As part of our commitment to sharing opportunities that strengthen regional cooperation, dialogue, and youth engagement, RYCO is pleased to bring attention to a new partner call from CEFTA.

 

The CEFTA Board of Wisdom is an initiative that connects universities, research centers, and think tanks across CEFTA Parties and interested EU Member States, creating a bridge between academic research and policy needs.

 

Through the CEFTA Research Award 2026, young researchers are invited to submit policy paper concept notes on themes aligned with CEFTA’s 2026 priorities.

 

 

The CEFTA Board of Wisdom aims to bring academic knowledge closer to real policy processes by supporting research that can contribute to evidence-based decision-making in the region.

 

By opening space for PhD students and master’s thesis candidates to contribute their ideas, the call encourages young researchers to look beyond theory and explore how their work can respond to real policy needs.

 

The initiative also strengthens the link between universities, research centers, think tanks, and CEFTA structures, supporting a more active exchange between those producing knowledge and those shaping regional policy discussions.

 

The call is open to PhD students and master’s thesis candidates, who are invited to propose original policy research with practical recommendations on intra-CEFTA trade, regulatory convergence, and integration with the EU Single Market.

 

The journey begins with a simple but powerful first step: a policy research idea. Young researchers are invited to submit a concept note that brings fresh thinking and practical recommendations to topics connected with intra-CEFTA trade, regulatory convergence, and integration with the EU Single Market. Research proposals should address one of three thematic areas: Trade in Agri-food Products, Trade in Industrial Products, or Trade in Services.

 

The call was published on 11 May 2026, and interested applicants have time to prepare their submissions carefully. Clarification requests can be sent until 31 May 2026 at 17:00 CET, while consolidated answers will be published by 7 June 2026.

 

The deadline to submit concept notes is 30 June 2026 at 17:00 CET.

 

After the review and peer commentary process, six candidates will be selected to take their ideas further and develop them into full policy papers between July and the end of October 2026.

 

The CEFTA Research Award 2026 will recognize:

3 winners—each receiving EUR 4,000
3 Runners-Up—each receiving EUR 1,000

 

The winning papers will be announced and presented during the CEFTA Week 2026 Award Ceremony in Tirana in December 2026, followed by further presentations in Bosnia and Herzegovina in January 2027 and Brussels in February 2027.

 

From a short concept note to a full policy paper, this process gives young researchers the chance to turn their ideas into contributions that can support regional dialogue and evidence-based policymaking.

 

Interested candidates should visit the CEFTA call page, where they can download the required forms and access the Submission Portal.

 

Applicants must complete and upload the following documents in PDF format, following the file naming conventions set out in the Call Dossier:

Applicant Identification and Eligibility Form
Concept Note — maximum 5 pages
Declaration of Honour and Conflict of Interest

 

All submissions must be uploaded through the Submission Portal before 30 June 2026, 17:00 CET. Incomplete or late submissions will not be evaluated.