Pillar II: Strengthening ecosystems for open, ethical, and sustainable ERA
Funding of coordination and support measures to strengthen open, ethical, and sustainable research and innovation ecosystems in Europe. Project duration up to 3 years, applications until 12.03.2026.
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Grant criteria
Funding objective
This funding topic aims to promote the implementation of European Research Area (ERA) policies and practices and to establish or further develop sustainable ecosystems in the field of research and innovation. Funding is provided for networking activities, knowledge exchange, training, and policy advice on ethics and integrity, open science, or environmentally sustainable research, among others.
Eligible expenses
- Personnel expenses
- Material costs (travel expenses, event costs)
- Subcontractor services
- Publication and communication costs
- Costs for workshops and network meetings
Eligible to apply
- Companies
- Cooperatives
- Foundations
- Public Institutions
- Founders
- Individuals
- Non-profit Organizations
- Educational Institutions
- Interest Groups and Other Associations
- Others
Funding requirements
- Consortium of at least three independent legal entities from three different EU Member States or associated countries
- Application as coordinator and at least two partners
- Submission of a complete project proposal via the Funding & Tenders Portal
Documents required for application
- Application form (Part A & Part B)
- Lump sum budget table
- Coordinator's cover letter
- Proof of legal existence (for validation)
Evaluation criteria
- Innovative content and ambition of the project
- Scientific excellence and methodology
- Potential to achieve the expected impacts
- Quality of project design and risk management
- Competence of project participants and consortium composition
Description
The funding measure “Pillar II: Strengthening ecosystems for open, ethical, and sustainable ERA” offers companies, research organizations, educational institutions, and non-profit actors in the EU and associated countries the opportunity to implement coordination and support projects to strengthen open, ethical, and resource-efficient research and innovation ecosystems. Funded activities include networking initiatives, knowledge exchange, and training that implement and further develop European Research Area (ERA) policies on ethics and integrity, open science, and ecological sustainability in research. A consortium must consist of at least three legal entities from three different EU member states or associated countries, including one coordinator and two partner organizations. The project duration is up to 36 months, with a funding rate of 100%. The maximum EU budget per project amounts to €2,000,000; all expenses for personnel, consumables, subcontracting services, as well as publication and communication costs are eligible for funding.
Applications are evaluated based on the criteria of innovation content, scientific excellence, impact & sustainability potential, project design, and consortium competence. Special emphasis is placed on gender mainstreaming, diversity-sensitive participation, and sustainable exploitation strategies. Participants from SMEs, non-profit organizations, or public administration units benefit from 100% funding and can implement innovative concepts on research ethics, open science, or green transition as pilot projects. The submission deadline is 12 March 2026; complete applications must be submitted via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The European Commission, as the program funder, provides comprehensive support documents and accompanies project implementation until the successful consolidation of the ecosystems.
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