On 8-9 June 2026, FI Group by EPSA participated in the European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC) Annual General Meeting in Zagreb, Croatia.
EAIC is a European association representing innovation consultancy firms and supporting dialogue between consultants, institutions and industry on research, development and innovation funding policy.
The event brought together key stakeholders from EU institutions, industry and consultancy to discuss the future of innovation funding in Europe, with a particular focus on the next European long-term budget for research and innovation, the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2028-2034.
These discussions are highly relevant for organisations seeking to anticipate how European innovation funding will evolve in the coming years.
FI Group by EPSA’s participation in the EAIC AGM reinforces its position as an active contributor to the development of European innovation policy and funding frameworks.
By being present where key decisions are discussed and shaped, FI Group by EPSA gains early visibility of policy and programme developments while contributing to the design of future funding mechanisms. This enables the company to create tangible value for clients by:
This involvement supports FI Group by EPSA’s ability to provide clients with forward-looking insight, stronger strategic guidance and a clearer understanding of future EU funding programme opportunities.
During the EAIC AGM, Luca Pira, Public Affairs and International Grant Manager and Coordinator of the National Funding Schemes Working Group, played a central role in both implementation and strategic discussions as part of the Working Group Coordinators panel.
In this context, he presented FI Group by EPSA’s contributions to key topics, including the future design of EU innovation funding at national and regional level under the MFF 2028-2034, as well as regulatory and State aid frameworks.
This included input into the recent public consultation on the General Block Exemption Regulation, where FI Group by EPSA contributed as part of a coordinated effort at both national and European level alongside key industry associations: the European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC), the Asociación Española para el Fomento de la Financiación de la I+D+i (AFIDI), the Associazione Italiana per la Ricerca Industriale (AIRI), and BusinessEurope.
Luca also highlighted upcoming work on a European comparative report on R&D and technological innovation incentives, coordinated by Víctor Cruz, Regulatory, Public Affairs & Strategy Director. This further demonstrates FI Group by EPSA’s expertise in tax incentives and regulatory intelligence.
FI Group by EPSA’s active participation in the EAIC AGM also strengthens its international partner network, particularly in countries and regions where the company does not yet have a direct presence, such as Croatia and the broader Balkan region.
These markets are becoming increasingly strategic within the European innovation landscape. Through EAIC, FI Group by EPSA is also able to leverage collective advocacy capacity at European level, enhancing its influence on policy and funding frameworks beyond what a single organisation could achieve independently.
This approach creates stronger opportunities for FI Group by EPSA and its clients in international and cross-border innovation initiatives.
Active engagement across EAIC Working Groups
FI Group by EPSA is actively engaged in several EAIC Working Groups, covering:
This involvement strengthens the company’s expertise, expands its network and enhances its ability to anticipate and shape market trends.
As Europe defines its next innovation funding cycle, FI Group by EPSA will continue to contribute actively within EAIC, remaining at the forefront of policy and programme developments. This includes participation in the EAIC Summit on the Future of Funding in Europe, taking place on 3 November 2026 in Brussels. The event is expected to feature speakers such as MEP Christian Ehler, a key figure in EU research and innovation policy, who plays a leading role in shaping the MFF 2028–2034 and the upcoming FP10.
This engagement is aligned with a broader shift in the sector: from a primarily operational role focused on identifying opportunities and preparing applications, towards a more strategic advisory role. This requires the ability to combine technical, financial and regulatory expertise to position projects, structure partnerships and support clients across the full innovation lifecycle.
By leveraging EAIC’s collective advocacy capacity at European level, FI Group by EPSA strengthens its ability to influence frameworks, anticipate change and create tangible value for clients, while reinforcing its competitive position in the European innovation funding landscape. FI Group by EPSA can support organisations in identifying upcoming opportunities, interpreting regulatory changes and positioning projects for future funding success.
European funds for businesses have become one of the most relevant drivers for supporting business projects linked to innovation, sustainability, digitalisation and industrial development.
The European Union structures a range of programmes that channel resources towards strategic initiatives, including Next Generation EU, ERDF funds, and calls under the Horizon Europe programme, each with complementary objectives and approaches. Understanding how these instruments operate, what opportunities they offer and which criteria determine access is essential for companies to anticipate calls and position their projects with a greater likelihood of success.
To support the planning of European funds for businesses, we provide an European calls, enabling organisations to identify key dates and the most relevant opportunities for each type of company.
European funds for businesses are financial instruments created by the European Union to support projects that promote economic growth, competitiveness and the transition towards a more innovative and sustainable model. Their purpose is to channel resources into initiatives that enable companies to:
These grants are structured through different programmes aligned with specific priorities. Some encourage investment aimed at modernising production processes or adopting advanced technologies, while others finance R&D&I activities, decarbonisation actions, or projects that reinforce territorial cohesion through new industrial capabilities. This diversity of objectives makes it easier for companies of different sizes and sectors to find funding schemes suited to their project needs.
The importance of European funds for businesses lies in their ability to reduce financial barriers and facilitate the launch of initiatives that require significant investment. They also help accelerate transformations that would be more complex to undertake using internal resources alone. In a competitive and constantly evolving environment, they represent a strategic tool to drive business innovation, strengthen sustainability and align investments with EU priorities in energy transition, digitalisation and industrial development.
The funds have enabled European funding for businesses to support projects related to digitalisation, energy transition, industrial innovation and process modernisation, financing strategic initiatives that require substantial investment. Their main contribution has been to provide resources for transformations that enhance competitiveness and support adaptation to EU priorities in areas such as energy efficiency, sustainable mobility and technological development.
However, this instrument is temporary, with a clearly defined timeframe: its implementation period ends in August 2026, placing organisations at a decisive moment. Spain has launched various calls through the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, including strategic programmes such as the PERTEs, enabling companies across different sectors to access funding for high‑impact projects.
The final phase brings a more demanding environment: increased competition, limited scope to refine proposals, and a clear need to progress with the execution of already approved projects. At this stage, the ability to define solid initiatives aligned with the plan’s priorities is decisive in making the most of the European funds for businesses available before the programme officially closes.
The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) is one of the key European funds for businesses within the EU’s cohesion policy. Its purpose is to reduce territorial disparities and support economic development through investments that strengthen competitiveness, promote innovation and encourage the transition towards more sustainable production models.
In the 2021–2027 period, ERDF resources are focused on five main priorities:
For companies, ERDF represents a stable source of funding, with active calls in Spain through regional and national programmes. Aid intensity varies by autonomous region, with higher percentages in less developed or transition regions, enabling business projects at different maturity levels to access resources adapted to their territorial context.
Horizon Europe is one of the main European funds for businesses supporting research and innovation projects with a direct impact on business competitiveness. Its financial framework strengthens opportunities over the coming years: The European Commission has allocated €14 billion for the period 2026–2027, securing a significant amount of funding for technological, scientific and industrial development initiatives.
For companies, this programme offers funding aimed at high value‑added projects, including the development of new technologies, advanced digital solutions, and initiatives related to climate and energy, mobility, health, artificial intelligence or deep tech. It also includes specialised instruments such as the European Innovation Council (EIC), which supports startups, scaleups and companies with disruptive projects seeking to increase technological maturity and accelerate market entry.
Horizon Europe requires a higher level of technical preparation, specialised consortia where required by the call, and clear alignment with European missions and priorities. For organisations with a robust innovation strategy, it represents an opportunity to finance ambitious developments, position themselves within strategic value chains and access international collaborations that strengthen long‑term competitiveness.
Other programmes fund R&I projects in specific fields, such as industrial decarbonisation, green and digital transitions, defence capabilities, connectivity infrastructure, culture, or health. These include instruments like the Innovation Fund, the LIFE Programme, the Digital Europe Programme, the European Defence Fund, the Connecting Europe Facility, the Erasmus+ Programme, EU4Health, and InvestEU, among others.
European funds for businesses support initiatives with a clear impact on competitiveness, sustainability and innovation. The most common types of project include:
Accessing European funds for businesses requires sound technical preparation and a clear strategy to ensure that the project complies with the priorities and criteria of each funding scheme. The typical steps include:
FI Group by EPSA works on a daily basis with business projects seeking to access European funding for companies, and this experience reveals a clear pattern: success depends not only on drafting a proposal, but also on correctly interpreting the criteria valued in each call for proposals and structuring projects accordingly.
This requires rigorous technical analysis to define objectives, justify the impact and tailor the scope to what is actually funded. This initial phase is crucial for avoiding deviations, ensuring consistency and increasing the chances of selection, particularly in highly competitive calls for proposals with demanding requirements.
During implementation, documentation management and compliance with milestones also directly affect the continuity of funding. FI Group by EPSA supports companies throughout this process to ensure that implementation remains aligned with approvals and that each action is properly justified — essential in programmes where deviations can affect the final payment.
This integrated approach enables companies to proceed with greater confidence on projects involving innovation, digitalisation or industrial growth, taking advantage of the European funds available to help businesses strengthen their competitiveness and accelerate transformations that would otherwise require greater internal resources or longer timelines.
The pandemic has led to a global economic and social crisis, and the European Union and Member States have had to adopt emergency measures. Among these, the creation of an exceptional temporary recovery instrument, the NextGenerationEU, has been agreed.
FI Group is an active player in multiple European countries that will benefits from NextGenerationEU. These countries include:
FI Group has already developed a dedicated up and running Next Generation team in each of the countries listed. These teams are qualified to handle any questions or requirements your company might have regarding NextGenerationEU.
This recovery instrument is supported by 750 billion euros, part of which will be provided in the form of repayable loans (360 billion euros) and part of which will be provided in the form of non-repayable transfers (390 billion euros).
The EUR 750 billion will be distributed through different tools:
At FI Group we are supporting the entire value chain (startups, SMEs, large companies, knowledge centres, etc.) in areas such as:
If you want to find out more about how your company could benefit, get in contact with our team today!
