EU Programme and Funding Opportunities

Relevant European Programmes

These programmes focus on urban development and collaborations:

• Urban Agenda for the EU / FUTURIUM: This programme sets up partnerships between the Commission, EU organisations, national governments and city authorities to address problems facing cities.
• Creative Europe Desk Ireland: This supports Ireland’s culture and audiovisual sectors to access Creative Europe funding.
• The LIFE Programme: This is the EU’s funding instrument for the environment and climate action.
• CIVITAS: This initiative supports the development of sustainable and smart urban mobility across Europe.
• Léargas: This company manages youth work and education programmes in Ireland, including Erasmus+ and the European Solidarity Corps.
• Horizon Europe: This is the EU's key funding programme for research and innovation.
• ESPON 2030: This programme supports EU cohesion and helps local authorities identify new challenges and opportunities to shape future development policies. 
• Interreg North-West Europe: This programme supports the green, smart and just transition of countries in North-West Europe.
• Urban Innovative Actions: This initiative provides urban areas throughout Europe with resources to test new solutions to address urban challenges.
• URBACT: This programme helps cities develop strategies for sustainable change.

Open Funding and Grant Opportunities

Here are some current and upcoming open calls for EU projects:

• Postdoctoral Fellowships with Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions: Programme funding is open to researchers from all disciplines (Deadline 11/09/2024).
• Horizon Europe's Adaptation to Climate Change call: The European Commission has a €123.97 million fund for projects supporting research and innovation in climate change adaptation (Deadline 18/09/2024).
• Call for Innovative Actions Proposals under European Urban Initiative: With indicative funding of €90 million, this call is looking for proposals related to energy transition and technology in cities (Deadline 02/10/2024).
• Urban Agenda for the EU call for partners: This programme is looking for partners around the themes of 'Water Sensitive City' and 'Building Decarbonisation' (Deadline 02/10/2024).
• New European Bauhaus Open Call 2025: EIT Urban Mobility invites applicants to submit proposals for funding which focus on new solutions to boost the transformation of cities, rural and peri-urban areas (Deadline 10/10/2024).
• Call 5 from Interreg North-West Europe: The programme has €287 million funding for projects that focus on transnational cooperation (Deadline 16/01/2025).
• Built4People Partnership call: Horizon Europe is looking for projects focusing on the adaptability, re-use and deconstruction of buildings in line with circular economy principles (Deadline 04/02/2025).
• Calls for proposals under the LIFE Programme: A variety of funding opportunities relating to nature, the environment and climate action are ongoing.

Upcoming seminars and events

Many European funding programmes run information sessions to help guide applicants through the proposal process.

All the programmes are different and requirements can vary, so it is a good idea to attend these events to ensure that your proposal fits the relevant criteria.

• 06/09/2024 – Erasmus+ KA220 Youth – Application Webinar for Cooperation Partnerships
• 16/09/2024 - Information day: Towards networked Local Digital Twins in the EU
• 23/09/2024 – Erasmus+ KA2 Application Support Q&A for 1st October Deadline
• 29/09/2024 - Q&A session for Third Call for Innovative Actions Proposals under European Urban Initiative
• 1-3/10/2024 – Civitas Forum 2024
• 5-6/11/2024 - Interreg North-West Europe Annual Event