Deadline: 23-Sep-2026
The European Commission is supporting research projects focused on reducing child poverty and improving disadvantaged children’s access to quality Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) in the European Union.
The initiative is part of the Horizon Europe Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society 2026 work programme.
Programme Objectives
The call aims to:
- Improve understanding of child poverty in the EU
- Strengthen access to quality ECEC services
- Reduce participation gaps for disadvantaged children
- Support inclusive social and economic development
- Improve long-term educational and wellbeing outcomes
- Provide evidence-based policy recommendations
Key Focus Areas
Projects may focus on:
- Economic and social costs of child poverty
- Long-term benefits of quality ECEC
- Barriers preventing access to ECEC services
- Inclusive and sustainable social policies
- Participation gaps among disadvantaged children
- Poverty and social exclusion beyond income measures
- Impacts on children, parents, education, and wellbeing
- Scalable good practices across EU countries
Research Priorities
The programme encourages:
- Multidisciplinary research approaches
- Social sciences and humanities methodologies
- Use of qualitative and quantitative research
- Collection of new data and use of existing datasets
- Participation of vulnerable children and parents in research design
- Evidence-based operational policy advice for policymakers
Funding Information
- Total indicative budget: EUR 12 million
- Expected project funding: EUR 3–4 million
- Funding type: Research and Innovation Action (RIA)
- Grant model: Lump sum funding
Timeline
- Call opening date: 12 May 2026
- Submission deadline: 23 September 2026
Eligibility Criteria
Eligible participants include:
- Any legal entity worldwide
- EU and non-EU organisations
- International organisations
- Research institutions and universities
- NGOs and policy organisations
Applicants must:
- Meet Horizon Europe eligibility conditions
- Register in the Participant Register
- Obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) before grant agreement stage
Why This Initiative Matters
Child poverty has long-term impacts on education, wellbeing, economic participation, and social inclusion. This initiative helps policymakers better understand these impacts and identify effective, scalable ECEC solutions that improve opportunities for disadvantaged children across Europe.
Expected Outcomes
The programme aims to:
- Improve EU policymaking on child poverty and ECEC
- Generate updated EU-specific evidence and data
- Identify efficient and scalable social policies
- Strengthen inclusion and equal access to education
- Improve social and economic outcomes for vulnerable children
Who Should Apply
- Universities and research institutions
- Policy research centres and think tanks
- Child rights and education NGOs
- Social policy organisations
- Multidisciplinary research consortia
- Public policy and welfare experts
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using outdated or non-EU-specific evidence only
- Weak multidisciplinary research design
- Limited focus on disadvantaged or marginalised groups
- Lack of policy relevance or scalability
- Excluding lived-experience perspectives from project design
- Incomplete PIC registration requirements
Key Terms
- ECEC (Early Childhood Education and Care): Education and care services for young children before primary school
- Child poverty: Economic and social deprivation affecting children’s wellbeing and development
- Social exclusion: Lack of participation in social, economic, or educational opportunities
- Research and Innovation Action (RIA): Horizon Europe funding scheme supporting collaborative research projects
- PIC (Participant Identification Code): Registration number required for Horizon Europe participation
FAQ
- What is this Horizon Europe call about?
- It funds research on child poverty and access to quality early childhood education in the EU
- How much funding is available?
- Total budget is EUR 12 million
- Projects may receive EUR 3–4 million each
- What research areas are supported?
- Child poverty, ECEC access, social inclusion, policy evaluation, and educational outcomes
- Who can apply?
- Any eligible legal entity, including international organisations and non-EU participants
- What type of methods are encouraged?
- Multidisciplinary qualitative and quantitative research approaches
- What is the application deadline?
- 23 September 2026
Conclusion
The Horizon Europe child poverty and ECEC call supports research that improves evidence-based policymaking for disadvantaged children across Europe. By strengthening understanding of poverty, inclusion, and quality education access, the programme aims to support long-term social and economic wellbeing for vulnerable children and families.
For more information, visit European Commission.