Register now for the futurEU Competition 2026

Europe’s Path to Resilience: Shaping the Future of Security & Defence

This year's competition rules

Last years competition report

Registration is open

Open till January 19, 2026

Team Registration

Open till January 12, 2026

Individual Registration

We are excited to launch this year’s futurEU Competition, an initiative that brings students’ ideas into real policy debate. The 2026 theme invites you to think boldly about how Europe can strengthen its resilience and shape the future of security & defence.

We understand resilience and strategic autonomy broadly and inclusively: not only military security & defence, but also economic security and supply chains, energy and climate security, social cohesion, digital sovereignty and democratic stability. There are no limits to your interpretation!

Who can join?

Open to all students and PhD researchers across the CIVICA alliance.

What’s in it for you?

All finalists will be flown to Berlin to present their proposals!

The winning policy brief will be published by IAI!

How to register

Form a team and register by 19 January — click here

Sign up individually by 12 January and we’ll help you find teammates — click here

“The futurEU Competition is a dynamic and inspiring project where students like you can propose fresh ideas and innovative solutions for the European Union’s future.”

Enrico Letta, EU Rapporteur on the future of the Single Market, President of the Jacques Delors Institute and former Prime Minister of Italy

The competition

In 2020, futurEU launched the futurEU competition for its first edition ever, with the support of the Jacques Delors Centre Berlin, the Hertie School and CIVICA - the European University of Social Sciences. The competition on shaping the EU of tomorrow bridges the gap between young people’s voices and opinions on one hand and public discourse and academic research on the other. It is open to all students and PhD researchers of the CIVICA alliance.

Learn more