2022 Erasmus+ European Universities call has been launched

Erasmus+ CZELO

Read about the funding opportunities for university alliances. The deadline for submission of applications is 22 March 2022.

On 30 November, the European Commission launched a new Erasmus+ call for proposals to support European Universities initiative. The call for 2022 has a record total budget of €272 million. It will support both intensification of cooperation of already existing networks as well as developing new alliances. The call is structured around 2 topics:

  • Topic 1: Intensification of prior deep institutional transnational cooperation
  • Topic 2: Development of new deep institutional transnational cooperation

Topic 1: Intensification of prior deep institutional transnational cooperation

This call topic will provide support for already existing transnational alliances including (but not limited to) the European Universities alliances selected under the 2019 Erasmus+ call for proposals. The aim is to build upon the institutional cooperation achieved so far and to further deepen and expand the effectiveness of this cooperation in order to progress towards the long-term vision of the European Universities. Existing alliances have the opportunity to continue as they are or to expand and therefore welcome new members, which will join as full partners. A total of €225.6 million is set aside for this topic.

Topic 2: development of new deep institutional transnational cooperation

This call topic will provide support for applicants wishing to establish deep institutional transnational cooperation in a new European Universities alliance. For this topic, a budget of €46.4 million was allocated.

The normal duration of projects is 48 months. The maximum possible amount of the grant depends, among other things, on the size of the alliances (in the case of Topic 1 also on the number of new members), but ranges from €3.4 to €14.4 million. The call builds on previous calls from 2019 and 2020, but there are also several novelties. For example, the geographical scope extension, as higher education institutions from a third country that is not associated to the programme but is part of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) can now have a role as associated partners.

More info to be found on the European Commission website, in the call or on the FTOP portal, where proposals are to be submitted as well. DG EAC together with EACEA are also organizing an open infowebinar for applicants on 14 December 2021.

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Context

The European Universities is a key initiative in achieving an ambitious vision of an innovative, globally competitive and attractive European Education Area by 2025, which should work in full synergy with the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Area. European Universities represent a new form of international partnership, which should take transnational cooperation between higher education institutions to the next level. They are expected to lead to greater mobility of students, staff and researchers, to the development of excellent science and research, and also to increase the competitiveness of European universities at global level as well as to address current societal issues. These alliances are intended to promote systemic, structural and sustainable transnational cooperation and to link the four main missions of higher education institutions: education, research, innovation and service to society. The initiative was launched in 2017 and so far two calls have been launched (2019 and 2020). It currently involves 41 university alliances, which bring together over 280 institutions from across Europe.