Call for applications to create networks promoting girls and women in STEM and ICT

The PESSOAS 2030 Programme has launched Call PESSOAS-2025-27 – Creation of networks to promote girls and women in STEM and ICT, with applications open to support projects aimed at addressing gender inequalities and increasing the interest and participation of girls and women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics and digital technologies.

The call has a total budget of approximately €8.8 million and supports operations that must include actions to articulate and activate networks, mentoring initiatives, awareness-raising on gender equality, hands-on activities in STEM and ICT, as well as communication and evaluation actions.

Applications may be submitted in two phases via the Balcão dos Fundos platform:

• Phase 1: until 6.00 pm on 26 February 2026;

• Phase 2: until 6.00 pm on 31 March 2026, should the allocated budget not be fully committed in Phase 1.

The call is open to business confederations and associations, higher education institutions, non-governmental organisations, private social solidarity institutions and other non-profit associations, with projects to be developed in the North, Centre and Alentejo regions.

This call is aligned with national strategies for equality and inclusion, as well as with Action #18 of the 2026–2027 Action Plan of the Portugal Digital Strategy – National Programme for Girls in STEM, which aims to empower girls to pursue educational and professional pathways in STEM and ICT by providing role models, structured support and opportunities for professional experimentation.

As part of the information and clarification activities regarding participation in the call, an online information session will take place on 13 January 2026, at 2.30 pm, via Microsoft Teams, promoted by the Managing Authority of PESSOAS 2030 and the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality (Comissão para a Cidadania e a Igualdade de Género, CIG). The session aims to explain the conditions for application and implementation of the supported operations.

Interested entities may register for the information session and should consult the official call documents available on the PESSOAS 2030 and CIG websites for further details.