The EUNICE Alliance has announced its first pilot call under the Seed Funding Programme 2026-2027. Researchers at Poznan University of Technology who wish to establish or further develop cooperation with partners from other EUNICE universities are invited to apply.
The programme offers up to €10,000 for preparatory activities. The funding is intended to support the formation of international consortia, the development of joint research initiatives, and the preparation of proposals for European and international funding programmes.
The application deadline is 10 October 2026 at 17:00 CET.
Key information
- Maximum funding: €10,000 per project;
- Funding model: lump-sum contribution;
- Maximum project duration: 9 months;
- Implementation period: November 2026–September 2027;
- Application deadline: 10 October 2026 at 17:00 CET;
- Expected publication of evaluation results: 31 October 2026.
Programme objectives
The EUNICE Seed Funding Programme aims to support new interdisciplinary and international research partnerships across the Alliance. Funding is intended for the early stages of collaboration, including consortium building, networking, strategic planning and the preparation of future joint project proposals.
Proposed activities should:
- provide clear added value for the EUNICE Alliance;
- have credible potential to establish or strengthen sustainable research collaboration;
- contribute to the development of a joint research agenda or a future funding proposal.
The programme does not fund research activities as such.
Who can apply?
The Principal Investigator (PI) must be affiliated with an EUNICE partner university participating in the pilot call.
Each consortium must include at least:
- three researchers;
- representing three different EUNICE universities.
One institution will act as the Coordinating Beneficiary and receive the full grant.
Researchers at all career stages are eligible. Applications led by early-career and consolidating researchers are particularly encouraged.
Additional EUNICE universities not participating in the funding scheme may join the consortium without receiving funding. The involvement of EUNICE Associated Partners, other academic institutions, industry, public authorities and societal stakeholders is also strongly encouraged.
What can be funded?
The funding may be used for activities that strengthen collaboration and prepare future joint research initiatives, including:
- consortium-building meetings;
- networking workshops and matchmaking events;
- researcher mobility and short scientific visits;
- travel and subsistence related to partnership development;
- stakeholder engagement activities;
- training in proposal development, networking and collaboration;
- feasibility studies and strategic planning;
- the development of joint research agendas and roadmaps;
- activities related to Open Science, impact, gender equality, diversity and inclusion, where relevant to the project.
The funding cannot be used for:
- direct research costs;
- equipment purchases;
- salaries.
What documents are required?
Applications must be prepared using the templates provided with the official Call for Applications and must include:
Project Description - maximum 1 page, including:
- project title and acronym;
- details of the Principal Investigator;
- consortium composition;
- objectives;
- planned preparatory activities;
- expected outcomes;
- added value for EUNICE.
Budget and Implementation Plan - maximum 1 page, including:
- a budget table;
- budget justification;
- an implementation timeline, such as a Gantt chart.
Narrative CVs - maximum half a page per consortium member.
Europass CVs - maximum 4 pages per participant.
How will applications be evaluated?
Applications will be assessed by an Alliance-wide Review Committee composed of experts nominated by the participating EUNICE universities. Each proposal may receive a maximum of 40 points:
quality of the proposal - up to 25 points, including alignment with the EUNICE mission, the Sustainable Development Goals and Horizon Europe priorities, European added value, the involvement of associated or external partners, and the feasibility of the budget and work plan;
quality of the consortium - up to 15 points, including the PI’s profile, the complementarity of the consortium members’ expertise, and previous collaboration or demonstrated potential for collaboration.
When recommending projects for funding, the Review Committee may also consider institutional balance across the Alliance while preserving the merit-based nature of the evaluation.
How to submit an application
Complete applications must be submitted by 10 October 2026 at 17:00 CET to:
The following email subject line must be used:
EUNICE Seed Funding Programme 2026-2027 - Application - [Acronym]
Late or incomplete applications will not be considered.
Documents and useful links
[Call for Applications – EUNICE Seed Funding Programme 2026–2027 – PDF]
[Application templates – Annexes 1–4]
EUNICE Seed Funding Programme
EUNICE Research Radar
Questions concerning the call and the preparation of applications should be sent to eunice@unict.it
Researchers are encouraged to use this opportunity to establish new partnerships, develop joint ideas and prepare future international research projects.