TRAINING | EU Funding Opportunities for SMEs and Start Ups: Project Design and Management | 23-24 July 2026

Training Overview

Are you an SME or startup ready to access EU funding opportunities?

Brussels Academy, in collaboration with leading experts, is offering an intensive training on EU Project Design and Management for SMEs and Startups. This highly practical course is designed to equip entrepreneurs, SME staff, and innovation professionals with the essential skills to navigate and benefit from EU funding programmes that support innovation, growth, and competitiveness in the SME sector.

The training provides a comprehensive introduction to EU programmes available to SMEs, with a strong focus on Horizon Europe—the EU’s flagship research and innovation framework—and its dedicated Accelerator instrument for high-potential startups. The training also covers additional sub-programmes and funding calls that welcome SME participation.

Through structured sessions, real-world examples, and expert guidance, participants will learn how to:

• Identify relevant EU calls and funding opportunities

• Develop strong, competitive project proposals

• Manage project execution, budgeting, reporting, and deliverables effectively

By the end of the training, participants will be able to:

• Work within the framework of EU programmes designed for SMEs

• Write winning project proposals and increase their funding success rate

• Implement and monitor approved projects with confidence and clarity

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🎯 Who Should Join?

This training is ideal for:

• Staff and founders of SMEs and startups

• Professionals from the private sector, business accelerators, and innovation support services

• Researchers and administrators from universities and research institutes working with SMEs

• Staff from NGOs and training institutions supporting entrepreneurial initiatives

• Consultants, students, and individuals interested in EU project development and SME funding

Whether you’re submitting your first proposal or refining an existing one, this training offers the tools and strategies to boost your success in EU competitive funding schemes for SMEs.

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✅ What You Will Gain

By completing this training, participants will:

• Gain a clear understanding of EU programmes supporting SMEs, with emphasis on Horizon Europe Accelerator and related schemes

• Learn how to identify the right calls and match them with business and innovation objectives

• Understand how to structure a competitive proposal, from concept and objectives to measurable impact

• Build skills in developing strong partnerships, creating work plans, and defining deliverables

• Master the basics of EU budgeting, including lump-sum and cost-based models

• Strengthen their ability to manage EU-funded projects from start to finish, including reporting and dissemination

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📅 When

23-24 July 2026

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📌 Deadline

22 July 2026

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👨‍🏫 Trainer

Raniero Chelli
Senior Expert in EU Proposal Writing and Project Management

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📚 Training Content & Agenda

This 8-hour training takes place over two days and combines theory, strategic planning, and hands-on exercises.

🕒 Duration: Two days (8 consecutive hours)

Day I – How to Write A Winning Project Proposal

Time slot	Topic
10:00 – 12:00	Module I: Detailed presentation of the EU programmes Open to SMEs
12:00 – 13:00	Lunch Break
13:00 – 15:00	Module II: Designing the Project Proposal: Partnership, Objectives, Workplan

Day II – How to Successfully Implement and Manage projects 

Time slot	Topic
10:00 – 12:00	Module III: Designing the Project proposal: Project Management, Dissemination
12:00 – 13:00	Lunch Break
13:00 – 15:00	Module IV: Budgeting and Financial Issues

🎓 Certificate of Completion

Participants who attend the full training will receive an official Certificate of Attendance from Brussels Academy, recognizing their practical skills in EU project design and SME funding access.

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📍 Training Venue

The training will be conducted online via Zoom. All registered participants will receive a Zoom access link and technical instructions from Brussels Academy three days prior to the start of the training.

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🗣️ Please Note

The working language of the training is English.