Horizon Europe CL2 DEMOCRACY-09: civic education throughout life
Verified by the editorial team 29 September 2026
Updated Topic budget corrected to EUR 16 million (4 projects), added the VET or adult education focus and 17:00 deadline time; call is closed.
Summary
EUR 3.5-4 million per consortium project (topic budget EUR 16 million, 4 projects expected) for research on citizenship education as part of lifelong learning. Projects must focus on vocational education and training or adult education and pilot new methods and curricula. The call closed on 23 September 2026.
About the call
A Horizon Europe Cluster 2 research and innovation topic on how lifelong citizenship education strengthens democratic participation. Each project picks one focus - vocational education and training (including apprenticeships) or adult education programmes - and examines how they raise civic knowledge, political awareness and attachment to democratic values.
Research should trace links between learning and voting, standing for election, policy-making, volunteering and engagement with civil society organisations, and test new methods and curricula for teachers and learners. Possible angles include digital and media literacy, persons with disabilities, older people for whom digital tools are a barrier, and inter-generational approaches; a gender and intersectional perspective is required.
It is a Research and Innovation Action funded as a lump sum; projects should seek collaboration with the European Partnership on Social Transformations and Resilience. Submission ran from 12 May to 23 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time; the portal reports 125 proposals.
Who can apply
- A consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU or associated countries, at least one in the EU
- Ukrainian NGOs, charities, universities and institutions (Ukraine is associated to Horizon Europe)
- Research centres, public bodies and other organisations within the consortium
What the funds are for
- Research on citizenship education in VET or adult education
- Piloting new methods and curricula
- Analysis of links between learning and civic participation
- Digital and media literacy for adults
- Recommendations for policymakers and educators
Documents required
Forms and templates are on the call page
How to apply
- 1Create an EU Login and register the organisation (get a PIC)
- 2Join a consortium with partners from EU and associated countries
- 3Prepare Part A, Part B and the detailed lump sum budget table for topic DEMOCRACY-09
- 4Submit via the Funding & Tenders Portal by 23.09.2026, 17:00 Brussels time
Questions and answers
- Could a Ukrainian NGO apply to DEMOCRACY-09 on its own?
- A consortium of at least 3 independent legal entities from 3 different EU or associated countries is required, at least one in the EU. Ukrainian NGOs can be part of it, as Ukraine is associated to Horizon Europe.
- What did a DEMOCRACY-09 project have to focus on?
- Each project picks one focus - vocational education and training (including apprenticeships) or adult education programmes - and pilots new methods and curricula.
Change history
- Updated: Topic budget corrected to EUR 16 million (4 projects), added the VET or adult education focus and 17:00 deadline time; call is closed.
Donor contacts
Website: rea.ec.europa.eu
