EIT STEM Tech Talent Induction: up to €80,000 for a consortium of an education provider and a company to train at least 1,200 people in STEM, apply by 14 December

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), implemented through 28DIGITAL and the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities, has announced the EIT STEM Tech Talent Induction Call for Proposals 2026. The funding initiative supports the development and delivery of hands-on STEM induction training designed to address real-world industrial skills gaps and support learner progression into STEM careers and education.

The total programme budget is €2 million, with individual projects eligible for up to €80,000 in grant funding distributed as reimbursement of actual costs. Up to 25 projects will be selected for implementation across Europe.

The call for proposals is open until 14 December 2026 at 17:00 CET. Official evaluation results will be communicated in February 2027, with supported project activities scheduled to commence on 1 April 2027.

What is funded

The call funds flexible STEM induction initiatives covering at least 10 hours of training delivered in online, offline, or blended formats. Eligible formats include modular educational programmes, industry challenge-based learning, hackathons, engineering challenges, vocational school and university modules, and transition or platform-integrated learning.

Projects must address specific subject areas defined by the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED-F): Natural Sciences, Mathematics and Statistics (05), Information and Communication Technologies (06), or Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction (07). Proposals may also encompass interdisciplinary approaches that connect these domains. Special consideration is given to activities focusing on European strategic technologies, including space-related applications, artificial intelligence, and other emerging digital fields.

Who can apply

Participation is open to any legal entity that satisfies the standard eligibility conditions of the Horizon Europe Regulation. Eligible applicant categories include higher education institutions, colleges, secondary schools, vocational education and training (VET) networks, non-governmental organisations, startups, small and medium enterprises, and large corporations.

Proposals must be submitted by a consortium consisting of at least one education provider or NGO and at least one business or industry partner. Consortia are also encouraged to involve regional or public authorities, as well as transnational partners to support multi-country implementation where appropriate.

Conditions and requirements

Funded activities must maintain a primary target focus on learners at ISCED Levels 3 to 5, placing specific emphasis on vocational education and training pathways. Proposals must outline well-defined learning outcomes and demonstrate how the proposed training will build concrete competences and facilitate pathways into employment, entrepreneurship, or further education.

Each supported project must achieve a minimum output target of training at least 1,200 participants. Proposals are required to adhere to mandatory demographic targets: at least 40% of the trained cohort must be women and girls, and at least 30% must come from EIT Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) countries.

Practical tip. When structuring your consortium, establish clear recruitment pipelines early to ensure you can reach the mandatory 1,200-learner target and diversity quotas. Engaging VET provider networks and local community partners can assist in verifying access to eligible participants across ISCED Levels 3-5 and RIS regions prior to submission.

How to apply and evaluation process

Applications must be prepared in accordance with the call guidelines, FAQ documentation, and the EIT STEM Competence Framework, and submitted through the dedicated application portal before the closing deadline on 14 December 2026 at 17:00 CET.

Submitted proposals undergo a structured four-stage evaluation process where each phase supersedes the previous one. External independent experts conduct an initial review, followed by an Evaluation Panel Review Gate to reach consensus scores. A Selection Committee reviews the integrity of the results to establish a ranked list, after which the Management Committee of 28Digital issues the final award decisions.

Applications are submitted on the donor’s page: eitstemtalent.eu.