THEPS Newsletter #30: Lemons?
Hello,
Sometimes, life gives you lemons, but so what? Lemons make excellent jams, limoncello and help with cleaning the washing machine.
Making THEPS is not an easy job. We appreciate the hundreds of organisations that have already signed up (over 150 in the last month!). Your emails (some of them are quite detailed) to us confirm that there is a deeper, deeper root of the Erasmus+ tree - its branches are thick and difficult to trim. You feel lost with writing the objectives, reporting a finished project or sometimes, you just need to connect.
We’re here for you even though we're not perfect (last week, we accidentally wrote the wrong date). But we try to answer your questions in due time, however, as you know, there are far too many “unwritten” rules that each NA has, and sometimes it’s difficult to follow. Not to mention how hard it is to actually form a decent (not even an excellent) partnership when there are partners who complain about absolutely everything and don’t do any preliminary work…
If you are one of those THEPSies who likes to browse our archive, we have to apologise because we are moving to new servers and we are preparing a platform so that all of us can stay connected and work together - so the current website will be broken for a while.
We don’t think we have ever asked you for a favour in 30 issues! But as you have noticed, each issue is different, so here it is - can you ask your besties to join us? We definitely need a strong network of organisations who have proven that they deserve their money. Just send them this link: https://thepsnewsletter.eu
Ok, the washing machine is bobbing with the lemon, we’re about to spread some jam on a toast, drink a Freddo cappuccino (Hello, Greeks!) and hope that you will enjoy #30 because there are opportunities for municipalities, NGOs (big and small), research centres, universities and SMEs:
- Electoral Integrity in the Digital Context
- Green Deal Funding Alert
- EEA Civil Society Fund Bulgaria – Rolling Call for Small Grants (Bulgaria)
- Technology Startup Accelerator Program (Georgia)
- Gulbenkian Visiting Professors in the Humanities (Portugal)
- Roma Inclusion & Empowerment through Interethnic Community Development (Romania)
- What the Future Holds
Electoral Integrity in the Digital Context
(HORIZON‑CL2‑2026‑01‑DEMOCRACY‑08)
Europe’s electoral systems are under pressure from rapid digitalisation, AI‑driven manipulation, foreign interference, and the accelerating spread of disinformation. In response, the European Commission has launched a major Horizon Europe call to strengthen electoral integrity in the digital age. This call supports ambitious, interdisciplinary research that helps policymakers, electoral authorities, media, civil society, and digital platforms understand and counter digital threats to democracy, while also exploring how technology can strengthen electoral resilience.
The Commission highlights several core challenges:
- AI‑powered amplification of disinformation
- Manipulation of public opinion through social media
- Foreign information manipulation and interference (FIMI)
- Cybersecurity vulnerabilities in electoral systems
- Risks posed by AI‑generated content in media and political communication
- Need for transparent political advertising and ethical digital campaigning
So, your proposals should explore better regulation, responsible digital campaigning and AI transparency.
Better regulation: Policymakers gain the knowledge needed to design election rules, standards, and tools that ensure integrity, inclusiveness, accessibility, fairness, transparency, and security in a digital environment.
Responsible digital campaigning: Electoral organisations develop guidelines for the ethical use of digital technologies in campaigns, aligned with EU and national regulations.
Transparency in AI‑powered politics: Improved accountability in AI‑driven political campaigns through audits, data disclosure, algorithm transparency, and responsible development of Large Language Models (LLMs).
This is open to:
- research organisations
- universities
- civil society organisations
- media and communication actors
- technology developers
- public authorities
- cybersecurity and policy institutes
Estimated EU contribution per project: up to €4 million
Funding rate: 100% (RIA)
Deadline: 23 September 2026, 17:00 Brussels time
Apply here.
ATTENTION! x2
One: Please note that all topics in the Horizon-CL2-2026-01 call use a new web form in which the Part A information must be completed.
Two: The detailed budget table is also embedded in the web form Part A, so it is no longer necessary or possible to upload an Excel budget table.
Green Deal Funding Alert
The European Committee of the Regions has released its new Green Deal Funding Alert, highlighting a key opportunity for cities and regions working on circular economy and citizen‑driven energy transition.
Citizen Energy Advisory Hub – Citizen Energy Panels
Type: Funding & technical support
Deadline: 11 September 2026
The Citizen Energy Advisory Hub (CEAH) invites municipalities to host Citizen Energy Panels, one‑day participatory workshops where citizens, local stakeholders, and experts co‑create solutions for local energy and climate challenges. Municipalities selected will receive:
- expert facilitation support
- training materials and toolkits
- communication templates
- logistical guidance
- on‑site assistance during the event
This programme is designed to help cities strengthen citizen engagement, build trust, and accelerate local energy transition measures through participatory processes.
Who can apply: Municipalities across the EU
Deadline: 11 September 2026
Apply here.
EEA Civil Society Fund Bulgaria – Rolling Call for Small Grants (Bulgaria)
The EEA & Norway Grants Civil Society Fund in Bulgaria has opened a Rolling Call for Small Grants, supporting civil society organisations working on social inclusion, human rights, community development, democratic participation, and empowerment of vulnerable groups.
This call is designed to help smaller organisations launch impactful local projects with flexible timelines and simplified application procedures.
Your projects may focus on:
- social inclusion and empowerment of vulnerable groups
- community development and local participation
- human rights protection and advocacy
- democratic engagement and civic education
- anti-discrimination initiatives
- local actions that strengthen civil society
The call is intentionally broad, allowing NGOs to propose solutions tailored to local needs.
The eligible applicants include:
- Bulgarian NGOs
- non-profit organisations
- community-based groups
- civil society organisations
Partnerships with local authorities, schools, cultural institutions, or community leaders are welcome but not mandatory.
Project duration: Between 6 and 12 months
Funding from €10,000 up to €25,000
Apply here.
Technology Startup Accelerator Program (Georgia)
500 Global has launched a new Technology Startup Accelerator Program designed to support early‑stage founders who want to turn innovative ideas into viable, scalable businesses. The program offers funding, mentorship, training, and access to investors, helping local entrepreneurs build strong tech ventures with regional and international potential.
This is a great opportunity for individuals or small teams in Georgia who are working on new digital products, apps, platforms, or tech‑enabled services. You will receive:
- Financial support to develop and test their startup idea
- Mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts
- Training in business modelling, product development, pitching, and fundraising
- Access to investors and potential partners
- Networking opportunities with the Georgian tech ecosystem
The program is designed to help founders move from concept → prototype → market‑ready product. It is open to:
- individuals with a tech‑based business idea
- early‑stage startups
- young entrepreneurs
- students or recent graduates
- innovators looking to commercialise a digital solution
You must be based in Georgia.
Application Deadline: July 31, 2026
MVP Stage Dates: August 31 - December 18, 2026
Full Program Dates: July 6, 2026 - June 25, 2027
Learn more here.
Gulbenkian Visiting Professors in the Humanities (Portugal)
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is opening applications for its Visiting Professors in the Humanities programme, supporting Portuguese universities in hosting internationally recognised scholars for short teaching and research stays. The goal is to strengthen academic excellence, diversify curricula, and promote international collaboration in the humanities.
Portuguese universities may apply to host visiting professors who will:
- teach courses or seminars in the humanities
- collaborate with local faculty and research teams
- contribute to curriculum development
- participate in conferences, workshops, or public lectures
- strengthen international academic cooperation
The programme aims to bring new perspectives, methodologies, and global expertise into Portuguese higher education.
The eligible applicants:
- Portuguese universities
- higher education institutions
- research centres with humanities programmes
The visiting professors must be internationally recognised scholars with a strong academic track record.
The fellowship covers:
- remuneration for the visiting professor
- travel and accommodation
- teaching and research‑related expenses
(The exact amounts depend on the proposed duration and activities.)
Applications are submitted via the Gulbenkian Foundation portal.
Roma Inclusion & Empowerment through Interethnic Community Development (Romania)
The EEA & Norway Grants Civil Society Fund in Romania has launched a new call focused on Roma inclusion, empowerment, and strengthening interethnic communities. The programme supports initiatives that reduce discrimination, improve social participation, and build trust between Roma and non‑Roma communities through local development, dialogue, and cooperation.
Your projects should focus on:
- building interethnic cooperation between Roma and non‑Roma communities
- strengthening local participation and community‑led initiatives
- reducing discrimination and antigypsyism
- empowering Roma citizens through education, skills, cultural activities, or civic engagement
- supporting local structures that promote inclusion, dialogue, and shared community solutions
The activities may include community events, local development actions, training, mediation, cultural programmes, awareness campaigns, or initiatives that improve access to services.
The eligible applicants include:
- NGOs and non‑profit organisations
- community associations
- foundations
- local civil society groups
Unlike the call in Bulgaria, partnerships with local authorities, schools, cultural institutions, or community leaders are encouraged.
Minimum grant: €15,000
Maximum grant: €350,000
Organisational development: up to 20% (for Large Grants)
Project duration
Small Grants: 4-9 months
Large Grants: 36-48 months
Deadline for questions: 29 September 2026
Deadline for applications: 08 October 2026
Apply here.
What the Future Holds
Our mascot, Aristotle the dog, is hiding under one of the desks and is wondering whether this weather will finally become bearable. Our hearts break to tell him the truth - climate change is real. We highly recommend focusing your projects for the October 2026 Erasmus+ call on environmental problems that we can educate Europeans about.
Stay in the shade and drink a lot of water.