The 2026 call for Erasmus+ Centres of Vocational Excellence closes on 3 September at 17:00 Brussels time, and up to four million euro per project is still on the table for organisations that are already building a vocational training network across several EU countries.
What the call is about
Centres of Vocational Excellence, known as CoVE, fund transnational networks that connect vocational education and training providers with companies, employers and public authorities. The goal is not a single training course but a lasting partnership that helps a sector, such as green construction or digital manufacturing, keep its skills provision aligned with what employers actually need. This is a Key Action 2 action under the Erasmus+ Programme Guide, and it follows a lump sum funding model rather than reimbursing individual costs.
Who can apply
Eligible applicants are public or private legal entities established in an EU member state or a third country associated to the Programme, and active in vocational education and training or in the world of work. That covers VET providers, companies and sector representative bodies, national or regional qualification authorities, research institutes and regional development authorities.
The consortium requirement is demanding by design: at least eight beneficiary organisations from a minimum of four EU member states or associated countries. Each of those countries must be represented by at least one enterprise, employer or sector body, and at least one VET provider. The coordinating organisation must come from an EU member state or an associated country.
Budget and deadline
The maximum EU grant per project is 4,000,000 euro, calculated as a single lump sum and funded at a rate of 80 percent of the estimated project budget. Industry trackers following this call report an overall budget in the region of 68 million euro, though that total figure is not stated on the official Programme Guide page itself, so treat it as indicative rather than officially confirmed. What is confirmed on the primary source is the per project ceiling and the submission deadline: 3 September 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time, through the EU Funding and Tenders Portal.
Why it matters even without a dedicated EU office
This is not a call to attempt as a first EU grant on your own. Building an eight organisation, four country consortium in three weeks is not realistic if you are starting from zero. But if your organisation already works with vocational training partners abroad, whether through an existing network, a past mobility project or informal cooperation, this deadline is worth flagging now rather than discovering it in the last few days. Waiting until late August leaves no time to confirm partner roles or draft the required activity clusters properly.
How to proceed
Start by checking whether your organisation and its potential partners meet the country and profile requirements above. If you already have contacts in at least three other eligible countries, reach out this week rather than next. Read the full eligibility and activity requirements in the Programme Guide before drafting anything, since the application must address a minimum number of activities across three defined clusters: teaching and learning, cooperation and partnership, and governance and funding. Applications are submitted exclusively through the Funding and Tenders Portal, where you will also need a valid EU Login and an organisation registration (PIC number) in place before the deadline.