SEED 4EU+ 2026: funding for your European research projects
The 4EU+ European University Alliance is launching its SEED4EU+ call for proposals, a funding programme designed to kickstart innovative research collaborations between the Alliance’s member universities.
Intended for researchers, particularly in the early stages of their careers, this programme aims to forge and develop European research networks and to initiate new cross-disciplinary and international collaborations, in order to lay the foundations for larger-scale projects.
Thanks to this seed funding scheme, academic teams can meet, structure their collaborations, develop joint research ideas and prepare competitive applications for national, European and international funding programmes.
As part of its strategy to support the next generation of researchers within the Alliance, the 2026 edition of the programme offers two funding streams:
• SEED4EU+ Early Career, dedicated to early-career researchers who obtained their PhD between 2 and 10 years prior to the project start date (January 2027);
• SEED4EU+ Standard, aimed at the wider academic community.
Through the 4EU+ calls for proposals, the European Alliance aims to build an exceptional European university, openly connected to the world and at the forefront of global research. Securing SEED4EU+ funding provides a real springboard for shaping the future of European research.
Key information for applicants
Eligibility: researchers affiliated with one of the eight 4EU+* member universities. Proposals must include participants from at least three of the 4EU+ member universities.
Funding: up to 40,000 euros per project
Duration: Projects may last up to 12 months. The project start date is scheduled for 1 January 2027 at the earliest.
Application deadline: 13 October 2026, 4 p.m. CET. Notice of results in December 2026.
Disciplines: This call for proposals is open to all disciplines. Submitted projects must fall within at least one of the 4EU+ flagship programmes.
Language: Proposals must be written in English.
PLEASE NOTE: Applications for the ‘SEED4EU+’ and Visiting Professorships calls cannot be combined. You may only apply to one of these two schemes.
- For further information: 4euplus-su@sorbonne-universite.fr
- Information sessions for potential applicants
- Tuesday 30 June 2026 at 12pm: Watch the recording here
- Thursday 3 September 2026 at 2pm: Register for the info session here
- To apply
4EU+ European University Alliance
The 4EU+ European University Alliance is a transnational strategic association of Charles University in Prague, Heidelberg University, Paris-Panthéon-Assas University, Sorbonne University in Paris, the University of Copenhagen, the University of Geneva, the University of Milan, and the University of Warsaw.
The 4EU+ Alliance has one vision: to create one comprehensive research-intensive European University through a new quality of cooperation in teaching, education, research and administration.
Click here for more information about the 4EU+ European University Alliance