The European Union (EU) funding is part of the EU budget and is managed by the European Commission (EC) . All EU funding programmes included in the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) were designed according to the 6 EC priorities for 2019-24 , which are:

– A European Green Deal;
– A Europe fit for the digital age;
– An economy that works for people;
– A stronger Europe in the world;
– Promoting our European way of life;
– A new push for European democracy.

 

. See all types of funding here .
. Searching for funding according to area is also possible .
. Also, “Before you apply: EU funding for beginners” includes information about finding a partner.
. The “Funding & Tender Opportunities” portal is where all applications are submitted. It has general information about calls and tenders, news, and all support documentation needed for proposals.

Whoever wants to apply for EU funding has first to answer these questions: what can my team do to help achieve the EC priorities? What are our strengths and competences that can be of service? What specific work are we proposing that is in line with the big picture?

EU FUNDING PROGRAMMES IN THE SPOTLIGHT

. Decoding Horizon Europe (HE): for research and innovation

. Decoding Erasmus +: for education, training, youth, and sport

 

PROJECT TERMINOLOGY

IMPACTS
Expected long-term results of the project, preferably with quantitative indicators.
Example: Increase of cultural exchange between countries in 20% in 10 years.

OBJECTIVES vs DELIVERABLES vs OUTCOMES vs OUTPUTS
Objectives are the purpose of the project, what the project proposes to achieve. They should follow the SMART method: specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound. Outcomes are the expected effects of the project in the medium term whereas the outputs are the final products of the project. The outcomes are how the objectives are going to be achieved at the end of the project. Deliverables are products made during the project, usually when a milestone is reached. In the case of European projects, usually are intermediate reports to be sent to the European Commission for monitoring purposes.
Examples:
Objective | In a month, travelling to four countries to get to know their cultures.
Deliverable | Writing independent articles about each country visited.
Outcome | For each category (gastronomy, landscape, lifestyle, …), recognising the cultural features of each country.
Output | Writing a book about the experience, comparing the countries visited.

MILESTONES
They are progressive points during the project that mark the completion of a stage of the project or control points to monitor if corrections need to be made. A deliverable may be produced at each point.
Examples: After one week, changing to another country. After three meals, check the budget.

PROJECT vs PROGRAMME
According to the “Guide of Project Management Book of Knowledge”: «A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. (…) A program is defined as a group of related projects, subsidiary programs, and program activities managed in a coordinated manner to obtain benefits not available from managing them individually.»
Examples:
Project | Travelling to four specific countries with the aim to write a book comparing their cultures.
Programme | A World Culture Programme.

RESULTS
Results are the immediate effects by the end of the project.
Example: Establishing new guidelines for travelling in those countries.

WORK PACKAGES
They are sets of tasks related between themselves that mark a project stage and usually ends with a milestone.
Example: In each country, going to restaurants, talking with people, visiting important monuments and landscapes.

 

EUROPEAN ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS

CCI: Cultural and Creative Industries
CSA: Coordination & Support Action
D&E&C: Dissemination, Exploitation and Communication
DMP: Data Management Plan
EDF: European Development Fund
EIC: European Innovation Council
ERC: European Research Council
ERC ADG: Advanced Grants
ERC COG: Consolidator Grants
ERC POC: Proof of Concept
ERC STG: Starting Grants
ERC SYG: Synergy Grants
GEP: Gender Equality Plan
HE: Horizon Europe
IA: Innovation Action
LEAR: Legal entity appointed representative [«person (in a beneficiary organisation) responsible for managing the beneficiary’s data in the Funding and Tender Opportunities Portal.» in Funding & Tender Glossary]
LS: Lump Sum [a large single payment of the grant]
MFF: Multiannual Financial Framework
MGA: Model Grant Agreement
MSCA: Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
MSCA DN: Doctoral Network
MSCA PF: Postdoctoral Fellowships
MSCA SE: Staff Exchange
NBS: Nature-Based Solutions
PCP: Pre-Contractual (or Commercial) Procurement
PIC: Participant Identification Code [«9-digit number serving as a unique identifier for organisations (legal entities) registered to participate in EU funds/funding programmes.» in Funding & Tender Glossary]
PPI: Public Procurement of Innovative Solutions
RIA: Research and Innovation Action
SSH: Social Sciences and Humanities
STEM/STEAM: Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths / Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Maths
TMA: Training and Mobility Actions
VET: Vocational Education and Training