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Through a European funding project, any company that wants to grow has a strong opportunity to innovate or diversify its activities. However, beyond the enthusiasm created by the idea of a project funded through non-repayable grants, a practical question appears: who, in concrete terms, handles this process within the company? Should you hire an expert in European funding project? And is that enough?
The answer is neither simple nor universal. It depends on the size of the company, the team’s experience with such projects, and the internal resources available. What is clear, however, is that accessing European funds is not an individual task. It is a collective effort that requires good coordination between several departments and, very often, collaboration with external consultants.
Depending on the company’s strategic development directions, an expert in accessing non-repayable European funds searches for and identifies funding calls that are suitable for the company. Once a relevant call is identified, the expert informs company management so that a decision can be made on whether it is worth pursuing this opportunity. Management must assess how well the project aligns with the company’s needs and plans, whether sufficient financial and human resources are available for implementation, and whether the organisation is ready to take on long-term responsibilities.
Without real involvement from management, projects risk remaining only on paper or being handled superficially. This is why, even if technical work is delegated to others, leadership plays a decisive role in success. If you do not yet have the necessary information and want to organise your company properly, ILIGRA offers a dedicated strategic analysis service for any European funding project.
Once the decision to apply for a specific funding line is made, the expert for an European funding project starts drafting the funding application, working closely with all involved parties, namely:
Of course, this list is theoretical. Depending on the company’s structure and organisation chart, the functions and people involved may vary. What is easy to see is that accessing European funds is a cross-cutting process that affects multiple areas of the company. Each role has a specific contribution, and coordinating them during the application process usually falls to an expert in accessing non-repayable European funds or to a manager.
After completing the drafting phase, the expert ensures that the documentation package is complete and meets the funding call requirements. They check the budget and mandatory annexes, submit all documents through the relevant electronic platform, and then monitor whether the project is selected.
Once the application drafting process is finished, the expert reviews the full documentation set. They confirm compliance with the call requirements, verify the budget and annexes according to the funding guide, submit the documents via the funder’s electronic system, and follow up on the project’s evaluation outcome.
From the points above, it is clear that this expert plays a central role within the company, guiding the process from idea to application submission.
To perform successfully, an expert in accessing non-repayable European funds needs to be a good strategist, an effective communicator, and a careful administrator. The role requires combining analytical and creative thinking: understanding the organisation’s real needs and translating them into language that fits the funder’s requirements. The expert should be familiar with funding programmes, have skills in writing grant applications and preparing budgets, be able to analyse and synthesise information, have experience with electronic submission platforms, and know English (or other relevant languages) to understand European documentation. Certification can demonstrate professionalism, but it is not mandatory. In non-repayable funding, practical experience is often the strongest indicator.
This decision rests with management, which should assess:
| Option | Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|---|
| Consultancy firm |
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| Internal expert |
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Regardless of the option chosen, it is important to remember that accessing non-repayable European funds within a company is neither an individual task nor something that can be fully outsourced. It is a complex process that requires strategic decisions, internal coordination, and external expertise.
Success comes from collaboration: management sets the direction, the expert in an European funding project or the consultancy firm coordinates and drafts the application, internal departments provide essential data and information, and partners contribute expertise in their specific areas.
