Education Call for Proposals 2026

Smart Workforces: Upskilling and Reskilling for Digital Transformation

Scope of the call

Proposals should equip the European manufacturing workforce with future-ready digital skills, supporting the industry’s transition towards smart manufacturing, including connected and automated production systems. Learning programmes should focus on practical applications, ensuring that participants gain hands-on experience in deploying and optimising digital technologies for manufacturing operations.   

To enhance European industrial competitiveness and resilience, training should promote cross-disciplinary collaboration, fostering a workforce that is technically proficient, innovation-driven, and capable of leading digital transformation within their organizations.  

Proposals are expected to cover skills and competencies in at least one of the following areas:    

• Industrial AI, Data Analytics & Digital Twins    

• Automation, Robotics & Human-Machine Collaboration    

• The Industrial Metaverse & Immersive Technologies    

• Industrial IoT, Connectivity & Smart Factories    

• Digital Sustainability & Smart Resource Management    

• Cybersecurity for Smart Manufacturing    

• Digital Innovation and Change Management    

Who can apply?

The call is open to legal entities forming a consortium, including at least 3 independent entities established in countries covering at least two different EIT Manufacturing regions (check our geographical coverage here In your country – EIT Manufacturing).  

To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the Member States (including Overseas Countries and Territories, OCTs) or Associated Countries to Horizon Europe, as well as low- and middle-income countries (check the list here). 

Legal entities established in different countries can participate as consortia members, but they are requested to cover their expenditures with resources different from EIT funding. 

The participants in the consortium must cover, at least, the following roles: 

• 1 Lead Partner, in charge of coordinating the consortium and being the direct contact for EIT Manufacturing  

• 1 Manufacturing Industry Stakeholder, supporting market analysis by identifying relevant skills development needs in smart manufacturing, participating in training pilots aligned with industry requirements, and contributing to the assessment and continuous improvement of the training programme to enhance scalability and real-world impact  

• 1 Business Owner, in charge of the commercialisation of the learning programmes resulting from the project established as a Legal Entity in a Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country  

Duration and funding

Applicants are invited to present project proposals covering a duration of 18 months. The maximum funding per project is EUR 300 000. The EIT funding can cover up to 100% of the total eligible expenditures. 

Expected results and financial sustainability

The education and training activities supported under this call are expected to reach a minimum of 300 participants in non-labelled programmes, of which at least 30% should be citizens of EIT RIS countries. Additionally, the activities must result in at least 200 graduates from EIT-labelled programmes, with a minimum of 30% also holding citizenship from EIT RIS countries.  

To ensure continued support to consortia, in particular their business owners, in their effort to commercialise the learning programmes resulting from their funded activities, EIT Manufacturing set up a Services Agreement framework. This framework will also allow EIT Manufacturing to gradually become financially independent from EIT funding and secure its ability to continue supporting European manufacturing organisations in the long term, with the goal of bringing innovation to the European market, reinforcing competitiveness, creating jobs and developing appropriate skills for students and professionals.    

As part of the service agreement, Business Owners of selected projects must commit to the marketing, commercialisation, and delivery of the full learning programme—covering both synchronous and asynchronous modules—at least once per year for a minimum of two years after the project concludes. Additional cohorts or sessions beyond what is included in the original programme may be delivered upon mutual agreement by the parties involved.  

A revenue-sharing mechanism will apply based on who commercialises the programme:  

• If sold by EIT Manufacturing, 50% of the revenues will be retained by EIT Manufacturing.  
• If sold by the Business Owner, at least 20% of the revenues must be allocated to EIT Manufacturing.  

Regional Innovation Scheme (RIS) path

EIT Manufacturing aims to boost the innovation capacity of EIT RIS countries, widening the participation of such countries in the KIC’s activities. To support this goal, at least 15% (TBC) of the total budget of this call will be specifically allocated to proposals that align with the RIS mission and objectives.  

To be considered aligned to the RIS mission, proposals must indicate their alignment in the application form and demonstrate their contribution to enhancing the innovation capacity of EIT RIS countries. For proposals aligned to the RIS mission, the role of the Business Owner and at least one of the Manufacturing Company, Association or Cluster/Network should be taken by organisations based in EIT RIS countries. 

Call guidelines’ publication: 

The exact date will be confirmed and communicated in the coming weeks 

Proposal submission opening: 

The exact date will be confirmed and communicated in the coming weeks 

Call closing: 

The exact date will be confirmed and communicated in the coming weeks 

Indicative projects start date: 

March 2026 

Available funding: 

Up to EUR 3 000 000 (TBC) 

This call aims to provide support to consortia in developing and implementing new lifelong learning programmes designed to enhance upskilling and reskilling within the manufacturing industry, with a specific focus on the 7 areas: Industrial AI, Data Analytics & Digital Twins, Automation, Robotics & Human-Machine Collaboration, The Industrial Metaverse & Immersive Technologies, Industrial IoT, Connectivity & Smart Factories, Digital Sustainability & Smart Resource Management, Cybersecurity for Smart Manufacturing, Digital Innovation and Change Management.