School Education: STEM Education Centres

The EU grant opportunity under the Erasmus+ Programme is focused on the initiative titled "School Education: STEM Education Centres," with the call identifier ERASMUS-EDU. The opening date for applications is set for January 6, 2026, and the submission deadline is April 8, 2026, at 17:00 Brussels time. This opportunity is categorized as an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant, with a total budget of €6,000,000 allocated for this specific call. Eligible applicants for this grant must include legal entities active in the fields of education, training, research, and innovation. These include educational institutions (such as schools and higher education), research institutes, policy-making bodies, and industry stakeholders. Applications must be submitted as part of a consortium comprising a minimum of three entities from different countries participating in the Erasmus+ Programme, creating a transnational partnership crucial for project approval. The grant aims to establish and develop collaborative networks of STEM Education Centres to foster local and regional learning ecosystems that support educational innovation and social inclusion. The initiative emphasizes innovative approaches in STEM education, particularly in response to the challenges posed by green and digital transitions. It also promotes the integration of community-based learning models such as whole-school approaches and open schooling, intending to adapt to various educational contexts across Europe. The expected funding amounts per project are estimated to range from €500,000 to €1,500,000, with funding provided as a lump sum rather than through a reimbursement model. This allows flexibility in how the funds can be utilized within the project's framework. The application process follows a single-stage approach, where applicants need to submit a comprehensive proposal electronically via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The technical description portion of the application form has a limitation of 40 pages, which must include relevant prior projects and be formatted according to specific guidelines. While historical success rates for similar projects have been around 10-30%, specific rates for this forthcoming call are not yet available. Co-funding from partners is not mandatory but can strengthen applications by showcasing financial or in-kind contributions. Overall, this grant opportunity seeks to address and reduce disparities in STEM education across EU regions by promoting collaborative efforts among educational institutions, researchers, and industry partners. Projects will be evaluated based on criteria including relevance, quality of the proposal, partnership quality, and projected impact. The initiative aligns with broader EU education policies and goals aimed at fostering a competent and inclusive workforce prepared for evolving technological landscapes.

This is a call for proposals for European policy experimentations under the Erasmus+ Programme, specifically focusing on School Education: STEM Education Centres. The call is ERASMUS-EDU. The action type is ERASMUS-LS, which stands for ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants. The Model Grant Agreement type is ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant [ERASMUS-AG-LS]. The deadline model is single-stage. The planned opening date is 06 January 2026, and the deadline date is 08 April 2026, 17:00:00 Brussels time.

The scope of this topic is to support the establishment and development of transnational collaborative partnerships and networks of STEM Education Centres. These centers aim to strengthen local and regional STEM/STEAM learning ecosystems for educational innovation and social inclusion. The ecosystems should be responsive to different cultural and educational contexts and specific needs in each EU country. They should build on existing structures or create new ones, guided by community-based learning concepts like the whole school approach or open schooling. The centers should align with advances in STEM fields, such as those linked to green and digital transitions, and promote a systemic approach in STEM and STEAM education, including aggregated pedagogical standards, monitoring of learning outcomes, and professional development for educators.

The projects should foster collaborative partnerships and networks at local, regional, and transnational levels to support European-wide cooperation. By bringing together and empowering STEM ecosystems, the centers will contribute to reducing disparities in STEM and STEAM education provision among countries and regions. This will enable educators, educational institutions, policymakers, higher education institutions, researchers, and industry to innovate, share, and scale good practices.

The admissibility conditions state that the proposal page limit for Part B of the Application Form (Technical Description) is 40 pages, including the list of relevant previous projects. The layout is described in the Important Notice of Part B of the Application Form, available in the Submission System.

Eligible countries and other eligible conditions, as well as financial and operational capacity and exclusion criteria, are described in the call document. The evaluation and award processes, including submission, evaluation, award criteria, scoring, and thresholds, are also detailed in the call document.

The indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement is as follows:Publication of the call: 22 December 2025, Deadline for submitting applications: 8 April 2026, 17:00 (Brussels time), Evaluation period: April - July 2026, Information to applicants: October 2026, Signature of grant agreement: by January 2027. The legal and financial set-up of the grants is not applicable (n/a).

The call document and annexes include:Call document, Application form templates (Standard application form (ERASMUS BB and LSII), Detailed budget table (ERASMUS LSII)), Guidance (Erasmus+ Programme Guide, specifically Part C - Information for Applicants), Model Grant Agreements (MGA) (Lump Sum MGA), and Additional documents (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, How to manage your lump sum grants, Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual, Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions, Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement).

The budget overview lists several topics with their respective budgets for the year 2026. All topics are ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants with a single-stage application process, opening on 06/01/2026 and closing on 08/04/2026. The topics and their budgets are: ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T01-DIGITAL-CONTENT (€2,000,000), ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T02-DIGITAL-ETHICSAI (€6,000,000), ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T03-DIGITAL-BS (€5,000,000), ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T04-MICRO-CRED (€3,000,000), ERASMUS-EDU (€6,000,000), ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T06-SCHOOL-BS (€9,000,000), ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T07-VET-BS (€5,000,000), ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T08-VET-QUALIFICATIONS (€8,000,000), ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T09-ADULT-PS (€5,000,000), ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T10-ADULT-EMPOWER (€5,000,000).

Partner search announcements are available for finding partners to collaborate on this topic. LEARs, Account Administrators, or self-registrants can publish partner requests. The submission system is planned to open on the date stated in the topic header.

For support, applicants are advised to read all provisions carefully before preparing their application. For call-related help, contact EACEA-POLICY-SUPPORT@EC.EUROPA.EU. Technical issues can be addressed via the Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ or the IT Helpdesk. The Online Manual provides a step-by-step guide through the Portal processes.

In summary, this Erasmus+ call seeks to fund transnational projects that establish and develop STEM Education Centres to enhance STEM/STEAM learning ecosystems across Europe. The goal is to promote innovation, social inclusion, and reduce disparities in STEM education by fostering collaboration among educators, institutions, policymakers, and industry, aligning with the green and digital transitions. Applicants must adhere to specific admissibility conditions, page limits, and utilize provided templates and guidelines for submission. The call provides lump sum grants with varying budgets for different topics, all aimed at improving education and training systems in Europe.

Eligible Applicant Types:The eligible applicant types are not explicitly stated in the provided text. However, based on the context of the Erasmus+ program and the focus on education, potential applicants could include: educational institutions (schools, higher education institutions), policymakers, researchers, industry stakeholders, science centers, museums, and other organizations involved in STEM/STEAM education. The call emphasizes collaborative partnerships and networks, suggesting that consortia involving multiple types of organizations are encouraged.

Funding Type:The funding type is a grant, specifically an ERASMUS Lump Sum Grant (ERASMUS-LS).

Consortium Requirement:The opportunity requires a consortium of multiple applicants. The text emphasizes the establishment and development of transnational collaborative partnerships and networks.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility):The geographic eligibility appears to be focused on EU countries. The description mentions addressing varying needs in each EU country and reducing disparities in STEM/STEAM education provision among countries and regions.

Target Sector:The target sector is education, specifically STEM/STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) education. The program aims to strengthen STEM education centers and learning ecosystems, promote a systemic approach in STEM education, and foster collaboration between schools and their wider communities. It also targets the green and digital transitions.

Mentioned Countries:No specific countries are mentioned, but the focus is on EU countries in general.

Project Stage:The project stage is focused on development, implementation, and testing. The European policy experimentations involve developing, implementing, and testing the relevance, effectiveness, potential impact, and scalability of activities. The call aims to support a gradual establishment and development of transnational collaborative partnerships and networks, suggesting a focus on projects that are ready to move beyond the initial idea stage.

Funding Amount:The funding amounts vary by topic, ranging from €2,000,000 to €9,000,000. For example, ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T01-DIGITAL-CONTENT has a budget of €2,000,000, while ERASMUS-EDU-2026-POL-EXP-T06-SCHOOL-BS has a budget of €9,000,000.

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 a lump sum grant.

Application Stages:There is a single stage for the application process.

Success Rates:The success rates are not mentioned in the provided text.

Co-funding Requirement:The text does not explicitly mention a co-funding requirement.

Summary:

This opportunity is an ERASMUS+ grant call for European policy experimentations focused on STEM/STEAM education. It aims to support the development of transnational collaborative partnerships and networks of STEM Education Centres across EU countries. The goal is to strengthen STEM learning ecosystems, promote educational innovation, and foster social inclusion. The call encourages projects that address varying cultural and educational contexts, align with advances in STEM fields (including green and digital transitions), and promote a systemic approach to STEM education.

Eligible applicants should form consortia and include educational institutions, policymakers, researchers, industry stakeholders, and other relevant organizations. The funding is provided as a lump sum grant, with amounts varying from €2,000,000 to €9,000,000 depending on the specific topic. The application process is a single-stage open call, with a deadline of April 8, 2026.

The call seeks to foster European-wide cooperation, reduce disparities in STEM education provision, and enable stakeholders to innovate, share, and scale good practices in a long-term, sustainable manner. Projects should focus on developing, implementing, and testing activities to address policy priorities in STEM education.