Funding Opportunity for Green and Digital Transition Competences

The European Commission is funding research and policy projects that strengthen skills for green and digital transitions across key EU sectors. The initiative supports studies on labour market needs, education reform, reskilling, and inclusive workforce development. Grants range from EUR 3 million to EUR 4 million per project under the Horizon Europe programme.

Overview of the Call

This European Commission funding call supports research and policy development aimed at improving skills systems for the green and digital transformation in Europe. It focuses on aligning education, training, and labour market needs to support climate neutrality and digital innovation.

The initiative emphasizes evidence-based policymaking, workforce preparedness, and inclusive access to skills development opportunities.

Key Objectives

The call is designed to strengthen the link between education systems, labour markets, and emerging transition needs.

Primary objectives include:

• Identifying skills required for green and digital transitions
• Supporting lifelong learning, reskilling, and upskilling systems
• Integrating digital and green competencies across sectors
• Strengthening vocational education and training (VET) systems
• Improving policy alignment between education and labour markets
• Enhancing collaboration between industry, policymakers, and education providers
• Promoting inclusive access to skills development opportunities

Focus Sectors

The initiative targets sectors critical to Europe’s sustainability and digital transformation.

Key sectors include:

• Sustainable agriculture and food systems
• Automotive industry and mobility transition
• Energy and renewable systems
• Construction and built environment
• Nature conservation and climate adaptation

Inclusion and Equity Focus

A strong emphasis is placed on inclusive workforce development and equitable access to opportunities.

The call prioritizes:

• Gender equality in skills development
• Inclusion of persons with disabilities
• Support for youth not in education, employment, or training (NEETs)
• Reduction of structural barriers to workforce participation
• Inclusive pathways for disadvantaged and underrepresented groups

Expected Outcomes

The initiative aims to generate actionable evidence to guide policy and education reforms.

Expected outcomes include:

• Improved understanding of future skills for carbon neutrality
• Evidence-based policy recommendations for education systems
• Better alignment between labour market needs and training programmes
• Enhanced integration of green and digital skills frameworks
• Data-driven insights into workforce transformation needs
• Strengthened cooperation between industry and training providers

Research Scope and Approach

The call encourages comprehensive and mixed-methods research approaches.

Key research areas include:

• Labour market analysis for green and digital transitions
• Skills forecasting and competence mapping
• Evaluation of lifelong learning systems
• Study of vocational education effectiveness
• Assessment of inclusion pathways for vulnerable groups
• Analysis of industry–education collaboration models

Methodological expectations:

• Use of quantitative and qualitative research methods
• Data-driven policy analysis
• Comparative and cross-sectoral studies
• Evidence generation for policymaking

Funding Details

The programme provides substantial support under Horizon Europe.

Funding structure:

• Grant range per project: EUR 3,000,000 – EUR 4,000,000
• Total indicative budget: EUR 12,000,000
• Funding type: Horizon Europe research and policy grant

Eligibility Criteria

The call is globally open, allowing participation from a wide range of organisations.

Eligible applicants include:

• Any legal entity established worldwide
• Organisations from EU Member States
• Entities from non-associated third countries
• International organisations

Conditions:

• Must comply with Horizon Europe participation rules
• Must meet specific call requirements and consortium standards

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the main goal of this call?
  • To support research and policy development that strengthens skills systems for green and digital transitions across key European sectors.
• What types of projects are funded?
  • Funded projects include:
    • Research on labour market and skills needs
    • Policy development for education and training systems
    • Studies on lifelong learning and reskilling systems
    • Inclusion-focused workforce research
• What is the funding amount per project?
  • Each project can receive:
    • EUR 3 million to EUR 4 million
  • Total programme budget is EUR 12 million
• Who can apply?
  • Eligible applicants include:
    • Universities and research institutions
    • NGOs and policy think tanks
    • International organisations
    • Any legal entity globally (subject to Horizon Europe rules)
• Which sectors are prioritized?
  • Key sectors include:
    • Energy, automotive, construction, agriculture, and climate adaptation
• What is the focus on inclusion?
  • The programme emphasizes:
    • Gender equality
    • Disability inclusion
    • Youth employment and NEET integration
    • Equal access to training opportunities

Conclusion

The European Commission’s Horizon Europe call on skills for green and digital transitions supports high-impact research to align education systems with evolving labour market needs. By focusing on inclusion, sustainability, and digital transformation, the initiative aims to equip Europe’s workforce with the competencies required for a climate-neutral and technologically advanced future.