Design of the Master Programme in Data Science with Specialization in Sustainability

This grant opportunity from EIT Digital focuses on the design of a new master's program specializing in Data Science with an emphasis on sustainability. It invites proposals from universities, described as "visionary and motivated," to co-create this curriculum. The initiative aims to blend academic rigour in data science with sustainability principles while fostering entrepreneurial and innovative learning.

The funding type is a grant, with a total allocation of €100,000 for the selected proposals. Eligibility is directed towards higher education institutions within EU member states and associated countries, although specific countries are not explicitly listed. The project is in the design phase, with the curriculum development targeted between October and December 2025.

The application is a competitive open call operating on a single-stage basis, with a submission deadline set for August 14, 2025, at 5 PM Brussels time. Proposals must be submitted through the EIT Digital submission platform. Interested universities are required to register and complete necessary information on the platform, although this does not formalize any partnership or incur fees at this point. Formal partnerships may be established post-selection.

An informational session will be held on June 25, 2025, to provide further insights and address questions regarding the application process. The call is subject to potential refinements and amendments, and applicants are advised to regularly check the EIT Digital website for updates and changes to the call documentation.

The goal of this initiative is to develop an innovative and integrated educational program that equips students with essential skills to address the challenges at the intersection of data science, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. All details regarding the proposal requirements and evaluation criteria can be found in the specific annexes associated with the call.

The EIT Digital 2025 Activities grant is a call for proposals from visionary and motivated universities to co-create a new specialization in Data Science, tailored to the growing need for sustainability experts with digital and entrepreneurial skills. The program aims to combine academic excellence in data science and sustainability, entrepreneurial and innovation-driven learning, cross-border education and mobility, and full integration of EIT Digital’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship (I&E) curriculum. EIT Digital is inviting partners to design this specialization between October and December 2025.

The opening date for submissions is 16 June 2025, and the deadline for submission is 14 August 2025 at 17:00 (5 pm) Brussels time. The deadline model is single-stage. The total funding available is 100,000.00 €. The project acronym is EIT Digital2025, and the full name of the EU funded project is EIT Digital 2025 Activities. The grant agreement number is 101217488. The topic is HORIZON-EIT-2024-MOC-IBA - 2025 Activities.

All proposals must be filled and submitted through the official EIT Digital submission platform: https://workspaces.eitdigital.eu/site/private/go/article.aspx?id=569. To submit an application, registration on the intranet and completion of company information as if becoming an official partner is required. This step does not formalize the partnership process, nor does it involve the payment of any fees at this stage. Formalization of the partnership, including any fee requirements, will only take place if the proposal is selected.

Proposals need to be formally submitted via the EIT Digital submission platform before the hard deadline. If the quality of proposals is insufficient based on the evaluation criteria listed in Annex C, EIT Digital reserves the right to open a second submission to collect and assess new Education Activity proposals. The detailed process, including requirements, criteria, and evaluation methodology for Deep Tech Education Activity proposals, is presented in Annex B and Annex C.

For any enquiries or requests for clarification regarding this call, contact the EIT Digital Team at proposal_support@eitdigital.eu. A list of FAQs can be found on the webpage where the call is published. The call is subject to potential refinement and amendments contingent upon forthcoming directives directed towards EIT Digital. Applicants are advised to routinely monitor the call pages hosted on the EIT Digital website for any updates. Any changes to the Call Document will be highlighted in red and published at the top of the website.

Further information about the call can be found at https://www.eitdigital.eu/design-of-the-master-programme-in-data-science-with-specialization-in-sustainability/. An online info session will take place on 25 June 2025, from 13:00 to 14:00 CEST. Registration for the session is available via a provided link.

In summary, this EIT Digital call seeks universities to collaborate in designing a new Master's program specialization in Data Science with a focus on sustainability. The program aims to equip students with the necessary digital, entrepreneurial, and sustainability skills. The call provides 100,000 EUR in funding and requires a detailed proposal submitted through the EIT Digital platform by August 14, 2025. Interested universities should review the detailed requirements and evaluation criteria in Annexes B and C and attend the online info session for further clarification. The initiative aims to foster academic excellence, innovation, and cross-border collaboration in the field of data science for sustainability.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant type for this opportunity is universities. The call specifically seeks "visionary and motivated universities."

Funding Type: The funding type appears to be a grant, specifically "Cascade funding" as indicated in the provided text. The call is for the "Design of the Master Programme in Data Science with Specialization in Sustainability" and mentions a "Grant agreement number."

Consortium Requirement: While the text doesn't explicitly state whether a consortium is required, the call mentions "partners" and invites them to "co-create" the specialization. This suggests that a consortium or collaborative effort is preferred, although it's not explicitly mandated.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility isn't explicitly stated, but given that it is an EIT Digital call, it is likely focused on EU member states and associated countries. The mention of Brussels time for the deadline also suggests a European focus.

Target Sector: The target sectors are education, data science, and sustainability. The call is for the design of a master's program in Data Science with a specialization in Sustainability. It also touches upon digital skills and entrepreneurship.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but Brussels is mentioned as the reference for the time zone of the deadline. The call is issued by EIT Digital, which operates within the EU framework, implying a focus on EU member states and associated countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is in the design phase. The call is specifically for the "Design of the Master Programme."

Funding Amount: The total funding available is €100,000.00.

Application Type: The application type is an open call. The text mentions "EIT Digital is inviting partners to design this specialization" and that "All proposals need to be filled and submitted through the official EIT Digital submission platform." The deadline model is single-stage.

Nature of Support: The beneficiaries will receive money, as it is a grant with a total funding amount specified.

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, as indicated by the "Deadline model single-stage" information.

Success Rates: The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement: The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This opportunity is a call from EIT Digital inviting universities to submit proposals for co-creating a new master's program specialization in Data Science with a focus on Sustainability. The program aims to combine academic excellence in data science and sustainability with entrepreneurial and innovation-driven learning, cross-border education, and the integration of EIT Digital’s Innovation & Entrepreneurship curriculum. The selected university or consortium of universities will be responsible for designing the specialization between October and December 2025. The total funding available for this design phase is €100,000. The application deadline is August 14, 2025, at 5 pm CEST (Brussels time). Interested universities must register on the EIT Digital submission platform and complete their company information as if they were to become official partners, although this step does not formalize the partnership or involve any fees at this stage. An online info session is scheduled for June 25, 2025, to provide further information and answer questions. The call is subject to potential refinements and amendments, and applicants are advised to monitor the EIT Digital website for updates. The evaluation criteria and detailed requirements are outlined in Annex B and Annex C, which are not provided in the scraped content. The topic is HORIZON-EIT-2024-MOC-IBA - 2025 Activities.