Jean Monnet Actions in the field of Higher Education: Centers of Excellence

The Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence opportunity under the Erasmus+ Programme invites proposals from higher education institutions (HEIs) to establish permanent focal points for expertise on European Union-related subjects. This initiative focuses on institutional capacity-building within EU studies, aiming to enhance understanding and synergies across various disciplines. Eligible applicants are strictly HEIs located in EU Member States, associated third countries, or non-associated countries, with explicit exclusions for Belarus and Russia. Each applicant must hold an Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) and can submit applications as single institutions; consortium applications are not allowed.

Funding comes as a lump sum grant named ERASMUS-LS, with a maximum grant amount set at €100,000 for each Centre of Excellence. The total budget allocated for these actions across different types, including Modules and Chairs, amounts to €15,663,570 for the 2026 budget year. The funding covers various eligible costs such as staff, travel, equipment, and operational expenses.

The application process is an open call with a single-stage submission period, which concludes on February 3, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. Proposals must achieve a minimum score of 70 out of 100, with at least 15 out of 25 points in each of four defined evaluation criteria: relevance, quality of design, partnership quality, and impact/sustainability. The proposal must adhere to specified formatting rules outlined in the call document.

Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence aim to consolidate expertise and resources to create interdisciplinary synergies, promote EU studies, and engage a broader audience, including students from diverse faculties, policymakers, and civil society. The centers should conduct research, develop curricula, and organize outreach activities to enhance public awareness and knowledge of EU issues.

The indicative timeline includes proposal publication on November 25, 2025, followed by an evaluation period from March to June 2026, applicant information dissemination in July-August 2026, and grant agreement signing from September to November 2026. Interested applicants are encouraged to consult the detailed Erasmus+ Programme Guide and ensure compliance with all application requirements and necessary documentation.

The opportunity is the Call for proposals 2026 EAC/A12/2025 Erasmus+ Programme, specifically focusing on Jean Monnet Actions in the field of Higher Education Teaching and Research (ERASMUS-JMO-2026-HEI-TCH-RSCH). The action type is ERASMUS-LS, which stands for ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants. The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) type is ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant [ERASMUS-AG-LS].

The call follows a single-stage submission model. The planned opening date for submissions is 27 November 2025, and the deadline for submitting applications is 3 February 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time.

The scope of the call emphasizes that Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence should act as focal points for competence and knowledge concerning European Union subjects. These centers should consolidate the expertise of high-level experts to foster synergies across various disciplines and resources within European studies. The aim is to develop joint transnational activities and ensure openness to civil society. These centers play a crucial role in engaging students from faculties that typically do not focus on EU matters, as well as policymakers, civil servants, organized civil society, and the general public.

The admissibility conditions require adherence to the proposal page limits and layout as described in the call document and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, and specifically detailed in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.

Eligible countries are defined in the call document and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026. Other eligible conditions are also detailed in these documents. Applicants must complete and submit the templates available in the Submission screen, including the Application Form (Part B) (ERASMUS LS JMO) and the Detailed Budget Table (ERASMUS LS II).

Financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria are described in the call document and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026. The submission and evaluation processes are outlined in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026. Evaluation criteria, scoring, and thresholds are also described in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026.

The indicative timeline includes: Publication of the call on 25 November 2025, a submission deadline of 3 February 2026, an evaluation period from March to June 2026, information to applicants in July-August 2026, and signature of the grant agreement between September and November 2026. The legal and financial setup of the grants is not applicable (n/a).

Key documents include the Call for proposals 2026 – EAC/A12/2025 Erasmus+ Programme, the Standard application form (ERASMUS LS JMO), the Detailed budget table (ERASMUS LSII), the ERASMUS Programme Guide, the Lump Sum MGA, the ERASMUS+ Work Programme, ERASMUS Regulation 2021/817, 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, and Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement.

The total budget for the topic in 2026 is 15,663,570 EUR. This budget supports ERASMUS-JMO-2026-HEI-TCH-RSCH-CHAIR, ERASMUS-JMO-2026-HEI-TCH-RSCH-COE, and ERASMUS-JMO-2026-HEI-TCH-RSCH-MODULE, all of which are ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants.

There are options for partner searches. LEARs, Account Administrators, and self-registrants can publish partner requests for open and forthcoming topics.

For help, applicants can contact EACEA-AJM@ec.europa.eu. Additional resources include the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ, the IT Helpdesk, and the Online Manual.

In summary, this Erasmus+ Programme call aims to support Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence, which are intended to be hubs of EU knowledge and expertise within higher education institutions. The funding supports activities that promote synergies in European studies, transnational collaboration, and engagement with a broad audience, including students, policymakers, and the public. The application process involves a single-stage submission with a deadline in early February 2026, and applicants should consult the provided guides and templates to ensure their proposals meet the eligibility and evaluation criteria. The total budget is significant, indicating a substantial investment in EU studies and outreach.

Eligible Applicant Types: The call is specifically targeted towards Higher Education Institutions (HEI) capable of hosting Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence. These centers should gather high-level experts. The call aims to reach students from faculties not normally dealing with European Union issues, as well as policymakers, civil servants, organized civil society, and the general public.

Funding Type: The funding type is a grant, specifically an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant (ERASMUS-LS). The Model Grant Agreement (MGA) used will be the ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant [ERASMUS-AG-LS].

Consortium Requirement: The information does not explicitly state whether a consortium is required or if a single applicant is sufficient. However, the description of Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence suggests that they should gather expertise and competences, develop synergies, and create joint transnational activities, implying that collaboration and possibly a consortium approach would be beneficial or even necessary. The partner search announcements further suggest that collaboration is possible.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The eligible countries are described in the call document and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026. The specific geographic eligibility is not detailed in the provided text but is expected to align with the Erasmus+ Programme guidelines.

Target Sector: The target sector is education, specifically focusing on European Union subjects and studies within Higher Education Institutions. This includes teaching and research related to EU topics, aiming to promote knowledge and competence on the EU among students, policymakers, civil society, and the general public.

Mentioned Countries: No specific countries are mentioned, but the program falls under the Erasmus+ Programme, which typically includes EU member states and associated countries.

Project Stage: The project stage is focused on establishing and supporting Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence, which implies activities related to development, demonstration, and implementation of EU-related studies and activities within Higher Education Institutions. The call supports teaching, research, and creating synergies in European studies, suggesting a focus beyond just the initial idea stage.

Funding Amount: The total budget for the call is EUR 15,663,570. The funding is distributed through lump sum grants. The exact amount of individual grants is not specified, but it will vary depending on the type of Jean Monnet action (Chair, Centre of Excellence, or Module).

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 lump sum grants.

Application Stages: The application process consists of a single stage.

Success Rates: The indicative number of grants is not specified in the provided text, so the success rate cannot be determined.

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

Summary:

This opportunity is a call for proposals under the Erasmus+ Programme, specifically targeting Jean Monnet Actions in the field of Higher Education, teaching, and research. The call aims to establish and support Jean Monnet Centres of Excellence within Higher Education Institutions. These centers should serve as focal points of competence and knowledge on European Union subjects, fostering synergies between disciplines, creating transnational activities, and engaging with civil society. The call is open to eligible Higher Education Institutions, and the funding is provided as lump sum grants. The application process is a single-stage submission, with a deadline of February 3, 2026. The total budget for the call is EUR 15,663,570. The call encourages collaboration and outreach to students, policymakers, civil servants, and the general public, promoting a broader understanding of European Union issues. Applicants should consult the call document and the Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 for detailed eligibility criteria, application guidelines, and evaluation procedures. The call encompasses different types of Jean Monnet actions, including Chairs, Centres of Excellence, and Modules, each with its specific objectives and expected outcomes. The indicative timeline includes publication of the call on November 25, 2025, an evaluation period from March to June 2026, information to applicants in July-August 2026, and signature of grant agreements in September-November 2026.