The EU-CONEXUS Enables aims to promote high-quality, interdisciplinary research aligned with Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability (SmUCS) and Digital Twin technologies.

Cooperation is expected at all stages of the research process — from project conception and data collection to analysis, dissemination, and publication. This joint approach strengthens long-term scientific collaboration within the EU-CONEXUS Alliance and supports the development of future research initiatives beyond the programme.

The programme follows the principles of the Horizon Europe “Widening Participation” scheme, which aims to build research capacity within widening institutions through collaboration with more experienced partners.

Each selected post-doctoral researcher will be guided by two academic mentors:

• one from their home (widening) university, and
• one from a host (non-widening) university.

Participants will receive a research grant of up to €20,000, administered by their home university, to support project activities and mobility.

The project duration is 12 months, including a mandatory three-month mobility period at the non-widening partner institution. This mobility can take place at any point during the project and may be completed in one continuous stay or several shorter visits.

The EU-CONEXUS Enables Post-Doctoral Research Programme supports research that contributes to the Smart Urban Coastal Sustainability (SmUCS) framework — advancing solutions to the environmental, technological, and societal challenges faced by coastal regions through Digital Twin technologies and digital innovation.

Projects are encouraged to build on the achievements and collaborative directions established during the first reporting period of EU-CONEXUS Enables, particularly the multidisciplinary challenges identified in Knowledge Transfer Framework and the Priority Research Topics.

To ensure fair and transparent access to the programme, both applicants and mentors must meet the following eligibility criteria:

Applicants

• Must hold a PhD degree awarded after 1 January 2018.
• Must be employed by or affiliated with one of the EU-CONEXUS Enables widening partner universities:
  Agricultural University of Athens, Frederick University, Klaipeda University, University of Zadar, Technical University of Civil Engineering Bucharest

Mentors

Each project must involve two academic mentors:

• One mentor from the applicant’s widening home university, and
• One mentor from a non-widening host university.

Host Institutions

Non-widening partner universities — La Rochelle Université, South East Technological University, Catholic University of Valencia, University of Rostock — must agree to provide:

• appropriate research facilities,
• workspace, and
• academic mentorship during the mobility period.

Applications must be jointly prepared and submitted by the widening applicant with the agreement of both mentors (widening and non-widening).

Applicants are responsible for securing all necessary institutional approvals (e.g., departmental or research office clearance) prior to submission.

The total duration of the post-doctoral programme is 12 months, with projects expected to begin between February and March 2026.

Mobility

• Each post-doctoral researcher must complete a minimum of three months of mobility at a non-widening host institution.
• This period may be undertaken as one continuous stay or divided into shorter visits, depending on the needs of the project.
• Mobility may be scheduled at any time within the 12-month project period, provided it is completed before the end of the fellowship.
• A Post-Doctoral Mobility Agreement will be signed between the widening and non-widening partner universities. This agreement will define:
• The working language of the project may be English or another language agreed upon by the research team.

Each funded project is expected to deliver meaningful scientific outputs and contribute to the visibility of research within the EU-CONEXUS Alliance. The main expected outcomes include:

• Scientific Dissemination
  Participation in at least one conference or the production of a joint scientific publication (submitted or accepted), for example in the CoReS journal.
• Final Project Report
  A concise final report (5–10 pages) summarising the project’s objectives, activities, findings, and outputs, to be submitted within one month after project completion.
• Presentation of Results
  Delivery of a project presentation at an EU-CONEXUS and / or EU-CONEXUS Enables event, such as a Summer School, Workshop, or Conference.
• Academic Contribution
  Post-doctoral researchers are also encouraged to contribute to the academic community through activities such as participation in local research seminars, involvement in workshops, or mentoring PhD students.

All expenses must be directly linked to the implementation of the research plan and must be fully justified with supporting documents in line with the financial rules of the researcher’s widening university. 

The final financial report, along with all supporting documentation, will be prepared by the widening university and incorporated into the overall EU-CONEXUS Enables financial reporting to the European Commission.