EIT HEI Call 2026: ­ Internal TUD Pre-selection for Project Proposals

The EIT Higher Education Initiative (EIT HEI) published its new Call for Proposals 2026 on 20 October 2026. The call supports higher education institutions in strengthening their capacities for innovation and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on the links between STEM talent, research, deep-tech and manufacturing innovation, and entrepreneurial exploitation.

EIT HEI Call for Proposals 2026 – official call webpage

EIT HEI Call 2026
The 2026 call addresses three interconnected Policy Objectives:

• developing STEM talent for deep-tech and manufacturing innovation and entrepreneurship;
• strengthening higher education institutions as institutional drivers of innovation from research to market;
• strengthening links between higher education institutions and regional and European deep-tech and manufacturing innovation ecosystems.

Projects must contribute to all three Policy Objectives. Activities should be aligned with the needs, priorities and development stage of the participating higher education institutions.
The call is aimed at international consortia involving higher education institutions as well as partners from industry, research and other relevant parts of the innovation ecosystem. Projects will have a duration of 18 months and may receive funding of up to EUR 1.25 million per project.

IMPORTANT: Internal TUD Pre-selection
An organisation may participate as a funded partner (Beneficiary) in only one application under the EIT HEI Call 2026. As TU Dresden is considered one organisation, TUD can therefore participate in only one application as a Beneficiary. For this reason, TU Dresden will conduct an internal pre-selection process.
TUD units and consortia interested in submitting an application with TU Dresden are therefore invited to submit a project outline to the European Project Center (EPC) by 13 November 2026.

Following an initial contact and expression of concrete interest in submitting an application, EPC will provide interested parties with further information on the internal TUD pre-selection process. This will include guidance on the requirements for the project outline and the subsequent internal procedure.
The submitted project outlines will then be reviewed and assessed internally. Based on this assessment, a decision will be taken on TU Dresden's participation in an application under the EIT HEI Call 2026.

What should be considered for a TUD participation?
Projects should make a clear contribution to the objectives of the EIT HEI Call 2026 and aim to achieve a sustainable strengthening of innovation and entrepreneurship at the participating higher education institutions.
Particular attention should be paid, among other things, to:

• the strategic involvement of the higher education institution;
• the links between research, education, innovation and entrepreneurship;
• cooperation with relevant partners from the innovation ecosystem;
• the involvement of suitable EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs); and
• the potential for sustainable institutional change beyond the project lifetime.

The planned activities and Funded Actions should be aligned with the respective institutional needs and priorities.

Timeline
The internal TUD deadline for submitting project outlines is 13 November 2026.
The full application to the EIT HEI Call must subsequently be submitted by 13 January 2027, 17:00 CET. The planned project start is 1 May 2027.

Further Information on the Call
The EIT HEI team is offering a series of online information sessions ahead of the application deadline. The sessions will cover topics including the Call, HEInnovate, the MEL Framework, KPI requirements, application and budget planning, and opportunities for collaboration with the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

The sessions will take place in November and December 2026:

• 4 November 2026, 15:00–16:30 CET: Overview of EIT HEI Call for Proposals 2026

• 6 November 2026, 15:00–16:30 CET: Introduction to HEInnovate

• 11 November 2026, 15:00–16:30 CET: MEL Framework and the Impact Domains and Actions

• 13 November 2026, 15:00–16:30 CET: KPI Expectations

• 17 November 2026, 15:00–16:30 CET: Application and Budget Planning

• 23 November 2026, 10:00–12:15 CET: EIT KIC Discovery Day

• 3 December 2026, 15:00–16:30 CET: Open Q&A

Further information and registration details are available on the official EIT HEI Call webpage. EIT HEI Call for Proposals 2026 – Info Sessions and Registration

Further information
The full requirements and eligibility conditions are set out in the official Call Text. Further explanations are provided in the FAQ document.

• EIT HEI Call for Proposals 2026 – official call webpage
• EIT HEI Call for Proposals 2026 – full Call Text (PDF)
• EIT HEI Call 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

If you are interested in participating in an application with TU Dresden, please contact the European Project Center (EPC) at an early stage.

© TU Dresden

Head of Unit "Joint Research Activities" / EPC Contact Eng. Sc.

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Ms Katja Böttcher

Horizon Europe, EDF, Cooperations

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European Project Center

European Project Center

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