FuseNet Call for the Organisation of Mini-Workshops in Fusion

FuseNet is offering cascade funding through the EUROfusion programme to support FuseNet member institutions in organising small-scale masterclass-style mini-workshops on specialised fusion topics for MSc or PhD students, with events lasting 2–5 days and to be completed before the end of 2026. The call opened on 18 February 2026, remains open periodically until the €10,000 budget is exhausted and has a final deadline of 31 December 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time. Eligible applicants are FuseNet member institutions only and proposals should be submitted to the FuseNet Executive Office for periodic evaluation by the FuseNet Board of Governors.

What it funds

Small-scale mini-workshops (masterclass format) for MSc or PhD students in fusion research, typically 2–5 days long, aimed at connecting early-career students with experienced researchers.

Who can apply

FuseNet member institutions (applicants should be affiliated to institutions that are members of the FuseNet network).

Funding and deadlines:Total budget available for the call: €10,000. Call open until 31 December 2026 (single-stage submission); workshops must be organised before the end of 2026 ¹.

1. 1Expected workshop duration: 2–5 days
2. 2Applications submitted to the FuseNet Executive Office
3. 3Applications evaluated periodically by the FuseNet Board of Governors

Applicants are encouraged to contact the FuseNet Executive Office (feo@fusenet.eu) for an informal discussion before submitting. Detailed eligibility, support types and application procedure are in the call document Terms and Conditions.

Footnotes

1. 1Call summary from the EU Funding & Tenders Portal (EUROfusion project association, grant agreement 101052200) and FuseNet terms and conditions: FuseNet mini-workshops call.

FuseNet Call for the Organisation of Mini-Workshops in Fusion is a cascade funding opportunity under EUROfusion that supports FuseNet member institutions to organise small-scale, 2–5 day masterclass-style workshops connecting MSc or PhD students with experienced fusion researchers. Proposals are submitted to the FuseNet Executive Office and evaluated by the FuseNet Board of Governors, with periodic reviews until the allocated budget is consumed. The call is single-stage and open until 31 December 2026 (Brussels time).

Key Facts

Scope and Objectives

The call funds mini-workshops designed as masterclasses on a dedicated fusion topic, fostering interaction between experts and students. Events target either MSc or PhD students and must be organised before the end of the call year. The purpose is to strengthen fusion education, expose young talents to advanced research, and enhance knowledge exchange across the FuseNet community.

Eligibility and Applicant Types

Proposals must be submitted by FuseNet member institutions. Mini-workshops must be focused on fusion and structured to involve direct interaction between experienced researchers and students at MSc or PhD level. The call explicitly supports member institutions in organising these events.

• Eligible applicants: FuseNet member institutions (typically universities, research institutes, and higher-education organisations that are formal members of the FuseNet Association).
• Target participants for the workshops: MSc or PhD students in fusion-related fields.
• Event format: masterclass-style with expert-student interaction; duration 2–5 days; to be completed within the calendar year of the call.

Funding and Support

Total call budget is €10,000.00, provided via cascade funding from EUROfusion. Funding supports the organisation of mini-workshops. Specific eligible cost categories, per-workshop caps, and financial terms are defined in the FuseNet Terms and Conditions available on the call page.

Submission and Evaluation

1. 1Consult the Terms and Conditions on the FuseNet call page FuseNet Mini-Workshops call page.
2. 2Prepare a proposal aligned with the mini-workshop scope: fusion topic, MSc or PhD target group, masterclass format, 2–5 day duration, delivery before the end of the year.
3. 3Submit the proposal to the FuseNet Executive Office as instructed on the FuseNet call page.
4. 4Evaluation by the FuseNet Board of Governors. Reviews occur periodically, typically at Board meetings, until the allocated budget is consumed.
5. 5Applicants are notified of the decision by email.

The call follows a single-stage process on the EU Portal with direct submission to FuseNet. It remains open periodically during the year for as long as budget is available, with a final deadline of 31 December 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time.

Categorisation and Structured Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:FuseNet member institutions. These are typically universities, higher education organisations, and research institutes that are members of the FuseNet Association.

Funding Type:Grant provided via cascade funding under the EUROfusion programme context.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant institution. A formal multi-beneficiary consortium is not required; the awarded institution is the beneficiary.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Applicants must be FuseNet member institutions. FuseNet membership is primarily composed of European fusion education and research organisations aligned with EUROfusion. Geographic eligibility follows membership; there is no separate country list stated in the call text.

Target Sector:Fusion energy, nuclear fusion research and education, training and skills development in energy sciences.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are explicitly mentioned in the call text. The opportunity is situated within the EUROfusion and EURATOM framework in Europe.

Project Stage:Education and training event organisation. Not a technology development TRL activity; focus is on delivering short masterclass-style workshops.

Funding Amount:Total call budget is €10,000.00. The per-award amount is not specified in the scraped text; refer to the Terms and Conditions on the FuseNet call page for detailed financial provisions.

Application Type:Open call with single-stage submission. Proposals are reviewed periodically until the allocated budget is consumed, with a final submission deadline of 31 December 2026.

Nature of Support:Money. Financial support to organise mini-workshops, delivered as cascade funding.

Application Stages:1. Single-stage submission and evaluation leading to award decision.

Success Rates:Not specified in the available call text.

Co-funding Requirement:Not specified in the scraped text. Any co-funding or cost coverage rules should be confirmed in the Terms and Conditions on the FuseNet call page.

What to Prepare for a Strong Proposal

• Workshop concept: clearly defined fusion topic suitable for a masterclass and tailored to MSc or PhD students.
• Learning objectives: concise, measurable outcomes for participating students.
• Expert involvement: named experienced researchers, roles (lectures, tutorials, mentoring), and confirmation of availability.
• Programme and logistics: 2–5 day agenda, session formats, practical arrangements, timing within the calendar year.
• Participant engagement: interactive elements, Q&A, hands-on sessions, mentoring or career guidance.
• Inclusion and reach: outreach and selection approach to attract suitable MSc/PhD participants across the FuseNet community.
• Quality assurance: feedback collection, evaluation of learning outcomes, and post-workshop reporting approach.
• Budget summary: brief cost breakdown aligned with eligible categories defined in the Terms and Conditions.
• Risk management: contingency for speaker cancellations, venue issues, or travel restrictions.
• Compliance: adherence to FuseNet and EUROfusion visibility rules and any reporting requirements.

Indicative Application Outline (for applicant preparation)

The call text does not publish an official template in the scraped content. Based on the described scope and submission route, applicants may find the following outline helpful when preparing their proposal; always align content with the Terms and Conditions on the FuseNet call page.

1. 1Cover information: workshop title; host FuseNet member institution; contact person; dates; location; target group (MSc or PhD).
2. 2Workshop rationale: objectives; alignment with fusion education; expected benefits for students and community.
3. 3Scientific and educational content: dedicated topic; session descriptions; expert lecturers; interactive components; preliminary agenda (2–5 days).
4. 4Participants: target profile; size; selection method; measures to ensure diversity and inclusion.
5. 5Implementation plan: timeline; logistics (venue/online/hybrid); materials; coordination team and roles.
6. 6Engagement and visibility: communication and outreach; acknowledgement of EUROfusion/Euratom as required by programme rules.
7. 7Budget overview: cost items and justifications consistent with eligible categories; requested contribution.
8. 8Monitoring and evaluation: feedback tools; learning assessment; reporting deliverables.
9. 9Risk assessment: key risks and mitigations for delivery within the call year.
10. 10Annexes: short bios of experts; letters of availability; draft agenda; any institutional approvals if applicable.

Contacts and Key Links

• Official EU Funding & Tenders Portal record: EU Funding & Tenders Portal record
• FuseNet call page and Terms and Conditions: FuseNet Mini-Workshops call page
• Recommended prior informal discussion: feo@fusenet.eu (FuseNet Executive Office)

General Summary

This opportunity provides small, cascade-funded grants to FuseNet member institutions to organise short, masterclass-style fusion workshops that directly connect MSc or PhD students with experienced researchers. Events must last 2–5 days and be completed within the calendar year of the call. The total available budget is €10,000, and proposals are reviewed periodically by the FuseNet Board of Governors until funds are exhausted, within a single-stage process that culminates in email notification to the awarded institution. The call sits within the EUROfusion context under the Euratom framework. Strong proposals define a clear fusion topic, robust expert involvement, interactive student engagement, a practical agenda, and a concise budget aligned with the Terms and Conditions. Applicants should consult the FuseNet call page for the official rules and are encouraged to contact the Executive Office for an informal discussion before submission.

This cascade funding opportunity under the EUROfusion project supports FuseNet member institutions in organising small-scale mini-workshops focused on fusion research. These workshops connect young talents with experienced researchers through masterclass-style sessions on dedicated fusion topics, targeting MSc or PhD students, with events lasting 2-5 days to be held before the end of 2026.

Key Dates and Budget

Opening Date:18 February 2026.

Deadline:31 December 2026, 23:59 Brussels time (single-stage submission, open periodically until budget exhausted).¹

Total Funding Available:€10,000 (up to €10,000 per awarded workshop to cover student/lecturer participation fees, accommodation, and/or meals).¹²

Eligibility and Who Can Apply

Exclusively open to FuseNet member institutions (universities, research centres, companies active in fusion education and research across Europe). FuseNet is an association open to European organisations in the fusion field.¹²⁵

• Mini-workshop must focus on a specialised fusion-relevant topic at MSc or PhD level, not widely covered in existing summer schools or workshops.
• Must demonstrate innovation/novelty in format or content.
• Target audience: MSc or PhD students.
• Duration: 2-5 days.
• Include masterclass setup, expert-student interaction.
• Event must occur before end of 2026.

Non-members are ineligible. Interested parties should first contact FuseNet Executive Office for informal discussion (feo@fusenet.eu).⁵

Application and Evaluation Process

Submit proposals to FuseNet Executive Office after reviewing terms and conditions. Proposals evaluated periodically by FuseNet Board of Governors at their meetings. Awarded institutions notified by email. Call remains open until budget consumed.¹⁴⁵

1. 1Review Terms and Conditions document.
2. 2Contact Executive Office informally (recommended).
3. 3Submit proposal to feo@fusenet.eu.
4. 4Await Board evaluation and email notification.

Funding Details and Conditions

Detailed eligibility criteria, support type, and procedure in Terms and Conditions document (last updated 9 March 2026), available on FuseNet website.⁵⁶

Background and Context

Funded through EUROfusion consortium (project acronym EUROfusion), part of EURATOM-2021 programme. FuseNet, the European Fusion Education Network, coordinates fusion education across ~65 European members to build future workforce via events, materials, and mobility.¹³

Primary portal:EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Terms: FuseNet Workshops.

Footnotes

1. 1EU Funding & Tenders Portal scraped data.
2. 2Secondary sources: scientifyRESEARCH, developmentaid.org.
3. 3EUROfusion website on FuseNet role.
4. 4FundingTrip summary.
5. 5FuseNet.eu direct pages.
6. 6FuseNet Terms and Conditions PDF reference.