The EMERGE European University Alliance invites students, staff, and external partners to take part in the 2026 Collaborative Call, an initiative designed to support ideas that respond to real needs in local communities while strengthening cooperation across the Alliance.This call creates a direct link between academic environments and society.
It encourages participants to move beyond discussion and develop concrete initiatives that address challenges related to sustainability, inclusion, resilience, solidarity, and multilingual and multicultural engagement. These values form the foundation of EMERGE and guide its work across nine universities in Europe.
Selected projects will receive funding of up to €5,000, along with institutional support, visibility, and access to EMERGE resources such as hubs, student ambassadors, and communication channels.
A collaborative approach to local impact
At the centre of the call is collaboration. Each proposal must bring together at least one EMERGE university participant and one external partner. This requirement ensures that ideas are grounded in real contexts and respond to actual community needs.
Projects can take different forms. Teams might design workshops, organise events, develop tools, or launch campaigns. What matters is relevance and impact. For example, a university department could work with a local NGO to create an inclusion-focused training programme. A student group could partner with a municipality to develop a sustainability awareness campaign. These initiatives strengthen ties between universities and their surrounding regions while reinforcing EMERGE’s role as a driver of societal engagement.
What kind of ideas are expected
The call remains open in scope, but proposals must align with at least one EMERGE value.
- Sustainability projects should promote responsible use of resources and long-term thinking.
- Inclusion-focused initiatives should ensure equal access and meaningful participation, especially for underrepresented groups.
- Resilience-oriented ideas should support communities in adapting to social, economic, or environmental challenges.
- Projects related to multilingualism and cultural diversity should foster participation across languages and cultures while supporting European values.
- Solidarity-driven actions should strengthen cooperation and ensure that diverse perspectives are recognised and valued.
- Projects that involve or are led by marginalised groups receive additional consideration through adapted support measures to ensure equal participation.
What Support Is Available?
EMERGE does not just offer funding, it provides a full ecosystem of support to help winning initiatives succeed and scale. Selected projects may access:
- Up to €5,000 in funding (distributed based on need; no fixed amount is guaranteed)
- Access to EMERGE Hubs — physical spaces for collaboration and community engagement at each partner campus
- Digital tools and meeting rooms
- Support from the EMERGE Student Ambassador Force
- Technical and human support (communications, marketing, research, outreach, and more)
- Visibility and dissemination support through EMERGE’s website, social media channels, and partner networks
- Networking opportunities across the nine EMERGE institutions and beyond
Beyond the initial implementation period, successful initiatives may be scaled across EMERGE partner institutions, giving your project the potential to inspire and benefit communities far beyond your own campus.
How to Apply?
Proposals are submitted using the standard EMERGE Collaborative Projects template, which covers six key sections:
- Section 1 – General information: Who is involved, and what are the key contact details?
- Section 2 – Proposal summary: What is your initiative, and why does it matter? (max. 350 words)
- Section 3 – Challenges, objectives, and activities: What problem are you addressing, and how?
- Section 4 – Expected results and impact: What will you create, and who will benefit?
- Section 5 – Budget and resources: What support do you need?
- Section 6 – Follow-up and recognition: How will you share your results?
The proposal template is available for download from your institution’s EMERGE contact page. Completed proposals should be submitted to the EMERGE coordinator at your institution. Contact details are listed below.
Key Dates
The application process is structured but accessible. Participants are asked to define their concept, identify the challenge they want to address, outline objectives and activities, and explain the expected impact.
March 2026 | Call opens — application period begins
June 2026 | Deadline for proposal submission
July–August 2026 | First round of evaluation
September 2026 | Second round of evaluation
September/October 2026 | Winners notified and funding awarded
October 2026 – October 2027 | Implementation of winning initiatives
October 2027 – October 2028 | Scaling successful initiatives across all EMERGE partner institutions
How Are Proposals Evaluated?
Proposals will be reviewed by a committee of 5–7 representatives, including students, staff, and one external partner, drawn from across the EMERGE Alliance. The committee will assess proposals against published evaluation criteria covering impact, alignment with EMERGE values, feasibility, collaborative dimension, and potential for scalability across other institutions.
Up to five winning projects will be selected and supported through the implementation period and, where relevant, scaled to partner institutions.
Find Out More and Get Involved
The EMERGE Collaborative Call is open to students, staff, and external partners across all member universities. If you have an idea that responds to a real challenge in your community, this is the moment to develop it into a concrete initiative with European reach.
Start by connecting with colleagues, student groups, or local organisations. Define a clear challenge, build a small but committed team, and align your idea with EMERGE values.
For detailed guidelines, application forms, and institutional support contacts, visit your university’s EMERGE webpage or contact your local EMERGE team.
Ideas that begin locally have the potential to scale across Europe. This call provides the structure, support, and visibility to make that happen.