«There's a lot of European money, but you never understand where it is». We often hear this from business owners. And it is understandable: opportunities funded by the European Union flow through different channels, with different rules, deadlines and languages. In this article we try to bring some order and explain how we turn a call for proposals into a concrete project.
Two big families: direct and indirect funds
The first distinction to make is this.
Direct funds
These are managed directly by the European Commission or its agencies, with calls published on the European Funding & Tenders portal. They are competitive at continental level: you compete with companies and organisations from all over Europe, and a partnership across several countries is often required. Among the most relevant programmes for businesses are Horizon Europe, for research and innovation, with the EIC Accelerator for the most innovative startups and SMEs; the Single Market Programme, which among other things supports SME competitiveness; and the LIFE programme for environment and climate.
Indirect funds
These are European resources, in particular cohesion policy funds such as the ERDF, that reach Italy and are managed by Regions and Ministries through their own programmes. For an SME they are often the most accessible route: calls are in Italian, competition is regional or national and many measures fund internationalisation itself, from trade fair participation to export consultancy services and vouchers for specialised professionals.
Opportunities for the agri-food sector
Food & wine companies have a chapter of their own. The European Union funds information and promotion programmes for agricultural products, both in the internal market and in third countries, under the dedicated promotion regulation. For wine there is also the promotion measure in non-EU countries under the common market organisation, managed in Italy at national and regional level. These tools are well suited to consortia, cooperatives and groups of producers that want to present themselves together in markets such as the United States, Canada, Japan or Australia.
Territorial cooperation
Interreg programmes fund cooperation projects between regions of different countries. They are not designed for individual exports, but they can be an excellent opportunity to build relationships, business networks and supply-chain projects with foreign partners.
Free support from the European network
Not everything is funding. The Enterprise Europe Network, present in Italy through regional consortia, offers services to find commercial and technological partners in Europe and worldwide. We often include it in our paths, because finding the right partner is worth as much as the funding.
How we work on calls
A call is not an opportunity to seize at any cost. It is a tool that must serve a strategy. Our method is based on four steps.
1. Start from the project, not from the call
Before searching for calls, we clarify the objectives with you: which markets, which products, which investments. Only then do we look for the most suitable instrument. The opposite leads to forced projects that are hard to implement and to report.
2. Continuous monitoring
We keep an eye on European, national and regional calls and point out to the companies we support the opportunities consistent with their plans, with enough time to prepare.
3. Realistic assessment
For each call we assess requirements, chances of success, effort required and the co-financing borne by the company. If an opportunity is out of reach, we say so frankly.
4. Writing, management and reporting
We prepare the proposal, coordinate any partners, follow project implementation and final reporting. In European projects especially, administrative management is demanding, and that is where many companies give up or make costly mistakes.
What you need to start on the right foot
- Sound balance sheets and a clear financial position, because almost every call assesses the company's soundness.
- Co-financing capacity: a call rarely covers 100% of costs.
- Time: the best projects are prepared weeks in advance, not in the days before the deadline.
- An internal contact person who knows the company and can work with us.
Let's talk
If you want to understand which European, national or regional calls can support your growth plans abroad, at Di Stasi Group we can build a map of opportunities with you and support you from application to reporting. Get in touch and tell us about your goals.
Further reading
- Our business internationalisation consulting
- SIMEST Fund 394: how we finance an SME’s growth abroad
- SIMEST financing for artificial intelligence in SMEs
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between direct and indirect EU funds?
Direct funds are managed by the European Commission and its agencies through the European Funding & Tenders portal, with competition at continental level and often requiring international partnerships. Indirect funds are European resources managed by Regions and Ministries in Italy, with calls in Italian and regional or national competition, making them often more accessible for SMEs.
Which EU programmes are most relevant for businesses?
Among the most relevant are Horizon Europe for research and innovation, the EIC Accelerator for innovative startups and SMEs, the Single Market Programme for SME competitiveness, and the LIFE programme for environment and climate. Indirect funds often support internationalisation through trade fair participation and export consultancy services.
Are there specific EU funding opportunities for food and wine companies?
Yes. The European Union funds information and promotion programmes for agricultural products in internal and external markets under a dedicated promotion regulation. For wine, there is a specific promotion measure in non-EU countries managed at national and regional level in Italy, particularly suited for consortia, cooperatives and producer groups.
What is the Enterprise Europe Network and what does it offer?
The Enterprise Europe Network, present in Italy through regional consortia, offers services to find commercial and technological partners in Europe and worldwide. It does not provide funding but helps companies find the right partners, which is considered as valuable as funding itself.
What should a company prepare before applying for EU funding?
A company should have sound balance sheets and a clear financial position, capacity for co-financing (as calls rarely cover 100% of costs), sufficient time to prepare (weeks in advance rather than days before deadline), and an internal contact person who knows the company and can work with consultants.
Why is it important to start from the project strategy rather than from the call?
Starting from the project strategy helps clarify objectives like target markets, products and investments before searching for calls. This approach prevents forced projects that are difficult to implement and report, ensuring the funding tool serves your actual business strategy.