Erasmus+ Alliances for Innovation improve Europe's innovation capacity through strategic cooperation of higher education, vocational education and training, and companies.

Ammatillisen koulutuksen opiskelija ja taustalla opettaja
Photo: Satu Haavisto

Aim

The objectives of Erasmus+ Alliances for Innovation are to

  • ensure the availability of competence needed in the world of work in the future
  • reduce the skills shortage by developing the curricula in higher education and vocational education and training (VET)
  • and to strengthen Europe’s innovation capacity by supporting the exchange of knowledge and entrepreneurial mindsets.

Alliances for Innovation focus especially on digital skills and fields that have been identified as strategically important for sustainable growth and competitiveness in Europe.

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What is funding available for?

Two types of projects are funded under Alliances for Innovation.

Lot 1: Alliances for Education and Enterprises

Alliances for Education and Enterprises promote cooperation between companies and both higher education and VET providers. They may focus on one or several economic sectors. Although at least one VET organisation and one higher education organisation must be involved in every partnership, the partnerships may address either both or only one of these educational fields.

The duration of Alliances for Education and Enterprises is 2 or 3 years, and the maximum grant amount is EUR 1–1.5 million.

Lot 2: Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills

Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills are aimed at creating new strategic approaches and cooperation to develop competence in certain fields that have been identified in the European Skills Agenda, or the Pact for Skills.

The duration of Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills is 4 years and the maximum grant amount is EUR 4 million.

Please note that in 2023 call only one proposal per ecosystem-based large-scale skills partnership can be selected for funding. At equal quality, a proposal covering an ecosystem that is not at all covered by an ongoing Blueprint Alliance will be assessed as more relevant than a proposal covering a part of an ecosystem where a Blueprint is already ongoing.

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Who can participate?

Organisations and countries which can participate in Alliances for Innovation are listed below. 

Alliances for Education and Enterprises

  • partners from at least four different EU member states or third countries associated to the Programme
  • a minimum of eight participating organisations, at least three of which must represent the world of work and three the education sector
  • at least one of the education and training organisations must be a higher education institution and at least one a VET provider
  • in addition, different organisations from Programme Countries as well as from third countries not associated to the Programme may participate in the projects

Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills

  • partners from at least eight different EU member states or third countries associated to the Programme
  • a minimum of 12 participating organisations, at least five of which must represent the world of work and five education and training organisations
  • at least one of the education and training organisations must be a higher education institution and at least one a VET provider
  • in addition, different organisations from Programme Countries as well as from third countries not associated to the Programme may participate in the projects
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Application forms and instructions

The application process is managed by the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) of the European Commission. The organisation coordinating the Alliance for Innovation sends the application to EACEA, which will assess and select the projects. 

Application deadline

The 2023 call for proposals ended on Thursday 3 May 2023 at 18.00 Finnish time (17.00 CET).

You will find application forms and instructions in the European Commission's application portal.

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Support for applicants

The Alliances for Innovation action is managed by the European Commission's Executive Agency EACEA, which also provides guidance to applicants. The Finnish National Agency for Education (EDUFI) communicates information on the action in Finland. We also provide guidance by email and over the phone. See our contact information at the bottom of the page!

Information on the guidance events for applicants organised by EACEA and EDUFI as well as materials are available on the event pages below. 

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Results of calls for proposals

Below is information on Alliances for Innovation that have received funding.

In EACEA's project database, Alliances for Innovation can be found in the Topic menu under the code ALL-INNO.

Finnish organisations in Alliances for Innovation
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Experiences

Participants’ experiences of Erasmus+ Alliances for Innovation projects.

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Contact us

EACEA Alliances for Innovation: EACEA-EPLUS-ALLIANCES [at] ec.europa.eu (EACEA-EPLUS-ALLIANCES[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)

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