Open Call: Unite! Seed Fund 2026

A new Unite! Seed Fund funding call is now open until 20 March 2026. The call provides financial support for collaborations between Unite! partner universities, helping to initiate projects and place new or emerging collaborations on a strong and sustainable footing.

Student activities

• Objective: Start long-term collaborations between student associations and other student-centred organisations across the Unite! universities.
• Available budget: Up to €20,000 per project, involving at least 2 Unite! universities.
• How to find partners? Virtual matchmaking in early February 2026 (details will be included in the call document).
• What is new? Only student associations and other student-centred organisations at the Unite! universities will be eligible to apply. Applications from individual students will not be accepted.

Teaching & Learning

• Objective: Support the creation of joint/collaborative educational offers with ECTS, with the potential for being scaled up into Joint Programmes. Applications must involve at least 3 Unite! universities and address at least one of the Unite! focus areas: Sustainable Energy; Artificial Intelligence; Industry 4.0; Entrepreneurship; Engineering Biology (and Biotechnology); Space; Cybersecurity; and Sustainable Cities & Water.
• Available budget: Between €10,000 and €80,000 per project, depending on the project goals and the number of Unite! partners involved.
• How to find partners? Virtual matchmaking in early February 2026 (details will be included in the call document).
• What is new? Applications aiming at the creation of joint teaching offers must include letters of commitment from all departments/schools involved, confirming that the project outcomes are to be devised as long-term educational offers fully integrated in local curricula.

Research & PhD

• Objective: Start new research collaborations and/or PhD offers between at least 3 Unite! universities and support joint applications for larger third-party funding. Applications must address at least one of the Unite! focus areas: Sustainable Energy; Artificial Intelligence; Industry 4.0; Entrepreneurship; Engineering Biology (and Biotechnology); Space; Cybersecurity; and Sustainable Cities & Water.
• Available budget: Between €10,000 and €80,000 per project, depending on the project goals and the number of Unite! partners involved.
• How to find partners? Virtual matchmaking in early February 2026 (details will be included in the call document).
• What is new? For the programme option “Exploring” (with a budget of €10,000 per project), applications from Early Career Researchers will be preferred.

Find more information at this link.
For inquiries, potential applicants may email Dr. Konrad Löbcke.