The INGENIUM Student Partnerships 2026 Call selects six innovative student-led projects across the Alliance

Following the successful launch of the 2026 Student Partnerships Call earlier this year, students from across the ten partner universities once again demonstrated a strong commitment to intercultural cooperation, innovation and active participation within the INGENIUM Community.

The 2026 call for proposals, open between 16 February and 5 April 2026, attracted significant interest from across the Alliance. Besides the multitude of individual expressions of interest, a total of nine joint applications were submitted by transnational teams composed of students and student organisations representing multiple INGENIUM partner universities. The proposals addressed a wide range of topics, including sustainability, entrepreneurship, mobility, digital collaboration, health education and infrastructure innovation, reflecting the diversity and creativity of the Alliance’s student community.

The Student Partnerships initiative serves as a seed funding mechanism designed to encourage collaboration among students from different countries, disciplines and institutional backgrounds. Through these projects, students are empowered to co-create solutions, develop practical competences and contribute actively to the vision of the European Universities Initiative and the INGENIUM European Campus.

A transparent and collaborative evaluation process

The evaluation of the submitted proposals was carried out according to the principles of transparency, fairness and equal treatment. Each project was assessed jointly by a Steering Committee member and a Student Board representative, ensuring both institutional oversight and a strong student perspective throughout the selection process.

Projects were evaluated based on three key criteria established in the call:

  • Relevance to INGENIUM Alliance goals
  • Quality and design of the partnership
  • Reach and potential impact

Out of the nine submitted proposals, one project was deemed ineligible during the admissibility phase, as it did not fulfil the minimum requirement of involving students from at least three INGENIUM universities.

Following the evaluation process, six projects were selected for support under the 2026 Student Partnerships Call. The selected initiatives stood out for their strong transnational cooperation, innovative approaches and potential to generate meaningful impact for students and society.

Discover the selected projects

Participating institutions: TUIASI, UNIOVI, HS, Ud’A, UoC, Xamk, MUS, HKA, MTU
Funding awarded: €10,000

With the highest evaluation score in this year’s call, this project proposes the development of an interactive escape room experience focused on sustainability challenges within the university environment. By combining gamification, teamwork and environmental awareness, the initiative aims to engage students across the Alliance in creative problem-solving while promoting sustainable thinking and collaborative learning.

Participating institutions: UNIOVI, URN, TUIASI
Funding awarded: €7,800

EcoCommute addresses the environmental impact of student mobility by exploring more sustainable approaches to transportation during internships and international exchanges. The project seeks to encourage environmentally responsible mobility choices while supporting accessibility and international cooperation among students participating in transnational learning experiences.

Participating institutions: MUS, Ud’A, Xamk
Funding awarded: €10,000

This initiative focuses on strengthening students’ entrepreneurial and leadership competences through collaborative international activities and practical learning opportunities. The project aims to support the development of transferable skills that prepare students for the evolving European labour market while fostering innovation and intercultural teamwork.

Participating institutions: UNIOVI, HS, Ud’A
Funding awarded: €10,000

Combining health education and interactive learning, ImmunoBattle proposes innovative ways to raise awareness about the immune system and public health topics among students. The project promotes interdisciplinary collaboration and accessible science communication through engaging educational activities designed for a broad student audience.

Participating institutions: UNIOVI, TUIASI, HS
Funding awarded: €7,550

Drawing inspiration from the “10 Days of INGENIUM” model, the project proposes an intensive, in-person programme hosted in Oviedo that combines skills-based workshops, cultural exchange activities, guided visits, and field trips across Asturias. The programme is designed to bring together ESN volunteers from multiple European countries, equip them with practical organisational and intercultural competences, and foster lasting collaboration across national and institutional boundaries.

Participating institutions: TUIASI, MTU, HKA, Ud’A, HS
Funding awarded: €8,200

InfrastructureLink focuses on strengthening cooperation and knowledge exchange in the field of infrastructure and engineering. Through international collaboration and interdisciplinary perspectives, the project aims to encourage innovative approaches to infrastructure-related challenges while supporting competence development among participating students.

Extra support for student innovation

The selected projects reflect the growing maturity and ambition of student collaboration within the INGENIUM Alliance. By bringing together students from different cultural, academic and professional backgrounds, the initiative contributes to the development of a more connected, inclusive and innovative European higher education environment.

In addition to the final selected projects, the initiators of the proposals INGENIUM+ and ResQDrone will also be supported in identifying alternative funding opportunities, recognising the value and potential of their ideas. 

INGENIUM+ (MTU, TUIASI, XAMK) aims to enhance communication and collaboration opportunities across the Alliance by developing a shared digital environment for students. The initiative seeks to strengthen connectivity within the INGENIUM community and facilitate easier access to information, resources and collaborative opportunities.

ResQDrone (HKA, HS and UNIOVI) plans to deploy AI-powered drones that support local authorities and minimize the time of rescue where every second counts. The project also includes hands-on workshops for high schools to engage students with AI, robotics, and engineering.

Selected teams will participate in a kick-off meeting scheduled for May 2026, where implementation guidelines, timelines and reporting procedures will be presented. The implementation phase will run until 15 December 2026, with final reports due by the end of the year.

As the INGENIUM Alliance continues to expand opportunities for student engagement, the Student Partnerships initiative remains a strong example of how international collaboration, creativity and student-driven innovation can contribute to shaping the future of the European University ecosystem.