Specialised Education Programmes in Key Capacity Areas

Phortify Grants for the Be Part of Phortify program directed at students from underrepresented genders in STEM*

Live frontier research together with other women in STEM!

Phortify Grants, to attend the 3-day program, is directed to women and other underrepresented genders* enrolled in STEM undergraduate programs, aiming at bringing them closer to the opportunities and reality of careers in deep tech, specifically in photonics. This intensive program will take place at ICFO, in the Barcelona area, over 3 consecutive days in July 2026. 

The program aims at giving participants the opportunity to: 

1. get to know researchers in photonics and gain insight into frontier research 
2. experience the daily life of a researcher at a world-class research institute 
3. get inspiration for their future career paths in STEM and deep tech 
4. build a network with peers and researchers in the field 

The program includes: 

1. A 3-day visit to ICFO and meeting with the ICFO community 
2. In pairs, a one-day laboratory stay within an ICFO research group, offering the opportunity to see the labs and offices, interact with the scientists, and experience their daily life 
3. A career development session in which they will get a sneak peek of the multitude of multidisciplinary prospects enabled by photonics  
4. Networking sessions to grow their network with researchers and other participants of the program 
5. A training session that will provide the opportunity to develop transferable skills that will be useful for their career progression 

*This program welcomes students from genders underrepresented in STEM, particularly women, including both cis and trans women, as well as non-binary and genderqueer individuals. The financial support provided under this call is intended to contribute to costs such as travel, accommodation, subsistence, and participation-related expenses.  

The event itself is free of charge but registration is mandatory via Be Part of Phortify application form.

(this refers to registration only, to apply for the funding see below)

Participating partners: 

ICFO 

How to apply for funding 

Funding opportunities will be advertised through (1) the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, (2) the official Phortify website and (3) the official Phortify partner websites. 

Applications for Phortify funding must be submitted via the Phortify website. Applicants are required to consult the dedicated MyPhortify page, where all funding opportunities available under this pilot call are listed together with detailed application instructions and links to the relevant local application forms. 

Nationality eligibility 

1. Applicants must be nationals of an EU Member State, an associated country, or a country with which the European Union has an ongoing cooperation agreement under the Digital Europe Programme. 
2. Eligible countries include, inter alia, countries participating in Digital Partnerships, Trade and Technology Councils, digital dialogues, or other forms of ongoing international cooperation with the European Commission in the field of digital technologies. 

The authoritative list of eligible countries will be published as part of this call and may be updated in accordance with European Commission guidance. 

Eligibility 

Eligible recipients under this call are students belonging to one of the following categories: 

1. Undergraduate students enrolled in a STEM undergraduate Programme 

In all cases, applicants must: 

1. be students at the time of participation in the workshop 
2. demonstrate a clear link between the programme and their academic or professional development 
3. Submit the following documents: 
4. a curriculum vitae (CV) 
5. a “Be Part of Phortify”-specific motivation letter outlining their interest in the programme and its relevance to their career development 

Applications that fail to meet the minimum eligibility requirements or that do not include the required documentation will be declared ineligible and will not be further evaluated. 

Evaluation and selection 

The predefined evaluation framework applicable to this call is published on the Phortify website as a dedicated evaluation framework document and applies to all partner institutions. 

1. Purpose and Scope 

This description defines the evaluation framework applied to applications submitted under the Phortify Grants for the Be Part of Phortify program directed to women and other underrepresented genders in STEM - Pilot Call. 

The framework ensures transparency, equal treatment of applicants, and alignment with the objectives of the Phortify project, including its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) principles. 

2. Evaluation Principles 

The evaluation process is based on the following principles: 

1. Transparency and traceability of decisions 
2. Equal and fair treatment of all applicants 
3. Merit-based selection 
4. Consideration of DEI objectives in line with EU guidance 

3. Evaluation Process Overview 

The evaluation consists of two sequential stages: 

1. Eligibility verification (pass/fail) 
2. Comparative assessment and ranking 

4. Stage 1 – Eligibility Verification 

Applications are checked for compliance with all eligibility requirements defined in the call text. Applicants must submit all required supporting documentation, including a Phortify-specific motivation letter and a curriculum vitae (CV). 

Applications that fail to meet the eligibility requirements or that do not include the required documentation are declared ineligible and are not further evaluated. 

5. Stage 2 – Comparative Assessment 

Eligible applications are assessed comparatively using the criteria below. Each criterion is scored independently on a scale from 0 to 5 points. 

Evaluation Criteria 

1. Motivation and Alignment with Phortify Objectives (0/5): Quality, coherence, and relevance of the motivation letter. 
2. Overall Applicant Profile (0/5): Skills, experience, background, and potential contribution to the Phortify community, as reflected in the CV. 

Maximum total score: 10 points. 

Ranking and Allocation of Funding 

Funding will be awarded following a closed call procedure. Applications must be submitted by the published deadline; late submissions are not eligible. 

Applications are ranked in descending order based on the total score obtained. Funding is allocated in order of merit until the available budget assigned to each partner institution under the call is exhausted. 

In cases of oversubscription, priority is given to higher-ranked applications. Where applications receive identical or comparable evaluation results, tie-break rules promoting underrepresented groups, including students from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds, will be applied in line with Phortify DEI objectives. 

Selection Committees 

Applications are evaluated by local selection committees established by the Phortify partner institutions. Committees apply this evaluation framework consistently and impartially. Members must declare any conflicts of interest and ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are in place. 

Documentation and transparency 

The partner institutions document evaluation outcomes and funding decisions. Awarded grants are communicated to the Phortify Coordinator. Aggregate data will be reported in accordance with the project’s reporting obligations. 

Available funding under this call 

Type and duration of financial support 

Financial support under this call is provided in the form of lump-sum grants not linked to duration, intended to contribute to students’ costs related to participation in the program, such as travel, accommodation, and subsistence. 

ICFO - 5 Phortify grants for the Be Part of Phortify program directed to women - Pilot Call of € 600 - lump sum not linked to duration 

Financial support may only be used for the activities listed above; no other activities are eligible. 

Disclaimer:

This call (as well as the financial support provided through it) is NOT an EU action. This call is launched solely by Phortify. The financial support to the selected successful applicants will be provided directly by Phortify in its own name and under its own responsibility. Phortify’s responsibility includes the preparation and drafting of this call as well as the selection of successful applicants who will receive the said financial support. The publication of this call in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal is made solely for information purposes with the aim of increasing the visibility of this call to the general public, including to potential applicants (i.e. students). The said publication shall not be construed as direct or indirect approval of the content and conditions of this call by the relevant EU authorities or as any form of waiver from the above-described responsibility of Phortify.