EU-CONEXUS Enables is pleased to announce a new research funding call supporting international and interdisciplinary collaboration among early-career researchers. This initiative invites applications for Collaborative Research Grants, which aim to help young researchers take part in innovative, cross-disciplinary projects focused on Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability (SmUCS) and smart coastal urban systems.  

Key Information 

  • Eligibility: Early-career researchers seeking to form international, interdisciplinary research teams within the EU-CONEXUS alliance. This call is open exclusively to researchers employed by or affiliated with EU-CONEXUS universities located in “widening countries”. 
  • Thematic focus: Projects must align with the Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability (SmUCS) framework, combining academic excellence with practical relevance, stakeholder engagement, and societal impact.  
  • Funding scope: Grants support collaborative research infrastructure, joint supervision, mobility opportunities, and knowledge-exchange activities, fostering the development of new research ecosystems across partner universities. Grant: 20,000 Euros. 
  • Strategic goals: The call reinforces EU-CONEXUS’s commitment to open science, gender equality, researcher mobility, and fostering a highly interconnected research environment. 
  • Collaboration encouraged: Applicants are invited to build teams across multiple EU-CONEXUS partner institutions to maximise synergy and added value. 

Why This Opportunity Matters 

Early-career researchers often face challenges such as limited access to international networks, funding constraints, and barriers to establishing independent research pathways. This grant programme directly addresses these issues by enabling young researchers to forge international partnerships, enhance their competitiveness, and contribute to addressing pressing societal challenges in coastal and urban sustainability. Beyond supporting individual career development, the initiative also strengthens the overall research ecosystem of the EU-CONEXUS alliance. 

Call to Action 

Early-career researchers from EU-CONEXUS Enables partner universities are encouraged to form multidisciplinary teams, refine their research proposals, and submit applications by 5 January, 2026. 

For full details on eligibility, application procedures, and evaluation criteria, please visit here.


All activities are organised under the EU-funded project EU-CONEXUS ENABLES (Project number: 101136822), titled ‘Promoting Excellence Through Innovative Eco-systems‘.  

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.