EdTech Accelerator

EdTech Accelerator DIGITAL-2026 is a Digital Europe Programme Coordination and Support Action offering up to €2,700,000 per project with an indicative duration of 36 months and a single-stage deadline of 1 October 2026 (17:00 Brussels time). The action funds a pan‑European EdTech accelerator to run at least three open FSTP calls, provide acceleration services and short real‑world pilots, and produce go‑to‑market outputs and dissemination activities. Proposals must allocate a minimum of 60% of the project budget to Financial Support to Third Parties (max €150,000 per third party) to support at least 20 startups/SMEs and ensure strong GDPR, accessibility and pedagogy compliance. Eligible applicants are legal entities from EU Member States or associated countries in multi‑beneficiary consortia of at least four independent applicants from four different eligible countries.

What it funds

Scope and key outputs

A coordination and support action to set up an EU EdTech accelerator:yearly 12-month incubation/acceleration cycles, three open calls for pilots (at least one per year), short real-world pilots in education/training settings, European-wide communication and at least one major annual investor/market event. Deliverables include a GTM guide, pilot impact data and promotion on the Digital Skills & Jobs Platform.

Third-party support rules:Financial support to third parties (FSTP) is allowed; at least 60% of the project budget should be spent on FSTP and individual subgrants to start-ups/SMEs may be up to €150,000 per third party ¹.

1. 1Target recipients: EdTech start-ups and SMEs for short pilots, incubation and market-readiness support.
2. 2Programme elements: open calls for pilots, mentoring, piloting in real education settings, investor & procurement matchmaking, communication and GTM guidance.

Eligible applicants:legal entities (public or private) established in eligible countries (EU Member States and associated countries listed in the call). Multi-beneficiary consortia are mandatory; check call document for detailed eligibility, admissibility, evaluation and consortium composition rules.

Footnotes

1. 1Full call conditions, budget breakdown and FSTP rules are in the official call document: Call fiche DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10 (EdTech).

Call title:Advanced Digital Skills (DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10). Funding programme: Digital Europe Programme (DIGITAL). Type of action for this topic: Coordination and Support Actions (DIGITAL-CSA) with a 100% funding rate. Opening date: 21 April 2026. Deadline: 01 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Deadline model: single-stage. Call identifier: DIGITAL-2026. Indicative total call budget for the broader Digital Skills call: €12,500,000. Topic-specific budget allocated to EdTech accelerator: €2,700,000. Project duration (indicative): 36 months. Submission system: Funding & Tenders Portal; electronic submission only.

Objective, scope and expected results

Objective:to assist European EdTech startups and SMEs in transforming concepts for educational solutions into market-ready products and to support the effective and ethical application of generative AI (GenAI) technologies in education and training, aligned with the GenAI4EU initiative and the Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027). Scope: establish an EdTech-specific accelerator environment offering business guidance, access-to-market, and synergies with education and training ecosystems (schools, VET, higher education, lifelong learning and informal providers). The action must include selection (open calls), acceleration (mentoring, training, coaching), piloting in real educational settings, post-pilot market uptake support, communication and at least one large yearly event. Deliverables: at minimum three open calls for pilots (minimum one per year) providing Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) to at least 20 EdTech start-ups/SMEs across Member States and eligible countries; a yearly 10–12 month acceleration/incubation cycle for minimum three cohorts; short real-world pilots to collect impact assessment data with human-centric and learning design methods recommended; a go-to-market (GTM) guide; European-wide communication and at least one major annual event. Minimum technical/functional expectations: coverage of multiple application areas (learning content, assessment, personalization, tutoring, assistive tech), special emphasis on advanced technologies including AI and XR; minimum 3 selected solutions should include XR features.

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP):A minimum of 60% of the project budget should be spent on FSTP. The maximum amount per third party is up to €150,000 to enable short pilots in education or training environments. Calls to third parties must be open, published widely (including on the Funding & Tenders Portal and participants’ websites), remain open at least two months, and include transparent selection and award procedures.

Key administrative facts

1. 1Type of action: DIGITAL Coordination and Support Actions (DIGITAL-CSA). Funding rate: 100%.
2. 2Model Grant Agreement: DIGITAL Action Grant Budget-Based (DIGITAL-AG).
3. 3Deadline: 01 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time. Single-stage submission.
4. 4Planned opening (submission system available): 21 April 2026.
5. 5Indicative project duration: 36 months (subject to Data Sheet in the Grant Agreement).
6. 6Submission: Electronic only via the Funding & Tenders Portal; Part A entered online; Part B uploaded as PDF using the DEP Application Form template available in the Submission System.
7. 7Maximum page limit for Part B for CSAs: 50 pages (Part B); follow formatting rules in the DEP template (A4, min font size Arial 9, margins).

Eligibility and consortium requirements

Eligible applicants:legal entities (public or private bodies) established in eligible countries (EU Member States, overseas countries and territories (OCTs), EEA countries and countries associated to the Digital Europe Programme as listed in the call documentation). Natural persons are not eligible except self-employed/sole traders where the company has no distinct legal personality. International organisations are not eligible unless they are International Organisations of European Interest as defined in the Digital Europe Regulation. EU bodies (except JRC) cannot be beneficiaries.

Consortium composition for EdTech topic:Multi-beneficiary (mandatory). Minimum of 4 independent beneficiaries established in at least 4 different eligible countries. The consortium coordinator must demonstrate experience managing projects of the proposed scale and scope. Affiliated entities may participate if declared and validated; associated partners may participate without funding.

Eligible activities

The action must implement the full accelerator cycle:(1) Open calls for selection and provision of FSTP to EdTech startups/SMEs, with transparent rules and selection criteria; (2) Acceleration services: mentoring, coaching, training, masterclasses, expert clinics, business and GTM support, investor readiness, procurement readiness, networking and matchmaking; (3) Short pilots in real education/training environments to collect quantitative and qualitative impact data using learning-design and human-centred methods; (4) Post-pilot support to scale and adoption; (5) European-wide communication and dissemination; (6) At least one major yearly event targeting investors, ministries, market partners and education stakeholders; (7) Development and publication of a GTM guide and project outputs on the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform (DSJP).

Applicant types and targeted stakeholders

1. 1Eligible applicant types (recommended and typical members of the consortium): startups (EdTech), SMEs, incubators/accelerators, higher education institutions, research organisations, training and VET providers, non-governmental organisations, non-profit organisations, public authorities (education ministries or regional education authorities), investors/venture capital or business angels, education establishments (schools, universities), learning content providers, digital innovation hubs and other ecosystem partners.
2. 2Targeted stakeholders: EdTech startups/SMEs (beneficiaries of FSTP), teachers/trainers, schools, VET centres, universities, ministries of education, training providers, learning content/platform providers, investors, procurement bodies and wider EdTech ecosystem actors.

Funding modality and amounts

Type of funding for this topic:Coordination and Support Actions (budget-based mixed actual-cost grant). Funding rate: 100% for the consortium. Topic-level maximum EU grant per project: €2,700,000 (this is the maximum grant amount that can be requested by one project under the EdTech topic). The call document requires that at least 60% of the total project budget be allocated to Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), with individual third-party grants up to €150,000 for pilot testing. The call document and Model Grant Agreement set out eligible cost categories (personnel, subcontracting, purchases, equipment depreciation, travel, financial support to third parties, internally invoiced goods and services) and the indirect cost flat-rate (7% of eligible direct costs A-D). VAT rules: non-deductible VAT is eligible except where national rules exclude it.

Budget overview (call-level):Total estimated call budget: €12,500,000. Topic-specific: EdTech accelerator: €2,700,000. The granting authority reserves the right not to allocate all funds or to redistribute among topics depending on proposals received and evaluation results.

FSTP management and conditions

Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP) is allowed under this topic. The proposal must clearly justify the need for FSTP, describe how it will be managed and provide the types of activities eligible for FSTP. Minimum requirements and rules derived from the call: open call(s) must be widely publicised and placed on the Funding & Tenders Portal and project websites; calls stay open at least two months; published selection criteria, transparent award process; publication of call outcomes with recipient legal names and countries; calls must have a clear European dimension. The call requires that a minimum of 60% of the project budget be used for FSTP. Maximum per-third-party award: €150,000. Minimum number of startups/SMEs to be supported by FSTP: at least 20 across cohorts.

Project stage and technology focus

Project stage expected:market readiness and pilot stage — startups/SMEs with products at minimum viable product (MVP) level or TRL around recommended TRL 4 and above for testing in operational environments. Focused technologies and thematic sectors: EdTech solutions with pedagogical foundations; advanced technologies including generative AI (GenAI), extended reality (XR), robotics and advanced analytics. Human-centred design, privacy, security, inclusion and accessibility are essential requirements. The topic explicitly encourages solutions that are pedagogy-driven and ethically aligned with EU values and AI frameworks (e.g. GDPR, AI ethics principles and GenAI4EU objectives).

Geographic eligibility and beneficiary scope

Eligible countries:EU Member States (including OCTs) and non-EU countries that are associated to the Digital Europe Programme (EEA/associated countries as listed in the call document). The call text references participation across Member States and 'eligible countries'. The proposal should aim for coverage across multiple Member States and regions; KPI targets indicate outreach to multiple national/regional authorities and education systems.

Application, evaluation and award

Application type:open call for proposals (single-stage). Submission method: via Funding & Tenders Portal; Part A (administrative) entered online, Part B (technical description) uploaded as PDF using the DEP Application Form template (Part B). Required annexes: detailed budget, list of previous projects (last 4 years), any call-specific annexes. Admissibility and page limits: Part B limited to 50 pages for CSAs. Evaluation: one-stage evaluation by external experts and an evaluation committee. Award criteria: Relevance (weight and threshold 3/5), Implementation (3/5) and Impact (3/5) with overall threshold 10/15. Award ranking: proposals passing thresholds will be ranked; tie-break rules apply (coverage of uncovered themes, Relevance score, Impact score, Implementation score, then portfolio synergies). Indicative evaluation timeline: evaluation Oct–Nov 2026; information to applicants Dec 2026; Grant Agreement signature Feb 2027 (indicative).

Application stages and process

1. 1Stage 1: Prepare consortium, register participants in the Participant Register and obtain PICs (LEAR appointment and validation may be required).
2. 2Stage 2: Complete Application Form Part A (online) and prepare Part B DEP template plus required annexes (budget, list of previous projects, CVs if requested). Follow admissibility rules and page limits (50 pages for CSA Part B).
3. 3Stage 3: Submit via Funding & Tenders Portal before deadline (electronic submission only).
4. 4Stage 4: Eligibility check and evaluation by experts. Scoring against Relevance, Implementation and Impact with mandatory thresholds.
5. 5Stage 5: Invitation to grant preparation for successful proposals (not a formal commitment until all checks are completed). Legal entity validation, financial capacity checks and any required pre-financing guarantees or certificates will be requested during grant preparation.
6. 6Stage 6: Grant Agreement signature and project start; publication of results and reserve list for unfunded but eligible proposals.

Application forms, templates and required documents

Use the DEP application form (Part A online; Part B DEP Word template to download from the Submission System and upload as PDF). Required annexes (as listed in the call and DEP template): detailed budget table/calculator if required, list of previous projects (mandatory for this call), any other annexes specified in the call document. The call document, Application Form templates, Model Grant Agreement (DEP MGA) and guidance materials are available on the Funding & Tenders Portal and in the Portal Reference Documents. Proposals must comply with the formatting and page limits (A4, Arial 9 minimum).

Evaluation criteria, scoring, KPIs and monitoring

Award criteria and thresholds:Relevance (max 5; min 3), Implementation (max 5; min 3), Impact (max 5; min 3). Overall pass threshold 10/15. KPIs: proposals must define measurable KPIs consistent with call deliverables. For EdTech topic, minimum KPI expectations include: number of accelerated solutions (including XR-driven), number of EdTech startups/SMEs supported (≥20), number of education institutions participating in pilots, number of Member States/regions reached, and outreach to investors and procurement stakeholders. The project will be required to provide a dissemination and communication plan within six months of grant signature and report against KPIs in periodic reporting via the Portal Continuous Reporting tool.

Financial and operational capacity, exclusion and audits

Financial capacity:beneficiaries must demonstrate stable and sufficient resources; financial capacity checks are performed via documents uploaded in the Participant Register during grant preparation except for public bodies or when the individual grant is ≤ €60,000. Operational capacity: applicants must show experience and resources to implement the action (profiles, previous projects list for the last 4 years is mandatory). Exclusion and sanctions: standard EU provisions apply (bankruptcy, fraud, corruption, grave professional misconduct, breach of obligations on previous EU grants). The granting authority/Commission/OLAF/ECA may conduct checks, reviews, audits and investigations. Records and supporting documents must be kept for the period indicated in the Data Sheet (standardly 5 years after final payment, or shorter where specified).

Payments, reporting and cost eligibility

Form of grant:budget-based mixed actual cost grant. Funding rate: 100% for CSAs. Eligible cost categories include personnel, subcontracting, purchases (travel, equipment depreciation, other goods and services), financial support to third parties and indirect costs (flat-rate 7% of eligible direct costs A-D). VAT rules: non-deductible VAT is eligible except for certain public authority situations. Prefinancing and interim payments: predefined in the Grant Agreement Data Sheet; prefinancing guarantee may be requested if required. Final payment: calculated after final periodic reporting and any necessary audits or certificates. No-profit rule applies: any profit must be declared and may be deducted from the final grant amount.

Co-funding and revenue rules

Co-funding requirement:the topic is a Coordination and Support Action with 100% funding rate; the call does not require a specific co-funding percentage beyond the normal cost eligibility and project budget requirements. However, beneficiaries must ensure a balanced project budget and may include own contributions, revenues generated by the action or third-party financial contributions where appropriate. Projects must avoid double funding from the EU budget. If revenue is generated by the action, it must be reported and may reduce the grant if a profit is produced.

Application stages count and success rates

Number of application stages:1 (single-stage open submission) followed by grant preparation for successful applicants (technical and legal checks). Evaluation is a single-stage expert assessment and panel review. Success rates: not provided in the call documentation; success rates will depend on the number and quality of proposals received and available budget. Historically, Digital Europe calls can have highly selective success rates; applicants should assume competitive selection and plan consortiums and budgets accordingly.

Templates and application form structure (how to complete DEP Part B)

Use the standard DEP Application Form (Part B) structure. Key sections to complete and how to structure submissions: Project Summary and Abstract; 1. Relevance (objectives and activities; contribution to policy objectives; synergies with EU/national initiatives; alignment to Digital Education Action Plan and GenAI4EU); 2. Implementation (maturity, implementation plan and work packages, management, quality assurance, risk analysis, detailed description of open calls and FSTP management, procurement/subcontracting plan where relevant, and efficient use of resources); 3. Impact (expected outcomes and deliverables, dissemination and communication plan, GTM guide output, benefits for competitiveness and society, KPIs); 4. Work plan and resources (work packages, tasks, milestones, deliverables, staff effort by person-months, subcontracting breakdown, purchases and equipment, schedule/timeline); 5. Other (ethics, security) and 6. Declarations. Annexes: detailed budget (Annex 2), list of previous projects (mandatory for this call), consortium agreement (recommended), any ethics or security self-assessments. For FSTP include annex explaining selection, management and control procedures, award ceiling per third party, timeline for open calls, scoring and due-diligence templates and evaluation panels.

Selection and management of open calls and third-party awards (detailed guidance to include in proposal)

1. 1Call design: define at least three open calls (minimum one per year), timeline, eligibility of third parties (startups/SMEs), application forms, evaluation and grievance procedures, conflict of interest rules, maximum individual award (≤ €150,000), and reporting obligations for recipients.
2. 2Evaluation and selection: transparent scoring criteria addressing educational relevance, pedagogical design, technology maturity (MVP/TR L), ethical compliance (GDPR, AI governance), inclusion and accessibility, go-to-market potential and scalability, feasibility of piloting in real educational settings. Use external independent experts and stakeholders (teachers, procurement officers, investors).
3. 3Financial and legal controls: set procurement/subgrant award procedures consistent with EU rules (transparency, equal treatment), provide written award decisions, publish call results (recipients names, countries, award dates, awarded amounts), and maintain full audit trails for FSTP recipients.
4. 4Due diligence and monitoring: eligibility and capacity checks for recipients, specific conditions for pilot implementation in schools/education institutions (safeguarding, data protection), milestone-based payments to third parties, evidence requirements for pilot completion and impact data.
5. 5Ethics and compliance: require recipient commitments to EU values, GDPR compliance, accessibility, safety and ethical AI practices. Provide templates for recipient declarations and data processing agreements.

Key risks and recommended mitigation measures to present in the proposal

1. 1Risk: insufficient number/quality of third-party applicants for open calls. Mitigation: broad outreach plan, partnerships with national incubators and EDIHs, targeted communications to EdTech ecosystems, pre-call info sessions.
2. 2Risk: low uptake for pilots in real education settings. Mitigation: pre-secured agreements with a network of schools/universities/VET providers and ministries; incentives for participation; ethical and safeguarding approvals in place.
3. 3Risk: misuse of personal data in pilots. Mitigation: strict data protection protocols, DPIAs where required, mandatory GDPR compliance clauses for recipients, secure data handling infrastructure.
4. 4Risk: conflicts of interest in selection panels. Mitigation: robust conflict-of-interest policy, independent experts and transparent declarations, rotation of experts.
5. 5Risk: inability to spend required minimum 60% on FSTP. Mitigation: conservative financial planning, contingency allocation, staggered calls with clear pipeline.

KPIs and minimum targets applicants should include

1. 1Number of EdTech startups/SMEs supported via FSTP: minimum 20 (target across the three calls).
2. 2Proportion of project budget spent on FSTP: minimum 60%.
3. 3Number of accelerator cohorts delivered: minimum 3 cycles (10–12 months each).
4. 4Number of pilots in real educational settings: specify target per cohort and total; measure number of participating education institutions (schools, VET, universities).
5. 5Number of XR-driven solutions accelerated: minimum 3.
6. 6Number of investors, procurement officers and ministries engaged via events: define targets (e.g. number attending annual flagship event).
7. 7Geographic coverage: number of Member States reached through calls, pilots and dissemination (applicants should set targets).
8. 8Measurement of pedagogical impact: define measurable learning outcomes, usability and adoption KPIs to be collected during pilots.

Compliance, ethics and security

Applicants must respect EU values, GDPR, national data protection rules, and ethics rules. Human-centred design and learning-design methodologies are recommended for pilots. Projects involving classified information are subject to security scrutiny and specific SAL requirements. All beneficiaries must ensure compliance with applicable EU restrictive measures and the EU conditionality regime; entities subject to such measures are not eligible.

Summary: What is this opportunity about and how to approach it

This EdTech Accelerator topic under the Digital Europe Programme is a coordination and support action designed to build an EU-level EdTech acceleration ecosystem that supports European startups and SMEs to move pedagogically sound and ethically-aligned digital education solutions from concept to market-ready products. The project must deliver a multi-year accelerator with minimum three annual cohorts, run three open FSTP calls to fund at least 20 startups/SMEs (€150,000 max per third party and minimum 60% of overall budget on FSTP), implement short real-world pilots to gather impact evidence, provide business and market-access support (including GTM guidance), and run EU-wide dissemination and partnership activities including an annual flagship event. The action must prioritise human-centred design, accessibility, inclusion, privacy and security and demonstrate strong ecosystems links (education institutions, ministries, investors). Proposals should provide detailed open call and FSTP management procedures, selection and award criteria, governance and consortium roles, work packages with deliverables and milestones, KPIs and a credible plan to reach the targeted number of startups and pilot sites. Successful proposals will also show robust financial and operational capacity, experience in managing third-party funding, and a realistic plan to spend the required share of the budget on FSTP while delivering high quality acceleration services and measurable learning outcomes.

Primary sources and guidance:Applicants must consult the full call document, the DEP Application Form templates, the Model Grant Agreement (DEP MGA) and related Guidance & Manuals available on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The call document and annexes provide admissibility conditions, eligible countries, award criteria, budget breakdown, legal and financial set-up, rules for FSTP, evaluation process and timelines; these must be followed strictly during preparation and submission ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary source: Call fiche and Call document for DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10 (Advanced Digital Skills) available on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal and the call fiche PDF (call-fiche_digital-2026-skills-10_en.pdf). Applicants must consult these official documents and the Portal reference documents (Application form templates, DEP MGA, Work Programme, Online Manual) for complete legal, financial and procedural requirements before submission.

This funding opportunity under the Digital Europe Programme supports the creation of an EdTech accelerator programme to nurture European EdTech startups and SMEs, transforming educational concepts into market-ready products while ensuring alignment with EU values on ethics, inclusion, accessibility, privacy, security, and pedagogy. It contributes to the Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027) and builds on prior initiatives like the Digital Education Hub Accelerator.

Key Dates and Budget

Planned opening date:21 April 2026

Deadline:1 October 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage submission)

Budget:€2,700,000 maximum grant amount per project (part of €12,500,000 call budget). Indicative project duration: 36 months. Type of action: DIGITAL Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), 100% funding rate.

Objectives

The objective is to support European EdTech startups and SMEs in developing innovative solutions using technologies like generative AI (GenAI), robotics, and extended reality (XR), aligned with the GenAI4EU initiative. It aims to foster an EdTech ecosystem driving innovation, job creation, and economic growth with pedagogically sound outcomes.

Scope and Expected Deliverables

The funded consortium must establish an EdTech accelerator covering selection, acceleration, piloting, and post-piloting phases for at least three cohorts of startups/SMEs. Key elements include open calls for Financial Support to Third Parties (FSTP), a 10-12 month acceleration programme per cycle, real-world pilots, and go-to-market support.

• Three open calls for pilots (at least one per year) providing FSTP to at least 20 EdTech startups/SMEs from EU Member States and associated countries. Minimum 60% of budget on FSTP, max €150,000 per third party. At least three solutions must use XR technology.
• Yearly 12-month incubation/acceleration programme with mentoring, networking, training, and market access support.
• Short pilots in real education/training environments using human-centric design and learning methodologies to assess impact.
• European-wide communication activities and at least one major annual event for stakeholders (investors, ministries, educators).
• Go-to-market (GTM) guide and implementation report, shared on the Digital Skills and Jobs Platform (DSJP).

Eligibility and Consortium Requirements

Legal entities established in EU Member States (including OCTs) or associated countries to the Digital Europe Programme. Multi-beneficiary applications mandatory: minimum 4 independent applicants from at least 4 different eligible countries. Proposals limited to 50 pages (Part B). Equipment costs: depreciation only.

• Targeted stakeholders: non-governmental organisations, higher education institutions, venture capitalists, companies, educational/training institutions.
• FSTP open calls must be transparent, published on the Portal and participants websites, open for at least two months.
• Admissibility: Proposal page limits and layout per call document section 5. Eligible countries per section 6. Financial/operational capacity and exclusion per section 7.

Evaluation and Award Criteria

*Some sub-criteria not applicable to this topic. Evaluation per call document sections 8-9. Indicative timeline: Evaluation October-November 2026; results December 2026; GA signature February 2027.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Number of accelerated solutions, including XR-driven ones.
• Number of education institutions participating in pilots.
• Number of national/regional authorities supporting the accelerator.

Application Process and Documents

1. 1Register in Participant Register and validate organisation.
2. 2Submit via Funding & Tenders Portal: Part A (online), Part B (up to 50 pages), Annexes (list of previous projects).
3. 3Call document: Call Fiche. Model Grant Agreement: DIGITAL Action Grant Budget-Based (DIGITAL-AG). Online Manual for submission.

Primary source:EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Contact: HaDEA B.2 Digital (via Write to us form). Partner search available on Portal.

Additional Considerations

Proposals must demonstrate synergies with EU initiatives (e.g. EmpowerED, Digital Education Acceleration Hub). Ensure compliance with GDPR, AI ethics, and accessibility. FSTP must have European dimension. Equipment: depreciation only. No profit allowed.

Applicants should review full call fiche for detailed conditions on admissibility (section 5), eligibility (section 6), evaluation (section 8-9), and legal/financial set-up (section 10). ¹

Footnotes

1. 1Detailed guidance in EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement and Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual.