Business grants in Europe

Call for proposals to alleviate labor market imbalances and address critical skills shortages across the EU and EEA.

European Union

Call for proposals to alleviate labor market imbalances and address critical skills shortages across the EU and EEA. With a total budget of EUR 17 million, this initiative facilitates the cross-border movement of jobseekers and supports employers in filling hard-to-reach vacancies through tailored recruitment, training, and placement services. Each selected project may receive between EUR 2 million and EUR 6 million. The program is highly result-oriented, requiring participants to implement a comprehensive strategy that includes: Matching and Recruitment: Utilizing innovative methods to identify and recruit individuals with specific skills for sectors facing identified labor shortages; Direct Financial Support: Providing allowances to jobseekers for interview and relocation expenses, language training, and the recognition of professional qualifications; Employer Assistance: Offering SMEs financial support for training programs to ensure newly recruited candidates successfully integrate into their roles; Pre- and Post-Placement Support: Providing dedicated services such as interview preparation, profiling, and ongoing monitoring to ensure long-term satisfaction for both the placed individual and the employer.

Call for proposals to strengthen the integrity and inclusivity of democratic electoral processes across the Union.

European Union

Call for proposals to strengthen the integrity and inclusivity of democratic electoral processes across the Union. With a total funding pool of EUR 10 million, the initiative aims to support projects—typically lasting between 12 and 24 months—that improve transparency and empower citizens to exercise their electoral rights, while fully respecting the constitutional competences of individual Member States. The funding is designed to foster a robust democratic environment by focusing on several critical pillars: Electoral Literacy: Increasing awareness of electoral rights, particularly for mobile EU citizens and groups often underrepresented in democratic participation, such as youth and those at risk of discrimination; Safety & Resilience: Enhancing the physical and digital safety of political candidates and elected representatives against harassment and intimidation; Technological Accountability: Promoting the transparent and ethical use of artificial intelligence in political campaigns and ensuring compliance with the Political Advertising Regulation; and Funding Transparency: Improving the accountability of political financing, including tracking new developments like cryptocurrency usage and the impact of paid influencers.

Call for proposals to safeguard the integrity of the information space and bolster democratic resilience.

European Union

Call for proposals to safeguard the integrity of the information space and bolster democratic resilience. This funding stream specifically targets the counteraction of disinformation and Foreign Information Manipulation and Interference (FIMI)—intentional, coordinated, and deceptive behaviors orchestrated by foreign actors to destabilize democratic processes. With a total budget of EUR 10 million, this call provides grants starting at a minimum of EUR 75,000 for projects typically lasting between 12 and 24 months. The objective is to protect public discourse from manipulative techniques that exploit digital platforms and algorithmic vulnerabilities to distort reality. Selected projects are expected to implement initiatives that empower citizens and institutions, including: Digital Literacy & Awareness: Creating programs and tools for citizens to identify AI-generated content, detect manipulative algorithms, and distinguish between real human interaction and bot-driven activity; Monitoring & Detection: Developing and disseminating digital tools, including AI, to analyze and react to organized FIMI campaigns in real-time; Institutional Support: Providing public bodies with evidence-based insights to address disinformation threats effectively; and Legal Resilience: Training and support to counter Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), thereby protecting journalists and independent media outlets from legal intimidation.

Call for proposals to combat the spread of violent extremist content online.

European Union

Call for proposals to combat the spread of violent extremist content online. With a total budget of EUR 5 million, this initiative aims to strengthen the digital resilience of European citizens by empowering civil society organizations (CSOs), youth, and community leaders. Building on the work of the Radicalisation Awareness Network (RAN), the program focuses on primary and secondary prevention, targeting vulnerable groups before they engage in or promote violence. The call addresses a multi-ideological scope, including jihadist, right-wing, and left-wing extremism, as well as narratives like antisemitism and anti-Muslim hatred. Projects must combine online and offline actions, ensuring that digital training is grounded in real-world community relationships. A critical component is the Rapid Response mechanism, which enables CSOs to react swiftly to surges in extremist content following terrorist attacks or major geopolitical events. Expected Impact: Short-term: Increased capacity for CSOs to detect threats and improved digital literacy for parents and youth; Medium-term: Coordinated practitioner responses to crisis-driven spikes in harmful content and verified outcome data; and Long-term: Strengthened community resilience and the integration of grassroots insights into EU-level security policies.

Call for proposals to establish a single, large-scale transnational initiative focused on supporting fair labor mobility.

European Union

Call for proposals to establish a single, large-scale transnational initiative focused on supporting fair labor mobility. With a total budget of EUR 1.2 million, this action intends to fund one comprehensive project that will run for 12 to 18 months. The initiative aims to facilitate access to essential information and legal entitlements for mobile migrant workers, with a specific emphasis on high-risk sectors such as construction, international road transport, hospitality, and agriculture. The selected consortium is tasked with a dual-track mission of research and practical service expansion: Expansion of Counseling Networks: The project must support and grow a trade union-based network across at least nine countries, including two to four candidate or potential candidate countries. This involves setting up additional centers and providing targeted capacity building for counselors; Research and Analysis: Building on 15 years of existing data, the project will map and evaluate counseling structures in both origin and destination countries. Special attention will be given to the emerging challenges faced by third-country nationals who are posted and working temporarily within the EU; and Individualized Support: Mandatory activities include providing tailored advice for individual cases, which may extend to legal interventions, employer mediation, or referral to specialized lawyers to ensure labor rights enforcement.

Call for proposals to investigate and mitigate the drivers of political polarisation in the digital age.

European Union

Call for proposals to investigate and mitigate the drivers of political polarisation in the digital age. With a total budget of EUR 785,000, the project aims to develop a neutral, scientifically sound methodology for analyzing political discourse while strictly safeguarding freedom of expression and fostering evidence-based public debate. This initiative is designed to support the European Democracy Shield by strengthening social cohesion and public trust across EU Member States and potentially candidate countries. This call requires a robust, cross-sectoral consortium of at least five independent entities from four different countries, including research experts, civil society organizations, and technology companies. The project timeline is set for 15 months and follows a structured path: Pan-EU Conference: A major convening in Month 3 to validate de-polarisation initiatives and inform the project's technical methodology; Mitigation Strategies: Co-designing and testing practical interventions, such as bridging algorithms and deliberative formats, to counter harmful division without restricting democratic debate; and Knowledge Exchange: Establishing a durable European User Network to ensure that toolkits and findings remain accessible to media literacy practitioners and public bodies long after the project concludes.

Call for applications to honor EU-funded projects that excel in regional development.

European Union

Call for applications for social entrepreneurs who lead scalable, innovative, and impact-first organizations.

European Union

Call for applications for social entrepreneurs who lead scalable, innovative, and impact-first organizations. Inspired by a venture capital legacy, the foundation aims to dramatically improve the lives of underserved communities globally by supporting products and services with a proven ability to create positive change. The Call focuses on nurturing organizations during their early stages, specifically looking for solutions that leverage existing systems and stakeholders to achieve widespread impact. The foundation utilizes a comprehensive three-pillar model to accelerate the growth of its portfolio organizations: Capital: Selected entrepreneurs receive up to $300,000 USD in funding, provided over a three-year period as either unrestricted grants or investment capital; Capacity: the foundation provides intensive operational and technical support, which includes dedicated hands-on Board service and specialist resources for fundraising, leadership development, and scaling strategies; and Community: Awardees gain access to an exclusive network of peers and alumni through annual convenings, fostering long-term collaboration and mutual support.

Call for proposals to support initiatives that promote a healthier work-life balance and a more equitable distribution of care responsibilities.

European Union

Call for proposals to support initiatives that promote a healthier work-life balance and a more equitable distribution of care responsibilities. This program is a cornerstone of the EU Gender Equality Strategy 2020-2025, aiming to bridge the gender care gap where women traditionally carry a disproportionate burden of unpaid domestic work. By fostering family-friendly workplace policies and elevating the status of the care sector, the call seeks to remove the structural barriers that prevent women’s full economic participation. The call focuses on three transformative pillars designed to reshape how society approaches care and employment: Family-Friendly Workplaces: Promoting practices such as telework, hybrid models, job sharing, and flexible hours. A major goal is to encourage the uptake of rights under the Work-Life Balance Directive, specifically protecting employees from unfavorable treatment following maternity, paternity, or parental leave; Equal Sharing of Informal Care: Supporting activities that encourage men to take an active role in parenting and long-term care for dependents. This includes skills-based training for fathers and awareness campaigns on the benefits of shared domestic responsibilities; and Valuing the Care Sector: Addressing horizontal segregation by attracting more men and boys into care-related fields of study and employment. This also involves re-evaluating the working conditions and professional appreciation of formal care jobs in early childhood and long-term care. Award range: between EUR 100 000 and EUR 500 000.

Call for proposals to promote social dialogue at both cross-industry and sectoral levels while strengthening the capacity of social partner organisations.

European Union

Call for proposals to promote social dialogue at both cross-industry and sectoral levels while strengthening the capacity of social partner organisations. With a total budget of €13.25 million, the initiative offers individual awards ranging from €150,000 to €700,000. Projects are expected to run for 12 to 36 months and are open to legal entities established in eligible Member States and candidate countries. The call specifically prioritizes actions that prepare for the negotiation and implementation of autonomous social partner agreements at the EU level. Key thematic areas include: Addressing challenges related to digitalization, artificial intelligence, algorithmic management, and new forms of employment such as platform work; Supporting a just transition to a climate-neutral economy and managing industrial restructuring; Tackling labor shortages through upskilling and re-skilling, enhancing intra-EU mobility, and strengthening collective bargaining for adequate minimum wages; and Promoting gender equality, anti-discrimination, and the reconciliation of work and family life.

Call for applications to support nonpartisan programs that advance human rights, independent media, and the rule of law.

European Union

Call for applications by the National Endowment for Democracy for civic organizations, associations,independent media, and other similar organizations to support programs that promote human rights,support independent media, strengthen democracy, and foster civil society and a market economy.

Call for applications to support transformative projects that empower smallholder farmers and strengthen their local communities.

European Union

Call for applications to support transformative projects that empower smallholder farmers and strengthen their local communities. This initiative targets Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), cooperatives, and NGOs operating within any of the 101 CFC member countries. To be eligible, applicants must demonstrate financial viability and possess at least three years of operational history. The Call prioritizes several key areas, including: Market Integration: Connecting smallholders to global trade and providing digital tools for transparent value chains; Sustainability: Promoting regenerative agriculture, biodiversity protection, and low-impact local value addition; and Social Impact: Supporting women’s entrepreneurship and improving financial access for rural workers. Special priority is given to proposals originating from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and those focused on the sustainable conservation of forest resources in the Congo Basin region. Ultimately, the CFC seeks to fund enterprises that bridge the gap between technological innovation and equitable prosperity for those who cultivate the land.

Call for nominations to endow the prestigious Frontiers of Knowledge Awards, which recognize world-class research and artistic creation of singular impact.

European Union

Call for nominations to endow the prestigious Frontiers of Knowledge Awards, which recognize world-class research and artistic creation of singular impact. Now in their nineteenth edition, these awards honor fundamental advances that expand the boundaries of human knowledge or represent the emergence of new interdisciplinary fields. Each of the eight award categories—spanning Basic Sciences, Biology and Biomedicine, ICT, Climate Change, Economics, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Music and Opera—carries a prize of 400,000 euros, accompanied by a diploma and a commemorative artwork. The awards are unique in their commitment to recognizing the collaborative nature of modern discovery; they may be granted to any number of natural persons who have made convergent contributions, as well as to scientific or cultural organizations. The program emphasizes the vital role of basic knowledge as the primary driver of scientific and material progress, while also championing the interaction between diverse disciplines. Nominations must be submitted by institutions such as universities, research centers, academies, or artistic organizations, including orchestras and opera theaters, rather than through self-nomination.

Call for proposals to support the long-term stability, prosperity, and resilience of Arctic communities.

European Union

Call for proposals to support the long-term stability, prosperity, and resilience of Arctic communities. Offering grants of up to DKK 500,000, the programme seeks to fund projects that foster socially viable local communities, sustainable economic growth, and a green transition. The guiding principle of the initiative is resilience, focusing on strengthening civil society and ensuring that development in the region remains robust across generations. The programme is organized into three core pillars of resilience, each targeting specific regional challenges: Social Resilience: Enhancing people-to-people collaboration, particularly among indigenous peoples and youth, while improving mental health, social cohesion, and access to welfare services; Economic Resilience: Supporting local entrepreneurship and workforce development, with a focus on sustainable tourism, food security, and improving both physical and digital connectivity across the Arctic; Climate and Environmental Resilience: Advancing the green transition through stable renewable energy solutions, the promotion of a circular bio-based economy, and heightened awareness of how environmental changes impact local infrastructure.

Call for proposals to support projects focusing on the development of secure, scalable, and cost-effective methods for producing stable isotopes within the EU.

European Union

Call for proposals to support the development and demonstration of critical components for hydrogen fuel cell engines in fully electric aircraft. This initiative targets the tube and wing aircraft concept, specifically designed for a capacity of approximately 100 passengers and a design range of up to 1,000 nautical miles. The primary objective is to engineer a compact, lightweight, and high-performance propulsion system capable of delivering 2.5 MW of net power per engine in a four-engine configuration, supporting an expected entry into service in the 2040s. The project aims to mature fuel cell technology through a combination of physical and virtual demonstrations. Key deliverables include: The development of a 2.5 MW fuel cell propulsion system reaching Technology Readiness Level 4 (TRL4) via integrated virtual demonstration; The physical demonstration of critical sub-systems and components at TRL5, ensuring they are representative of the final propulsion architecture; A robust validation and verification strategy to confirm the manufacturing and assembly maturity of these components; An integration concept that strictly adheres to hydrogen safety requirements, including the management of leakages and risks such as fire or detonation; The achievement of Certification Readiness Level 4 (CRL4) for all critical technologies, with a clear roadmap toward CRL6. This call represents a significant investment, with a total available budget of EUR 50 million, which may be awarded to a single comprehensive project.

Call for proposals to maintain and enhance the European Union’s expertise in nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radioactive waste management, and radiation protection.

European Union

Call for proposals to maintain and enhance the European Union's expertise in nuclear safety, security, safeguards, radioactive waste management, and radiation protection. With a total budget and expected award of EUR 5.00 million, this initiative aims to establish a sustainable, pan-European education and training (E&T) programme. The project seeks to create a robust talent pipeline by sparking interest in nuclear science among young learners, attracting professionals from adjacent industries, and fostering long-term career perspectives within the sector. The project is tasked with addressing current skills gaps in high-demand areas, such as decommissioning, SMRs, and medical applications of ionizing radiation. A unique focus of this call is the integration of advanced digital tools: AI and Language Models: The consortium must evaluate the efficacy and risks of using Small and Large Language Models (SLMs and LLMs) in nuclear education, ensuring these tools support rather than inhibit critical thinking; One-Stop Shop: The project will develop a single-entry point website to serve as a comprehensive portal for EU nuclear E&T opportunities, ranging from vocational training to university-level applied sciences; and Mobility Schemes: A robust and sustainable mobility program will be implemented to facilitate the exchange of students and young professionals across multidisciplinary and multicultural environments, with individual grants to third parties capped at EUR 20,000.

Call for proposals to establish a comprehensive European Partnership for research into radiation protection and the detection of ionising radiation.

European Union

Call for proposals to establish a comprehensive European Partnership for research into radiation protection and the detection of ionising radiation. This initiative serves as a continuation of the PIANOFORTE partnership, aiming to safeguard both human health and the environment in alignment with the Basic Safety Standards Directive. The Commission has allocated a total of EUR 15.00 million for this action, with a single award of approximately the same amount expected to fund the partnership's activities for the 2026–2027 period. The partnership is designed to exploit synergies across various scientific disciplines, including fundamental biology, epidemiology, and social sciences. Key research priorities include: Individual Sensitivity: Investigating how age, sex, and genetics influence radiation risks, particularly in medical applications; Emergency Preparedness: Improving tools for nuclear accident response, including AI-based environmental monitoring and hospital support capabilities; Medical Optimisation: Strengthening the evidence base for justifying and optimizing radiation use in healthcare to enhance patient safety; and Integrated Radiobiology: Advancing the understanding of how radiation exposure leads to cancer and non-cancer effects through the FAIRisation of data.

Call for proposals to support the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP) in its mission to integrate nuclear safety research and innovation at the EU level.

European Union

Call for proposals to support the Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technology Platform (SNETP) in its mission to integrate nuclear safety research and innovation at the EU level. With a total budget and expected award of EUR 0.50 million, this initiative specifically targets the evolution of nuclear technologies beyond traditional power generation, focusing on non-power applications and cross-sectoral energy challenges for the 2026–2027 period. Funding is primarily dedicated to specialized studies, data collection, and workshops aimed at developing technology roadmaps and deployment strategies. Key focus areas include: Cross-Sectoral Collaboration: Fostering cooperation between SNETP and other European Technology and Innovation Platforms (ETIPs) to address shared challenges in materials, digital technologies, and AI; Non-Power Applications: Advancing the use of ionising radiation in the health, industrial, and space sectors, with a strong emphasis on medical applications and radiation protection; Energy Mix Integration: Coordinating nuclear and non-nuclear energy roadmaps to ensure nuclear power plants are effectively integrated into low-carbon, smart energy systems; as well as Policy and Outreach: Supporting nuclear scientists in contributing to Horizon Europe actions, such as Europe’s Beating Cancer Action Plan, and communicating research value to policymakers outside the traditional power sector.

Call for proposals with a budget of EUR 32.

European Union

Call for proposals with a budget of EUR 32.00 million to support the excellence and attractiveness of the EBRAINS Research Infrastructure. The initiative aims to advance scientific and technological discoveries in neurosciences, brain medicine, and brain-inspired cognitive technologies by operating and improving a suite of digital services designed to attract a broad community of academic and industrial users. Projects are expected to operate digital facilities that provide access to federated supercomputing, large-scale data storage, and high-performance cloud services, including integration with European HPC capacities and AI Factories. Furthermore, the infrastructure must implement advanced AI tools to facilitate intuitive user interactions, support complex brain simulations and multi-scale modeling, and ensure that research data remains findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable in line with FAIR principles. Successful proposals will demonstrate scalability and robustness, develop a new collaborative platform for testing neuro-inspired artificial intelligence, and foster international cooperation to ensure Europe remains at the forefront of global brain research efforts. By aligning with the forthcoming European Health Data Space and leveraging synergies with other research infrastructures, this effort seeks to create a federated and innovation-enabling ecosystem that results in state-of-the-art digital brain twins, improved diagnostics, and more personalized medical treatments for brain-related health challenges.

Call for applications for early-stage, women-led startups in the digital and deep-tech sectors across Europe to participate in a specialized open innovation program.

European Union

Call for applications for early-stage, women-led startups in the digital and deep-tech sectors across Europe to participate in a specialized open innovation program. To be eligible, companies must be registered for between six months and six years, have raised €1 million or less in equity, and be founded or co-founded by a woman who holds a top management position and at least 25% of the company's shares. The program focuses on solving twelve diverse corporate challenges, covering areas such as AI-driven production optimization, sustainable material development, and tax strategy design. Selected startups will first enter a one-month Inception stage, with up to seven companies advancing to a five-month Piloting stage in collaboration with a corporate partner. The initiative offers a total funding pool of €475,000, with individual awards of up to €55,000 available. Interested founders must submit their applications via the Sploro platform no later than May 19, 2026.