ENLIGHT Calls 2025: What’s New?
ENLIGHT, a collaborative alliance of 10 universities, is dedicated to fostering cooperation between staff and students. Following the success of the first set of calls in 2024, which saw 80 applications and over 1,000 academics involved, ENLIGHT is excited to announce the second set of calls for 2025.
Overview of 2024 Calls
In 2024, ENLIGHT funded 10 Thematic Networks and 7 Incubator Grants. Additionally, the alliance has co-funded many ENLIGHT+ joint small initiatives. This year, the calls will again target specific types of action: ENLIGHT Incubator Grants, ENLIGHT Thematic Networks, and ENLIGHT+.
2025 Calls
As of 1 April 2025, the calls are open for teachers, researchers, students and professional staff members from all disciplines who are interested in setting up joint initiatives with peers from other ENLIGHT universities. Proposals should include minimum 3 ENLIGHT partners, with virtual exchange or micro-credentials requiring at least 2 ENLIGHT partners.
- Call for ENLIGHT Incubator Grants: support the development of joint programmes, joint future-proof education projects and stepping-stones for international learning across the six ENLIGHT focus areas (deadline: 30 June 2025)
- Call for ENLIGHT Thematic Networks: support interdisciplinary academic networks for developing joint challenge-based activities linking education, research and service to society across the six ENLIGHT focus areas (deadline: 30 June 2025)
- ENLIGHT+ call: foster new emerging joint (small-scale, inclusive and/or sustainable) initiatives across disciplines (deadline: 31 May 2025, more deadlines to be announced)
Main changes in the 2025 call:
- ENLIGHT Incubator Grants will have 2 strands: 1 for the development of joint Bachelor or Master programmes (50.000 €, 2 years) and 1 for the development of other joint educational initiatives. Joint programmes will have priority, with a minimum of 10 projects funded overall for both strands.
- ENLIGHT Thematic networks will have a shortened duration and will receive 100.000€ for 2 years. This will be the final call for Thematic Networks, with a minimum of 15 projects funded.
- ENLIGHT+: streamlined procedure with a single application per initiative, evaluated by each partner involved.
Full details for each call will be available from 1 April onwards via the funding page on the website
Next steps to prepare for the ENLIGHT calls:
1. Determine the best call for your initiative
2. Identify ENLIGHT partners
- Use the Partner Search tool or the ENLIGHT R&I Observatory on the website
- Contact your institutional ENLIGHT coordinator for support
3. Consider your budget
- ENLIGHT Thematic Networks: maximum budget per network is 100.000 €
- ENLIGHT Incubator Grants: maximum budget per initiative is 30.000 € for joint educational initiatives, 50.000€ for joint programmes
- ENLIGHT+: (small) budget depends on each university (university funds).
4. Outline your concrete plans
- Consider quality, feasibility, output, and added value.
5. Stay informed
- Follow ENLIGHT communication channels: website funding page, newsletter and social media (LinkedIn, Instagram).