STEM Skills Foundries are international cooperation projects aiming to develop sectorial, transnational and sustainable partnerships between higher education institutions, enterprises, research centres, VET providers, NGOs etc. These projects foster innovative and multidisciplinary teaching and learning methods by allowing students entrepreneurs to gain insight into real business practices and providing mentorship tailored to their specific goals, needs and talents.
STEM Skills Foundries are focused on the fostering of innovation, shaping entrepreneurial mindsets, enabling student entrepreneurs access to laboratories, technical infrastructures and equipment, supporting the development of their intellectual property, and their master’s theses or business ideas, as well as facilitating access to venture capital in the strategic sectors identified in the Competitiveness Compass. The goal of these projects is to enhance innovation through cooperation among higher education and VET providers with labour market and entrepreneurial actors with a possible participation of venture capital funds, facilitated by Knowledge and Innovation Communities within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.
Who can participate in the project?
Higher education institutions (HEIs), VET providers, small and medium-sized or large enterprises, venture capital firms, research institutes, non-governmental organisations, public bodies at local, regional or national level, organisations active in education, training and youth, intermediaries that represent education, training or youth organisations or enterprises and other public or private organisations from EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme or third countries not associated to the Programme. It is important to note that only an organisation from an EU Member State or a third country associated to the Programme participating in the project can act as the applicant, i.e. the project coordinator, while organisations from third countries not associated to the Programme can only participate as associated partners. Organisations from Serbia can participate as both full project partners or project coordinators.
All higher education institutions from the EU Member States and third countries associated to the Programme participating in the project in the field of higher education must be holders of a valid Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE).
Is there a prescribed number of partner organisations in the project?
The consortium must consist of minimum 8 applicants from at least 4 different EU Member States or third countries associated to the Programme, among which at least 3 labour market actors (enterprises, companies, venture capital firms or representative intermediary organisations, such as chambers, trade unions or trade associations) and at least 3 education and training providers (VET and HEIs) need to be included, as well as at least one higher education institution and at least one VET provider.
What is the duration of these projects?
STEM Skills Foundries last 24 months (2 years).
Where to apply?
To the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) in Brussels.
What is the deadline for the submission of the project applications?
Information on the deadline for submitting project applications within the current Call for proposals can be found on our page Calendar of Calls.
More information about the STEM Skills Foundries can be found in the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, on the website of the European Commission.
What project activities should be implemented?
- Developing curricula that emphasize STEM skills needed in strategic sectors, with modules that cover real-world problem solving, entrepreneurial thinking, basics of intellectual property rights and financing early-stage innovations.
- Setting up incubators focused on strategic sectors that provide comprehensive support including access to laboratories, technical infrastructures and equipment and mentoring on intellectual property management, venture capital access and business growth.
- Fostering partnerships among students, academia, and industry in strategic sectors, facilitated by Knowledge and Innovation Communities within the European Institute of Innovation and Technology, integrating intellectual property strategies to bolster project value, with possible involvement of venture capital funds to evaluate and support promising innovations.
These activities should be organised to prepare students for strategic sectors by combining critical technical skills, intellectual property management expertise, and access to venture capital, ensuring they are fully equipped with the knowledge on how to innovate and commercialise their ideas. These activities aim to create robust support systems for students entering strategic sectors, ensuring they have access to the networks and resources needed to become successful innovators and entrepreneurs.
What are the funding rules?
The maximum grant that can be awarded per project is 1.500.000 Euros.
This action follows a lump-sum funding model. The budget should be organised in coherent work packages such as project management, training, organization of events, mobility preparation and implementation, communication and dissemination, quality assurance, etc. Costs described can cover staff costs, travel and subsistence costs, equipment costs and subcontracting as well as other costs (such us dissemination of information, publishing or translation).