Digital Europe: €36.9 million for digital skills and EdTech, deadline 1 October 2026

Two calls under the Digital Europe Programme, DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10 (Advanced Digital Skills) and DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-10 (Accelerating Best Use of Technologies), close on 1 October 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time (18:00 Romanian time). Only four days remain until the deadline. The total budget is 36.9 million euro, split across five themes: the EdTech accelerator for start-ups and SMEs, training in artificial intelligence applied to healthcare, the national coalitions for digital skills, the European health data space and the Safer Internet centres.

For most companies in Romania the deadline is too close to build a consortium from scratch. However, the winning projects will redistribute a significant part of the money through open cascade calls. That is why it is worth preparing for them now.

In brief

• Programme: Digital Europe Programme, calls DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10 and DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-10
• Authority: European Commission, through the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA)
• Beneficiaries: consortia of universities, training providers, research organisations, companies and other organisations. EdTech start-ups and SMEs, hospitals and public authorities benefit mainly through cascade financial support
• Total budget: €36.9 million, across five themes
• Value per project: a single grant of €2.7 million for the EdTech accelerator, of which each selected start-up or SME may receive a maximum of €150,000
• Submission period: 21 April – 1 October 2026, 17:00 (Brussels)
• Status: open, deadline in less than 7 days

Which themes do the calls fund, and with what budget?

The Advanced Digital Skills (SKILLS-10) call has three themes:

• DIGITAL-HEALTH-STEP, €7.8 million, for two indicative grants: artificial intelligence training programmes for healthcare professionals and data specialists. They target partnerships between universities, vocational training providers, research organisations, companies and other digital health players;
• NATIONAL-COALITIONS, €2 million, for one grant: support for the national coalitions for digital skills and jobs, including new sites in countries that do not yet have a coalition. Here too, cascade support may be awarded, up to €150,000 for each third party;
• EDTECH, €2.7 million, for one grant: a European accelerator for start-ups and SMEs developing educational solutions.

The Accelerating Best Use of Technologies (BESTUSE-10) call has two themes:

• EHDS, €14.4 million: preparing public authorities and healthcare providers (hospitals, clinics) for the European Health Data Space and for the European exchange format for electronic health records. Funding reaches them through the cascade support mechanism;
• NETWORKSICs, €10 million: the network of Safer Internet centres, for protecting children online.

How does the EdTech accelerator for start-ups work?

The EdTech grant does not go directly to start-ups. It is received by a consortium that will run the accelerator. According to the theme's fact sheet, at least 60% of the budget must be awarded as financial support to third parties, that is, to the selected start-ups and SMEs, with a maximum of €150,000 each. The consortium must organise:

• three open calls for pilots, at least one per year, to support a minimum of 20 EdTech start-ups and SMEs from the Member States;
• an annual 12-month incubation and acceleration programme, with mentoring, networking, consultancy and market access;
• short pilots in schools, universities, training centres or other learning environments, to gather impact data;
• at least one major annual event for stakeholders.

How and by when do you apply?

Applications are submitted exclusively online, on the European Commission's Funding & Tenders portal, by 1 October 2026 at 17:00 Brussels time. The applicant eligibility conditions, the co-financing rate and the evaluation criteria are detailed in the call document published on the portal. Check them there, for each theme separately. There is no official information about an extension of the deadline.

What this means for your business

Our recommendation, not a rule of the call: an application submitted as coordinator in less than a week has little chance. For companies in Romania, something else is more realistic:

• If you are already in a consortium that is submitting, check now your registration on the portal (PIC code), the declarations and the budget. Do not leave submission to the last hour, because the portal gets congested.
• If you have an EdTech start-up, watch for the announcement of the winning project and its open calls. There you can obtain up to €150,000 without leading a European project. Prepare now a product presentation, a plan for piloting in a school or university, and the impact indicators you can measure.
• If you represent a hospital or a public authority, the cascade calls under the EHDS theme can fund your adaptation to the new European rules on health data. It is worth taking stock of your IT systems now.

For funding you can access directly as a company, check the eligibility check or the PoCIDIF 2.1 call for digital services and products.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still submit an application in the SKILLS-10 or BESTUSE-10 calls?

Formally, yes, until 1 October 2026 at 17:00 (Brussels), on the Funding & Tenders portal. In practice, a new application with partners from several countries can no longer be prepared thoroughly in four days. The deadline is realistic only for consortia that have already worked on the proposal.

Can an EdTech start-up from Romania receive money without applying now?

Yes, indirectly. The consortium that wins the EdTech theme must organise three open calls and support at least 20 start-ups and SMEs, with a maximum of €150,000 each. The dates of these calls have not yet been announced.

How much does each start-up receive from the EdTech accelerator?

The theme's fact sheet sets a ceiling of €150,000 for each beneficiary of cascade support. At least 60% of the €2.7 million grant must reach these beneficiaries. The exact amount for each start-up will be set in the winning consortium's calls.

Will there be new call windows after 1 October?

No next call window has been officially announced for these themes. The Digital Europe Programme periodically publishes new calls, so keep an eye on the Funding & Tenders portal and the HaDEA pages.

Official sources

• HaDEA – New calls for proposals under Digital Europe Programme published
• Funding & Tenders – DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10-EDTECH (EdTech Accelerator)
• Funding & Tenders – DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10-DIGITAL-HEALTH-STEP
• Funding & Tenders – DIGITAL-2026-SKILLS-10-NATIONAL-COALITIONS
• Funding & Tenders – DIGITAL-2026-BESTUSE-10-EHDS

Information checked on 26 September 2026. Conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.