EU Grants for Social Sciences

Discover EU funding opportunities and grant programmes for the social sciences sector. Browse open and forthcoming calls from Horizon Europe and other European Commission initiatives.

Showing 30 of 418 grant calls

Open

Capacity building in VET in Western Balkans

ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants

Budget:€3 800 000
Deadline:March 26, 2026
Open

Capacity building in VET in Sub-Saharan Africa

ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants

Budget:€3 800 000
Deadline:March 26, 2026
Open

Capacity building in VET in Latin America

ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants

Budget:€3 800 000
Deadline:March 26, 2026
Open

Capacity building in VET in Caribbean

ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants

Budget:€3 800 000
Deadline:March 26, 2026
Open

Capacity building in VET in Neighbourhood East

ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants

Budget:€3 800 000
Deadline:March 26, 2026
Open

Next generation of renewable energy technologies

HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Budget:€23 500 000
Deadline:March 31, 2026
Open

Advancing lead markets and proof-of-concept for deep tech solutions contributing to EU Missions

HORIZON Innovation Actions

Budget:€1 000 000
Deadline:March 31, 2026
Open

AI-driven forecasting algorithms for Grid and Consumer friendly Energy Sharing – Societal Readiness pilot

HORIZON Innovation Actions

Budget:€25 000 000
Deadline:March 31, 2026
Open

Cybersecure tools, technologies and services relying on AI

DIGITAL JU Simple Grants

Budget:€15 000 000
Deadline:March 31, 2026
Open

Understanding and overcoming barriers to the scale-up of innovations supporting EU Missions

HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Budget:€1 000 000
Deadline:March 31, 2026
Open

MSCA COFUND 2026

HORIZON TMA MSCA Cofund Doctoral programme, HORIZON TMA MSCA Cofund Postdoctoral programme

Budget:€105 457 362
Deadline:April 8, 2026
Open

Adult Education: Motivation in Motion: Empowering Adults to Up- and Reskilling

ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants

Budget:€5 000 000
Deadline:April 8, 2026
Open

Micro-credentials – focus on eco-systems

ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants

Budget:€5 000 000
Deadline:April 8, 2026
Open

School Education: STEM Education Centres

ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants

Budget:€5 000 000
Deadline:April 8, 2026
Open

Digital Education Content: success factors in decision making and use by teachers, trainers and school/institution leaders

ERASMUS Lump Sum Grants

Budget:€5 000 000
Deadline:April 8, 2026
Open

Call for proposals to National Roma Contact Points

CERV Lump Sum Grants

Budget:€1 500 000
Deadline:April 9, 2026
Open

Twinning

HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

Budget:€264 500 000
Deadline:April 9, 2026
Open

Shipyards of the future (ZEWT Partnership)

HORIZON Innovation Actions

Budget:€21 000 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Green Transition Food Processing Africa

HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Budget:€11 800 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Ports of the future (ZEWT Partnership)

HORIZON Innovation Actions

Budget:€21 000 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Large-scale demonstration of Heavy-Duty Battery Electric Vehicles (HD BEV) towards long-haul logistics operations (2ZERO Partnership)

HORIZON Innovation Actions

Budget:€21 000 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Sustainable and healthy diets for cardiovascular diseases prevention with the support of digital applications

HORIZON Innovation Actions

Budget:€11 800 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Tackling pesticide resistance: early detection, management strategies, and foresight

HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Budget:€11 800 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Strengthening the EU plant protection ecosystem for a future-proof agriculture

HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

Budget:€11 800 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Boosting the competitiveness of protein crops in Europe

HORIZON Innovation Actions

Budget:€11 800 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Safety of renewable low and zero-carbon waterborne fuels in port areas: risk assessment, regulatory framework, and guidelines for safe bunkering, handling and storage (ZEWT partnership)

HORIZON Coordination and Support Actions

Budget:€21 000 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Boosting sustainable competitiveness in rural areas through innovation

HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Budget:€11 800 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Advancing basic knowledge and developing tools for sustainable management of key migratory fish species

HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Budget:€11 800 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Towards the water infrastructures of the future

HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Budget:€11 800 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026
Open

Towards more effective, fair and coherent policies for climate change mitigation and adaptation in agriculture and forestry

HORIZON Research and Innovation Actions

Budget:€11 800 000
Deadline:April 14, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions About Social Sciences EU Grants

The European Commission offers a wide range of funding opportunities specifically designed for the Social Sciences sector. These include grants through Horizon Europe (the EU's flagship research and innovation programme with a budget of €95.5 billion), the European Innovation Council (EIC) which provides funding for breakthrough innovations, and various sector-specific initiatives. Funding types range from Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) with 100% funding rates, to Innovation Actions (IA) with 70% funding for companies, and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) for networking and coordination activities. Our database helps you find grants that match your organization's specific needs, project stage, and funding requirements.
Applying for EU grants in the Social Sciences sector involves several key steps. First, use Grantalist to identify suitable open calls that match your project idea and organization type. Next, carefully review the call documentation, including eligibility criteria, evaluation criteria, and the work programme. Most EU grants require you to form a consortium with partners from at least 3 different EU member states or associated countries. Once ready, you'll submit your proposal through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, which includes a detailed description of your project, work packages, budget breakdown, and impact assessment. The evaluation process typically takes 3-5 months, after which successful applicants enter grant agreement preparation. We recommend starting your application at least 2-3 months before the deadline.
EU grants for the Social Sciences sector offer diverse funding levels depending on the programme and action type. Small-scale grants through programmes like EIC Accelerator can start from €500,000 up to €2.5 million in grant funding, plus up to €15 million in equity investment. Collaborative research projects under Horizon Europe typically range from €3 million to €10 million for standard projects, while some large-scale flagship initiatives can exceed €20 million. SMEs and startups often benefit from higher funding rates (up to 70% for Innovation Actions compared to large companies) and access to specialized instruments. The exact amount depends on the specific call topic, project scope, consortium size, and type of activities proposed.
Eligibility for Social Sciences EU grants extends to a wide range of organizations. Legal entities from EU member states and associated countries (including the UK for some programmes, Norway, Switzerland, and others) are typically eligible. This includes universities and research institutions, large enterprises and multinational corporations, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) with fewer than 250 employees, startups and scale-ups, public bodies and NGOs, and international organizations. Some calls specifically target certain organization types, such as SME-only calls or academic-focused research grants. Third-country participation is possible in many programmes, though often without EU funding.