European Excellence Initiative
The European Excellence Initiative (HORIZON-WIDERA-2023-ACCESS-03-01) is a Horizon Europe funding program designed to enhance research and innovation (R&I) capacities within Widening Countries. It aims to foster deeper, geographically inclusive cooperation among higher education institutions, aligning with the European Research Area (ERA) and European Education Area objectives. This initiative seeks to improve Europe's higher education institutions' global competitiveness and visibility by building critical mass in key areas.
Who is Funded
The European Excellence Initiative focuses on empowering higher education institutions and other R&I actors, primarily in Widening Countries, to strengthen their scientific and value creation capabilities. The program's core objective is to foster deep, geographically inclusive cooperation to enhance global competitiveness and drive systemic impact on national R&I systems.
What is Funded
The program supports a diverse range of activities aimed at institutional reform and capacity building within the higher education and R&I sectors. While primarily focusing on non-research activities, it permits a dedicated portion of the budget for research and innovation projects to foster collaborative engagement.
Type and Scope of Funding
The European Excellence Initiative offers grant funding structured as lump sum contributions, with a substantial budget allocation for the call. Projects are designed to run for a maximum of five years, providing ample time for comprehensive institutional reforms and collaborative activities.
Conditions and Requirements
Applicants to the European Excellence Initiative must adhere to specific conditions regarding consortium composition, geographical focus, and budget allocation. Strict rules are in place for application submission and project implementation to ensure the program's objectives are met effectively.
Application Procedure
The application process for the European Excellence Initiative followed a single-stage submission procedure, requiring specific forms and adherence to outlined guidelines for proposal content and budget submission. Evaluation focused on established criteria, with a particular emphasis on geographical diversity for equally ranked proposals.
Legal Basis
The European Excellence Initiative is firmly rooted in a comprehensive legal framework established by the European Union, drawing its authority from various Council Conclusions and key Horizon Europe regulations. Access to these foundational documents is facilitated through official EU portals, ensuring transparency and providing applicants with essential guidelines.
Similar Programs
Funding Overview
Funding Status:
Closed
Maximum Amount:
5,000,000 €
Allocated Budget:
54,000,000 €
Award Channel:
Framework Programme Call
Region:
EU Member States, Horizon Europe Associated Countries, Third Countries
Sectors:
Research and Development, Education and Vocational Training, Green Technology, Information and Communication Technology, Social Enterprises, Other
Beneficiaries:
Higher education institutions, research organisations, SMEs, non-academic entities
Application Type:
Consortium Required
Funding Stages:
Applied Research, Experimental Development, Capacity Building, Policy Development, Planning, Implementation, Basic Research, Service Delivery, Awareness Campaigns, Other
Funding Provider
Program Level:
European Union
Funding Body:
European Commission
Additional Partners:
Economic and industrial partners within local and regional innovation ecosystems
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