The European Excellence Initiative (EEI) is part of the Horizon Europe: Widening participation and spreading excellence funding sub-programme. The objectives of the action are to improve science and value creation by promoting diverse collaboration among higher education institutions, and with other actors in local ecosystems, as well as to boost Europe's universities by establishing a strong presence in key areas such as the green transition and Horizon Europe mission areas in order to improve global competitiveness.
The latest EEI call for proposals (HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-03-01) closed on 12 April 2023, with 59 eligible submissions. The 12 selected projects signed the Grant Agreements in 2023, aiming to start their activity within the first quarter of 2024.
The projects will contribute to fostering collaborations with beneficiaries in local ecosystems, accelerating institutional reform, upskilling, creating and circulating knowledge, and implementing relevant European Research Area (ERA) Policy Agenda actions in the higher education sector, all while consolidating geographically inclusive alliances in Widening countries.
| Project title | Acronym |
|---|---|
| Widening Innovation and Research Excellence in FilmEU | WIRE FilmEU |
| Supporting European R&I Through stakeholder collaboration and institutional reform | INITIATE |
| Empowering EDUC for Inclusive Development of the ERA | EDUC-WIDE |
| Promoting Excellence Through Innovative Eco-systems | EU-CONEXUS ENABLES |
| Bioeconomy Excellence Alliance for Stimulating Innovative and Inclusive Green Transition | BEAMING |
| Heritage Innovation in EURECA-PRO Alliance | HI-EURECA-PRO |
| Excellence Initiative for Nutrifood-based Theranostics for Healthy European Society | EINSTEIN |
| Raise Excellence in R&S&I in HEI For Widening Countries | Unite.WIDENING |
| Transforming Access to Excellence with Successful Alliances of Higher Education in Digital Agriculture | TALLHEDA |
| Alliance4Life Bridging the Research and Innovation Gap in Life Sciences | A4L_BRIDGE |
| CROSS-disciplinary Network for Research Excellence in Regenerative Economy Innovation Eco-Systems | CROSS-REIS |
| Empowering Widening Universities In EUTOPIA_HEALTH Consortium to Foster Academic Excellence in Health | EUTOPIA_HEALTH |
Currently there are 9 other ongoing projects funded in 2022 under the call “European Excellence Initiative (EEI): Strengthening capacity for excellence in higher education institutions and surrounding ecosystems HORIZON-WIDERA-2021-ACCESS-05”.
More about the Widening funding opportunities
In line with the ERA policy objectives, the Widening sub-programme is providing funding for projects that enhance the research and innovation capabilities of countries with lower performance.
Other Widening Participation funding opportunities currently open to receive proposals are Excellence Hubs and ERA Chairs. Both calls are open until 7 March 2024.
The call for the ERA Talents action will open on 11 April 2024.
Details
- Publication date
- 12 February 2024
- Author
- European Research Executive Agency