As part of the current EIT Higher Education Initiative - Call for Proposals 2025 (deadline March 4, 2026, 17:00 CET), TU Dresden can only participate as a full partner in one proposal. An internal pre-selection process will be carried out to decide which consortium TU Dresden will be participating in this call.

All TU Dresden project leaders planning to participate in the EIT HEI Call 2025 are requested to submit a short project outline (2-3 pages) to the European Project Center by Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at the latest. The outline should address the points listed in the handout:

Guidelines: EIT HEI Call 2025 - Information for TU Dresden Project Outlines [TU-internal, restricted access].

The submitted outline serves as a basis for the internal evaluation and the preparation of a decision by the University Executive Board on which proposal TU Dresden will be represented in the call.

Latest deadline for the submission of project outlines: Tuesday, February 10, 2026

Please send your project outline by e-mail to: epc@tu-dresden.de
Subject: "EIT HEI Call 2025 - Project outline TU Dresden".

If you have any questions about the handout or the internal pre-selection process, please do not hesitate to contact the EPC.

Terezín: Vision 2050 is aninternational, transdisciplinary teaching and research project of the architecture faculties of ČVUT Prague and TU Dresden in cooperation with MIT Boston, IIT Haifa and TU Liberec. The aim of the project is to analyze the complex history of the Czech city of Terezín and at the same time to develop sustainable perspectives for a historically highly charged place - once a Habsburg fortress, then a National Socialist ghetto, today a small town and a central European place of remembrance at the same time. The focus is on the question of how sustainable urban development, a culture of remembrance and social justice can be reconciled. Methodologically, the project combines archival research, oral history, spatial documentation, 3D scans, mapping, environmental measurements and film formats.

Terezín is exemplary for the overlapping of trauma, memory and urban development. While the Small Fortress has been established as a memorial site since the post-war period, the Great Fortress is confronted with the typical challenges of post-military cities: underused buildings, limited resources and a lack of long-term development prospects. A central challenge is to reconnect both parts of the city - spatially and conceptually - and to understand Terezín as a coherent urban space.

Architecture and urban structure are understood as an active "spatial archive" : as a palimpsest of military order, history of violence, memory and future potential. Based on this interpretation, the project teams in the Urban LAB (29.03.-04.04.2026 on site in Terezín) will develop future scenarios for different development paths for the city. These scenarios will be elaborated in visual and narrative formats - including maps, collages, films and text projections - and condensed into a coherent vision.

The Chair of Urban Design will work on the project as a main or in-depth design . The aim is to develop an urban development and open space planning vision as well as a development strategy tailored to it, which enables a gradual, process-based implementation. The strategic plan forms the interface between research and design and addresses in particular

• the interplay of landscape, fortifications and settlement structures

• historical and cultural narratives

• social and inclusive use programs

• new and adaptive building typologies

• the reactivation of underused structures and spaces

• the redesign of open spaces and landscapes

• climate adaptation strategies

If you are interested in participating, please register by e-mail by Thursday, 12.02.2026 at the latest at
angela.mensing-de_jong@tu-dresden.de

Are you planning an Erasmus+ cooperation with universities in the regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America / Caribbean or Asia, Middle East, Pacific?

The European Commission is once again giving you the opportunity to meet potential project partners from these different regions, get to know the global Erasmus+ opportunities, network and develop joint project ideas. As part of Erasmus+ Weeks 2026, three events will take place in different regions from May to November 2026:

Erasmus+ Weeks 2026

Sub-Saharan Africa (E+ Region 9)
Dakar, Senegal // in the week of May 18-22, 2026

Latin America & Caribbean (E+ regions 10 & 11)
Mexico City, Mexico // in the week of October 5-9, 2026

Asia, Middle East & Pacific (E+ Regions 5, 7 & 8)
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia // during the week of November 23-27, 2026

You are invited to attend the events on site, but there will also be the possibility to participate online.

Registration is not yet open. However, you can already express your interest in participating as part of a "pre-registration" and will receive a message from the European Commission as soon as the official registration is activated. This is the link to the expression of interest:

https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/interest-erasmus-weeks-2026

Apply for a travel grant
The National Agency at the DAAD would like to support German universities in initiating new projects within the international dimension of Erasmus+. If you would like to take part in one of the Erasmus+ Weeks 2026, you can apply to the NA DAAD for a travel grant as part of the project preparation trips.

www.eu.daad.de/vorbereitungsreisen

For project cooperation projects under the Erasmus+ funding lines Capacity Building Projects in Higher Education, Erasmus Mundus or Jean Monnet Networks(Erasmus+ cooperation projects), please follow this link for possible travel funding:
https://eu.daad.de/die-nationale-agentur/ausschreibungen/foerderung-von-vorbereitungsreisen/de/75506-projektvorbereitungsreisen-fuer-erasmus-partnerschaften-und-kooperationsprojekte/

There you will also find the relevant application forms and funding guidelines.

Contact at the EPC:

Nothing planned for the 2026/27 academic year yet? Then embark on an adventure and apply NOW for an Erasmus+ stay at one of our partner universities!
You can expect great experiences and monthly scholarship rates of up to EUR 850 + travel allowance, see Erasmus+ funding opportunities

Advantages for you: Semester stay at a TUD partner university, no tuition fees, easy application, monthly Erasmus+ grant plus travel allowance, professional, cultural and personal enrichment, ...

Disadvantages: None

You canapply via the mobility portal. Application deadlines in February for Erasmus+ stays in 2026/27:

February 07: Mechanical Engineering
February 15: Computer Science, Landscape Architecture, Mathematics, Medicine
28 February: Faculty of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Arts, Humanities, SLK, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Transport and Traffic Sciences

Application deadlines for all faculties: CONTACT PERSONS AND APPLICATION DEADLINES Information on the application process can be found on our website; please send any queries to erasmus@mailbox.tu-dresden.de .

We look forward to receiving your applications ;)

Our February newsletter is here!

Do you always want to receive the latest news about studying abroad, short-term stays and more? Then simply sign up for the newsletter here !

What a great and inspiring start to the year! The New Year’s Reception of the Women@DDc Network, hosted by the Barkhausen Institut, brought together a vibrant group of female scientists and science managers.

With a stunning sunset view over Dresden’s old town, conversations revolved around multiple topics, from careers and working in Dresden to job opportunities within the DRESDEN-concept research alliance. The diverse mix of participants across institutional boundaries was especially appreciated.

We are grateful for the great interest in the event and the dedicated networking. Despite financial challenges, we are very much looking forward to further events in 2026.

The event was funded from the DRESDEN-concept e.V. budget.

The EUTOPIA Student Career Ambassadors (SCA) are a network of students from EUTOPIA alliance universities who organize workshops and events to help students build successful professional profiles and navigate career pathways.  Over the coming weeks, they are offering several online workshops open to students from all partner universities.

EU Professional Opportunities Workshop

Host: Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF)

Date & Time: February 11, 12:00 PM

Description: Learn about career opportunities within European Union institutions, types of jobs, employment relationships, required tests, and the hiring process.

Presented and moderated by Javier García Risco, EUTOPIA Student Career Ambassador at UPF, the session will feature the interventions of the following speakers:

•  Alina Anton, Press and Information Officer - Communication, Outreach and Marketing - at the European Commission
•  Sasha Bacardit García, Ambassador UNICAT UPF
•  Luca Augello Ruiz, Alumni UPF and Adviser to the Director at the European Parliament

Registration: Register here

Job Orientation: Discover Yourself!

Date & Time: Monday, February 23, 19:00–20:00 

Focus: Self-analysis and personal branding to identify what job you really want and how to communicate it effectively.

Teams Link: Join here

CV, LinkedIn and Cover Letter: The Blueprint of Your Career

Date & Time: Thursday, February 26, 12:00–13:00 

Focus: How to create a strong CV and cover letter, and use LinkedIn as a networking and information tool to stand out.

Teams Link: Join here

From Local to Global: Career Pathways through Civil Society

Date & Time: March 24, 15:00–16:00 CET 

Focus: How young people can find international opportunities and build careers through civil society organizations, including Erasmus+ projects.

Teams Link: To be announced

If you want to explore career opportunities and develop your professional skills within the European context, these workshops by the EUTOPIA Student Career Ambassadors offer valuable insights and networking chances!

The European Partnership for Pandemic Preparedness (BE READY Partnership) aims to establish a European research and innovation ecosystem that is optimally prepared for future health crises caused by infectious diseases. This ecosystem will be capable of responding swiftly and efficiently to such crises and will be fully integrated into the broader European institutional framework for health security.

In total, 21 funding organisations have agreed to launch the first JTC in the BE READY Partnership (JTC 2026). This call will support innovative, collaborative, interdisciplinary and transnational research projects aiming for a better understanding of the pandemic potential of emerging pathogens, elucidating the pathophysiology induced by these pathogens, and developing innovative medical countermeasures.

Therefore, proposals are expected to deliver results that are directed towards and contributing to at least one of the following expected outcomes:

• Identification of novel pathogen-specific molecular targets and mutation hotspots (i.e. discovery of critical proteins, enzymes or signalling molecules that play a central role in pathogen infectivity, survival and/or resistance);
• Improving the understanding of cross-species (zoonotic) aspects of host-pathogen interactions (in the context of the One Health approach);
• Application of the “Pathogen X” approach to generate transferable knowledge that can then be applied to other threatening viruses of the same family;
• Identification, development and optimisation of (new) structures with optimal therapeutic activity and low toxicity that can be potential lead compounds (particularly for vulnerable groups);
• Identification and validation of targets, alongside data integration, interoperability and modelling efforts to demonstrate the potential of these targets, including antigenic structures suitable for vaccine development, for subsequent therapeutic development (i.e. proof-of-concept studies);
• Improving data integration and modelling to predict pathogen behaviour and therapeutic susceptibilities;
• Understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying host-pathogen interactions, in humans including host predisposing factors, to guide future diagnostic, therapeutic and vaccine development;
• Development and improvement of advanced immunological assays, experimental models and preclinical studies that link host genetics to disease outcomes.

Proposals should focus exclusively one or multiple viruses belonging in the following families. Proposals addressing global approaches towards a whole family of these pathogens are also feasible: Arenaviridae, Coronaviridae, Filoviridae, Flaviviridae, Hantaviridae, Nairoviridae, Orthomyxoviridae, Paramyxoviridae, Phenuiviridae, Poxviridae, Togaviridae, „Pathogen X" (see above).

Excluded are the following topics / aspects:

• Antimicrobial resistant (AMR) pathogens (resistant to antibiotics and antifungal agents). AMR pandemic will be addressed in detail in other networks/organisations such as the European partnership on One Health Antimicrobial Resistance (EUP OHAMR);
• Research exclusively on environmental and social causes for the emergence and spread of the pathogens;
• Research exclusively on the transmission dynamics and epidemiology of the pathogens;
• Clinical studies3.

Expected impact:

The funded projects are expected to generate scientific knowledge and innovative tools that strengthen European and global pandemic preparedness, inform evidence-based policy-making, and/or contribute to the development of novel countermeasures (diagnostics, therapeutics and preventive strategies) with a potential for rapid deployment during future health emergencies.

Timeline and eligibility criteria:

• 13^th April 2026 – pre-proposal submission
• 20^th August 2026 – full-proposal submission
• Min. 3 partner from at least 3 participating countries
• Max. 6 – 7 partner
• 1 External (own-funded) partner allowed
• 300,000 EUR German funding per project

Participating countries:

Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Moldova, New Zealand, Norway, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, The Netherlands, Türkiye

Further information:

https://beready4pandemics.eu/joint-transnational-calls/

Contact at EPC:

The ERC Starting Grant (StG) programme of the European Research Council (ERC) is the most prestigious funding schemes for frontier research in Europe and worldwide. Open to individual applicants from all scientific disciplines with a maximum of 10 years of research experience, it provides generous support to early stage researchers to carry out ground-breaking research for up to five years.

The ERC StG Masterclass will focus on how to write an application for such a competitive funding scheme.

Russ Hodge, science writer and communication trainer, and the ERC Grant Advisors of the European Project Center will give you insights and prepare a first draft together with you– the perfect basis to develop your own proposal!

ERC StG Masterclass – Develop your ERC application (https://tud.link/jy92ws)

April 15 2026; 10:00-12:00: Onboarding session (online)

April 17 & May 11, 2026; 10:00-17:00: Two-day workshop (in-person)
with a focus on storytelling and writing a successful ERC StG proposal

Please send your application including your CV, Track record and abstract (2000 characters) on your project idea by March 2nd, 2026, to epc@tu-dresden.de.

Maria Reiche-Fellows are highly encouraged to apply for the ERC StG Masterclass.

The ERC StG Masterclass is free of charge and exclusively for scientists of TUD and is organized by the EPC and the Graduate Academy of TUD.

The decision on your application for the ERC StG Masterclass will be made by the end of March.

Contact at EPC:

EUTOPIA invites you to be part of the next edition of the course "Financing Sustainable Blue Economy and Integration of Policies and Development". Learn how business, policy and sustainable use of the oceans interact and develop your own blue economy project with your team.

You can look forward to it:

• Learning from experts: Expository sessions and guest lectures bring knowledge from science and practice directly to you.

• Develop your own project: Work in teams of three to conceptualize and present an innovative project.

• Final pitch in Lisbon: Present your ideas to a panel of expertsand real investors- travel and accommodation included!

Who can take part?
3rd year Bachelor or Master students from EUTOPIA universities. Each group also needs a local teacher who can supervise the group and travel to Lisbon (expected April 24, 2026).

Application:
Please send the following documents to nova.inov.ped@unl.pt by February 13, 2026:

• Proof of academic achievements

• Letter of motivation

• Justification for participation as a group

Form | Info: Financing Sustainable Blue Economy and Integration of Policies and Development 2026 - Preencher o formulário

Take the opportunity to learn hands-on, gain international experience and actively shape the future of the oceans - in the inspiring city of Lisbon!

The Clean Hydrogen Partnership has opened its 2026 Call for Proposals, making €105 million available under Horizon Europe to support cutting-edge hydrogen research, development, and large-scale demonstration projects across Europe.

The call targets researchers and innovation teams working on technologies that move clean hydrogen closer to cost-effective, reliable, and scalable deployment. A strong emphasis is placed on upscaling, system integration, and real-world validation, bridging the gap between laboratory results and industrial application.

Who should apply

The call is open to universities, research institutes, technology centres, SMEs, industry partners, and public organisations forming international consortia from EU Member States and Horizon Europe associated countries. Projects must comply with Horizon Europe eligibility rules and demonstrate clear scientific excellence combined with strong implementation capacity.

Research areas & funding focus

The 2026 call covers the full hydrogen value chain, from production to end use, with dedicated budgets per area:

• Renewable hydrogen production (e.g. electrolysers, system efficiency) – €16 million
• Hydrogen storage and distribution (incl. pipelines, compression, carriers) – €17.5 million
• Transport applications (heavy-duty road, rail, maritime, aviation interfaces) – €25 million
• Hydrogen for heat and power (industrial heat, CHP, grid integration) – €16 million
• Cross-cutting research topics (safety, system integration, sustainability) – €5.5 million
• Hydrogen Valleys (integrated regional demonstration ecosystems) – €25 million

Most topics support Innovation Actions and demonstration projects, typically at medium to high TRLs, and are designed for consortia combining academic research with applied development.

Funding per project

The indicated budgets represent the total funding available per topic. Depending on the topic and action type, individual projects are expected to receive multi-million-euro grants, particularly for large-scale demonstrations and Hydrogen Valley projects.

Key dates & submission

• Call opening: 10 February 2026
• Deadline for submission: 15 April 2026 (17:00 CET)
  Researchers are encouraged to consult TUD’s European Project Center.

Further information:

• Work Programme etc.: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/call-proposals-2026-open_en
• Clean Hydrogen Partnership Info Day (Brussels) – 21/01/2026: https://www.clean-hydrogen.europa.eu/media/news/clean-hydrogen-partnership-info-day-call-2026-2025-12-18_en

Contact at EPC:

The EUTOPIA Learning Community invites students to take part in an international online project: "Environment Without Borders: Seeking Solutions for the Future". From January 26 to February 16, 2026, you will have the opportunity to discuss environmental issues together with students from other European universities, get to know intercultural perspectives and work on your own project in multidisciplinary teams.

Within three weeks, you will develop a poster and a pitch on a selected topic, which you will present as a team. Participation requirements are two online appointments via MS Teams: January 26, 14:30 CET (kick-off) and February 16, 14:30 CET (closing).

In addition to valuable intercultural experience, you can strengthen your team and communication skills and receive an international certificate from EUTOPIA.

Registration until January 22: Fill out the form here
Questions to: Melina.Delmas@warwick.ac.uk

On January 15, 2026, Prof. Roswitha Böhm, Vice-Rector for University Culture and Internationalization, and Prof. Angela Rösen-Wolff, Vice-Rector for Research and Technology Transfer, welcomed a high-level delegation, led by Secretary S. Krishnan from the Indian Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) at TUD Dresden University of Technology. Representatives from the German Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation (BMDS), Embassy of India, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism (SMWK) also took part. On TUD‘s side, the vice-rectors were accompanied by Prof. Andreas Pinkwart (TUD|excite), Prof. Karl Leo (Chair of Optoelectronics), Prof. Thomas Mikolajick (Chair of Nanoelectronics), and Prof. Christian Georg Mayr (Chair of Highly Parallel VLSI Systems and Neuro-Microelectronics), among others. The visit came immediately after Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s visit to India this week.

Prof. Ursula Staudinger, Rector of TUD, emphasized: “The visit of the MeitY Secretary–led delegation to TU Dresden, following the German Chancellor’s recent visit to India, underscores the strategic importance of our university as a trusted partner in international science and technology cooperation. Our collaboration with India goes beyond an academic partnership—it reflects a shared commitment to shaping a sustainable, technology-driven future. Through our transCampus partnership with IIT Madras, we unite research excellence, exceptional talent, and responsible innovation to tackle global challenges across borders.”

Prof. Roswitha Böhm remarked: “The visit underscores the critical role of global academic partnerships in shaping the digital future. By connecting disciplines and regions, we foster scientific excellence, societal impact, and the further development of our transCampus partnership with IIT Madras.”

Prof. Angela Rösen-Wolff added: “This high-level exchange with MeitY and Germany’s digital policy stakeholders provides vital momentum for collaborative research in semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and smart systems. Such partnerships are essential to strengthening technological sovereignty and addressing global challenges.”

The bilateral exchange aimed to discuss the expansion of cooperation, particularly in the areas of semiconductors, AI, electronics, IT, start-ups and innovation-driven entrepreneurship. This renewed meeting of high-level Indian partners at TUD coupled with leading Indo-German start-up initiatives testifies to the close partnership with India and underscores TUD's important role as a driving force for research-driven innovation and talent pipelines in cooperation with India.

Background: Close partnership between TUD and India

Every year, hundreds of young people from India begin their studies at TUD – Indian students make up the largest group of non-EU students at TUD. As a point of contact for these talented individuals and strengthening collaborations in science, teaching and entrepreneurship between Saxony and India, TUD opened a Scientific Liaison Office in Chennai on behalf of the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture and Tourism in 2024.

Also in 2024, TUD and the Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT Madras), one of the top-ranked universities in India, have formalized a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) to establish the "transCampus" partnership. It aims to create a framework to support interdisciplinary research, joint faculty, PhD students and Research Groups as well as dual-degree programs in Microelectronics and AI, Metabolic Diseases, Sustainability and Transport Science, and Entrepreneurship.

Contact
Dr. Avinash Chekuru
International Office
TUD Dresden University of Technology
Tel.: +49 351 463-36121
avinash.chekuru@tu-dresden.de

The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) has published its 2026 Annual Work Programme, setting out strategic priorities and funding opportunities for advancing circular bio-based innovation across Europe. The programme supports a wide range of research, innovation, and industrial deployment activities aligned with EU policy goals such as the Green Deal, EU Bioeconomy Strategy, and Clean Industrial Deal.

Under the new Work Programme, CBE JU will open a call for project proposals with a total indicative budget of €170.7 million to support collaborative projects spanning the full innovation chain — from early-stage research to large-scale industrial deployment.

Who can apply

The call is open to European research teams, universities, technology centres, SMEs, industry partners, and public organisations that form consortia with partners from different EU Member States or associated countries. Projects must align with Horizon Europe eligibility rules for collaborative research.

What’s funded

The Work Programme features 13 dedicated topics:

Flagship Innovation Actions (high-TRL industrial deployment):

• Boosting biorefinery competitiveness through biotech – €20 million
• SSbD bio-based alternatives for fertilising/crop protection – €20 million
• SSbD bio-based solutions for home/personal care – €20 million
• Diversification of nutritional food ingredient sources – €20 million
  (Projects in these topics can expect funding in the multi-million range aligned with these envelopes)

Innovation Actions (TRL 6–7):

• Biotech routes for valorisation of residual biomass – €14 million
• Bio-based additives for recyclability/biodegradability – €14 million
• Bio-based chemicals/materials from woody residues – €14 million
• High-performance, circular-by-design bio-based thermosets – €14 million
• Films and coatings for circular packaging – €14 million

Research and Innovation Actions (TRL 5):

• Separation and purification challenges in biorefineries – €6.5 million
• SSbD bio-based polymers from alternative sources – €6.5 million
• Breakthrough sustainable bio-based textile fibres – €6.5 million

Coordination and Support Action:

• Supporting industry transition to sustainable and circular bio-based products and processes – €1.2 million

Key dates & submission

• Call opening: 23 April 2026
• Deadline for submission: 22 September 2026 (17:00 Brussels time)
  Researchers are encouraged to prepare proposals early and coordinate with TUD’s European Project Center.

Further information:

• Work Programme: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/open-calls-proposals
• CBE JU Info Day (online) – 12/03/2026: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/events/cbe-ju-info-day-2026
• CBE JU Stakeholder Forum (in-person) – 24/03/2026: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/events/cbe-ju-stakeholder-forum-2026
• CBE JU Networking Event (in-person) – 21/04/2026: https://www.cbe.europa.eu/events/cbe-ju-networking-event

Contact at EPC:

Our Alumnus of the month is an expert in electrical engineering. Dr. Stefan Rothe's doctorate focused on lightwave programming and now conducts research at Yale University.

Back then, he regarded the broad scope of the electrical engineering program as both a blessing and a curse. “During the course of the studies, you undoubtedly get to know many fascinating and highly diverse technologies and their characteristics. However, until late in my studies (seventh semester), I still had no idea which industry I really wanted to work in later on,” he remembers.

Among the topics advertised, he was attracted to the current research topics of Daniel Haufe, then a doctoral student in measurement technology. He was programming light waves that he sends through a glass fiber to build hair-thin microendoscopes. “I still remember being completely astonished that something like this was actually possible – I was immediately captivated by the topic. So much so that I ended up doing my PhD on “secure fiber-optic communication” using light-wave programming – a topic I still work on today.

His advice for new students: “Don’t stress yourselves out, and enjoy your time at university as much as possible! It won't hurt you to consciously extend your time a little, for example with semesters abroad (I really enjoyed my ERASMUS semester in England) or by doing an internship or two.“

Click here for the detailed portrait.

Did you also study at TU Dresden and would like to stay in touch with your alma mater? Then become a member of the TUD alumni network.

Contact:
Susann Mayer
Alumni Relations Office of the TU Dresden
Phone: +49 351 463-36278
susann.mayer@tu-dresden.de