LUKE Joint Call

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We support the European Research Area aimed at creating a single, borderless market for research, innovation and technology in the EU.

The LUKE Joint Call (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Call’) for basic and/or applied research, development and / or innovation projects, fostering research collaboration across borders, is now open.

Proposal submission deadline: 15 May 2026 at 23:59 CET / 00:59 EET (+1).

The Call aims to build research and innovation partnerships, with Ukraine as the central partner. It is jointly implemented by 13 funding parties actively involved in the EU Horizon Europe LUKE project, ensuring participation of 11 countries. The LUKE project serves to pool resources and support Ukraine’s integration into the European Research Area.

Who can apply and how consortia should be organised

The Call is open to legal entities, including institutions, organisations, and enterprises, registered in one of the following countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Republic of Moldova, Poland, Romania, Türkiye and Ukraine.

We encourage the formation of consortia involving different types of organisations in research, innovation and business. However, the partner eligibility criteria vary depending on the National Rules of the Funding Parties (see Annex A of the Terms of Reference of the Call).

A project consortium must include an eligible partner from Ukraine and at least two other mentioned countries participating in the Call. The Lead Partner is nominated within the consortium.

Call topics and scope

The Call covers the following four topics to strengthen Ukraine’s capacities in jointly identified priority areas:

Energy: Sustainable and renewable energy and energy security
Cybersecurity: Cyber resilience of critical infrastructures and adaptive cybersecurity systems
Medical and health research: Telemedicine, biomedical research

Sub-topic 3.1: Adoption of telemedicine for remote healthcare solutions

Sub-topic 3.2: Innovative research on cellular signaling pathways for biomedical applications

Social sciences and humanities: Social reconciliation, sustainable social development, and human capital restoration

Call topic descriptions are available here.

General information

General information and Terms of Reference of the Call are available here: LUKE Terms of Reference (ToR).

Applicants must be eligible for funding by their respective national funding parties. Unless it contradicts the respective National Rules of Funding Parties, they can represent:

Research and higher education institutions established according to respective national legislation;
Research performing small and medium enterprises;
Other entities eligible for funding according to respective national legislation.

Details and definitions can be found in the National Rules of Funding Parties (see Annex A of the Terms of Reference of the Call).

Duration of the projects is up to two years.

List of Funding Parties

Austrian Research Promotion Agency, FFG, Austria
Focus: Applied research (industrial research and experimental development)
Webpage: https://www.ffg.at/LUKE/Call2026
Funding by FFG of multiple applicants from Austria within one consortium is possible.

Austrian Science Fund, FWF, Austria
Focus: Basic research
Webpage: https://www.fwf.ac.at/en/funding/portfolio/subject-specific-funding/luke-ukraine
Funding by FWF of multiple applicants from Austria within one consortium is not possible.

Technology Agency of the Czech Republic, TA CR, Czech Republic
Focus: Applied research
Webpage: https://tacr.gov.cz/soutez/luke/luke-call-2026/
Funding by of multiple applicants from Czech Republic within one consortium is possible.

Estonian Research Council, ETAG, Estonia
Focus: Basic and applied research
Webpage: https://etag.ee/en/funding/support-for-ukrainian-researchers/
Funding by of multiple applicants from Estonia within one consortium is possible.

Research Council of Finland, RCF, Finland
Focus: Basic research and applied research
Webpage: https://www.aka.fi/en/research-funding/apply-for-funding/calls-for-applications/international-calls/luke-joint-call–linking-ukraine-to-the-era/
Funding by of multiple applicants from Finland within one consortium is possible.

Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, BMFTR, Germany
Focus: Basic and applied research
Webpage: https://www.bmftr.bund.de/SharedDocs/Bekanntmachungen/DE/2026/02/2026-02-27-bekanntmachung-ukraine.html
Funding by of multiple applicants from Germany within one consortium is possible.

Latvian Council of Science, LZP, Latvia
Focus: Basic and applied research
Webpage: https://www.lzp.gov.lv
Multiple applicants from Latvia to this funding party within one consortium: Please contact the funding party!

National Agency for Research and Development, NARD, Republic of Moldova
Focus: Basic and applied research
Webpage: https://ancd.gov.md
Funding by of multiple applicants from Moldova within one consortium is possible.

National Science Centre, NCN, Poland
Focus: Basic research
Webpage: https://ncn.gov.pl/ogloszenia/konkursy/luke-joint-call-2026
Funding by of multiple applicants from Poland within one consortium is possible.

The Executive Agency for Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation Funding – UEFISCDI, Romania
Focus: Exploratory and applied research
Webpage: https://uefiscdi.gov.ro/luke-linking-ukraine-to-the-european-research-area
Funding by of multiple applicants from Romania within one consortium is possible.

The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye, TÜBİTAK, Türkiye
Focus: Basic and applied research
Webpage: https://www.tubitak.gov.tr
Funding by of multiple applicants from Türkiye within one consortium is possible.

National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, NASU, Ukraine
Focus: Basic and applied research
Webpage: https://www.nas.gov.ua/
Funding by NASU of multiple applicants from Ukraine within one consortium is not possible.

The National Research Foundation of Ukraine, NRFU, Ukraine
Focus: Basic/applied research (developments)
Webpage: https://nrfu.org.ua/
Funding by NRFU of multiple applicants from Ukraine within one consortium is not possible

How to apply

Proposal submission must take place exclusively in electronic form by using the PT-Outline webtool accessible at: https://ptoutline.eu/app/LUKE

Technical support: PT-Outline technical support

In addition, partners from Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Türkiye and Ukraine (NASU) must submit further information directed to the relevant Funding Party. Please ensure compliance with the national rules of the respective Funding Party.

Calendar

Publication of the Call: 27 February 2026
Deadline for proposal submission: 15 May 2026 at 23:59 CET / 00:59 EET (+1 day)
Tentative date for starting the projects: First quarter 2027
Tentative end date of the projects: December 2028

Useful information

Please get into contact!

For detailed information about the respective national eligibility and funding criteria, you are strongly recommended to contact your respective LUKE National Contact Point before submitting your proposal.

All contact details are accessible in the National Rules of each Funding Party (Annex A of the Terms of Reference of the Call).

Joint Call Secretariat: Jörn Grünewald, DLR Project Management Agency, Germany: Joern.Gruenewald@dlr.de

Are you looking for partners or interested in following up on the LUKE Joint Call?

The platform is designed to support participants connecting with potential partners and learning more about co-creation principles to integrate into R&I activities.

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Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.