How to Purchase Solar Eclipse Glasses with EU Grant Support

EU grants and funding can be used to purchase solar eclipse glasses, especially if the purpose is educational, scientific outreach, or advancing innovation in schools, municipalities, or non-governmental organizations. Dedicated programs like Erasmus+, Horizon Europe, and cascade grants are available, and they often support equipment for STEM, public outreach, and community development projects.[1][2][3][4]

Step-by-Step Guide: Buying Solar Eclipse Glasses with EU Grant Support

1. Identify Grant Programs

There are several EU grant programs that support purchasing educational materials, scientific equipment, or tools for public outreach events:

• Erasmus+: Funds educational projects, including equipment for schools and lifelong learning centers[2][4].
• Horizon Europe: Offers major grants for scientific research, innovation, and technological development—local governments, schools, and NGOs are eligible[1][2].
• Cascade Grants: Smaller, faster grants available for equipment acquisition, STEM initiatives, and community outreach; amounts may range from €60,000 to €250,000[1][3].

2. Check Eligibility

• Local governments, public schools, universities, and registered NGOs in the EU are usually eligible for such grants[1][3][4].
• Private companies can sometimes apply, especially for innovation or outreach programs, but must often be in partnership with public or nonprofit organizations[1][2].

3. Prepare Your Application / Consortium

• Grants may require you to build a project proposal outlining objectives (e.g., public solar safety campaign, STEM education, research outreach)[2][1].
• Larger grants, such as those from Horizon Europe, usually require a consortium of organizations from multiple EU countries[1][2].
• Cascade grants or Erasmus+ microfunding may be simpler, requiring just one lead organization[3][4].

4. Select Certified Glasses Supplier

• Choose suppliers who offer CE Category II PPE compliant, EN ISO 12312-2:2015 certified eclipse glasses for safe direct solar viewing[5][6][7].
• Some manufacturers and retailers based in the EU offer EX Works (EXW) fulfillment from inside the EU, simplifying logistics and helping ensure grant compliance.
• Example: AbsoluteEclipse.eu provides certified glasses, traceable by QR code, ensuring batch accountability and compliance documentation for grant reporting[5].

5. Collect Necessary Documentation

• Your grant application must include supplier certificates, product compliance documents, and proof of the intended educational or public benefit[5][6].
• Often, funds are awarded with the condition that transparent purchasing records are kept and compliance is verifiable[1][3][2].

6. Submit Your Application

• Use the official EU portal to submit (e.g., Funding & Tenders Portal, Erasmus+ platform, or cascade grant websites like FundingBox).
• Follow the deadlines and specific instructions for each grant.F

7. Implement the Project

• Upon funding, order eclipse glasses directly from EU-based suppliers for fast delivery and compliant documentation[5][6].
• Conduct your public outreach, education campaign, or research project and report outcomes as required by your grant[1][2].

Example Grants to Explore

Key Compliance Tips

Further Reading

• EU Funding Portal: Overview of programs and how to apply[2][3][4].
• Official supplier listings from European solar viewing product manufacturers[5][6][7].

This guide can help EU schools, municipalities, and science organizations secure funding for eclipse glasses and deliver safe solar viewing experiences for the 2026 eclipse[5][1][3][2][4].