European Excellence Initiative
European Comission
ExpectedOutcome :
This action follows Council Conclusions on the European strategy empowering higher education institutions for the future of Europe of 5 April 2022 and ERA action 13 of the ERA Policy Agenda (annexed to the Council Conclusions on the future governance of the ERA, 26 November 2021) on empowering higher education institutions to develop in line with the European Research Area, in synergy with the European Education Area. The action also contributes to implementation of the Council Conclusions on strengthening research careers (28 May 2021). The objectives of this action are to:
- Raise excellence in science and in value creation through deeper and geographically inclusive cooperation in alliances of higher education institutions, such as – but not limited to – European Universities alliances selected under Erasmus+, with a particular focus on Widening countries;
- Improve global competitiveness and visibility of Europe's higher education institutions, creating critical mass in key areas such as the green transition and Horizon Europe mission areas.
Projects are expected to contribute to the following outcomes:
- Successful institutional reform and upgrade of higher education institutions in the R&I dimension (empowerment to be actors of change), through integrated collaboration between institutions and with other actors in local ecosystems;
- Mainstreamed culture of excellence in science and value creation amongst higher education institutions, and particularly in less research-intensive institutions and countries, in particular Widening countries, through consolidation of geographically inclusive alliances of higher education institutions, achieving long-term collaboration;
- Contribution to accelerated institutional reform in R&I dimension and strengthened R&I capacities in higher education institutions, notably those located in Widening countries, in particular;
- Modernised research careers in higher education sector, interoperable with other sectors;
- Accelerated digital transition of the R&I dimension of the higher education sector across the entire ERA;
- Increased global competitiveness of research in higher education institutions by strongly increased critical mass in terms of upskilling, knowledge creation and knowledge circulation in the green transition and other key European policy areas such as European Missions;
- Contribution to implementation of the relevant ERA Policy Agenda actions in higher education sector. Scope :
The European Excellence Initiative in its widening dimension aims to raise excellence in science and in knowledge valorisation of Europe’s universities through cooperation. The action will engage with universities and empower them further to be actors of change in R&I.
Through the geographically inclusive cooperation and practice exchange, universities from different capacities would benefit from institutional changes. This would increase attractiveness and accelerate access to excellence.
By developing closer cooperation with economic and industrial partners within local and regional innovation ecosystems, academic researchers and support staff will be provided the opportunity to be trained in knowledge valorisation, entrepreneurship, access to finance, at any stage of their careers, and to take into account the variety of academics’ activities in their career assessment.
Cooperation of universities will be supported to create critical R&I mass and pursue specific objectives that contribute to accelerating key R&I areas of own choice, for instance, one or more Mission areas. The European Excellence Initiative in its widening dimension is open to any network or alliance of higher education institutions, such as – but not limited to – European Universities alliances selected under Erasmus+, and allows for variable geometries (where for instances universities participating in alliances for specific themes may team up with other partners to pursue other specific themes or objectives). Under this call the centre of gravity of the action must be in Widening countries. Applicants have to convincingly demonstrate this geographical focus, for instance, by a budget allocation of at least 70% to participants from Widening countries.
Projects should contribute to the implementation of ERA Policy Agenda priorities at the participating higher education institutions, notably the strengthening of research careers in academia and beyond. Projects should pursue the following objectives:
- Achieving more balanced circulation of talents;
- Reinforcing the role of higher education institutions in innovation ecosystems;
- Mainstreaming practices and tools for open sharing of knowledge and data;
- Advancements towards reform of the assessment system for research, including career assessment;
- Improved links between science and business;
- Promoted gender equality, diversity and fostering inclusiveness through e.g., inclusive gender equality plans and policies;
- The acceleration of society’s green and digital transition to support ERA Policy Agenda action 11;
- Integrated international cooperation with entities established in third countries to support ERA Policy Agenda action 9.
Applicants are encouraged to implement the aforementioned European Research Area policy objectives and to consolidate institutional changes by means of a coherent package of activities which could include the following:
- Sharing R&I capacities including infrastructures;
- Developing joint interdisciplinary R&I agendas;
- Outreach to and inspiring local/regional innovation ecosystems;
- Strengthening research careers and interdisciplinary upskilling;
- Reforming research assessment;
- Digitisation of institutions and partners;
- Engaging with citizens, cities, regions and other non-academic actors;
- Training and capacity building for research and innovation management including IPR;
- Exchange of academic and non-academic staff for sharing good practices;
- Global outreach and internationalisation;
- Consolidation of cooperation with partners outside EU Member States and Associated Countries.
Expenditures for research and innovation activities (such as seed funding for collaborative research projects, activities linked to joint doctoral and postdoctoral research, knowledge valorisation activities, etc.) cannot exceed a maximum of 20% of the total budget.
The actions should envisage a duration appropriate to the ambition and complexity of the alliance of higher education institutions. The duration should not exceed 5 years.
General conditions
- Admissibility conditions: described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System
- Eligible countries: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide .
- Other eligibility conditions: described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes
In order to achieve the expected outcomes, participation as coordinators to the call is limited to legal entities established in Widening countries, as defined in the Horizon Europe regulation.
Applications must be submitted by a consortium including at least three independent legal entities in three different EU Member States or Horizon Europe Associated Countries, at least one of which established in a Widening Country.
Expenditures for research and innovation activities (such as seed funding for collaborative research projects, activities linked to joint doctoral and postdoctoral research, knowledge valorisation activities, etc.) cannot exceed a maximum of 20% of the total budget.
Financial and operational capacity and exclusion: described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes
Evaluation and award:
Award criteria, scoring and thresholds are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes
Submission and evaluation processes are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual
The following rules for dealing with ex-aequo applications apply: in the first place, ex-aequo proposals will be prioritised according to geographical diversity criteria, defined as proposals with coordinators established in a Widening Country, not otherwise represented as coordinator higher up the ranking list (and if equal in number, then by budget). The method described in Points 1), 2), 3) and 5) of General Annexes Part F (Procedure/Evaluation procedure and ranking) will then be applied to the remaining equally ranking proposals in the group. This rule establishing the priority order serves to better spread the impact of the action and to strengthen the efficiency of the ‘Widening participation and spreading excellence’ programme.
- Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement: described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes
- Legal and financial set-up of the grants: described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025). [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
Specific conditions
- Specific conditions: described in the [specific topic of the Work Programme]
Documents
Call documents:
Standard application form — call-specific application form is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE CSA)
Standard evaluation form — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)
MGA
Call-specific instructions
Information on clinical studies (HE)
Guidance: "Lump sums - what do I need to know?"
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 12. Missions
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2024 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme and Rules for Participation Regulation 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual