Applications open for ANIS Scholarships 2026: 21 grants worth 5,000 euros backed by a record 16 IT companies

The Employers’ Association of the Software and Services Industry (ANIS) has opened applications for the 9th edition of the ANIS Scholarships, a program dedicated to young university teaching staff who integrate new technologies and innovative methods into the educational process.

This year, the program will award 21 grants worth €5,000 each, supported by a record 16 companies from the IT industry. The 2026 edition therefore marks the strongest involvement to date from industry partners in supporting the program.

Romania is investing in the development of digital skills, the modernization of universities, and infrastructure for technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud computing, cybersecurity and automation. The main challenge, however, remains turning these investments into advanced skills, meaningful collaboration between universities and companies, and career opportunities that help retain specialists in Romania, as also highlighted by the Digital Decade Report Romania 2026.

“The ANIS Scholarships reflect our commitment to supporting education and technology development in Romania. The record involvement of 16 companies from the industry this year clearly shows the need to accelerate the connection between education and the pace of technological change. It is a joint response from the industry to an increasingly urgent need: developing the skills Romania will need in the coming years. By supporting early-career teaching staff who bring new methods and perspectives into the classroom, we contribute to preparing a new generation of technology specialists,” said Corina Vasile, Executive Director of ANIS.

Applications for the ANIS Scholarships 2026 are open from September 1 to September 23, 2026. Candidates can apply through a dedicated platform available on the ANIS website, where they can complete the application process and upload the required documents.

Projects can be submitted in the following categories:

• Big Data
• Cybersecurity
• Artificial Intelligence / Machine Learning
• Internet of Things
• Cloud Computing
• Tech for All – courses using technology in non-IT faculties
• Quantum Computing
• Healthtech
• AI for All – courses using artificial intelligence in non-IT faculties

Who can apply

The program is open to young teaching staff who:

• are 40 years old or younger;
• are lecturers, university assistants or PhD students;
• integrate new technologies and innovative teaching methods into courses or laboratories delivered during the 2026–2027 academic year;
• propose new or significantly updated courses or laboratories, with updates of at least 50% in 2025 or 60% over the past two years.

The ANIS Scholarships are open to projects developed both at technical universities and faculties and at non-technical faculties that integrate technology into the educational process.

Projects selected during the first evaluation stage will subsequently move to an interview stage with members of the evaluation committee.

The winners of the 2026 edition will be announced on November 10, 2026, during the ANIS Scholarships Gala, hosted by Politehnica University Timișoara.