Lot 2: Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills (implementing the ‘Blueprint')

Scope

The Alliances for Innovation programme (Lot 2) aims to strengthen Europe's innovation capacity by supporting cooperation and knowledge exchange among higher education, vocational education and training (VET), and the broader socio-economic environment. It focuses on developing new skills, addressing skill mismatches, and creating innovative curricula for higher education and VET, with an emphasis on digital competences and green skills to support the transition to a circular and greener economy. The initiative also prioritises the accelerated adoption of new technologies, especially in deep tech domains.

Objectives

This call focuses on:

• Alliances for Sectoral Cooperation on Skills

• Through large-scale partnerships, the initiative encourages stakeholders to collaborate on sectoral skills intelligence and long-term planning, supporting growth, innovation, and competitiveness.

• Focuses on developing transnational vocational education, training programmes, and emerging occupational profiles, ensuring that both VET and higher education institutions, alongside industry and policy bodies, are involved in shaping these initiatives for systemic impact across Europe.

The programme's objectives are to:

• Promote innovation through talent and skills development, particularly in digital and green sectors.

• Update educational curricula to meet emerging needs for green and digital skills.

• Address the skills gap, particularly for green and digital transitions.

• Create sector-specific or cross-sectoral alliances adaptable to future knowledge developments.

Eligibility

• Eligible countries:

• EU Member States and overseas countries and territories (OCTs)

• EFTA/EEA countries: Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway,

• EU candidate countries: the Republic of Türkiye, the Republic of North Macedonia and the Republic of Serbia.

• Organisations from Belarus are not eligible to participate.

Eligible organisations must be:

• Registered members of the Pact for Skills.

• Public or private organisations established in one of the eligible countries above, including:

• Higher education institutions

• VET providers and networks of VET providers

• Small and medium-sized or large enterprises (including social enterprises)

• Research institutes, NGOs, public bodies at local, regional, or national levels

• Organisations active in education, training, and youth

• Intermediaries representing education, training, or youth organisations

• Accreditation, certification, and qualification bodies

• Chambers of commerce, industry or labour, social partners, and other relevant organisations

• Hospitals and care institutions, including long-term care, employment services, and development agencies

• Sectoral or professional associations and bodies providing career guidance

• Organisations from third countries not associated with the Programme may participate but only as associated partners (not coordinators).

Consortium requirements:

• Include minimum of 8 EU Member States or associated countries.

• Include minimum of 12 applicants.

• Include at least 5 labour market actors and 5 education and training providers.

• At least one HE institution and one VET provider should be involved in each proposal.

• Proposals must address one of the 14 industrial ecosystems, see call document for specific details.

Funding

• Total funding: 62 000 000 EUR

Deadline

The deadline of this call for proposals is set to 6 March 2025 17:00, Brussels time.

See more detailed information here.