Aurora's third open call from the European university network Aurora aims to connect scientists and higher education institutions across Europe. In addition to purely scientific projects, it now targets activities at the intersection of research and education. The total call budget has increased by nearly half to 240,000 euros. In the two previous rounds, seven projects involving UP received support; applications for this year's round can be submitted until April 17.
The third open call, Call for Incentive Research & Education Collaboration, from the Aurora alliance—which unites nine research-oriented European universities—responds to growing interest in international collaboration and the need for stronger integration of research and education. It supports the creation of new partnerships across the alliance and the development of activities with long-term impact, whether in science or education.
Emphasis on Linking Research and Teaching
A key novelty of this year's round is the opening of space for so-called "mixed incentive projects"—projects combining research and educational components. Aurora is responding to the current trend of strengthening research-based teaching and efforts to create international study opportunities closely tied to ongoing scientific activities.
Funding of up to 20,000 euros can continue to support both purely research projects and, newly, activities that connect academic teams and students, leading to the creation of future blended intensive programmes (BIP), micro-credentials, or joint programmes. A key criterion remains international collaboration involving at least three partner institutions from the Aurora alliance and alignment with its thematic priorities, such as sustainability, health, digital society, or social innovation.
Inspiration from Previous Rounds
In the calls from the previous two years, more than 90 high-quality projects were submitted in total, with sixteen receiving support. In 2024, UP was the coordinator of one project and participated as a partner in two others. Last year, four projects involving Palacký University succeeded. UP also contributed to organizing two summer schools and sent students on short-term internships.
Thematic Schools, Seminars, and Internships
In addition to research and combined projects, the call continues to support the organization of thematic summer or winter schools, for which up to 20,000 euros can be obtained. A new feature is intensive multi-day seminars, which can serve—thanks to funding of up to 10,000 euros—as a platform for meetings of academics and students, sharing know-how, and developing new project ideas. The third key activity of the call continues to target support for mobility for early-career researchers. Master's and PhD students, as well as postdocs, can receive funding for short-term internships of up to 3 months at one of the universities in the Aurora 2030 consortium.
How to Apply?
Complete information about the call, including details on project proposal requirements and the evaluation process, is available on Aurora's central website. The deadline for submitting proposals for the current call is April 17, 2026, at 12:00.