Thinking about a career in clean energy? The wind sector is growing fast, but Europe needs more skilled people to help power the transition. That is where DigiWind comes in.
DigiWind is an EU-funded project designed to give students top-quality training in wind energy and digital technology. Through F6S, DigiWind offers funding opportunities to help cover study costs, university fees, and living expenses.
We spoke with Natalia Cardona, Project Manager at F6S and Open Calls Manager for DigiWind, to learn how these scholarships work and how you can submit a winning application.
What is the main goal of the DigiWind Open Calls?
Natalia Cardona: DigiWind exists to help close the skills gap in the clean energy sector.
Our Open Calls provide scholarships and fee waivers at partner universities across Europe like the Technical University of Denmark, Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Technological University Shannon in Ireland and Gdansk University of Technology in Poland.
The goal is to bring digital skills, like artificial intelligence and data science into wind and energy engineering. By removing financial barriers, we help students join specialised programmes that prepare them directly for jobs in this fast-growing sector.
We currently have funding options available through the NTNU Open Call 2 and Gdańsk Tech. Could you give us a quick overview of what these awards offer to applicants?
Natalia Cardona: We currently have two main opportunities available.
- The first is the NTNU Open Call 2, which offers up to 15 candidates a €6,940 stipend to cover living and subsistence costs during a six-month exchange in Trondheim, Norway. This is available within either the Master’s in Electric Power Engineering or the Master’s in Marine Technology, with deadlines on 2 November 2026 for the Spring 2027 intake and 1 March 2027 for the Autumn 2027 intake.
- The second is the Gdańsk Tech Open Call #1, which awards 13 merit-based scholarships of €5,000 each for students enrolled in the Master’s in Smart Renewable Energy Engineering. This programme covers cutting-edge fields like AI, Big Data, Digital Twins, and virtual reality turbine training alongside industry research projects, with applications closing on 15 October 2026 at 17:00 CET.
What makes an application stand out to the evaluators?
Natalia Cardona: The strongest candidates show two things: good grades and a clear sense of purpose.
Writing a strong motivation letter that connects your personal goals to the green transition makes a big difference.
For the Gdańsk Tech call, rankings are based on your grade average (GPA). If two applicants have the same grades, the evaluators look at your Achievements Portfolio. Submitting that portfolio is optional, but I strongly recommend adding it- it could be the deciding factor!
What is the most common mistake applicants make?
Natalia Cardona: The most common mistake is submitting an incomplete application.
This usually means forgetting a grade transcript, a degree certificate, or an English language certificate. Every application goes through an eligibility check first. If documents are missing, the proposal is rejected before evaluators even read it.
How to avoid this:
- Save all your documents as standard PDFs (make sure there are no print restrictions).
- Use the reference application form to prepare your answers ahead of time.
- Do not wait until the final hour to submit!
What is your top advice for anyone on the fence about applying?
Natalia Cardona: Go for it!
The application process is free, clear, and fair. Studying at a top European university with financial support is a life-changing opportunity.
Start by reading the eligibility rules. If you meet the criteria, you are already in a great position. If you get stuck or have questions, our team is always here to help you through the process.
Ready to apply?
Check your eligibility and submit your application today on the DigiWind F6S Portal.