On 12 November, the new Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026 by the European Commission.

Erasmus+ is the European Union programme for education, training, youth and sport. It represents a strategic tool for strengthening vocational training and promoting the acquisition of skills required by the labour market, thereby supporting the competitiveness of the production system.

Centres of professional excellence are part of the “partnerships for excellence” initiative.”, under Key Action 2. The Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE) initiative defines a bottom-up approach focused on excellence, in which vocational education and training (VET) institutions are able to rapidly adapt their skills provision to changing economic and social needs. They also act as catalysts for local business innovation, working closely with companies and SMEs in particular.

The main objective of the CoVE initiative is to create and develop transnational collaboration networks that bring together VET stakeholders at local and regional level. in robust and wide-ranging public-private partnerships, thereby creating global ecosystems of expertise for innovation, regional development and social inclusion, and supporting European competitiveness.

The maximum amount per project is €4 million.

The deadline for submitting applications is 3 September 2026, 5 p.m. (Brussels).