ETH Zurich launches the Innovate Cities and Infrastructure call: an opportunity for Slovak organisations

ETH for Development (ETH4D) at ETH Zurich, in collaboration with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), has launched the “Innovate Cities and Infrastructure” call for proposals. The call supports collaboration between researchers and practice partners to develop innovative solutions for sustainable urban development and resilient infrastructure. Slovakia is among the eligible countries. The application deadline is 15 November 2026.

Research addressing the specific needs of cities

Cities are facing increasing pressure to ensure high-quality infrastructure, sustainable energy systems, efficient transport and effective public services. The Innovate Cities and Infrastructure programme therefore brings together researchers, policymakers and practitioners to develop solutions that can be applied to the specific conditions and needs of cities and regions.

The programme supports interdisciplinary, practice-oriented research focused on sustainable urban development, resilient infrastructure and effective local governance. Particular emphasis is placed on co-creating solutions, the practical application of research results, their scalability and their long-term local impact.

The call is based on cooperation between the academic and non-academic sectors. Project consortia must include a researcher or research group from ETH Zurich or another institution within the ETH Domain, as well as at least one non-academic practice partner from an eligible country. Eligible practice partners include public institutions, private companies and civil society organisations. Academic institutions may also participate in projects but cannot replace the required non-academic partner.

Slovakia is among the eligible countries

The call covers several countries in which SECO supports sustainable urban development and infrastructure. Slovakia is among the eligible countries, alongside Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania and Slovenia.

For Slovak organisations, the call offers an opportunity to engage in international cooperation with the research expertise of ETH Zurich and other ETH Domain institutions and to jointly address specific urban development and infrastructure challenges.

Two types of grants

Consortia can apply for one of two types of funding:

1. Urban Research Grant

This grant supports collaborative, project-based research aimed at identifying, developing, testing or evaluating an innovative output, tool, policy, service or prototype that addresses a specific urban development or infrastructure challenge. Projects must have a clearly defined research question and aim to generate a positive impact in an eligible country.

Grant amount: up to CHF 350,000
Project duration: up to 24 months
Co-funding: normally at least 50% of the requested amount. For projects in the Slovak Republic and other selected countries, the required co-funding is at least 30% of the requested amount.

2. Urban Pilot Grant

This smaller grant is primarily intended to develop new partnerships, prepare and design a new applied research project, or conduct pilot and feasibility studies. It can also serve as a preparatory step towards a subsequent application for a larger Urban Research Grant.

Grant amount: up to CHF 30,000
Project duration: up to 12 months
Co-funding: not required.

What topics can projects address?

The call focuses on two main areas: sustainable urban development and infrastructure systems. The eligible research themes include:

Climate and environmental protection
Energy
Finance and urban governance
Mobility and transport
Solid waste management
Spatial planning and urban design
Water

The call offers considerable scope for practical solutions. These may include digital tools for urban planning, innovative methodologies for transport and public infrastructure planning, technologies for decentralised energy production and management, sustainable sanitation solutions, or tools to improve the governance of urban infrastructure.

Projects that integrate these themes with digitalisation, artificial intelligence and gender equality are particularly encouraged.

Bridging research and practice

One of the key features of the call is its focus on the needs of practice partners. The research question should address a specific challenge or need identified by the practice partner, and the project results should be applicable in real-world settings.

Organisations facing specific challenges in urban development, transport, energy, water management, waste management, urban planning or local governance can therefore establish partnerships with researchers from ETH Zurich or other ETH Domain institutions.

How to get involved?

If you already have a partner from ETH Zurich or another ETH Domain institution, you can prepare a joint project proposal and apply under the call.

If you do not yet have a research partner, you can submit your project idea through the ETH4D matchmaking form. The call is open until 15 November 2026.

Practice partners can come from the public, private or civil society sectors. For Slovak organisations, this represents an opportunity to bring a specific challenge from Slovakia into an international research partnership while benefiting from the research expertise and technological capacities of ETH Zurich.

Further information

An information webinar on the call will take place on 5 October 2026. Further details and registration are available HERE.

Detailed information on the call requirements, application process, eligible research themes and countries, as well as opportunities to find a research partner, is available on the ETH for Development (ETH4D) website – Innovate Cities and Infrastructure – ETH Zurich

Information sheet

Detailed application guidelines

For Slovak cities, public institutions, companies and civil society organisations, this call offers an opportunity to collaborate with leading European research institutions to address specific challenges related to sustainable urban development and infrastructure.