The Grant

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This is the second episode in my SME Series that I do together with Alicja Grzegorzek Carrascosa - an expert in legal and financial management of EU projects — to explore the tricky subject of freelancers and their eligibility under Horizon Europe. She unpacks what it really means to classify someone as a freelancer under personal costs, clarifying that the European Commission uses the term "natural persons" rather than "freelancers." Alicia highlights key eligibility rules including supervision requirements, IP rights, teleworking policies, remuneration structures, and the critical need for accurate time recording.

In the episode we dig into practical examples and explains how national employment laws may clash with Horizon Europe’s rules—especially in countries like Spain, where false self-employment is heavily scrutinized. Alicia provides hands-on advice for SMEs and freelancers alike, stressing the importance of contract clauses, clear remuneration terms, and the value of working with experts. The discussion is not only about compliance but about minimizing audit risks and making strategic decisions for smooth project implementation.

Time codes:

00:02:05 Introduction

00:04:54 Fly in

00:06:21 Freelancer eligibility and project costing

00:23:07 Practical advice for freelancers

00:34:51 The toughest challenge

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In this Widening Series episode, my co-host Thomas Brent and I explore how EU Widening measures are implemented in practice and the impact they can have on research excellence and collaboration. This time we have two guests: Katalin Oborni from the HETFA Research Institute in Hungary, and Viltaré Platzner from Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava. They share hands-on experiences with the Widening projects STREAM IT (focused on gender equality in education), FrontSeat (smart industries), and FreeTwin EV (digital twinning for electric vehicles).

In this conversation we zoom in on how these projects foster international research partnerships, improve research management, and elevate institutional capacities. Our guests highlight practical challenges and lessons in designing and running widening projects — from building balanced consortia and managing expectations of non-widening partners, to using Twinning and Hop-on schemes to gradually break down barriers. We also discuss how Widening fosters trust-building, learning exchanges, and leadership growth among Widening countries. An honest conversation about the R&D politics of Widening, its future, and the nuances of post-communist institutional legacies adds depth to this rich and personal exploration of an evolving EU policy space.

Time codes:

00:02:05 Introduction

00:05:12 Short in the Widening initiative

00:11:02 Introduction to the projects

00:22:10 The Widening perspective - in proposal and project

01:06:11 Take-aways and experience

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For a long time I have wanted to present the funding schemes from EUREKA, because they have very popular funding schemes for SMEs. I managed to get Camilla Del Latte from the EUREKA Secretariat onboard - and even for an in-person recording in Brussels back in April 2025.

Unlike many EU programmes, EUREKA is built on intergovernmental collaboration, allowing countries to co-fund innovation projects outside of traditional EU structures. Camilla takes us all through three EUREKA key funding schemes: Eurostars, Innowwide and Fast track to EIC Accelerator. We run schematically through the structure of the programmes, target grous, how to apply, evaluation regime, what happens when funding is received and finally of course some do's and don't's.

Excellent for everybody approaching the EUREKA funding schemes!

Time codes:00:01:49 Introduction

00:04:39 Fly in on EUREKA

00:10:24 EU and EUREKA

00:16:55 Structure of programme

00:38:57 Target groups

00:40:08 How to apply

00:54:46 Evaluation

01:09:09 When receiving funding

01:12:01 Do's and don't's

01:16:29 The toughest challenge

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In the closing bonus episode, Casper and I dive deeper into what separates good communication from great. We explore cultural nuance, consistency in tone, creative content delivery, and the irreplaceable value of trained communicators. Using real-life metaphors and practical examples, the duo push for a shift in mindset: from vanity metrics to real engagement, from generic posts to emotionally resonant messaging. It’s a compelling call to prioritize storytelling and impact over automation and shortcuts.

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In the final Communication Shorts episode, Casper and I take stock of everything covered in the 12-episode series. Through a lively, reflective conversation, we revisit the four communication pillars: strategy, media engagement, newsletters, and social media. The episode explores why communication should not be treated as an afterthought or junior task but as a core, strategic function in EU projects. They underline the importance of storytelling, consistent messaging, and internal buy-in—while challenging listeners to consider the real value of professional communication expertise.

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In this episode I have invited back Ilaria Rudisi, a senior EU funding consultant, to explore how researchers can successfully prepare proposals for the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA). Ilaria takes us through the entire proposal development process — from evaluating the feasibility of the research idea to building a competitive, impact-driven narrative. She further shares practical insights from her extensive consulting work, emphasizing the importance of early planning, clear articulation of impact, and understanding the expectations of the evaluators.

Listeners will gain an in-depth understanding of the structure and requirements of MSCA proposals, including how to write the B1 and B2 sections, define work packages, plan budgets, and address ethics and risk. The conversation also touches on the psychological and strategic dynamics between researchers and consultants, and why MSCA is not a good fit for everyone. This episode is a hands-on guide to building competitive proposals and a reality check for researchers who might be overconfident about the strength of their ideas.

Time codes:

00:01:42 Introduction

00:05:24 Fly in on MSCA

00:11:42 Preparation

00:32:24 Shaping of proposal concept with researcher

00:42:19 Pen to paper

01:19:15 Submission

01:29:10 The toughest challenge

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In the first episode of the new SMEs Series, I sit down with Alicja Grzegorzek Carrascosa (Co-founder of Polite Europe) to tackle one of the most complex issues facing SMEs in EU projects: understanding eligibility rules. The episode digs into the distinctions between SME owners and employees, how their time can be charged in projects, and the two main reimbursement routes — actual costs and unit costs — while highlighting the critical impact these choices can have in audits.

Alicja gives a detailed understanding of real-life scenarios across EU countries (including Spain, France, and Belgium), how holding structures and grey zones complicate compliance, and why it's vital to document decisions and consult with project officers, National Contact Points, and auditors. The episode offers not just clarity but also strategies for de-risking participation in EU projects — a must-listen for SME owners, grant consultants, and public facilitators supporting them.

Time codes:

00:02:14 Introduction

00:06:20 Fly in

00:08:19 SME eligibility issues

00:20:07 Practical advice for SMEs

00:31:44 The toughest challenge

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In this second half of The Grant’s Innovation Fund introduction, Irene Larroy from EY shares with us the complex application and evaluation landscape of one of the EU’s most ambitious funding instruments for decarbonisation. In this second part we go through step-by-step the grant application process—what documents are required, how feasibility studies and financial modeling fit into the process, and what it takes to calculate eligible costs using the dreaded Excel templates. Irene shares hard-earned insights into what makes proposals successful (or not), especially in relation to key documents like the GHG emissions calculator and the financial maturity documentation.

The episode also examines how Innovation Fund proposals are evaluated: from the role of expert panels to the five core evaluation criteria—degree of innovation, GHG reduction, project maturity, replicability, and cost-efficiency. Bonus points, controversial scoring issues, and evaluation fairness across sectors are addressed with practical advice for applicants. Finally, we have a look at what happens after winning the grant, including negotiations, financial close, and the grant agreement phase—plus a few project success stories to bring it all to life.

Time codes:

00:02:06 How to apply

00:16:54 Evaluation

00:46:59 When receiving funding

01:00:38 Do's and don't's

01:07:32 The toughest challenge

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In this Funding Scheme episode of The Grant, I invite Irene LaRoy, Innovation Fund expert and Partner at EY, to give us all an intruction to one of EU’s flagship funding programs: the Innovation Fund. We look into why the European Commission launched theInnovation Fund as part of the European Green Deal — aiming to decarbonize heavy industry by directly supporting the construction of large-scale facilities. Irene explains the unique structure of the programme, including the different project categories (small, medium, large, pilot, and clean tech manufacturing) and the heavy focus on industrial-scale deployment rather than research.

The episode sheds light on how Innovation Fund projects are evaluated, how relevant costs are calculated, and why financial close is a crucial milestone. It highlights theInnovation Fund’s distinctive character: it’s financed through the EU’s Emissions Trading System (ETS) and operates with stringent technical and financial demands. Finally, we look into why applying for the Innovation Fund demands strategic commitment, top-level management buy-in, and an intricate balance between innovation, technical readiness, and financial solidity.

This is a double episode. In this first episode we dig into why the EU Commission established this initiative, the structure of the programme and the target group and stakeholders. Very instructive for everybody who is approaching the funding scheme.

Time codes:

00:01:50 Introduction

00:07:44 Fly in on Innovation Fund

00:09:26 EU background for the funding scheme

00:14:25 Structure of the programme

00:50:56 Target groups

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Together with Stephanie Harfensteller, EU Research Coordinator at FIR an der RWTH Aachen, I am launching the first episode of the Research Manager Shorts Series.

In this first one we discuss how research support units can be strategically developed within institutions. The conversation explores what it takes to set up and scale research management—from convincing leadership to creating internal awareness of the function’s value. Stephanie shares her experience establishing the research management function at research institute, how she identified internal "pain points," and how she framed these challenges as strategic opportunities that aligned with broader institutional goals.

The episode highlights how professionalizing research support is not only about writing better proposals but about improving long-term sustainability, compliance, and impact. Topics include building internal visibility, tailoring support to researchers' actual needs, and working across silos to embed research strategy into the daily rhythm of the organization. Whether you're starting from scratch or scaling an existing support structure, this episode offers practical insights on transforming research management into a strategic asset.

Time codes:

00:02:45 Introduction

00:05:46 First motivation

00:09:48 Management commitment

00:14:07 Considerations before starting - Motivation

00:22:25 Considerations before starting - Challenges

00:28:32 Connection with overall organizational strategy