Phortify Grants for Mentorship workshop on career growth and professional development - Pilot Call

The Phortify Grants for Mentorship Workshop pilot call offers lump-sum grants of €1,000 to support Master's and PhD students' participation in a short mentorship workshop on career growth and professional development in photonics, with a total budget of €7,000. Eligible applicants are enrolled Master's students in Phortify-related programmes or PhD students at Phortify partner universities whose mobility is directly linked to academic training, and applicants must submit a CV and a Phortify-specific motivation letter. Applications must be submitted via the Phortify website MyPhortify page by 31 May 2026 23:59 Brussels time and are evaluated by local selection committees through an eligibility check and comparative scoring across three criteria. This call is launched and funded solely by Phortify and published on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal for visibility only; grants may be used only for travel, accommodation, subsistence and participation-related expenses.

What it funds

Scope and purpose

Lump-sum grants to support Master’s and doctoral students to attend a short mentorship workshop organised by ICFO. Grants are intended to contribute to travel, accommodation, subsistence and participation-related expenses linked to the mentorship workshop. Mentorship delivery costs for experts are covered separately by Phortify partners.

Grant amount per student:€1,000 lump sum (per awarded student); total available budget under the call €7,000.

Who can apply

Eligible applicants are students (not general staff) who at the time of participation are either: enrolled Master’s students in a Phortify-related Master’s programme, or PhD students enrolled at a Phortify university where the mobility activity is directly linked to their academic training/teaching. Applicants must submit a CV and a Phortify-specific motivation letter and demonstrate the link between the workshop and their academic or professional development. Nationality must be from an EU Member State, an associated country or a country with an ongoing cooperation agreement under the Digital Europe Programme; the authoritative list will be published with the call.

1. 1Apply via the Phortify website MyPhortify page; local application forms and detailed instructions provided by partner institutions
2. 2Submission deadline: 31 May 2026, 23:59 Brussels time (single-stage)
3. 3Selection: two-stage evaluation (eligibility check, comparative scoring up to 15 points) with DEI-informed tie-break rules

Restrictions and important notes

Grants may only be used for listed participation costs; general university staff are not eligible. This call is launched and funded by Phortify in its own name and responsibility and is published on the EU portal for visibility only.

This pilot call provides small lump-sum grants to support Master’s and doctoral students in attending a short-term mentorship workshop on career growth and professional development organised by ICFO within the Phortify Photonics Education Network. The workshop focuses on professional skills, mentoring awareness, and career pathways in photonics and related digital technologies. Funding is cascade funding distributed by Phortify and is intended to contribute to travel, accommodation, subsistence, and participation-related costs. The call is advertised on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal but is launched, managed, and financed solely by Phortify.

Programme Context and Objectives

Phortify is a European photonics education network dedicated to enhancing and harmonising photonics education and training, including a two-year European Master’s track in Photonics Engineering, mobility windows, industry placements, and stand-alone certified modules. The funding framework prioritises widening participation in photonics by supporting learners traditionally underrepresented in STEM, including women and gender minorities, students from low-income or socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds, first-generation university students, and learners with disabilities or specific support needs. It also encourages participation from regions with limited access to advanced higher education and cultural or minority groups underrepresented in higher education. Selected participants receive financial support for studies and mobility within Phortify master programmes or for mentoring and STEM experience workshops hosted by Phortify partners.

What the Call Funds

• Participation in the ICFO-organised mentorship workshop focused on career development, professional skills, and mentoring awareness in photonics and related digital technologies.
• Eligible costs covered by the lump sum: travel, accommodation, subsistence, and other participation-related expenses for the workshop.
• Mentorship activities are delivered by experts and covered separately by partner institutions’ personnel budgets, not from the student grants.

Partner Institutions and Related Programmes

Applicants must be enrolled in Phortify-related programmes at participating institutions. The call text enumerates partner offerings including Master of Science in Photonics Engineering and related disciplines. Examples of participating or referenced institutions and programmes include UGent Master of Science in Photonics Engineering (120 ECTS), POLIMI programmes such as Engineering Physics (120 ECTS), Applied Physics (120 ECTS), Electrical Engineering (120 ECTS) including tracks in Semiconductors and Connected World Technologies, Mechatronics (90 ECTS), and multiple Photonics master programmes and a Master of Science in Quantum Science & Technology (120 ECTS). Additional programme pages referenced in the deep scrape illustrate typical partner programme scopes and admissions, such as TU/e Applied Physics and Electrical Engineering tracks, Warsaw University of Technology Photonics and Mechatronics, UEF Master’s in Photonics, and Abbe School of Photonics at Friedrich Schiller University Jena for Photonics and Quantum Science & Technology. These illustrate the academic context for potential applicants within the Phortify network.

Eligibility and Application

Eligible Applicant Types:Individuals only. Specifically: Master’s students enrolled in a Phortify-related Master’s Degree Programme; PhD students enrolled at a Phortify university, provided the mobility activity is directly linked to their academic training and teaching activities. General university staff members are not eligible.

Nationality and Country Eligibility:Applicants must be nationals of an EU Member State, an associated country, or a country with which the EU has an ongoing cooperation agreement under the Digital Europe Programme. This includes, inter alia, countries in Digital Partnerships, Trade and Technology Councils, digital dialogues, or other ongoing digital cooperation with the European Commission. An authoritative list will be published with the call and may be updated in line with European Commission guidance.

Core Eligibility Conditions:Applicants must be students at the time of participation in the workshop; demonstrate a clear link between the mentorship workshop and their academic or professional development; submit a curriculum vitae; and submit a Phortify-specific motivation letter outlining their interest in the workshop and its relevance to their career development. Applications missing any required documentation or failing minimum eligibility are ineligible and not evaluated further.

How to Apply:Applications must be submitted via the Phortify website through the dedicated MyPhortify page for this call. The EU Funding & Tenders Portal entry serves for visibility only; proposals are not submitted in the EU portal. The MyPhortify page lists all funding opportunities under the pilot call alongside detailed instructions and links to the relevant local application forms.

Deadline and Stage Model:Single-stage submission. Deadline: 31 May 2026 at 23:59 Brussels time. Late submissions are not eligible.

Evaluation and Selection

A predefined two-stage evaluation framework applies across all partner institutions to ensure transparency, consistency, and alignment with Phortify’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion objectives.

1. 1Stage 1 – Eligibility verification (pass/fail): Completeness and compliance with eligibility and documentation requirements, including CV and Phortify-specific motivation letter.
2. 2Stage 2 – Comparative assessment and ranking: Merit-based scoring using three criteria, each scored 0–5 points, maximum 15 points total.

Comparative Assessment Criteria (0–5 points each):Applicant profile and relevance: academic performance, relevance of prior studies, and preparedness for the workshop. Motivation and alignment with Phortify objectives: quality and coherence of the motivation letter and alignment with Phortify’s educational and societal goals. Overall applicant profile: skills, experience, background, and potential contribution to the Phortify community as evidenced in the CV.

Applications are ranked in descending order of total score. Funding is allocated by merit until the budget at each partner is exhausted. Tie-break rules may prioritise underrepresented groups, including women and students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, consistent with DEI principles. Local selection committees at partner institutions evaluate applications, apply conflict-of-interest safeguards, document outcomes, and communicate awards to the Phortify Coordinator.

Available Funding and Financial Rules

• Financial support is a lump-sum grant of €1,000 per student for the Mentorship Workshop at ICFO. The lump sum is not linked to duration.
• Total call budget: €7,000, indicating approximately seven grants subject to partner-level allocations.
• Funds are strictly limited to workshop participation costs: travel, accommodation, subsistence, and related expenses. No other activities are eligible.
• No formal co-funding requirement is stated; however, if actual costs exceed €1,000, the applicant must cover the difference.

Administrative Disclaimer

This call and the associated financial support are not an EU action. Phortify solely launches, manages, and funds the call and selection. Its publication on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal serves information and visibility purposes only and does not imply approval of content or conditions by EU authorities.

Categorisation and Structured Answers

Eligible Applicant Types:Individual students only: Master’s students enrolled in Phortify-related master programmes; PhD students enrolled at a Phortify university with a direct link of the mobility to academic training/teaching. Universities, research institutes, SMEs, startups, nonprofits, staff, and other entities are not beneficiaries under this call.

Funding Type:Grant. Cascade funding provided as a fixed lump-sum per student to contribute to participation costs.

Consortium Requirement:Single applicant. No consortium required or permitted for funding.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):Nationals of EU Member States, associated countries to the Digital Europe Programme, and countries with ongoing cooperation agreements with the EU under the Digital Europe Programme, including those engaged in Digital Partnerships, Trade and Technology Councils, and digital dialogues. The authoritative list is to be published with the call and may be updated per European Commission guidance.

Target Sector:Photonics and related digital technologies. Cross-cuts ICT, semiconductors, integrated photonics, quantum technologies, and education and training in advanced digital skills and career development.

Mentioned Countries:EU-wide scope with DEP-associated and cooperating third countries. Institutions and organisations referenced imply locations in Belgium (UGent), Italy (Politecnico di Milano), Netherlands (Eindhoven University of Technology), Poland (Warsaw University of Technology), Finland (University of Eastern Finland), Germany (Friedrich Schiller University Jena), and Spain (ICFO). The call text itself specifies eligibility by EU and DEP cooperation status rather than listing countries exhaustively.

Project Stage:Training and mobility. The grant supports participation in a short-term mentorship workshop for professional development rather than research, development, or demonstration stages.

Funding Amount:€1,000 per awarded student as a lump sum. Overall call budget is €7,000.

Application Type:Open call with a fixed deadline and single-stage submission. Applications are made through the Phortify website via the MyPhortify page; the EU portal entry is for visibility only.

Nature of Support:Money. Direct financial support to students as a lump-sum contribution to eligible participation costs.

Application Stages:Two-stage evaluation: 1) eligibility verification (pass/fail), 2) comparative assessment and ranking against merit-based criteria.

Success Rates:Not disclosed. The budget and fixed grant size imply a small number of awards relative to demand; selection is merit-based with DEI-informed tie-breaks.

Co-funding Requirement:No explicit co-funding requirement. The €1,000 lump sum is a contribution; applicants must self-finance any costs beyond the lump sum.

Templates and Application Materials

Applications are prepared and submitted through the MyPhortify page with local partner links. While a formal application template is not provided in the call excerpt, the required elements and evaluation approach are standardised. The following structure reflects the minimum documentation and the information evaluators expect:

1. 1Applicant identification: full name, nationality, current enrolment status, Phortify-related programme and university, student ID, contact details.
2. 2Eligibility confirmation: statement and evidence that the applicant is a current Master’s or PhD student at a Phortify partner; confirmation that the mobility is linked to training/teaching activities (for PhD applicants).
3. 3Curriculum Vitae: education history, current studies, relevant skills and experiences, extracurriculars and contributions to the academic or Phortify community.
4. 4Phortify-specific motivation letter: up to 1–2 pages recommended. Explain the personal and professional relevance of the mentorship workshop; alignment with Phortify objectives; expected outcomes for career development; contribution to diversity, inclusion, and community engagement in photonics.
5. 5Workshop linkage: short justification describing how the ICFO mentorship workshop connects to the applicant’s academic progression, planned career pathways, and skills gaps to be addressed.
6. 6Budget rationale: simple outline of anticipated eligible costs for travel, accommodation, subsistence, and participation-related expenses. Note that funding is a fixed €1,000 contribution.
7. 7Declarations: acknowledgment of call conditions, consent to data processing under institutional policies, and confirmation of accuracy and completeness of the application.
8. 8Submission: upload CV and motivation letter as required by the MyPhortify/local form; ensure complete submission before the deadline.

Key Takeaways and Summary

This pilot cascade-funding call from Phortify supports individual Master’s and PhD students with a €1,000 lump-sum grant to attend an ICFO-led mentorship workshop on career growth and professional development in photonics and adjacent digital technologies. The call targets widening participation and inclusive excellence, with merit-based selection and DEI-aware tie-break rules. Eligible applicants are current students within Phortify-related programmes at partner institutions; staff are not eligible. Applicants must demonstrate a clear, specific link between the workshop and their academic or professional development and submit both a CV and a Phortify-specific motivation letter. Evaluation uses a consistent two-stage process across partners: eligibility verification followed by comparative scoring on academic relevance, motivation and alignment with Phortify goals, and overall profile and potential contribution. Funding is a contribution to participation costs only and is not linked to the workshop duration. Applications are submitted via the Phortify website’s MyPhortify page by 31 May 2026. Although the call is listed on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, it is not an EU action; all responsibility for funding and selection rests with Phortify. In essence, this opportunity is a focused mobility and skills-development grant to help promising and diverse photonics students access high-quality mentoring and career development experiences, strengthen their professional skills, expand networks within the Phortify community, and advance inclusive pathways into photonics careers in academia and industry.

Funding Opportunity Overview

The Phortify Grants for Mentorship Workshop on Career Growth and Professional Development - Pilot Call provides financial support to Master's and doctoral students participating in a short-term mentorship workshop focused on career development and professional skills in photonics. This is a cascade funding call within the Phortify project, a Europe-wide photonics education and training network funded under the Digital Europe Programme.

Important Disclaimer:This call is NOT an EU action. It is launched solely by Phortify. Financial support is provided directly by Phortify in its own name and under its own responsibility. The publication on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal is for information purposes only and does not constitute EU approval or endorsement.

Key Funding Details

Eligible Applicants

Eligible recipients must belong to one of the following categories:

• Master's students enrolled in a Phortify-related Master's Degree Programme
• PhD students enrolled at a Phortify partner university, provided the mobility activity is directly linked to their academic training and teaching activities

In all cases, applicants must satisfy the following conditions:

• Be students at the time of participation in the workshop
• Demonstrate a clear link between the mentorship workshop and their academic or professional development
• Submit a curriculum vitae (CV)
• Submit a Phortify-specific motivation letter outlining their interest in the workshop and its relevance to their career development
• Be nationals of an EU Member State, an associated country, or a country with ongoing cooperation agreement with the European Union under the Digital Europe Programme

General university staff members are not eligible for financial support under this call. Applications that fail to meet minimum eligibility requirements or do not include required documentation will be declared ineligible and not further evaluated.

Participating Institutions and Programmes

The call is open to students enrolled in Phortify-related Master's programmes at seven partner universities across Europe:

Use of Funds

Financial support is provided as a lump-sum grant intended to contribute to students' costs related to participation in the mentorship workshop, including:

• Travel costs
• Accommodation
• Subsistence
• Participation-related expenses

Financial support may only be used for the activities listed above. No other activities are eligible for funding.

Application and Selection Process

How to Apply

Applications for Phortify funding must be submitted via the Phortify website. Applicants are required to consult the dedicated MyPhortify page, where all funding opportunities are listed together with detailed application instructions and links to relevant local application forms.

Funding opportunities are advertised through:(1) the EU Funding and Tenders Portal, (2) the official Phortify website (Phortify), and (3) the official Phortify partner websites.

Selection and Evaluation

The evaluation process follows a two-stage procedure applied consistently across all partner institutions ¹.

Stage 1: Eligibility Verification:Applications are checked for compliance with all eligibility requirements. Applicants must submit all required supporting documentation, including a Phortify-specific motivation letter and curriculum vitae. Applications failing to meet eligibility requirements or lacking required documentation are declared ineligible and are not further evaluated.

Stage 2: Comparative Assessment and Ranking:Eligible applications are assessed comparatively using three evaluation criteria, each scored on a scale from 0 to 5 points, for a maximum total score of 15 points.

Evaluation criteria are:

1. 1Applicant profile and relevance (0-5 points): Academic performance, relevance of previous studies, and preparedness for the proposed workshop
2. 2Motivation and Alignment with Phortify Objectives (0-5 points): Quality, coherence, and relevance of the motivation letter, including alignment with Phortify's educational and societal objectives
3. 3Overall Applicant Profile (0-5 points): Skills, experience, background, and potential contribution to the Phortify community as reflected in the curriculum vitae

Applications are ranked in descending order based on total score. Funding is allocated in order of merit until the available budget assigned to each partner institution is exhausted. In cases of identical or comparable evaluation results, tie-break rules promoting underrepresented groups, including women and students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, are applied in line with Phortify Diversity, Equity and Inclusion objectives.

Selection Committees

Applications are evaluated by local selection committees established by the Phortify partner institutions. These committees apply the evaluation framework consistently and impartially. All members must declare any conflicts of interest and ensure appropriate mitigation measures.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Framework

Phortify's Funding Framework aims to widen participation in photonics by supporting students who are traditionally underrepresented in STEM. This includes:

• Women and gender minorities
• Students from low-income or socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds
• First-generation university students
• Learners with disabilities or specific support needs
• Participants from regions with limited access to advanced higher education
• Students belonging to cultural or minority groups underrepresented in higher education

The programme prioritizes diversity and inclusion through financial aid, mentoring, and targeted outreach. Tie-break mechanisms in the selection process explicitly favor underrepresented groups where applications achieve comparable evaluation scores.

About Phortify

Phortify is a Europe-wide photonics education and training network dedicated to the enhancement and harmonization of photonics education across Europe. Coordinated by Vrije Universiteit Brussel and involving 12 partners from 7 countries, Phortify offers a two-year European Master's in Photonics Engineering combining advanced coursework, hands-on laboratory training, cutting-edge digital skills development, structured mobility windows, and industry placements. Students completing the Phortify track receive an official Phortify Certificate in addition to their Master's degree.

The network also provides stand-alone modules with harmonized standards for quality assurance and certification, offering flexibility for both students and industry professionals. Phortify organizes mentoring programmes for women postdocs and early-career principal investigators, as well as immersive experience events for prospective students.

Photonics, the science and engineering of light, is foundational to modern industries including high-speed communications, healthcare imaging, advanced manufacturing, and artificial intelligence. The global photonics market is currently valued at approximately €850 billion and is projected to reach €1.4 trillion by 2032.

Contact and Further Information

For more information about the Phortify Grants for Mentorship Workshop, applicants should visit the official Phortify website at [[https://www.phortify.eu]] or contact the project at [[email protected]].

Detailed application instructions, evaluation frameworks, and local application forms are available on the dedicated MyPhortify page. Individual partner universities also provide information on their respective websites.

Footnotes

1. 1The predefined evaluation framework applicable to this call is published on the Phortify website as a dedicated evaluation framework document and applies to all partner institutions consistently and impartially.