ERA Fellowships

ERA Fellowships support excellent researchers to undertake cross-border mobility by providing fellowships in 'Widening' countries of the EU and Horizon Europe Associated Countries. The programme aims to enhance research and transferable skills, foster international and interdisciplinary experiences, and increase research and innovation impact for participating fellows and organizations. Training activities include fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, research integrity, and Open Science practices. The fellowship encourages placements in the non-academic sector and establishes a Career Development Plan for each fellow.

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Agency	HORIZON (EU)
Region	EU
Country	N/A
Legal form	Company, NGO, Government organization, Other
Start date	9 Apr 2026
End date	9 Sep 2026
Max funding	100,000 EUR – 500,000 EUR per grant
Budget	8,000,000 EUR (2026 call), expected to fund 50 projects
Coverage	Budget and coverage may vary per project and must cover eligible activities as defined under Horizon Europe rules.

Grant application conditions

Admissibility	Proposal page limits and layout must follow Annex A and E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes and the Application Form instructions in the Submission System.
Eligible Countries and Host Institution Location	Host organisation must be located in a Widening country as described in Annex B of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes. ERA Fellowships must take place in a Widening country.
Applicant Eligibility	Open to researchers of any nationality wishing to conduct R&I projects either by moving to the EU from any country worldwide or moving within the EU to a Widening country. Applications must be made jointly by the researcher and a legal entity in the academic or non-academic sector in a Widening country.
Secondment Options	Secondment phase of up to one third of the fellowship duration can occur in any country worldwide if aligned with the project objectives.
Non-Academic Placement	Optional placement of up to 6 months at the end of the fellowship in a non-academic sector organisation established in an EU Member State or Horizon Europe Associated Country. This must be included in the proposal and justified as to added value.
Career Development Plan	A Career Development Plan must be established at the start of the fellowship as a deliverable, jointly between the fellow and supervisor, outlining research, training, and career needs.
Financial and Operational Capacity	Assessed according to Annex C of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Excluded countries for direct funding	A number of non-EU/Associated Countries are not automatically eligible except per explicit Horizon Europe Guide provisions.
Documentation	https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/portal/screen/opportunities/topic-details/HORIZON-WIDERA-2026-05-WIDENING-01

Eligible expenses

Evaluation criteria

Business exclusions

Reporting

Application process

Application requirements