EU Funding
Horizon 2020
ERC grants
Are you a researcher with an excellent scientific profile and with visionary research projects in mind that you want to realise in Europe? The European Research Council (ERC) has a funding scheme that will meet your needs.
The following grants are available:
Starting Grants: EUR 1.5 million over 5 years for researchers with 2 to 7 years post-PhD experience
Estimated deadline: 9 March 2021
Consolidator Grants: EUR 2 million over 5 years for researchers with 7 to 12 years post-PhD experience
Estimated deadline: 20 April 2021
Advanced Grants: EUR 2.5 million over 5 years for researchers with over 12 years post-PhD experience
Estimated deadline: 31 August 2021
Deadlines are subject to the adoption of Horizon Europe and the ERC Work Programme 2021.
Few spots left for an online specialised training course for applicants.
Contact us for more information.
European Green Deal
The Green Deal Calls under Horizon 2020 aim for the EU's transition to a Carbon-free economy by 2050. To respond to the urgency and ambition of the European Green Deal objectives, Horizon 2020 has launched a Call worth close to EUR 1 billion. The call contains 10 areas:- Eight thematic areas reflecting the key work streams of the European Green Deal. In each area, one or more topics addresses the challenges outlined in the respective stream. Topics target specific, high-impact technological and societal innovations that can help advance the sustainable transition relatively quickly.
- Two horizontal areas (strengthening knowledge; empowering citizens; and international cooperation) that cut across the eight thematic areas and offer a longer-term perspective in achieving the transformations set out in the European Green Deal.
- Increasing climate ambition
Preventing and fighting extreme wildfires with the integration and demonstration of innovative means (LC-GD-1-1-2020)
Towards Climate-Neutral and Socially Innovative Cities (LC-GD-1-2-2020)
Climate-resilient Innovation Packages for EU regions (LC-GD-1-3-2020) - Clean, affordable and secure energy
Innovative land-based and offshore renewable energy technologies and their integration into the energy system (LC-GD-2-1-2020)
Develop and demonstrate a 100 MW electrolyser upscaling the link between renewables and commercial/industrial applications (LC-GD-2-2-2020)
Accelerating the green transition and energy access Partnership with Africa (LC-GD-2-3-2020) - Industry for a clean and circular economy
Closing the industrial carbon cycle to combat climate change – Industrial feasibility of catalytic routes for sustainable alternatives to fossil resources (LC-GD-3-1-2020)
Demonstration of systemic solutions for the territorial deployment of the circular economy (LC-GD-3-2-2020) - Energy and resource efficient buildings
Building and renovating in an energy and resource efficient way (LC-GD-4-1-2020) - Sustainable and smart mobility
Green airports and ports as multimodal hubs for sustainable and smart mobility (LC-GD-5-1-2020) - Farm to Fork
Testing and demonstrating systemic innovations in support of the Farm-to-Fork Strategy (LC-GD-6-1-2020) - Biodiversity and ecosystem services
Restoring biodiversity and ecosystem services (LC-GD-7-1-2020) - Zero-pollution, toxic-free environments
Innovative, systemic zero-pollution solutions to protect health, environment and natural resources from persistent and mobile chemicals (LC-GD-8-1-2020)
Fostering regulatory science to address combined exposures to industrial chemicals and pharmaceuticals: from science to evidence-based policies (LC-GD-8-2-2020) - Strengthening our knowledge in support of the European Green Deal
European Research Infrastructures capacities and services to address European Green Deal challenges (LC-GD-9-1-2020)
Developing end-user products and services for all stakeholders and citizens supporting climate adaptation and mitigation (LC-GD-9-2-2020)
Transparent & Accessible Seas and Oceans: Towards a Digital Twin of the Ocean (LC-GD-9-3-2020) - Empowering citizens for the transition towards a climate neutral, sustainable Europe
European capacities for citizen deliberation and participation for the Green Deal (LC-GD-10-1-2020)
Behavioural, social and cultural change for the Green Deal (LC-GD-10-2-2020)
Enabling citizens to act on climate change, for sustainable development and environmental protection through education, citizen science, observation initiatives, and civic engagement (LC-GD-10-3-2020)
Horizon 2020 call for independent experts
This is a general call for expression of interest to act as independent experts. Call addressed to individuals for the establishment of a database of prospective independent experts to assist Commission services with tasks in connection with Horizon 2020 – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation!More information is available online.
Erasmus+
Erasmus+ is the main funding programme for the Education of the EU. The current programming period 2014-2020 has just ended with the new programming period 2021-2027 starting in January 2021. Funding has increased to nearly EUR 25 billion from the previous EUR 15 billion approved during the previous programming period. Programme spending for 2021 is set at EUR 2.89 billion. This is a better time than ever to apply!It is still not clear what the new programme will look like, and for guidance here is a list of planned calls based on the previous year.
Key Action 1 - Learning mobility of individuals
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters Degrees
Provides eligible organisations with the opportunity to jointly organise and run Master degree programmes. The programme can be of 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits lasting from 12 to 24 months. Funding is available for the running of the programme as well as for scholarships for EU (25%) and non-EU (75%) students, for four consecutive academic years. The purpose is to attract excellent students from around the world, through competitive scholarships.
Deadline: estimated February 2021
Find out more.
- Strategic partnerships in the field of education, training and youth
These support innovation in the sector as well as joint initiatives to promote cooperation, peer learning and the sharing of experience. Projects typically feature blended mobility training programmes, whereby funding covers staff time for preparing and delivering programmes, travel of trainers and students, meetings and exceptional costs. Project duration is between 24 and 26 months.
Deadline: estimated March 2021
Find out more. - Knowledge Alliances
Designed to support innovation in higher education and business, develop new approaches to teaching and learning, promote entrepreneurship, and promote knowledge sharing. In order to achieve this, a typical partnership consists of both academic and industrial partners, with the aim of aligning teaching and learning programmes to the needs of the industry.
Deadline: estimated February 2021
Find out more. - Sector Skills Alliances
Tackle skills gap and improve the adaptability of VET systems to sector-specific labour market needs and the demand for new skills. As above, partnership between training organisations and industry is essential. Deadline: estimated February 2021
Find out more. - Capacity Building
Supports the modernisation, accessibility, and internationalisation of higher education in Partner (non-EU) Countries. In other words, it’s all about replicating programmes, good practices and systems developed in EU Countries in non-EU countries.
Deadline: estimated February 2021
Find out more.
Key Action 3 - Support for policy reform
Opportunities contribute to supporting the overall EU policy agenda, the Education and Training 2020 cooperation framework, and the Youth Strategy. Projects shall contribute to improving the quality of education, training, and youth systems in Europe, as well as promoting transnational learning and cooperation between authorities. They will also contribute to developing the basis for evidence-based policy-making, as well as supporting networks and tools for policy implementation.
Deadline: Social inclusion and common values strand estimated February 2021;
Policy experimentations strand estimated May 2021
Find out more.
Jean Monnet Activities
Jean Monnet Activities are designed to promote excellence in teaching and research in the field of European Union studies worldwide. The activities also foster the dialogue between the academic world and policy-makers, in particular with the aim of enhancing governance of EU policies. Activities include:
- Teaching and Research: Jean Monnet Modules, Chairs and Centres of Excellence.
- Support to Associations: Jean Monnet support to Associations.
- Policy debate with the Academic World: Jean Monnet Networks and Jean Monnet Projects.
Deadline: estimated February 2021
More information is available online.
International Foundations and Grants
European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)
EMBO stands for excellence in the life sciences. EMBO is an organization of more than 1800 leading researchers that promotes excellence in the life sciences in Europe and beyond. The major goals of the organisation are to support talented researchers at all stages of their careers, stimulate the exchange of scientific information, and help build a research environment where scientists can achieve their best work.
EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships
The EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships are awarded for a period of up to two years and support excellent postdoctoral researchers in laboratories throughout Europe and the world. International exchange is a key requirement. Now awarding grants for employment contracts in EMBC countries, EMBO Postdoctoral Fellowships also support the career development of the fellows through leadership courses and networking opportunities.
More information is available online.
Short-Term Fellowships
Update: exceptionally, EMBO will consider applications for Short-Term Fellowships involving home or host institutions in Japan throughout 2020 and 2021.
More information is available online.
Short-Term Fellowships fund research exchanges of up to three months between laboratories in eligible countries. Awarded applicants can stay on their research visit for an additional three months (maximum), however, EMBO will not provide funding for this extended period. The aim is to facilitate valuable collaborations with research groups applying techniques that are unavailable in the applicant's laboratory. Short-Term Fellowships are not awarded for exchanges between two laboratories within the same country. Short-Term Fellowships are intended for joint research work rather than consultations. The fellowships cover travel plus subsistence of the fellow only and not of dependents.
More information is available online.
NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme (NATO SPS)
Open now: Open Call for Proposals
SPS is currently accepting proposals for activities addressing any of the Programme's Key Priorities. Please note that this call is soliciting proposals for SPS Multi-Year Projects only.
When drafting applications in response to this Open Call for Proposals, applicants should refer exclusively to manuals and templates published on this page. Only complete applications submitted using the correct templates may be considered as eligible.More information is available online.
International Security Fund Police
The Internal Security Fund (ISF) was set up for the period 2014-20, with a total of EUR 3.8 billion for the seven years. The Fund promotes the implementation of the Internal Security Strategy, law enforcement cooperation and the management of the Union's external borders. The ISF is composed of two instruments, ISF Borders and Visa and ISF Police.
The following calls are currently open:
- Call Title - TERFIN
Countering terrorist financing focusing on the cooperation of public and private actors and emerging technologies
Deadline: Stage one - 21 January 2021 - Call Title - PCCC
Police and Customs Cooperation Centres (PCCC)
Deadline: Stage one - 21 January 2021 - Call Title - POLCOP
The objectives are to support Member States, in particular those that are currently organising joint patrols and joint operations across EU
Deadline: Stage one - 21 January 2021 - Call Title - Property Crime
Property Crime
Deadline: Single stage - 4 February 2021 - Call Title - CYBER
Cybercrime
Deadline: Stage one - 25 February 2021 - Call Title - Trafficking in Human Beings
Trafficking in Human Beings
Deadline: Single stage - 25 February 2021 - Call Title - Drugs
Better law enforcement in the area of illicit drug trafficking
Deadline: Single stage - 18 March 2021 - Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund
The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) was set up for the period 2014-20, with a total of EUR 3.137 billion for the seven years. It promotes the efficient management of migration flows and the implementation, strengthening and development of a common Union approach to asylum and immigration. - Call Title - Migrants
Participation of migrants in integration policies
Deadline: Single stage - 16 February 2021 - Call Title - Third Country Nationals
Access to basic services to Third Country Nationals
Deadline: Single stage - 16 February 2021 - Call Title - Migrants
Migrants transition to adulthood
Deadline: Single stage - 16 February 2021 - Call Title - Third Country Nationals
Integration of Third Country National victims of trafficking of human beings
Deadline: Single stage - 16 February 2021 - Call Title - Integration
Complimentary pathways for people in need of protection
Deadline: Single stage - 16 February 2021 - Call Title - Local integration strategies
Local integration strategies through multi-stakeholder partnerships
Deadline: Single stage - 16 February 2021
Next Generation Internet sub-grants from ongoing Horizon 2020 projects
DAPSI (Data Portability and Services Indicator) Call
Grants of up to EUR 150,000 available
Deadline: 20 January 2021
Apply now.
NGIatlantic.eu 3rd Open Call
Following the first two successful Open Calls, on 1 December NGIatlantic.eu launched its third call to support EU organisations to carry out research experiments across Next Generation Internet (NGI) application domains using EU and/or US based experimental platforms.
The application deadline for this third open call is 26 February 2021.
Apply now.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
Where documents for submission of project proposals are required for signature by Rector, the complete proposal, Budget and documents to be signed must reach RSSD by email at rssd@um.edu.mt, or by emailing your Research Project Manager (RPM) by not later than 1 week before the deadlines stipulated above. This time frame is needed in order to allow for the necessary reviews to take place and for Rector to sign. RSSD will not be processing documentation for signatures received later than one week before the call deadline. Therefore it is your responsibility to plan in advance.
For proposals requiring detailed vetting by RSSD, these need to be received at least 2 weeks before the deadline in order for a proper review to be made.
We thank you in advance for your cooperation and best of luck!
National Funding
No open calls at the moment.
Crowdhelix Network
UM is a member of the Crowdhelix Network and leads the Marine & Maritime Helix! It is now possible to join winning consortia under Horizon 2020 through the Crowdhelix platform. We are pleased to announce that YOU as a University of Malta Academic / Researcher can now use this platform in order to:- find partners to join you in a consortium for a proposal you wish to lead
- join a consortium applying under a particular call as a partner.
What are you waiting for? Registration is quick and easy, and is available online. It will also be possible to join thematic, or 'Helix events' with the aim of joining such consortia.
Find out more.