The European Reform University Alliance (ERUA) invites students, academic staff and researchers from Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) to participate in ERUA iDeaThon 2026, an international initiative aimed at fostering innovative ideas, social entrepreneurship and solutions to pressing societal challenges. The application deadline is 24 November 2026.
Taking place online from October to December, the initiative will bring together members of the eight ERUA universities and regional stakeholders. Participants will have the opportunity to collaborate with experts from different fields, develop their ideas, receive mentoring and present their proposed solutions to an international Evaluation Committee.
Five Thematic Areas
Participants are invited to develop ideas addressing challenges within one of ERUA's five thematic areas:
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Migration, Exile and Refugees;
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Democracy and Human Rights, Inclusion and Gender Equality;
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Environmental Transition;
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Interculturality and Multilingualism;
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Arts and Edges.
Applications can be submitted individually or in teams of up to five members. The initiative is open to Bachelor's, Master's and PhD students, academic and research staff, as well as regional stakeholders. Teams involving academic or research staff and external stakeholders must include at least one ERUA student.
Up to €5,000 in Funding for the Best Ideas
The three highest-ranked ideas will receive financial support for further development: €5,000 for first place, €3,000 for second place and €1,000 for third place. These awards will cover eligible project-related expenses, such as training, mentoring, prototyping and testing innovative solutions.
Participants will also have the opportunity to attend the ERUA Bootcamp in Las Palmas in 2027, while the winning ideas will have the chance to be further developed at the ERUA Hackathon in Lesvos, Greece, in May 2027.
How to Participate
Applications must be submitted in English by 24 November 2026, at 23:59 CET. Participants do not need a finished product or a detailed business plan. The most important requirements are a clearly defined idea, the societal challenge it addresses and its potential impact.
Selected participants will present their proposals to the Evaluation Committee on 9–10 December, with the results announced on 11 December 2026.
More information about the initiative, eligibility requirements and application process is available on the official ERUA website.