EIT EdTech Conference Open Call

EIT Urban Mobility invites proposals from legal entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries to select one organisation or consortium to design, plan and deliver the EIT EdTech Conference in Brussels for two consecutive editions (2027 and 2028). The call offers an indicative total funding of €600,000 for the period 2026–2028 and will award a single proposal under cascade funding linked to the EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan 2026–2028. Applications must be submitted via the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite) by 23 June 2026, 17:00 CEST, and the project is expected to start in Q4 2026 with an end date of 30 November 2028. Applicants should demonstrate proven experience delivering high-level European/international conferences, end-to-end event management capacity, and strong networks across the EdTech and education ecosystem.

What is funded

Scope

Selection of one organisation or consortium to design, plan and deliver two consecutive editions of the EIT EdTech Conference in Brussels (editions in 2027 and 2028). End-to-end event delivery: programme design, operations, stakeholder engagement, communications and reporting.

Total budget:Indicative EIT funding available: €600,000 for the 2026–2028 period ¹.

Who can apply

Open to any legal entity established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. Applications may be submitted by a single organisation or by a consortium; consortia must show complementary expertise and clear role distribution.

1. 1Proven experience organising high-level European or international conferences
2. 2Strong positioning in EdTech, education or innovation ecosystems
3. 3Capacity to manage full event delivery and mobilise a diverse European stakeholder audience

Key dates & duration

How to apply & support

Submit proposals via the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite). See the Call Manual and Guidelines for applicants for submission details.

Info webinar:7 May 2026, 15:00–16:00 CEST (Teams). Contact: academyCall@eiturbanmobility.eu.

Footnotes

1. 1Call webpage and full documents: EIT EdTech Conference Open Call.

EIT Urban Mobility issues an Open Call to select a single organisation or a consortium to design, plan and deliver two consecutive editions (2027 and 2028) of the EIT EdTech Conference to be held in Brussels. The call is part of the EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan 2026-2028 (project acronym EITUM-BP26-28, Grant Agreement 101269525). One proposal will be selected and the indicative funding allocated to the call is €600,000 for the period 2026-2028.

Call identifier and deadlines:Call title: EIT EdTech Conference Open Call (EITUM-BP26-28). Call opening date: 22 April 2026. Submission deadline: 23 June 2026, 17:00 Brussels time (single-stage). Expected project start: Q4 2026 (tentatively September 2026). Maximum project end date: 30 November 2028. Total available indicative funding: €600,000.

Objective, scope and key deliverables

Purpose:select one implementer to deliver the EIT EdTech Conference as a flagship ecosystem-building initiative that brings together the European EdTech industry, the EIT Community and public stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, showcase innovation and contribute to EU digital education priorities. Scope: end-to-end delivery across two editions (2027 and 2028) including concept and programme design, stakeholder and partner engagement, operations and logistics, communications and dissemination, audience mobilisation, policy-relevant content and outcome-orientation. Event location: Brussels (physical conference).

Who can apply (eligible applicant types)

This Call is open to legal entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. Applicants may apply as a single legal entity or as a consortium. Based on call text, eligible applicant types that should consider applying include:

1. 1Universities and higher education institutions with event and policy engagement capacity
2. 2Research institutes and think tanks active in education, digital education or EdTech ecosystems
3. 3Nonprofit organisations and NGOs working in education, EdTech, public policy or stakeholder engagement
4. 4Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises with proven experience in organising high-level international conferences and event delivery
5. 5Event management companies and professional conference organisers
6. 6Public bodies, local/regional authorities or city administrations with capacity to host and mobilise stakeholders
7. 7Public-private partnerships or consortia formed from the above types

Funding type and nature of support

Primary funding mechanism:grant funding provided by EIT Urban Mobility (EIT funding allocated through the EITUM Business Plan). Nature of support: monetary financial support to the beneficiary(ies) under a Financial Support Agreement or equivalent EIT contractual instrument. The call references a Financial Support Agreement (FSA) template and the Horizon Europe Annotated Grant Agreement and related project implementation documents for contractual and financial rules.

Consortium requirement and applicant format

Applicants may apply either as a single organisation or as part of a consortium. The call requires, in the case of consortia, demonstration of partner complementarity, a clear distribution of roles and responsibilities, and overall capacity to deliver end-to-end event organisation for two editions. One proposal will be selected; multiple organisations may form a single bidding consortium but are not mandatory.

Geographic eligibility and scope

Eligible applicants:legal entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. The event delivery is required in Brussels, Belgium. The financing originates from the EIT and Horizon-family programmes; therefore, geographic eligibility follows EU/Horizon association rules rather than global/international open eligibility.

Target sector and thematic focus

Primary thematic sector:education and EdTech (digital education technologies and ecosystem building). Secondary and cross-cutting areas: innovation ecosystems, entrepreneurship in education technology, policy dialogue on EU digital education priorities, stakeholder engagement across public authorities, industry, startups and the EIT Community.

Expected project stage and deliverables

Project maturity expected:implementation-ready event delivery. The selected applicant must be capable of undertaking preparation (concept, programme and stakeholder mobilisation), full implementation (logistics, operations, speakers, facilitation and onsite management) and post-event reporting and closure for two consecutive conference editions (2027 and 2028). Projects should therefore be at development through demonstration/delivery stage rather than early idea or pure research stage.

Funding amount and budget model

Indicative total funding allocated to this Open Call: €600,000 for the period 2026-2028. One proposal will be selected to cover both editions. The call documents referenced include Financial Support Agreement and project implementation guidance to specify eligible costs, budget lines and reporting requirements ¹.

Application process and submission method

Application type:open single-stage call (one round) with submission via the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite). Applicants must select the call 'EIT EdTech Conference' in the portal and submit the full proposal through NetSuite. The Call Manual (section 7) and Guidelines for applicants provide detailed submission instructions. An information webinar is scheduled to explain submission and evaluation (7 May 2026, 15:00-16:00 CEST).

1. 1Open call published: 22 April 2026
2. 2Info webinar: 7 May 2026, 15:00-16:00 CEST (via Microsoft Teams)
3. 3Submission deadline: 23 June 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
4. 4Submission channel: EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite) — select call EIT EdTech Conference
5. 5Expected project start: Q4 2026 (tentatively September 2026)
6. 6Project maximum end: 30 November 2028

Evaluation and selection

Call is single-stage. Applications will be evaluated following the procedures set out in the Call Manual and Guidelines for applicants. The info materials state that applicants will receive guidance on the evaluation process during the info webinar. Detailed evaluation criteria, scoring and thresholds are expected in the Call Manual and Guidelines; applicants should consult those documents carefully. Contact point for clarifications: academyCall@eiturbanmobility.eu.

Co-funding and financial obligations

The call materials reference Financial Support Agreement and Horizon Europe contractual templates which normally define eligible costs, reporting, audit and co-financing rules. The public call text does not explicitly state a mandatory co-funding percentage in the scraped content. Applicants must consult the Financial Support Agreement template and Call Manual for precise co-financing rules, eligible cost categories and reimbursement rates. Based on typical EIT FSAs, budgets must be justified, and the beneficiary will be responsible for implementing the event within contractual and financial accountability requirements.

Applicant requirements and selection priorities

Key capabilities and evidence the call requests or expects applicants to demonstrate:proven experience in organising high-level European or international conferences; strong positioning and networks within the EdTech, education or innovation ecosystem; capacity to manage end-to-end event delivery including programme design, operations, stakeholder engagement, communications and dissemination; ability to mobilise a diverse, multi-stakeholder European-level audience including policymakers, industry, startups, educators and EIT Community partners. For consortia: clear distribution of roles, partner complementarity and demonstrated capacity across required functions.

Application templates and supporting documents

Call documentation available and referenced in the call webpage:Call Manual (with Proposal Submission Process section 7), Guidelines for Applicants, Financial Support Agreement (FSA) template, Declaration of Honour template, List of other reference documents (EIT Community initiatives guidelines, EIT branding guidelines, Horizon Europe Annotated Grant Agreement, Project Implementation Handbook, EIT Impact Framework 2022-2027, EIT Urban Mobility Strategic Agenda 2021-2027). Applicants must consult these documents for required forms, templates, budget tables, contractual clauses and reporting obligations.

Application form structure (templates outline)

While the full proposal template is provided in the Programmes Portal (NetSuite) and the Call Manual, the call materials indicate proposals should typically include: administrative details and legal information of applicant(s); legal entity validation; summary and objectives of the proposed conference delivery; detailed workplan and timeline for preparations, two conference editions and closure; roles and responsibilities of applicant and partners (if consortium); detailed budget and justification aligned with FSA eligible cost categories; communication and dissemination plan; stakeholder engagement and outreach strategy; evidence of previous experience and references; risk management and contingency planning; expected outcomes, impact indicators and reporting metrics. Applicants should follow the NetSuite form fields and attach supporting documents (e.g., CVs, past event portfolios, letters of support or partnership agreements) as required.

Application stages, timeline and success factors

Number of application stages:1 (single-stage submission and evaluation). Timeline highlights: call opens 22 April 2026, info webinar 7 May 2026, submission deadline 23 June 2026. Evaluation will select one beneficiary. Success factors include presenting a clear, feasible workplan covering both editions, realistic and justified budget, evidence of prior high-level event delivery, strong networks in EdTech and education communities, capacity to mobilise European stakeholders and alignment with EIT and EU digital education priorities.

Success rates:The call will select one proposal. Published budget and single-award nature imply a low overall success probability (dependent on number of applicants). No explicit historical or statistical success rate is provided in the call documentation; applicants should expect competitive assessment with likely many applicants vying for a single award.

Contacts, webinars and support

Info webinar:7 May 2026, 15:00-16:00 CEST (via Teams). Registration link provided on the call webpage. Helpdesk and clarifications: applicants may contact EIT Urban Mobility at academyCall@eiturbanmobility.eu for questions on general/technical procedures and call content. Submission portal support and guidance are also available via the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite) and the call manual.

Explicitly mentioned countries and location

Explicit country mentions:the call is open to legal entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. Event location is Brussels, Belgium. The EIT Community is referenced (EIT headquartered in Budapest, Hungary) as the broader network context.

Summary: what this opportunity is about

This Open Call seeks a capable organisation or consortium to deliver two consecutive editions (2027 and 2028) of the EIT EdTech Conference in Brussels. The selected implementer will receive an allocated portion of the €600,000 indicative budget to cover preparation, implementation and reporting across both editions under an EIT financial support contract. The award will be competitive and single-stage; submissions must be made through the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite) by 23 June 2026. Applicants should demonstrate proven conference delivery experience at European/international level, strong links to the EdTech and education ecosystem, operational capacity for end-to-end event management, stakeholder mobilisation capabilities and alignment with EU digital education priorities. Full application instructions, evaluation criteria and contractual templates (FSA, DoH) are provided in the Call Manual and Guidelines for Applicants available on the call webpage EIT EdTech Conference Open Call ¹.

Footnotes

1. 1Primary call webpage and source documents: EIT EdTech Conference Open Call page on EIT Urban Mobility website and the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite). Refer to the Call Manual, Guidelines for Applicants and Financial Support Agreement template linked on the call webpage for full instructions, templates and contractual details.

Opportunity Overview

EIT Urban Mobility is launching an open call to select one organisation or consortium to design, plan and deliver the EIT EdTech Conference for two consecutive editions in 2027 and 2028. The EIT EdTech Conference is a flagship ecosystem-building initiative that brings together the European EdTech industry, the EIT Community and public stakeholders to strengthen collaboration, showcase innovation and contribute to EU digital education priorities. The selected applicant will be responsible for end-to-end delivery of both conference editions, ensuring high-level, policy-relevant and outcome-oriented events in Brussels.

Funding Details

Total Funding Available:€600,000 for the period 2026-2028 ¹

Number of Awards:One proposal will be selected

Funding Type:Cascade funding under Horizon Europe, part of EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan 2026-2028 (Grant agreement number 101269525)

Key Dates and Timeline

1. 1Call opening: 22 April 2026
2. 2Information webinar: 7 May 2026, 15:00-16:00 CEST
3. 3Application deadline: 23 June 2026, 17:00 CEST (Brussels time)
4. 4Project start: Q4 2026 (tentatively September 2026)
5. 5Project end: 30 November 2028
6. 6Conference delivery: 2027 and 2028

Eligibility Criteria

This call is open to all legal entities established in EU Member States or Horizon Europe associated countries. Applicants may apply as a single organisation or as part of a consortium. In the case of consortia, partners must demonstrate complementarity of expertise and a clear distribution of roles.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Applicants must demonstrate the following capabilities:

• Proven experience in organising high-level European or international conferences
• Strong positioning within the EdTech, education or innovation ecosystem
• Capacity to manage end-to-end event delivery, including programme design, operations, stakeholder engagement and communications
• Ability to mobilise a diverse, multi-stakeholder audience at European level

Project Scope and Deliverables

The selected applicant will be responsible for designing, planning and delivering two consecutive editions of the EIT EdTech Conference in 2027 and 2028. The project duration includes preparation, implementation, reporting and closure activities related to both editions. The conferences will be held in Brussels and must serve as a platform for connection and collaboration to support the European EdTech ecosystem. The events should bring together key stakeholders from across the education and innovation communities, including industry leaders, startups, public sector representatives, universities, schools, EU institutions and national governments to explore synergies, share best practices and discuss policies crucial to driving impactful innovation in digital education.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted via the EIT Urban Mobility Programmes Portal (NetSuite). Applicants should select the call titled EIT EdTech Conference. For detailed guidance on the submission process, applicants must consult the Call Manual (section 7 on Proposal submission Process) and the Guidelines for applicants, which are available on the call webpage.

Required Documentation

• Financial Support Agreement (FSA) template
• Declaration of Honour (DoH) template
• Project proposal addressing the call requirements
• Evidence of experience and qualifications
• Consortium agreement (if applying as a consortium)

Support and Information Resources

EIT Urban Mobility will host an information webinar on 7 May 2026 from 15:00 to 16:00 CEST via Microsoft Teams. This session will provide an overview of the call scope, practical submission tips, timeline information and insights into the evaluation process. Applicants will receive step-by-step guidance on using the Programmes Portal (NetSuite) for submission.

All applicants may contact EIT Urban Mobility at academyCall@eiturbanmobility.eu to resolve any concerns or doubts regarding general or technical procedures and call content.

Reference Documents and Guidelines

• Project Implementation Handbook
• Horizon Europe Annotated Grant Agreement (AGA)
• EIT Community initiatives guidelines
• EIT branding guidelines
• EIT Impact Framework (2022-2027)
• EIT Urban Mobility Strategic Agenda 2021-2027

Strategic Context

The EIT EdTech Conference is part of the broader EIT Community's mission to strengthen Europe's ability to innovate. The conference builds upon the success of its first edition held in January 2024 in Brussels. The initiative aligns with EU digital education priorities and seeks to position EdTech as a key European success story. The conference serves as a bridge between the EdTech industry and the EIT Community, exploring how existing technologies can support innovative teaching and learning methods and help students and learners acquire necessary knowledge and skills to adapt to new working environments and address societal challenges.

Important Considerations for Applicants

This is a single-stage call with one winner selection. The project requires sustained engagement over approximately 30 months, covering two consecutive conference editions. Applicants should demonstrate not only conference management expertise but also deep understanding of the EdTech ecosystem and ability to convene high-level stakeholders at European level. The conferences must be policy-relevant and outcome-oriented, contributing to concrete EU digital education objectives. Consortia applications are encouraged if they demonstrate clear complementarity and added value. ²

Footnotes

1. 1The funding is allocated under the EIT Urban Mobility Business Plan 2026-2028, which is part of Horizon Europe cascade funding mechanisms.
2. 2Applicants are strongly advised to register for the information webinar on 7 May 2026 and review all reference documents before submitting their proposals to ensure compliance with all requirements and to maximise their chances of success.