ACE²-EU Grants Academy

Lead and Host Institution: Medical University of Gdańsk (Poland) — Mateusz Kirjak

Partner Institutions: Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (Germany), Carinthia University of Applied Sciences (Austria)

Securing research funding is one of the greatest challenges – and opportunities – of an early scientific career. The ACE²-EU Grants Academy addresses this challenge head-on: a Blended Intensive Programme designed jointly by the Medical University of Gdańsk, Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt and Carinthia University of Applied Sciences for early-career research staff from the ACE²-EU Alliance.

From national funding schemes across the Alliance countries to the European framework of Horizon Europe, European Partnerships and Interreg, the Academy demystifies the grant ecosystem and shows participants how to turn research ideas into fundable proposals. The course is dedicated exclusively to staff from ACE²-EU Alliance institutions and is open to researchers of any field.

Online session: Opens with an ACExperience session, delivered before the first day of online classes, introducing participants to the ACE²-EU active learning approach. The preparatory online session introduces the characteristics and types of research grants available in the countries of the ACE²-EU Alliance, giving participants a shared foundation and a comparative view of national funding landscapes before the mobility week.

On-site sessions: The on-site component in Gdańsk (7–11 September 2026) is an immersive week combining workshops, practical sessions and collaborative exercises. Participants progress from the European funding framework (Horizon Europe, European Partnerships, Interreg) to the personal dimension of building a scientific career through grants, including the skills and attitude this requires. Hands-on sessions address the technical aspects of preparing and submitting a Horizon Europe application, followed by an evaluator’s-eye view of how grant applications are assessed. The week closes with activities on building partnerships and effective communication.

Follow-up / reflection: Participants must attend the full programme and contribute to collaborative tasks. A certificate of attendance listing the course title, learning outcomes, developed competencies and duration (online/on-site) is issued upon successful participation, together with 3 ECTS credits.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Identify and compare the main types of national research grants available across the ACE²-EU Alliance countries.
• Navigate the European funding framework, including Horizon Europe, European Partnerships and Interreg.
• Plan a grant-based research career, developing the skills and attitude needed to sustain it.
• Apply the technical requirements of preparing and submitting a Horizon Europe application.
• Analyse how grant applications are evaluated and use that perspective to strengthen their own proposals.
• Build international partnerships and communicate research effectively across disciplines and borders.

This course may be suitable for staff from ACE²-EU partner universities who are early-career research staff (0–5 years after PhD) or PhD students, in any research field.

This course may be suitable for those who have an interest in: research grant preparation, writing and implementation; European and national research funding; and building an international research career.

Recommended Language Level: English B1–B2, as the working language of the course is English.

Apply here: https://forms.gle/wyh54NPwnFdxPuMz8

Deadline for receipt of applications: 29 June 2026, 15:00 CET

Please note that submitting an application does not guarantee a place on the programme. Participating institutions apply their own internal selection procedures. Prior to the start of the course, selected participants will receive a welcome email from the ACE²-EU Alliance containing detailed information and instructions specific to the programme.