1. General Overview

Erasmus+ is the European Union's programme for education, training, youth and sport for the 2021-2027 period. It aims to promote cooperation between organisations, foster innovation, support mobility, and improve the quality and inclusiveness of education and training systems across Europe.

One of its key pillars is Key Action 2 (KA2), which supports cooperation among organisations and institutions to develop innovative practices, reinforce capacities and achieve systemic impact at European level.

2. Focus Area: KA2 - Partnerships for Innovation

Within KA2, the strand Partnerships for Innovation is particularly relevant. These projects aim to strengthen Europe's innovation capacity by fostering collaboration between education, training and business sectors, and by developing solutions that can be adopted at scale.

A central instrument within this strand is:

Alliances for Innovation

• Designed to reinforce Europe's ability to respond to emerging skills needs and to stimulate innovation in education, training and industry.

• They bring together higher education institutions, VET providers, companies (including SMEs and social enterprises), research organisations, public bodies, and other stakeholders.

• Objectives include designing new or updated curricula, fostering entrepreneurial and innovative mindsets, supporting the digital and green transitions, and facilitating knowledge transfer between academia and industry.

• Activities may include curriculum development, skills mapping, testing innovative learning methods, establishing communities of practice, and supporting innovation ecosystems.

• Mobility activities may be included when they directly support the project's objectives.

There are two Lots within Alliances for Innovation:

• Lot 1: Alliances for Education and Enterprises
  Focuses on cooperation between education (HE/VET) and the labour market to foster innovation, entrepreneurship and curriculum development.

• Lot 2: Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills ("Blueprint")
  Supports large-scale strategic cooperation to address skills needs in specific sectors important for Europe's competitiveness.

In order to be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant, project proposals for Lot 1: Alliances for Education and Enterprises must comply with the following criteria:

Eligible participating organisations (Who can apply?)

The applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities, if applicable) must be: public or private organisations established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme, such as higher education institutions, VET providers, networks of VET providers, small and medium-sized or large enterprises (including social enterprises), research institutes, non-governmental organisations, public bodies at local, regional or national level, organisations active in education, training and youth, intermediaries that represent education, training or youth organisations or enterprises, accreditation, certification, recognition or qualification bodies, chambers of commerce, industry or labour, chambers of skilled crafts, European or national social partners, hospitals or other care institutions, including long-term care, authorities responsible for education, training or employment at regional or national level, employment services, national statistics offices, economic development agencies, sectoral or professional associations, sector skills councils and bodies providing career guidance, professional counselling, information services and employment services.

Organisations from third countries not associated to the Programme in Regions 1 to 3 may also participate as beneficiaries, affiliated entities or associated partners, but not as coordinator. Organisations from other third countries not associated to the Programme can only participate as associated partners.

Exception: organisations from Belarus (Region 2)are not eligible to participate in this action.

Higher education institutions established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme must hold a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE). An ECHE is not required for participating HEIs in third countries not associated to the Programme.

Consortium composition (Number and profile of participating organisations)

Alliances for Education and Enterprises must cover at least 4 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme, involving a minimum of 8 applicants (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities). The consortium must include at least 3 labour market actors (enterprises or companies, or representative intermediary organisations, such as chambers, trade unions or trade associations) and at least 3 education and training providers (VET and HEIs), as applicants (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities). There should be at least one HE institution and one VET provider involved as applicants (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities) in each proposal.

Affiliated entities and associated partners do not count towards the minimum eligibility criteria for the consortium composition and cannot be coordinators.

Duration of the project

Projects should normally last 24 or 36 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment). The duration has to be chosen at application stage, based on the objective of the project and on the type of activities planned over time.

Where to apply?

To the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Call ID Lot 1: ERASMUS-EDU-2025-PI-ALL-INNO-EDU-ENTERP

In order to be eligible for an Erasmus+ grant, project proposals for Lot 2: Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (implementing the "Blueprint") must comply with the following criteria:

Eligible participating organisations (Who can apply?)

The applicants (beneficiaries and affiliated entities, if applicable) must be:

· Registered members of the Pact for Skills359

· Public or private organisations legally established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the programme.

Organisations from third countries not associated to the Programme may also participate but only as associated partners. Higher education institutions established in an EU Member State or third country associated to the Programme must hold a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE).

Consortium composition (Number and profile of participating organisation)

Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (Blueprint) must cover at least 8 EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme and involve at least 12 applicants (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities). The consortium must include at least 5 labour market actors (enterprises or companies, or representative intermediary organisations, such as chambers, trade unions or trade associations) and at least 5 education and training providers (VET and HEIs) as applicants (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities). There should be at least one HE institution and one VET provider involved as applicants (beneficiaries, not affiliated entities) in each proposal.

Affiliated entities and associated partners do not count towards the minimum eligibility criteria for the consortium composition and cannot be coordinator

Duration of the Project

Projects should normally last 48 months (extensions are possible, if duly justified and through an amendment of the grant agreement (GA))

Where to apply

To the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Call ID Lot 2: ERASMUS-EDU-2025-PI-ALL-INNO-BLUEPRINT

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