Deadline: 23-Sep-2026
The European Commission is inviting grant applications to support research on how governments are transforming public administration systems and preparing civil services for future challenges.
The initiative focuses on governance innovation, digital transformation, civil service reform, crisis preparedness, and future-oriented policymaking in response to technological disruption, global crises, and declining public trust.
Focus Areas
The call supports research related to:
- Agile leadership
- Anticipatory governance
- Crisis preparedness
- Digital transformation
- Artificial intelligence and automation
- Open government
- Democratic participation
- Strategic communication
- Public service innovation
- Citizen participation
- Evidence-informed policymaking
- Systems thinking and experimentation
- Civil service reform
- Upskilling and reskilling
- Institutional and organizational development
The programme also prioritises:
- Future-oriented human resource policies
- Stakeholder engagement
- Administrative innovation
- Governance resilience
Funding Support
Total budget available:
- €8 million
Funding per project:
- Between €3.5 million and €4 million
The programme supports large-scale governance and policy research projects.
Why This Initiative Matters
The initiative responds to:
- Technological disruption
- Governance challenges during crises
- Declining public trust
- Rapid changes in public administration systems
The programme aims to:
- Improve government resilience
- Strengthen public administration systems
- Support innovation in policymaking
- Enhance governance effectiveness
- Prepare civil services for future challenges
Research Priorities
Projects are encouraged to:
- Analyse governance transformation trends
- Document innovative public administration practices
- Study digital and AI-driven reforms
- Explore civil servant experiences and expectations
- Examine lessons from administrative innovation
- Develop policy recommendations and training tools
The initiative also promotes:
- Peer learning between governments
- International collaboration
- Knowledge exchange networks
- Development of MOOCs and training resources for public officials
Who Can Apply?
Eligible applicants include:
- Universities and research institutions
- Public sector organisations
- International organisations
- Civil society organisations
- Public and private legal entities
- Entities from non-associated third countries
Applicants must be:
- Established under national, EU, or international law
Expected Outcomes
The programme aims to achieve:
- Improved understanding of governance transformation
- Stronger cooperation between administrations
- Better policy recommendations
- Dissemination of good governance practices
- Enhanced innovation in public administration
- Capacity-building resources for civil servants
How to Apply
Applicants should:
- Develop a governance-focused research proposal
- Include comparative or international perspectives
- Demonstrate policy relevance and innovation potential
- Engage stakeholders and public administration actors
- Submit the application according to programme guidelines
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should avoid:
- Weak stakeholder engagement strategies
- Limited governance relevance
- Insufficient focus on innovation and reform
- Ignoring civil servant perspectives
- Unclear implementation and dissemination plans
FAQ
- What is the total budget available?
- The total budget for the call is €8 million.
- How much funding can projects receive?
- Individual projects may receive between €3.5 million and €4 million.
- What themes does the programme support?
- Governance transformation, digital government, civil service reform, AI, crisis preparedness, and public administration innovation.
- Who can apply?
- Any legal entity established under national, EU, or international law, including international organisations and entities from non-associated third countries.
- Does the programme support training resources?
- Yes, the development of training materials and MOOCs for public officials is encouraged.
Conclusion
The European Commission initiative supports research and innovation aimed at transforming governance systems and strengthening future-ready civil services. Through interdisciplinary research, policy development, and knowledge exchange, the programme seeks to improve resilience, innovation, and effectiveness in public administration across Europe and beyond.
For more information, visit European Commission.