Open Call: Impact of Digital Tools on Educational Outcomes and Mental Health

Deadline: 23-Sep-2026

The European Commission has launched a Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action focused on understanding the impact of digital tools on young people in education systems. The program examines how smartphones, social media, gaming, and digital communication affect learning, mental health, attention, and motivation. The main aim is to generate strong, policy-relevant evidence to support better education strategies and digital governance.

Core Research Focus Areas

Projects should investigate multiple dimensions of digital technology use among students.

Digital technology and behavior

• Smartphone usage in educational contexts
  • In classrooms
  • During breaks
  • At home for learning or leisure
• Social media engagement patterns
• Gaming and online entertainment habits
• Multitasking and digital communication behavior

Educational outcomes

• Academic performance
• Attention span and focus levels
• Student motivation and engagement
• Classroom participation and learning efficiency

Mental health and well-being

• Stress and anxiety linked to digital use
• Digital dependency and addiction risks
• Sleep disruption and fatigue
• Social isolation and emotional effects

Digital benefits and skills development

• Digital literacy improvement
• Creativity enhancement
• Problem-solving and cognitive skills
• Educational technology benefits

Policy Context and Rationale

Many countries are introducing or considering policies on smartphone use in schools and digital well-being guidelines. However, there is still limited scientific evidence on how digital tools actually affect education outcomes and mental health in European systems. This call aims to fill that gap by producing robust, comparative, and actionable evidence.

What the Program Expects from Projects

Evidence-based research

• Use mixed methods approaches
  • Quantitative methods (surveys, data analysis, experiments)
  • Qualitative methods (interviews, focus groups, case studies)

Interdisciplinary approach

• Education science
• Psychology and mental health studies
• Sociology and media studies
• Digital technology and learning sciences

Policy relevance

• Evidence for education policy reform
• Practical recommendations for schools
• Inputs for digital regulation and governance

Stakeholder involvement

• Students
• Teachers and school administrators
• Parents and caregivers
• Media literacy organizations
• Inclusion of students with disabilities

Funding Details

• Program type: Horizon Research and Innovation Action (RIA)
• Topic ID: HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-04
• Total budget: 12 million euros
• Project funding range: 3–4 million euros per project
• Submission format: Single-stage application
• Opening date: 12 May 2026
• Deadline: 23 September 2026

Who is Eligible

• Academic and research institutions
• Universities and higher education bodies
• Private companies and SMEs
• Non-governmental organizations
• Public sector organizations and education authorities
• International organizations

Additional eligibility rules

• Any legal entity worldwide may apply
• Non-associated third countries are eligible under conditions
• Affiliated entities and associated partners may participate

Key Research Objectives

• Understand how students use digital tools in daily life
• Analyze impact on learning, attention, and academic outcomes
• Identify risks such as distraction, overuse, and addiction
• Assess benefits such as creativity and digital skills
• Study roles of parents and educators in guiding usage
• Develop evidence-based policy recommendations

How to Apply or How It Works

Step 1: Understand the call

• Review Horizon Europe RIA requirements
• Align proposal with topic HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-04

Step 2: Build consortium

• Include interdisciplinary partners
• Engage education and policy stakeholders
• Ensure geographic and demographic diversity

Step 3: Design methodology

• Combine quantitative and qualitative research
• Include real-world school and home contexts
• Ensure inclusivity (including students with disabilities)

Step 4: Define impact

• Educational improvement outcomes
• Mental health insights
• Policy relevance and applicability

Step 5: Submit application

• Use Horizon Europe submission portal
• Single-stage submission process
• Deadline: 23 September 2026

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Lack of educational context in research design
• Weak interdisciplinary collaboration
• Limited stakeholder engagement
• No clear policy application
• Overly theoretical approach without real-world data
• Ignoring inclusion and accessibility considerations

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the main objective of this call
  • To study how digital tools affect young people’s
    • Education outcomes
    • Mental health
    • Well-being and behavior
• What funding is available
  • Total budget: 12 million euros
  • Per project funding: 3–4 million euros
• Who can apply
  • Eligible applicants include
    • Universities and research institutions
    • Companies and SMEs
    • NGOs and non-profits
    • Public sector bodies
    • International organizations
  • Open to global participation under Horizon Europe rules
• What is the deadline
  • Submission deadline: 23 September 2026
• What methods are expected
  • Mixed-method approach including
    • Quantitative research
      • Surveys
      • Experiments
    • Qualitative research
      • Interviews
      • Case studies
• Is stakeholder involvement required
  • Yes, strongly encouraged
  • Must include
    • Students
    • Teachers
    • Parents
    • Education experts
• What makes a strong proposal
  • Key features include
    • Interdisciplinary research design
    • Strong policy relevance
    • Evidence-based methodology
    • Inclusion of real-world education stakeholders

Conclusion

This Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Action provides a major funding opportunity to generate high-quality evidence on how digital technologies influence education and youth well-being. The results are expected to support better policies, healthier digital environments, and improved learning outcomes across Europe and beyond.

For more information, visit European Commission.