EU Grants and How to Secure Them:
Unlocking European Innovation

Securing EU grants can feel a lot like steering a promising venture through a maze: the opportunities are exciting, but the path is crowded with unfamiliar rules, tight deadlines, and stiff competition.

If you’re an innovator who juggles breakthrough ideas with the daily realities of payroll, product roadmaps, and investor expectations, we understand the pressure you’re under. We’ve walked alongside scores of founders and R&D leaders facing the same hurdles, and we know that what you really need is clear guidance, and a partner who believes in your vision as deeply as you do.

This article unpacks the EU funding landscape in plain language, showing you not only where the doors are, but how to open them with confidence, so you can continue to focus on transforming bold ideas into lasting impact. Let’s begin:

What Are EU Grants?

EU grants are a form of public funds that the European Union provides to support projects that align with its policies and objectives. These include the promotion of innovation in sustainable development, the digital transformation, and economic growth. There are multiple kinds of EU grants. Some of them are results and impact driven and are awarded based on clear deliverables. Others are geared toward research institutions, and they encourage collaboration across organizations in Europe and beyond. EU grants cover a myriad of activities such as scientific research and development, environmental and climate-related projects, digital and space industry projects, sustainable food production and more.

EU grants usually have a non-dilutive nature whereby companies do not have to give up equity or ownership of their companies by accessing these funds. This makes EU grants particularly interesting for startups, SMEs and innovators that leverage these grants to get the financial support needed for their businesses and production.

Why are EU grants important?

EU grants are important because they encourage the progress of various European and non-European entities toward common causes and goals that can benefit the European community. These grants are usually awarded under different programmes, such as Horizon Europe, EUREKA, ESA ,LIFE, and the EIT, to name just a few.

What are the key advantages of non-dilutive funding for innovators?

One of the key advantages of non-dilutive funding is the fact that a company can retain equity while being a recipient of this kind of funding. This makes non-dilutive funding a particularly interesting source of financial support for startups and SMEs alike.

Instead of taking stakes in a company, the EU grants are based on agreed budgets and project plans that are detailed and drafted ahead of time. This makes them important enablers specifically for startups that are looking to fund and to grow their projects.

In addition, recipients of EU non-dilutive funding enjoy a wide range of benefits such as seals of excellence, credibility and cross-European recognition and collaboration. Being selected for especially competitive schemes like the EIC Accelerator or Horizon Europe serves as a quality stamp.

Moreover, companies can increase their visibility with investors and partners, and this serves to boost their trustworthiness. The international networks and ecosystems that many of the EU grant schemes foster can encourage beneficiaries to collaborate with leading institutions, corporate and public bodies across Europe.

Another advantage of receiving public funding lies in using it as a catalyst for further private investment and as a steppingstone to entering equity rounds.

What are the overarching strategic objectives behind EU innovation funding?

The strategic objectives behind EU innovation funding are to strengthen Europe’s competitiveness and enhance its positioning as a global and innovative leader in science and technology, to accelerate the green and digital transitions and tackle global challenges, and lastly to enhance Europe’s resilience and its strategic autonomy in the face of political tensions.

By promoting the development of advanced technologies, the EU supports the emergence of new and radical markets in vital sectors like digital health, climate technology, energy and mobility and this addresses some of today’s most urgent challenges.

This places the EU among the leading global markets, especially in its support of impactful projects such as clean energy, sustainable development, mobility, circular economy, and other societal challenges.

Moreover, the EU’s innovation policy aims to drive the twin – green and digital – transitions by advancing solutions that are climate-friendly and make a conscious use of resources, and by promoting data-driven innovation and secure digital systems.

In light of geopolitical disturbances, using the EU’s strategic objectives of innovation and addressing of global challenges, it ensures that the EU remains and independent and reinforced entity, autonomous in the critical sectors of healthcare, energy, manufacturing and raw and advanced materials.

How do these initiatives align with the EU’s climate policy and industrial strategy (e.g., European Green Deal)?
The European Green Deal is Europe’s blueprint to turn it climate-neutral by 2050. For this to happen, innovation gains a central role on various levels such as building a biodiverse and sustainable agriculture, investing in green mobility and the cities’ infrastructure, deploying low-carbon technologies and developing solutions for clean energy like wind, solar and hydrogen.

On the other hand, innovation is elemental in its support of Europe’s industrial strategy. These innovative approaches involve financing the scale-up of clean and deep tech technologies, enabling the digitalization of manufacturing.
Building a European industry that is ready and resilient is crucial and aligns with the EU’s policies.

Key EU Grants Programs: A Closer Look

What is the mandate, budget, and funding source of the EU Innovation Fund?
The EU Innovation Fund is one of the world’s largest funding programs for the demonstration of innovative low-carbon technologies. Its goal is to accelerate decarbonisation across energy-intensive sectors, support clean technologies breakthroughs, and enable the EU’s climate neutrality targets under the European Green Deal.
There is an estimated 40B EUR budget for the years 2020 -2030 depending on the carbon price under the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS). The source of this fund is the EU’s ETS allowance auctions, in this way, the fund’s size depends on the carbon market prices.
Which are the priority sectors and technologies for the Innovation Fund?
The main purpose of the Innovation Fund is to target high-impact and high-risk innovations that enable deep decarbonization across critical sectors of the European economy. These are mainly linked to technologies that have the potential to greatly reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) and that support the EU’s climate neutrality objectives and the European Green Deal.

Here is a list of key sectors and technology areas:

Energy-intensive industries like steel, cement, chemicals and etc: these account for a large portion of the EU emissions. Support would entail the development of low-carbon production processes in these sectors, the electrification of industrial heat, switching to renewable energy sources like hydrogen for example, and to use the principles of circular economy to reuse CO2 emissions in useful products.

Renewable energy generation like offshore wind, solar, geothermal energy systems, ocean, wave, and tidal energy, etc. The EU Innovation Fund supports next-generation renewable technologies that go beyond current market standards. The focus is on innovation, scalability and efficiency of the systems that are being developed.

Energy storage that enables the stable and flexible use of energy such as advanced battery storage systems, thermal storage, and chemical storage.

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS), the deployment of technologies for this is one of the major aims of the EU Innovation fund. Examples are CO2 capture from industrial processes or energy production, the right utilization of captured CO2, and permanent geological storage.

Clean mobility and transport to decarbonise the transportation sector with zero-emission shipping using hydrogen powered vessels, developing heavy duty transportation means, alternative fuel for aviation, and proper infrastructure for charging or refueling of sustainable fuels.

Green hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels because Hydrogen is a central pillar of the climate and energy strategy that the EU promotes as one of its objectives. This involves the generation of green hydrogen from renewables, its transport, storage, and distribution, and moreover, the use of hydrogen in industry and heavy transport

Net-zero industry and clean tech for the R&D of critical clean technologies under the Green Deal. Some examples include battery cell production, electrolysis, solar PV modules and heat pumps, carbon capture equipment and recycling and circular materials facilities. These will help strengthen the EU’s industrial resilience and to reduce its dependency on foreign suppliers.

Cross-cutting industrial decarbonisation technologies to decarbonise buildings and heating or cooling systems by electrification, the use of geothermal or renewable-based heat, and the integration of smart energy systems inside buildings.

The EU Innovation Fund places high emphasis on impactful, cross-sectoral decarbonization technologies, and projects that align with EU industrial and climate policies. Projects must involve more than incremental improvements, and need to demonstrate proper GHG reduction and industrial transformation.

What are the eligibility criteria for projects under the Innovation Fund?

The crucial criteria are that the developed technologies contribute to decaronisation in various sectors and to ensure that the projects are impactful and feasible. There are eligibility criteria that need to be met to gain access to the EU Innovation Fund. Eligibility is usually assessed before a proposal can be evaluated for funding.

Here is a short explanation of the criteria:

Eligible countries/regions: While Innovation fund is open worldwide, the projects need to be implemented in an EU Member state, Iceland or Norway.

Technological Innovation: This involves pushing technological boundaries that are not yet available commercially or that are not yet widespread in the EU. In addition, technologies should develop grand changes, and not only upgrade existing systems. Clear environmental impact needs to be demonstrated.

The projects should have a minimum threshold of GHG avoidance to qualify, and they also need to significantly reduce GHG emissions compared to conventional technologies.

The EU Innovation Fund does not work if the project is receiving support for the same costs from another European funding source, blending is possible, however, in the case that another fund covers different elements of the project.

What financial support and funding mechanisms does the Innovation Fund offer (e.g., percentage of costs, coverage, disbursement)?
The EU Innovation Fund operates mainly through grants that do not require repayment. These are tailored to accommodate the unique risks and upfront costs associated with first-of-a-kind climate technologies.

The financial support model involves grants that cover a portion of the project costs. Innovation Fund covers up to 60% of the relevant costs of a project. These could include capital expenditure such as equipment, construction, installations, operational expenditure such as operating costs and maintenance. Also included here are costs that directly relate to project development like feasibility studies and costs that are related to innovation, risk and scalability.

The EU Innovation Fund’s disbursements mechanism is directly related to results, and so the grant is paid in stages that are linked to the project’s milestones. As the project meets predefined milestones such as financial close, first GHG reductions, start of construction, funding is released.

What are the key evaluation criteria for Innovation Fund applications?
There are several key evaluation criteria for the Innovation Fund applications – these ensure that the projects contribute to climate neutrality and technological advancement that are some of the EU’s core climate goals.

Avoidance of GHG Emissions: This is a primary focus, assessing the project’s potential for both absolute and relative GHG emission reductions.

Degree of Innovation: Applications are evaluated on how innovative their proposed technologies, processes, or products are. Projects that go beyond incremental improvements are favoured.

Project Maturity: This encompasses technical, financial, and operational readiness. It assesses the project’s feasibility, the credibility of its business model and financing plan, and the robustness of its implementation strategy.

Replicability and Scalability: The evaluation considers the potential for the innovative solution to be scaled up, replicated in other locations or sectors, and adopted more broadly across the economy.

What is the typical application and evaluation timeline for the Innovation Fund?
From the moment a call opens to the expected start of a funded project, the entire cycle can span over a year, with significant time dedicated to both application preparation and the multi-stage evaluation process.

Calls usually open at specific times, in recent years, the calls have been published near the end of a calendar year, December, and they remain open until April of the following year.

The application preparation is a significant undertaking. Preparing a comprehensive application could take anywhere from three to five months requiring detailed technical, financial, and GHG emission avoidance calculations, as well as the preparation of a business plan, financial plan, and implementation plan.

As for the evaluation, the timeframe from submission to the announcement of the results could take between five to six months. The process could entail multiple stages depending on the project and whether it is a small-scale project with a single-stage application process versus a large-scale project that follows a two-stage application process.

The applications are reviewed by at least three external experts who assess them against the key evaluation criteria (innovation, maturity, GHG emissions avoidance, and replicability or scalability).

Horizon Europe: The EU’s Flagship R&I Programme

What are the three main pillars of Horizon Europe and its indicative budget?

Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship research and innovation programme. It has a budget of €95.5 billion for 2021–2027, and aims to tackle climate change, achieve the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and boost EU competitiveness and growth.

Horizon Europe is structured around three main pillars designed to deliver scientific excellence, address global challenges, and foster innovation across Europe. Each pillar reflects a key area of investment and activity, backed by a dedicated budget:

Pillar I Excellent Science – €25.8 billion

This pillar aims to strengthen the EU’s scientific leadership and the quality of its research by supporting frontier research, talent development, and world-class research infrastructures. It includes:

European Research Council (ERC) – Funding for top researchers and pioneering projects.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) – Training, mobility, and career development for researchers.

Research Infrastructures – Access to cutting-edge facilities and services for the research community.

Pillar II Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness – €53.5 billion

This pillar supports collaborative research and innovation to address societal challenges while enhancing the industrial competitiveness of Europe. It is organized into six thematic clusters, such as health, digital technologies, climate, and food systems, and is designed to support Multinational R&I projects, Policy-driven research aligned with EU priorities and Public-private partnerships and missions.

These efforts are crucial for tackling pressing issues like climate change, digital transformation, and global health threats.

Pillar III Innovative Europe – €13.6 billion

This pillar is focused on scaling up innovation and boosting the market deployment of breakthrough technologies. Key components include:

European Innovation Council (EIC) – Funding high-risk, high-impact innovations through blended finance.

European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) – Connecting innovation actors at regional and national levels.

European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) – Fostering entrepreneurship and innovation through Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs).

These pillars together form the backbone of Horizon Europe’s strategy to ensure scientific excellence, industrial competitiveness, and innovation leadership, paving the way for a greener, healthier, and more digital Europe.

How does Horizon Europe aim to bridge the gap between R&D and market deployment?

One of the longstanding challenges in the EU innovation ecosystem has been the gap in the bridge between R&D and market deployment. This is the area where promising research fails to reach commercial maturity or wide market adoption.

Horizon Europe directly addresses this issue by integrating tools, funding mechanisms, and support-systems that help innovations move from lab to market. There are a few ways in which this can happen, here are a few ways how this gap could be bridged:

The European Innovation Council (EIC): From Idea to Market

The EIC is Horizon Europe’s flagship instrument for closing the R&D-to-market gap. The EIC is designed especially for high-risk, high-reward innovation, and it  supports startups, SMEs, and even individual researchers through a staged funding approach:

EIC Pathfinder funds visionary early-stage research and advanced technology development.

EIC Transition helps mature Pathfinder results and other advanced research outcomes closer to commercialization.

EIC Accelerator provides blended finance – grants + equity – for market-ready innovations, supporting scaling and deployment.

This structure provides continuous support through all phases of the innovation lifecycle regardless of the company’s TRL, reducing the funding gaps.

Support for Innovation Ecosystems and Scale-Up

Under the “Innovative Europe” pillar, Horizon Europe promotes interconnected innovation environments by:

Funding European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) to connect national and regional innovation actors.

Strengthening links between research institutions, businesses, investors, and public sector players.

Supporting clusters, incubators, accelerators, and technology transfer offices to help innovations scale effectively.

This ecosystemic approach ensures that innovations are not only developed but also integrated into value chains and commercialized.

Focus on Technology Readiness and Market Uptake

Many Horizon Europe calls explicitly encourage projects that:

Advance technologies through higher Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), especially TRL 6-9 (pilot to commercial scale)

Include demonstration activities, living labs, or test beds to validate technologies in real-world settings

Integrate market analysis, business models, and go-to-market strategies as part of project deliverables

This integrated R&I approach bridges the traditional divide between “research” and “innovation.”

Missions and Societal Impact-Oriented Calls

EU Missions and Challenge-based Clusters also support market deployment by Funding innovation with a clear problem-solving orientation, requiring scalable, measurable solutions that can be adopted by public and private stakeholders and promoting procurement of innovation and regulatory sandboxes where needed.

This results in demand-driven innovation, reducing time to market and increasing adoption rates.

Generating economic value remains a high priority for Horizon Europe. By deploying a unique combination of financial instruments, ecosystem support, and impact-driven programming, Horizon Europe actively transforms research outputs into deployable, market-ready innovations. The ultimate goal is delivering solutions that benefit citizens, strengthen Europe’s competitiveness, and address global challenges, all while generating economic value.

The European Innovation Council (EIC): Supporting Breakthrough Innovations
As a key component of Horizon Europe, the EIC is the EU’s most ambitious initiative to date for identifying, nurturing, and scaling up high-risk, high-impact innovations. With its market-oriented funding instruments the EIC aims to turn scientific excellence into European success stories.

So, how does it work, and who can benefit? Here’s a deep dive into the structure, purpose, and process behind the EIC.

What are the main funding instruments of the EIC (Pathfinder, Transition, Accelerator)?
The EIC supports innovators across the entire innovation journey, from early-stage exploration to full-scale market deployment, through three complementary funding instruments:

EIC Pathfinder

Designed for visionary researchers and early-stage technologists, Pathfinder funds breakthrough scientific ideas with the potential to create entirely new markets. Think of quantum technologies, synthetic biology, or brain-computer interfaces. The focus is on disruptive, high-risk research, even if commercial viability is not yet proven.

EIC Transition

The Transition instrument helps bridge the gap between lab results and viable products. It’s aimed at maturing promising outcomes from previous EU-funded projects (such as EIC Pathfinder or FET) and testing their commercial potential through prototyping, IP development, and market exploration.

EIC Accelerator

For startups and SMEs aiming to bring a breakthrough innovation to market, the EIC Accelerator offers significant support, including blended finance – a combination of grants and equity investment. This tool helps scale up innovations with strong market traction and global potential.

Together, these instruments form a pipeline that supports European innovation from bold ideas to global scale-up.

What types of projects does each EIC instrument support?

Each EIC instrument is tailored to a specific stage in the innovation journey and targets a different stage of the innovation lifecycle:

EIC Pathfinder: Disruptive Science – the emphasis is on fundamental science that could lead to radical new technologies.

Scope: Supports visionary, high-risk research to develop the scientific basis of breakthrough technologies.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL): TRL 1–3

Types of projects:

Unconventional and interdisciplinary approaches

Cutting-edge science with commercial potential

Foundational work that could lead to future tech revolutions

EIC Transition: Bridging lab and market – the emphasis is on applied development and business exploration (TRL 3-5), focusing on maturing technologies and understanding their market fit.

Scope: Supports the maturation and validation of promising technologies previously funded under Pathfinder or other EU programmes.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL): TRL 3-5

Types of projects:

Prototyping and technical validation

Business model development and market exploration

IP strategy and stakeholder engagement

EIC Accelerator: Scaling innovation – the emphasis is on commercialization, scaling, and strategic partnerships.

Scope: Designed for startups and SMEs bringing breakthrough innovations to market with potential for global scale.

Technology Readiness Level (TRL): Minimum TRL 5-6 (must be validated in relevant environment)

Types of projects:

Commercialisation and go-to-market strategy
Industrial scaling, regulatory approval, customer acquisition
Disruptive tech with strong market traction or IP

This layered approach of the EIC ensures that R&D can be adhered to at any given stage, and that innovators are not left behind no matter the stage of the development of their technologies.

What are the eligibility and consortium requirements for EIC Pathfinder and Transition?

EIC Pathfinder

Consortia of at least three independent legal entities from three different Member States or Associated Countries

Single legal entities may apply to EIC Pathfinder Challenges (under specific conditions)

Open to academia, research centres, startups, and private companies.

EIC Transition

Open to single applicants (e.g. SMEs, research teams, spin-offs) or small consortia (up to five partners).

Proposals must build on results from previous EU-funded projects.

Applicants must demonstrate access rights or ownership of the key technology results.

Who is eligible for the EIC Accelerator?

The EIC Accelerator is tailored for:

Startups and SMEs (including individuals planning to found a company) that are based in an EU Member State or Associated Country. The startups and SMEs should be working on high-risk, deep-tech innovations with strong commercial potential.

Equity-only support is also available to small mid-caps (up to 499 employees), particularly for scaling activities. Women-led companies and applicants from “widening countries” are especially encouraged.

What is the typical application and evaluation process for EIC proposals?

The EIC funds only the most promising and impactful innovations, therefore, the evaluation process is rigorous and could be lengthy.

For the single-stage applications of both the EIC Pathfinder and Transition, the proposal goes through the evaluation of expert panelists and the results are received typically within 5 months.

As for the EIC Accelerator, the applications are in stages:
The first stage entails a short application (12 pages), pitch deck (up to 10 slides), and video (3 minutes). Only evaluation results with a scope of 3 GO’s out of four will be selected for the next stage.

The second stage requires the full application and must be submitted within 12 months from receiving the ‘GO’ for this stage. This needs to be submitted at one of the planned deadlines of the year. The Full proposal includes Excellence, Impact and Implementation sections (for the challenge-driven track, an additional criterion to be assessed in the Impact section) displayed in a 50 pages PDF form. Simplified binary scoring (GO/NO GO), by expert evaluators.

The third and final stage is the Jury Panel which includes and interview with EIC Jury members (either in Brussels, or virtually).

In case of an unsuccessful evaluation (at any stage), the applicant is allowed to re-submit the up to thrice (up to three unsuccessful applications, all stages included). Gender balance, geographical diversity and submission date and time priority will be considered in the evaluation for funding procedure.

What are the inherent challenges in securing EU non-dilutive funding?
Navigation the EU funding landscape can be a rewarding but challenging experience. Here is a breakdown of some of the intrinsic challenges and complexities:

High Competition: EU grants are highly sought after, leading to intense competition among a large pool of applicants. Many proposals are submitted, and only a select few are successful. The most prestigious EU programs (e.g. Horizon Europe, EIC Accelerator, Innovation Fund) are highly competitive and the success rates can range up depending on the call up to 15%.

Strict Eligibility Criteria: Each EU funding program has specific and often complex eligibility criteria. Misunderstanding or not fully meeting these requirements can lead to immediate rejection. In addition, projects must align strategically with the EU policies, thus, applicants must align their project goals tightly with EU policy priorities such as the Green Deal, digital transition, and social impact. This often requires reframing the project beyond purely commercial objectives.

Administrative Complexity: Calls are governed by strict compliance rules and guidelines. Failure to follow submission formats, eligibility requirements, or budgetary restrictions can lead to automatic rejection. Even after securing funding, there are often stringent and regular reporting requirements, which can be resource-intensive.

Time-Consuming Application Process: Preparing an EU grant proposal is a significant undertaking, requiring substantial time and resources for research, writing, and coordination.

Technical & Strategic Maturity: Proposals are expected to demonstrate a solid scientific/technological foundation and a robust go-to-market plan. This dual expectation is difficult for some applicants to fulfill.

Complexity of Forming International Consortia: Many EU grant programs, particularly under Horizon Europe, require cross-border collaborative projects with partners from different EU or associated countries. For programmes requiring consortia, finding suitable, committed partners who complement the project’s goals and meet diverse national criteria, (e.g., company size, match funding), managing international partnerships, IP rights, and shared objectives, add a layer of complexity.

Why are EU grant proposals often complex and time-consuming?

Detailed Guidelines and Documentation: EU calls for proposals come with extensive guidelines, templates, and a multitude of required documents. Certain proposals can exceed over 50 pages of narrative including technical descriptions business plans, risk analysis, and detailed budgets. Understanding and adhering to all these specifications is crucial.

Consortium Building: For collaborative projects, the process of identifying, engaging, and formally establishing a consortium with partners from different countries adds significant time and complexity. This includes negotiating roles, responsibilities, and financial arrangements.

Rigorous Evaluation Process: EU proposals undergo a rigorous multi-stage evaluation process by independent experts, requiring a high level of detail, scientific/technical excellence, and clear demonstration of impact. Proposals are evaluated on excellence, impact, and implementation, with each, requiring detailed, specific arguments supported by evidence and data.

Financial and Administrative Specifics: The financial aspects of EU grants are highly detailed, including eligible costs, budgeting rules, and potential co-funding requirements, all of which demand careful planning and justification.

Iterative Process: Even after initial submission, there may be rounds of revisions and clarifications requested by the evaluators or the funding agency, prolonging the overall process.

Preparation Times and Delayed Processing Times: While efforts are made to simplify processes, reports indicate that processing times for some EU grants, like Horizon Europe, can still be lengthy. Moreover, on average, a strong proposal requires 6-12 weeks of dedicated work by a multidisciplinary team (technical, commercial, legal, administrative).

For whom are EU grant programs generally best suited?
EU grant programs are generally best suited for:

Innovative SMEs and Startups with High Growth Potential: Particularly those working on innovative solutions that can contribute to European competitiveness and address societal challenges. Specifically, projects developing deep-tech, green or socially impactful innovation with high-risk/high-reward profiles.

Research Institutions and Universities: Universities and research organizations are engaged in cutting-edge research, technological development, and disruptive innovation.

Collaborative Consortia: Mid-sized and large enterprises often collaborate with smaller companies in large-scale consortia to address systemic challenges by consolidating projects that naturally lend themselves to international collaboration and involve partners from different EU Member States or associated countries.

How Argentum Consultants Can Help You Succeed
At Argentum Consultants, we specialize in guiding technology companies across Europe through the intricate landscape of EU innovation funding. Our mission is to bridge the gap between your cutting-edge technology and the complex European funding world, allowing you to focus on your core business and innovation.

Our Services and Expertise

We offer a comprehensive suite of services designed to maximize your chances of success:

• Grant Potential Evaluation: We assess your company’s “grantable assets” to identify the most promising funding avenues.
• Strategic Analysis & Submission Plan: Leveraging our extensive knowledge of over 500 funding directions, we develop a tailor-made submission work plan aligned with your business goals.
• Collaboration & Consortium Building: We actively support the identification and establishment of R&D partnerships, assisting you in joining or forming consortia that are often prerequisites for European grants.
• Proposal Preparation & Project Management: Our dedicated team of analysts, project managers, and grant writers lead the development of high-quality, winning grant proposals and provide ongoing management for multi-submission plans.

How does Argentum assist with proposal preparation and project management?

Upon beginning your work with Argentum, the client will be assigned a Team Leader from the consulting department who will work closely with them and their strategist throughout the collaboration period to oversee the proposal preparation process. The close collaboration between our departments allows for an agile process where client preferences and feedback are immediately implemented. For each specific project, the Team Leader assigns the most suitable Consultant, considering their background, experience and capabilities, who will serve as their direct contact throughout the proposal preparation process.

Below is a detailed outline of the Consultant’s support throughout the stages of the proposal preparation process:

Project Kick-off – At this stage, after being internally debriefed by the relevant Strategist on the project idea and its alignment with the specific funding programme, the Consultant meets with the client to initiate the proposal preparation process. In the meeting, the consultant get familiar with the client and its project idea, recaps the call requirements, scope and expected outcomes, and together with the client, will establish the project’s storyline, which entails an in-depth discussion of the project narrative and main building blocks (i.e., the ‘problem’, ‘solution’, ‘innovation’, ‘market scoping’, ‘impact’, ‘implementation plan’, etc.)  to ensure optimized alignment and maximum chances for success.

Proposal preparation planning – After the kick-off meeting, the dedicated consultant breaks down the proposal preparation process into specific tasks and responsibilities with a structured timeline to ensure a high-quality proposal and timely submission. The plan is structured according to the project needs, considering the deadline for submission, the workload, the clients’ availability, the existence of relevant materials, and more.

Proposal preparation – Given the variance between projects and proposals, we encourage a flexible approach, where the work process and methodology are tailored to client preferences, call type, and timeline limitations, based on Argentum’s knowledge and expertise. This process is a collaborative effort between the Consultant and the client (and/or participants, in a case of a collaborative project) in which the Consultant maintains constant communication aimed at reaching a final proposal draft to be approved by the client for submission, ideally, at least 3 days before the actual submission date. This process is accomplished by the following:

• Collection of relevant materials – The consultant collects any materials that may be relevant for the project from the client and any other sources of useful and credible information.
• Preparation of an initial proposal draft – The consultant prepares an initial draft for the core sections of the proposal, based on these materials and inferred story details as conveyed in the kickoff meeting. The draft will also include structured guidance on filling in the gaps.
• Drafts’ exchange – This process entails the exchange of proposal drafts between the client and the consultant until the application is complete. The information gaps will be covered by either the writing of new materials based on the consultant’s experience and know-how, inputs from the client on specific guiding questions, critical reviews by both sides on inputs provided, and dedicated discussions on sections in need of alignment with relevant personnel in the organization.

Project Submission – The consultancy team is responsible for submitting qualified and quality proposals on behalf of our clients. Throughout the proposal preparation up to the completion of the final draft for submission, the Consultant will focus on ensuring the highest possible quality for the proposal and its strict adherence to the call requirements. To ensure the proposal qualification, before submitting any proposal, the Consultant follows a detailed checklist, which includes, among the rest, the validation of required documentation, alignment with budget requirements, consistency check, language, visualization, formatting, and more.

Post-submission – After the Proposal is successfully submitted, the Consultant remains at the client’s disposal for anything that relates to the project outcomes, including actionable feedback received from the funding body, preparation for the next stages if relevant (e.g., preparations for an interview stage), analysis of results, and support until signing the grant agreement in case of a successful application. As a separate offering, we also provide Grant Management support for awarded projects, which encompasses a wide range of tasks related to reporting (deliverables, periodic/final reporting, amendments, etc.), project monitoring, and communication with the relevant funding body, to ensure a successful and accountable use of the granted funds.

Uniqueness and Added Value

Skilled personnel – Our consultants are first and foremost grant experts with diverse backgrounds ranging from business development through professional content creation, to scientific research, having the capabilities and expertise to successfully manage any type of call for funding. The department has mastered submitting grant applications, whether for research or market-oriented projects, to nearly 200 different funding opportunities, including National Funding, Intergovernmental funding, Cascade funding, Bilateral calls, Consortia, Prizes and Competitions, National incentives, and more.

Experience and professionalism – The Consulting Department, as a result of encountering endless evaluators’ analysis results and maintaining fluent communications with the funding agencies, learns and implements valuable know-how in its working processes to align with the European funding ecosystem dynamics, enabling to focus our clients’ efforts on the key elements of a successful proposal and maximize their chances for success.

Accumulated Know-how and Knowledge Transfer – The Consultant Department is focused on constantly improving its professionalism and service. Our daily operations entail close collaboration between the departments to ensure a holistic customer experience, and an internal feedback loop in the department that includes different platforms for sharing knowledge, regular peer review for quality assurance, and dedicated workshops. As an example, the consultant department team utilizes a dedicated internal knowledge base to ensure our know-how is documented and accessible for all consultants to use and implement. This tool allows the department to provide high-quality guidance and support by staying up to date with the ever-changing dynamics of proposal requirements, types of proposals, evaluators’ focus, and essentially everything needed to master proposal preparation from kickoff to award.

Structured methodologies and flexible approach – The Consultants follow structured methodologies for each step of the working process, which have been proven as best practices in terms of providing our added value most efficiently (e.g., ‘how to conceptualize a project’, ‘how to manage a project timeline’, ‘how to prepare for an interview stage’, ‘how to critically review a proposal’, etc.). These methodologies serve as the basis of delivering our expertise, but at the same time, are adaptable to the client’s / project needs.

What is Argentum’s Multi-Submission Strategy (MSS)?
A cornerstone of our approach is our proprietary Multi-Submission Strategy (MSS). This strategy is explicitly designed to maximize your chances of success by simultaneously applying to multiple funding opportunities throughout the year. We understand that grant funding is highly competitive, and a single application, no matter how strong, faces significant odds. By pursuing multiple, strategically chosen opportunities concurrently, we mitigate the risk of failure from any one application.

The MSS is meticulously tailored to your specific field of expertise and long-term business development goals. We balance your grant portfolio to include both more accessible programs with relatively higher success rates alongside highly competitive calls, transforming perceived low success rates into a strategic advantage through meticulous planning and dedicated proposal preparation.

How does the MSS maximize clients’ chances of success?
Argentum Consultants specializes in securing non-dilutive funds and R&D incentives for deep-tech companies across Europe, aiming to increase their participation in EU and locally funded projects. The firm’s core approach is the Multi Submission Strategy (MSS), designed to maximize clients’ funding success. Rather than relying on a single opportunity, MSS involves preparing and submitting multiple high-quality grant proposals throughout the year, tailored to each client’s R&D roadmap, sector focus, and growth goals.

At the core of MSS is a tailor-made grant strategy developed by a dedicated strategist who continuously identifies, analyses, and matches over 700 active funding programmes—including the EIC Accelerator, Eurostars, Horizon Europe, Eureka Clusters, and national instruments—with the client’s innovation lifecycle. This dramatically increases exposure and multiplies the potential for award success. Here are some key components:

Diverse Funding Opportunities: Argentum operates by applying to multiple funding opportunities throughout the year. This broad approach ensures that clients’ R&D and market-oriented development activities are aligned with the most suitable funding sources.

Tailored Grant Strategy: A dedicated strategist performs ongoing identification, analysis, and targeting of suitable funding opportunities. They create a customized submission plan to maximise grant funding potential based on the company’s planned activities.

Expert Proposal Preparation: For each targeted opportunity, a project manager from Argentum’s consulting department supports the client’s team throughout the proposal preparation and submission process, aiming for high-quality proposals. This also helps reduce the client’s workload during proposal preparation.

Leveraging Partnerships (Argentum Consortia Link™): Many funding opportunities require consortium applications. Argentum has developed the “Argentum Consortia Link™” to support the establishment and management of R&D partnerships, including joining large-scale EU collaborative projects (e.g., Horizon Europe), and participating in projects coordinated by industrial and research leaders. This improves the client’s positioning in the European R&I ecosystem.

By systematically pursuing numerous relevant opportunities and providing comprehensive support from strategy to proposal preparation and partnership management, the MSS ensures clients don’t overlook potential funding and are optimally positioned for success.

How is the MSS tailored to each client’s specific needs?
The Multi Submission Strategy (MSS) is carefully tailored to each client’s specific needs through a personalized and strategic approach:

Alignment with Field of Expertise and Business Goals: The Multiple submission plan is always aligned with the client’s specific field of expertise and their long-term business development goals. This ensures that the funding opportunities pursued are relevant to their core activities and future vision.

Dedicated Grant Strategy: The dedicated strategist continuously identifies, analyses, and targets the most suitable funding opportunities. They work in a joint effort with the client to create a tailor-made submission plan that maximises the grant funding potential based on the company’s planned activities.

Customized Submission Plan: The firm ensures a “well-tailored submission plan” is created, considering the client’s unique profile and objectives. This plan is derived from Argentum’s extensive knowledge base of over 700 funding directions, ensuring that the selected opportunities are the best fit for the client’s projects.

By integrating the client’s specific R&D activities, market-oriented development, long-term goals, and planned activities into a customized strategy, the MSS ensures a highly personalized and effective approach to securing non-dilutive funding.

Our Value Proposition

• Expert Guidance: We navigate the complexities of EU funding, allowing you to focus on innovation.
• Enhanced Success Rates: Our strategic approach and deep expertise significantly increase your probability of securing non-dilutive funds.
• Network Access: We leverage our extensive ecosystem to connect you with suitable project coordinators and partners, including leading research institutions and industry players.
• Market Penetration: Through international partnerships facilitated by EU grants, we can help you access and penetrate new geographical markets.

How can Argentum help clients penetrate new geographical markets?
Argentum can help clients penetrate new geographical markets primarily through its Multi Submission Strategy (MSS) and the Argentum Consortia Link™ by:

Leveraging Pan-European Funding Programs: By assisting clients in applying to a wide array of EU and locally funded projects across Europe, Argentum exposes clients to new geographical markets. Participation in these programs often requires collaboration across borders, serving as an entry point into new regions where consortium partners or project activities are based. Argentum’s expertise spans over 33 countries in Europe, providing a broad understanding of the regional funding landscapes and ecosystems.

Facilitating Strategic Partnerships via Argentum Consortia Link™: This tool is crucial for geographical expansion. Many European funding opportunities, especially large-scale ones like Horizon Europe, require consortia. Argentum’s Consortia Link™ actively supports:

• Joining EU Consortia: Clients can join large-scale research or innovation consortiums led by industry and academic partners in different countries. This provides direct access to new markets through established networks and existing projects.
• Partner Search: Argentum’s team can help clients find and manage partnerships in various locations, enabling them to participate in projects led by others or to build their own consortia with international partners.
• Access to Resources and Clients: Collaborating within international consortia grants clients access to resources, data, infrastructures, and even new clients in different geographical locations, which are vital for market penetration.

Which prominent EU and national funding programs has Argentum had success with?

Argentum has a proven track record in securing significant non-dilutive funding for deep-tech companies, enabling groundbreaking innovations across various sectors. Our expertise spans prominent EU and national funding programs.
Our clients, such as Iris.ai, Satellogic, gMendel, TEGnology, and Clever Compliance, have secured substantial funding for their groundbreaking technologies with our support.

Argentum has achieved success with a diverse range of prominent EU and national funding programs, including:

EU Programmes such as Horizon Europe (including EIC Accelerator Open and RIA), Horizon 2020 (including Fast Track to Innovation and SME Instrument ), Eureka (including Eurostars 3 , Eurostars , Celtic-Next , Eurogia 2030 , and Innowwide ), EIC Social Innovation Prize, and The European Space Agency (ESA).

National Programs such as BIRD Foundation for Israel-USA collaboration in R&D, Health Holland, IIA R&D fund (including Smart Money and IIA pilots programme ), IIA COVID emergency programme, IIA tech for the disabled programme, IIA Mofet, IIA Pilot for AgriTech, and the EIC Horizon Prize on Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid (Finalist).

While the pursuit of grant funding demands significant effort and adherence to rigorous criteria, the strategic advantages of non-dilutive capital and the availability of expert support networks make it an indispensable avenue for fostering innovation and achieving long-term objectives within the EU.

Final Thoughts

Navigating the EU‑funding ecosystem can feel overwhelming, even for seasoned innovators, but you don’t have to chart the course alone. At Argentum Consultants, we turn the maze of calls, compliance rules, and evaluation criteria into a clear, step‑by‑step roadmap tailored to your technology, timeline, and growth ambitions. From identifying the best programme match to crafting a proposal that speaks the evaluators’ language, and standing beside you through audits and project delivery, we remove the guesswork so you can stay focused on building transformative solutions. If you’re ready to turn EU support into a strategic advantage, let’s start the conversation.

Ready to unlock the potential of EU grants for your innovation?

Contact Argentum Consultants today to discuss your project and explore your funding opportunities.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is the main difference between a grant and an investment? (Funding mechanism from the Knowledge Base)

The main difference between a grant and an investment lies in the retainment of equity, ownership, or control on the company that is requesting funding. While investment funding (venture capitals and angel investors) typically requires a company to return the investment, grants are non-repayable.

Here are a few key characteristics of grants and investments:

No equity dilution: The recipient does not give up any ownership or control of their organization or project in exchange for the funds.

Purpose-driven: Grants are awarded to support specific projects, research, or initiatives that align with the funder’s mission or strategic objectives (e.g., social impact, innovation, environmental protection).

Merit-based: Awarded based on the quality of a proposal, its potential impact, and its alignment with predefined criteria.

Comes with reporting requirements: While not repaid, grant recipients are typically required to provide detailed reports on how the funds were used and the progress/impact of the project. There might be restrictions on how the funds can be used.

As for an investment:
Dilution of ownership/control (for equity investments): When a company takes on equity investment, the original founders/owners give up a portion of their company and potentially some control over strategic decisions.

Growth-oriented: Investments are typically made in businesses or projects with high growth potential, where the investor sees an opportunity for significant financial upside.

Active involvement (often): Especially with venture capital or angel investors, investors often provide not just capital but also mentorship, strategic guidance, and connections, actively participating in the company’s growth.