The EU supports directly or indirectly various funding instruments and programmes. In today’s global race for turning research results into sustainable innovations at the service of society, it is essential that funding instruments work in synergy, despite their different objectives, modalities and interfaces.

On the one hand, Framework Programmes for Research and Innovation (FPs) fund collaborative and transnational excellence-driven ideas while EU Structural and Investment Funds (ESIFs) and EU Regional Development Funds (ERDFs) focus on regional needs by investing in capacity-building and infrastructure development.
Building synergies in an upward or downward mode increases effectiveness of the instruments and ensures an efficient allocation of the EU budget.

The webinar will cover the following topics:
       • What is Upstream Synergies?
          Use of ESIF/ERDF to build the required capacity in a region so it can compete on an excellence-basis at FPs
       • What is Downstream Synergies?
          The results of an FP-funded project to be further valorized in the market and society by using ESIF/ERDF programmes
       • What is the role of Smart Specialisation?
          What are the selected areas where a region will invest building capacities to achieve competitive advantage?
       • Funding Seal of Excellence projects
          Excellent proposals that could not be funded by FPs receive funding by ESIF/ERDF
       • Synergies among EU programmes
          Different EU programmes can successively support research results within the valorization journey

Webinar structure
Experts’ presentations, practical examples of synergies between excellence-driven FPs and regionally oriented ESIF funds, interactive activities to enhance learning outcomes.

Target audience from eligible Widening Counties:
- Researchers interested in identifying complementary funding opportunities for their project ideas
- Research Managers and Administrators (RMAs) working at pre-award offices and involved in identifying complementary funding opportunities
- Stakeholders involved in the R&I process, including policy makers
- Beneficiaries of the widerAdvance Facility

Organisers & Speakers:
- Alicia Boto (Scientific Researcher, Group Head, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas - CSIC)
- Carolina Medeiros (Fundo Regional da Ciência e Tecnologia)
- Invited guests