PR South-East 5.3: €35 million for dual campuses in Buzău, Galați and Vrancea
ADR (Regional Development Agency) South-East has put the guide for dual campuses (Action 5.3) out for consultation: €35 million, up to €11.67 million per project, for the municipalities of Buzău and Galați and Vrancea County. Comments until 27 November 2026.
Todos & Company editorial team · EU funding consultancy since 2006
Programme sheet · Opening soon PR Sud-Est 5.3 — Dual campuses (Buzău, Galați, Vrancea) – guide in consultation ADR South-East, the managing authority of the South-East Regional Programme 2021-2027, has put the guide for the "Dual campuses" call (Action 5.3) out for public consultation, with an allocation of €35 million. The municipalities of Buzău and Galați and Vrancea County can apply for funding, on their own or in partnership. Comments on the guide must be submitted by 27 November 2026, 24:00, and the date for submitting funding applications has not been announced.
In brief
- Programme: South-East Regional Programme 2021-2027, Priority 5, Action 5.3 – dual campuses
- Authority: ADR South-East (managing authority)
- Beneficiaries: Buzău municipality, Galați municipality, Vrancea County, on their own or in partnership with state educational institutions, higher education institutions and NGOs with experience in ESF+ projects
- Total budget: €35,000,000 (€21,388,889 ERDF and €13,611,111 state budget)
- Value per project: up to €11,666,666 in non-refundable funding, including VAT
- Type of call: non-competitive, with a minimum score of 60 points
- Consultation: until 27 November 2026, 24:00
- Submission period: not announced
- Status: guide in public consultation; the conditions may change before the final version
Who can apply?
The call is by nomination, not open to everyone. The applicants are the administrative-territorial units of Buzău, Galați and Vrancea (the county). They may apply on their own or in partnership with state educational institutions, higher education institutions and NGOs with experience in projects funded by the ESF+.
Private companies are not direct beneficiaries. However, they can be campus partners in practice, through training placements and cooperation with schools, and their specific role depends on the final guide.
What can be financed?
From the ERDF, the guide under consultation provides for:
- construction and equipping of modern educational infrastructure: classrooms, laboratories, workshops, dormitories, canteens, libraries, sports facilities;
- energy efficiency, to NZEB standard, with at least 30% of energy from renewable sources;
- modern equipment, furniture and digital technologies.
The ESF+ can fund support services (counselling, mediation, psychological assistance), scholarships for pupils and students, as well as career guidance and labour-market integration activities. This component may account for no more than 15% of the project's eligible value.
How are projects selected?
The call is non-competitive: projects do not compete against each other, but they must obtain at least 60 points and fit within the available budget. The maximum value per project is €11,666,666, including VAT. With €35 million allocated, the budget can be split between several projects.
By when and how are comments submitted?
Comments on the guide are sent by e-mail, to the address indicated on the official consultation page, by 27 November 2026, 24:00. The applicant's guide can be downloaded from the same page. The date from which applications can be submitted has not been announced; there is as yet no official submission deadline.
What this means for your business
Recommendation: if you represent a town hall or a county council in one of the three units concerned, read the guide now and send concrete comments, because this is the opportunity to correct the conditions before the final version. Check in particular the land (its legal status), the technical documentation and the capacity to support the ESF+ part.
Common pitfalls in projects of this kind are partnerships concluded late, a lack of ESF+ experience in the team, and technical projects without an analysis of the real demand for qualifications in the area. If you are a local company in need of skilled staff, get in touch with the local authority in good time: employer involvement generally strengthens the case for a dual campus.
You can check which other funding suits you with the eligibility check.
Frequently asked questions
Can other towns in the South-East Region apply?
According to the guide under consultation, the applicants are only Buzău municipality, Galați municipality and Vrancea County, on their own or in partnership. Other localities do not appear among the nominated applicants.
How much can you obtain per project?
The maximum non-refundable funding is €11,666,666 per project, including VAT. The total allocation of the call is €35 million.
When can funding applications be submitted?
The submission period has not been announced. The 27 November 2026 date applies only to comments on the guide, not to the submission of projects.
What percentage of the project can go on scholarships and counselling?
Activities funded by the ESF+ (counselling, scholarships, career guidance) may account for no more than 15% of the project's eligible value, according to the guide under consultation.
Official sources
Information checked on 9 November 2026. The conditions may be amended by the managing authority — check the guide in force before submitting.
