Investigating and addressing career barriers faced by underrepresented and marginalised researchers

The grant opportunity HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-04 focuses on overcoming career barriers faced by underrepresented researchers within the European Research Area. The aim is to promote inclusivity and diversity in research initiatives among countries eligible for funding, specifically targeting Widening and EU enlargement countries. Eligible applicants include universities, research institutes, and consortia from these regions.

The primary funding type for this opportunity is a grant under the Horizon Europe framework. The grant requires the formation of a consortium, emphasizing cross-border cooperation among various stakeholders, including stakeholders from the European Research Area.

Geographically, the initiative is aimed at Widening countries, which are EU member states with lower research and innovation performance, and EU enlargement countries, allowing a wider engagement across Europe. Although specific countries are not named, regions such as the Western Balkans are likely included.

The scope of the project focuses on social sciences, particularly issues around gender studies, diversity, and intersectionality. The grant particularly seeks to address systemic issues like gender-based violence, precarity, and lack of recognition that impact marginalized researchers, including those from racialized communities, and those with disabilities.

The funding amount for this opportunity is approximately €2 million, within the broader budget range of €1 million to €5 million typically observed in Horizon grants. This grant has a single-stage application process with a submission deadline of September 18, 2025.

The nature of support provided will be financial grants, aimed at conducting research, developing tools, and implementing inclusive policies and practices. The application process is competitive, with expected success rates ranging from 10% to 39%. While co-funding is sometimes a requirement in Horizon grants, it is not explicitly stated in this opportunity.

Overall, this grant aims to dismantle barriers to research careers for marginalized groups, fostering an inclusive research environment in Europe. It encourages collaborative efforts among various stakeholders to achieve measurable impacts on career trajectories for underrepresented researchers. The initiative aligns closely with the goals of gender equality and inclusiveness within the European Research Area, and proposals should focus on both investigating barriers and providing actionable solutions.

This is a Horizon Europe call, specifically HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06, aimed at enhancing the European Research and Innovation (R&I) system. The call focuses on investigating and addressing career barriers faced by underrepresented and marginalised researchers. The type of action is HORIZON-RIA, which stands for Research and Innovation Actions. The Model Grant Agreement is HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

The call is currently open for submission with a single-stage deadline. The opening date was May 15, 2025, and the deadline for submissions is September 18, 2025, at 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The expected outcome of successful proposals is to strengthen gender equality and inclusiveness within the European Research Area (ERA). Project results should contribute to:

Increased awareness among policymakers, research funding organizations, higher education and research performing organizations, researchers, and other R&I stakeholders regarding the barriers faced by researchers from underrepresented groups and marginalized communities.

Equipping these stakeholders with concrete tools and measures to support the fair career advancement of disadvantaged researchers from underrepresented and marginalized groups.

The scope of the call addresses the structural, material, and cultural inequalities encountered by researchers from underrepresented groups and marginalized communities. These groups include, for example, racialized researchers, researchers with disabilities, LGBTIQ researchers, and refugee researchers. The challenges they face include working precarity, gender-based violence and harassment, epistemic injustice, lack of recognition, unequal access to resources, mentorship, and support networks, and obstacles stemming from cultural or social stereotypes leading to conscious and unconscious biases. These inequalities are often exacerbated by the compounded effects of multiple and intersecting discriminations. The call acknowledges that despite increasing efforts, there is still limited understanding of how these intersectional inequalities manifest themselves and how they can be addressed.

The call emphasizes the importance of intersectionality as a cross-cutting approach, aligning with the Commission’s Union of Equality strategies. It also recognizes gender equality and inclusiveness as core values and principles of the ERA, as reflected in Action 5 of the ERA Policy Agenda 2022-2024 and the new European framework for research careers and the new European Charter for Researchers.

The action supports the objectives of ERA Action 5 and ERA Action 4, which focuses on strengthening inclusive research careers in Europe. It requires close cooperation with relevant ERA stakeholders, including the subgroup of the ERA Forum dedicated to ERA Action 5, and the involvement of researchers from concerned underrepresented and marginalized groups and community support networks.

The core component of the action should be conducting research through dedicated work packages with specific objectives and tasks. The action should consider national legal and policy frameworks, institutional practices, and individual levels, aiming to promote the inclusion of researchers from under-represented and marginalised groups in the EU research and innovation system.

Proposals are expected to:

Investigate the specific barriers faced by researchers from at least three underrepresented and marginalized groups at different stages of their careers, starting from the gender perspective and considering other discrimination grounds. This investigation should build on existing research and other relevant sources and be based on quantitative and qualitative data, including personal testimonies gathered in at least 10 Member States and Associated Countries.

Develop tools (e.g., toolkits, guidance, training and dissemination materials) and deliver evidence-informed recommendations on how to design and implement inclusive, intersectional, and human-centred gender equality plans and shape policies in the ERA. This should be done at the level of higher education and research performing organizations, research funding organizations, and national and EU research and innovation policy makers. Proposals should develop interventions such as mentorship programmes, intersectional diversity training, policy changes, cultural competency initiatives, or structural reforms.

Disseminate research results, project outcomes, and materials to national and EU policy-makers, research funding organizations, higher education and research performing organizations, researchers, and other relevant ERA stakeholders.

Proposals should build on the knowledge and expertise developed through related actions funded under Horizon 2020 and the Horizon Europe WIDERA Work Programme. They are also encouraged to explore potential synergies with projects funded under Horizon Europe Cluster 2 and by the European Research Council, particularly regarding their operationalisation and methodological approach to intersectionality.

The expected duration of the action is 3 years.

The general conditions for this call include:

Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout, as described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and Part B of the Application Form.

Eligible Countries, as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Other Eligible Conditions, as described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion, as described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds, as described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes, as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.

Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement, as described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Legal and financial set-up of the grants, as described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.

Specific conditions are described in the specific topic of the Work Programme.

Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA) information:

Application form templates are available in the Submission System, including the Standard application form (HE RIA, IA).

Evaluation form templates will be used with the necessary adaptations, including the Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA).

Guidance is provided in the HE Programme Guide.

The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) is the HE MGA.

Additional documents include:

HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 1. General Introduction

HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 11. Widening participation and strengthening the European Research Area

HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes

HE Programme Guide

HE Framework Programme 2021/695

HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764

EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509

Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment

EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement

Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual

Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions

Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement

The budget overview for the call includes the following topics:

HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-01 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget of 26,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening date 2025-05-15, deadline 2025-09-18, contributions of 1,500,000 to 2,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 13 grants.

HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-02 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget of 2,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening date 2025-05-15, deadline 2025-09-18, contributions around 2,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 1 grant.

HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-03 - HORIZON-RIA: Budget of 2,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening date 2025-05-15, deadline 2025-09-18, contributions around 2,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 1 grant.

HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-04 - HORIZON-RIA: Budget of 2,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening date 2025-05-15, deadline 2025-09-18, contributions around 2,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 1 grant.

HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-05 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget of 4,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening date 2025-05-15, deadline 2025-09-18, contributions around 2,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 2 grants.

HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-06 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget of 2,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening date 2025-05-15, deadline 2025-09-18, contributions around 2,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 1 grant.

HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-07 - HORIZON-CSA: Budget of 6,000,000 EUR, single-stage, opening date 2025-05-15, deadline 2025-09-18, contributions around 6,000,000 EUR, and an indicative number of 1 grant.

There are 16 partner search announcements available for collaboration on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics after logging into the Funding & Tenders Portal.

In summary, this Horizon Europe call aims to address the systemic inequalities faced by underrepresented researchers in the European Research Area. It seeks to fund research and innovation actions that investigate these barriers, develop tools and recommendations for inclusive policies, and disseminate findings to relevant stakeholders. The call encourages collaboration and synergy with existing projects and initiatives, with the ultimate goal of strengthening gender equality and inclusiveness in the European research landscape. The call is structured to support a variety of projects, from coordination and support actions to research and innovation actions, with a total budget of 44 million EUR allocated across seven different topics. The call is a single-stage submission process with a deadline of September 18, 2025.

Eligible Applicant Types: The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated but can be inferred to include research performing organizations, higher education institutions, research funding organizations, and other research and innovation stakeholders. The call is open to entities from EU member states and associated countries, as well as non-EU/non-associated countries under specific provisions.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, specifically a HORIZON Research and Innovation Action (HORIZON-RIA) and HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions (HORIZON-CSA) under the Horizon Europe program. The Model Grant Agreement is a HORIZON Action Grant Budget-Based [HORIZON-AG].

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required, but the nature of the research and coordination activities suggests that a consortium of multiple applicants is likely. The call encourages cooperation with relevant ERA stakeholders and the involvement of researchers from underrepresented groups and community support networks.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The geographic eligibility includes EU Member States and Associated Countries. A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.

Target Sector: The program targets the following sectors: research and innovation, gender equality, social inclusion, education, and policy development. It focuses on addressing career barriers faced by underrepresented and marginalized researchers within the European Research Area (ERA).

Mentioned Countries: The opportunity mentions EU Member States and Associated Countries. It also refers to non-EU/non-Associated Countries that have specific provisions for funding participants in Horizon Europe projects.

Project Stage: The expected maturity of the project is research, development, and implementation. The call seeks proposals that will investigate barriers, develop tools and recommendations, and disseminate results, indicating a focus on both research and practical application.

Funding Amount: The funding amounts vary depending on the specific topic within the call:
HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-01: €1,500,000 to €2,000,000 (Total budget €26,000,000, 13 grants)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-02: Around €2,000,000 (Total budget €2,000,000, 1 grant)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-03: Around €2,000,000 (Total budget €2,000,000, 1 grant)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-04: Around €2,000,000 (Total budget €2,000,000, 1 grant)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-05: Around €2,000,000 (Total budget €4,000,000, 2 grants)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-06: Around €2,000,000 (Total budget €2,000,000, 1 grant)
HORIZON-WIDERA-2025-06-ERA-07: Around €6,000,000 (Total budget €6,000,000, 1 grant)

Application Type: The application type is an open call with a single-stage submission process.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries will receive money in the form of grants to conduct research, develop tools, and implement interventions.

Application Stages: The application process involves a single stage.

Success Rates: The success rates are not explicitly mentioned, but the indicative number of grants for each topic provides some insight into the potential success rate.

Co-funding Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether co-funding is required.

Summary: This Horizon Europe call, part of the WIDERA program, aims to enhance the European Research and Innovation (R&I) system by addressing career barriers faced by underrepresented and marginalized researchers. The call seeks proposals that will investigate these barriers, develop tools and recommendations for inclusive policies, and disseminate research results to relevant stakeholders. The call is structured around several specific topics, each with its own budget and expected number of grants. The overall goal is to strengthen gender equality and inclusiveness within the European Research Area (ERA). The call encourages cooperation among various stakeholders, including policymakers, research funding organizations, higher education institutions, and community support networks. Proposals should build on existing knowledge and explore synergies with related projects. The funding is provided through HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA), with a single-stage application process. The call is open to entities from EU Member States, Associated Countries, and, under specific conditions, non-EU/non-Associated Countries. The deadline for submissions is September 18, 2025.