challenge-based approach of ECIU University by focusing on capacity-build ingactivities to promote challenge-based research as an interdisciplinary way of doing research based on societal needs and in close collaboration with citizens and businesses. This differs from calls that ask for excellent research in a specific field.
Please check the guidelines for more information on the call, the guidelines and the detailed timetable.
Researchers from the following eight ECIU universities are eligible for funding:
- Dublin City University (DCU)
- Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA)
- Kaunas University of Technology (KTU)
- Tampere University (TAU)
- Łódź University of Technology (TUL)
- Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)
- Universidade de Aveiro (UAveiro)
- University of Twente (UT)
The call welcomes diverse expertise from both early-career and established researchers. hD holders of any seniority level can be coordinators(PIs) in SP1 or SP2 proposals. External stakeholders (industry, start-ups,civil society, and governmental bodies) are invited to participate un projects,but they are not eligible to act as the main coordinator (PI). For specificeligibility and funding rules of external stakeholders criteria, please check Annex 2.
To apply, the team must include researchers from at least three ECIU member institutions. If researchers have a research idea and are seeking collaborators, they should consider connecting with colleagues through the ECIU R&I Hub to keep informed about funding opportunities. Researchers can sign up to the ECIU R&I Hub here.
Application process
Applications can be submitted through an online form
The application deadline is 30 November 2026.
Applicants of rejected proposals in the Seed programme calls 2024 and 2025 are eligible to apply again for SP2. Consortia awarded in the Seed programme 2024 and 2025 are not eligible to apply to the 2026 edition
Evaluation results will be communicated by 10 March 2027, with projects that have to start by 15 June 2027 the latest. Each project can run for up to 24 months and should conclude with a roadmap for attracting external funding.
Be sure to review the funding rules and available resources for each ECIU member while applying. For inquiries regarding institutional financing, please get in touch with your local representative, whose contact information is available at the bottom of the Seed Programme page.
In 2024, a total of 26 proposals were submitted (9 for SP 1 and 17 for SP 2), resulting in 14 approved projects. In 2025, 21 applications were submitted (12 fo SP 1 and 9 to SP 2) with 8 approved projects.
Moreover, ECIU members offer travel grants of up to 5,000 EUR per stay at an ECIU partner institution as another method to promote research collaboration. To apply for the ECIU Researcher Mobility Fund, follow the guidelines on the website.
For general inquiries about the Seed Programme and Research & Innovation at ECIU, please contact the designated email address: research.innovation@eciu.eu
ECIU
The European Consortium of Innovative Universities is a network of universities who are united by a common profile, by shared beliefs and interests and mutual trust.All ECIU universities have strengths in engineering and social sciences.
