EULAR Equity Fund

EULAR Equity Fund - Call For Proposals 2026


Call details 

  • Call opens: 6 March 2026.  
  • Deadline: 10 April 2026 (23:59 CET).  
  • Funding decision: Expected June 2026.  
  • Grant agreement: Expected Q3 2026.  

What is the EULAR Equity Fund? 
In today’s world, notable disparities persist in access to rheumatology care, education, and research. Building on its strategic mission and values, EULAR is committed to promoting equitable access to rheumatology care, prevention, and research worldwide. To advance this commitment, EULAR is launching the EULAR Equity Fund; a global initiative supporting projects that improve access to rheumatology services and promote sustainable, patient-centred, and preventive solutions. 

Despite important progress in the field, many communities, particularly those in low-resource settings, continue to face barriers to timely diagnosis, treatment, and long-term support for people living with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). Addressing these inequities is a core objective of the EULAR Equity Fund. 


This fund reflects EULAR’s long-term commitment to reducing the burden of RMDs and improving the quality of life for people living with these conditions by empowering applicants to implement appropriate solutions and strengthen rheumatology care within their communities. 


Types of projects supported  
The proposed projects should have a clear focus on advancing medical, educational, research and/or patient care in the field of rheumatology, with the aim of decreasing inequity in rheumatology care around the world.  

Examples of eligible project areas in the field of rheumatology:  

  • Advocacy and patient empowerment  
  • Education and training  
  • Research  
  • Capacity-building  
  • Digital health  
  • Service delivery models


Requirements

  • Applicants should be affiliated with institutions and organisations that are engaged in rheumatology care, clinical research, education, or advocacy. Commitment to excellence in rheumatological care is highly valued. 
  • Each applicant may submit only one proposal per call, and each institution may serve as the primary host for only one proposal per call. 
  • Low-and middle-income countries (LMICS) are particularly encouraged to apply.   
  • Collaborative projects between institutions in LMICS and high-income countries are welcome, provided that the LMIC partner serves as the lead applicant and primary grant recipient. 
  • All projects should: 
  1. demonstrate relevance to advancing rheumatology care in the applicant’s underserved community. 
  2. preferably include a measurable impact of the results of the project. 
  3. include sustainability or scalability plans where feasible. 
  • Project duration: Up to a maximum of 24 months. 
  • Annual reporting is required. One-year projects must submit a mid-term report.


Funding

  • The maximum grant amount may not exceed EUR 50,000.   
  • Overhead/ Indirect costs shall not be covered by the grant. 

To note:

Projects that overlap with, duplicate, or fall within the scope of other existing EULAR funding schemes (e.g., Research, Education programmes, or Quality of Care Task forces and implementation projects) are not eligible for the Equity Fund and may be redirected or rejected during the administrative screening phase.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted online in English via the EULAR Advocacy webpage.


Core components of the applications (detailed in the Application form):

  • Abstract (a summary of the proposal) 
  • Lay summary 
  • Full proposal  
  • Relevance to the EULAR Equity Fund’s purpose
  • Budget (total amount and description)
  • Project Implementation
  • Impact plan

Applications will open soon.

Projects may run for up to a maximum of 24 months.

The World Bank income classifications* (for non-EULAR member countries) and EULAR’s list of “Low- and Middle-Income EULAR Member Countries” shall be used to determine eligibility of applications.

*On this page you can check how does the Word Bank classify countries.

Projects from high-income countries may be considered eligible if they focus on marginalised or vulnerable communities, such as refugees, migrants, or other underserved populations.

Collaborative projects between institutions in low-and-middle income (LMICS) and high-income countries are welcome, provided that the LMIC partner serves as the lead applicant and primary grant recipient.

No. Each applicant may submit only one proposal per call, and each institution may serve as the primary host for only one proposal per call.

No. Project budgets may not exceed EUR 50,000, but proposals with smaller budgets are also welcome.

No. Projects that overlap with, duplicate, or fall within the scope of other existing EULAR funding schemes (e.g., Research, Education programmes, or Quality of Care Task forces and implementation projects) are not eligible for the Equity Fund and may be redirected or rejected during the administrative screening phase.

All applications must be submitted in English. All further documents and communication must be in English.