Call open for the ECIU Research Seed Programme 2025

The programme offers funding to begin new research collaborations or strengthen existing ones in five research fields: citizen science, energy and sustainability, circular economy, transport and mobility, and resilient communities.

There are two lines of action: SP1 of combined mobility to create new networks and SP2 of seed projects for existing consortia. Researchers from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Dublin City University (Ireland), the Institut National des Sciences Appliquées (France), Kaunas University of Technology (Lithuania), Łódź University of Technology (Poland), and Universidade de Aveiro (Portugal) are eligible for funding.

The call is open to both established researchers and young researchers at the beginning of their careers. In addition, the participation of external agents is encouraged and, in some cases, may also receive funding. To submit a proposal, the team must be made up of researchers from at least three ECIU member institutions, and the principal investigator must be linked to the coordinating institution and hold a PhD degree. Those interested in finding collaborators can do so through the ECIU R&I Hub, a platform that also offers updated information on funding opportunities. Registration is available at this link.

Proposals must be submitted using the online form to apply for SP1 or SP2. Results will be communicated before the end of January 2026 and selected projects will be eligible to start on 15 March 2026, with a maximum duration of twenty-four months. Upon completion, each project is expected to have a clear roadmap for obtaining external funding.

Projects that received funding in 2024 will not be eligible to participate in this edition, although those that were not selected will be able to reapply for SP2. In the previous edition, a total of 26 proposals were submitted (9 in SP1 and 17 in SP2), of which 14 projects were approved.

In addition to the Seed Programme, the ECIU offers mobility grants reaching up to 5,000 euros for research stays at member universities. Application procedures can be consulted at the ECIU website.

For more information please contact the ECIU research and innovation team by email.  

More information: ECIU Seed Programme