EIT STEM Tech Talent Induction Call: Building Future-Ready STEM Talent

The project running this call: 26-28 EntrEduSkills

Cross-KIC EIT Entrepreneurial Education and Skills 2026-2028

The EIT Cross KIC Entrepreneurial Education and Skills Cluster (EntrEduSkills) joins together 8 Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs) to develop a comprehensive, unique, cross sectoral education offer that directly implements the Union of Skills and STEM Strategic Education Plan. At scale, these initiatives will train over 700,000 learners in digital, green, and entrepreneurial skills. They will engage 100,000 girls in secondary education to promote gender equity in STEM, while supporting 20,000 professionals, educators, start-up founders, and VET learners with flexible, modular learning content through the EIT Campus. Portable skill badges and microcredentials ensure recognition across sectors and borders. The EntrEduSkills connects learning to practice by offering internships opportunities in start ups and scale ups. By building bridges between education and industry, aligning…

Official project record ↗

Who runs it: the consortium

12 organisations in the project. The coordinator usually manages the open call and its evaluation.

• EIT Raw Materials GmbH · GermanyCoordinator
• KIC Innoenergy Iberia SL · SpainPartner
• EIT Culture and Creativity South West SL · SpainPartner
• Stichting Climate-Kic International Foundation · NetherlandsPartner
• EIT Culture & Creativity GmbH · GermanyPartner
• EIT Food Clc Central GmbH · GermanyPartner
• EIT Health eV · GermanyPartner
• EIT Digital Alumni · BelgiumPartner
• EIT KIC Urban Mobility SL · Spain · SMEPartner
• EIT Food · BelgiumPartner
• 28digital · Belgium · SMEPartner
• KIC Innoenergy SE · NetherlandsPartner

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Cascade funding: what to know before you apply

What is cascade funding?

Cascade funding (also called financial support to third parties) is money the European Commission gives to an EU-funded project, which the project then passes on to startups, SMEs, researchers or other organisations through its own open calls. You apply to the project, not to the Commission, and the project's own call rules apply.

Who can apply?

Each call sets its own eligibility in its call document: usually organisations established in an EU member state or a Horizon Europe associated country, often startups and SMEs. Check the call's eligibility section and the official guide before you apply.

Do I need a consortium?

Most cascade calls accept single applicants, which makes them one of the easiest ways into EU funding. Some calls ask for small teams; the call document says which.

How large are the grants?

Typically tens of thousands of euros per applicant and rarely more than €200,000, because the EU rules for financial support to third parties keep amounts per recipient modest. The exact maximum is in each call.

Can I combine it with other EU funding?

Yes, as long as the same costs are not funded twice. Many startups use a cascade grant to build evidence before applying to larger programmes such as the EIC Accelerator.

Cascade funding in the glossary · All open cascade calls