So… your country scores high in digital access.
But is that enough to lead innovation?
Not even close.
In this episode of InnovEU – The EU Project Chronicles, we explore the gap between digital readiness and real-world resilience — and how this gap is shaping the future of EU funded projects, innovation funding, and reskilling strategies across Europe.
🎁 Refer a Friend, Get a Tool That Saves You Hours
Love the podcast? Help us grow!
Refer a friend who subscribes and get exclusive access to the Excel Partnership Mapper — a visual tool that helps you identify, evaluate, and map ideal partners for EU funded projects.
✅ Spot strategic fits
✅ Save time
✅ Build stronger consortia
🎯 Part 1: AWTY – Digital Transition Report
We break down the latest AWTY Index and reveal:
– Why digital penetration ≠ digital resilience
– What the digital transition index means for your next proposal
– How countries are performing in skills, infrastructure, and governance
– What to fix before your next EU funding application
This is not just a data story — it’s a wake-up call for project leaders and proposal writers.
🎙️ Part 2: Interview with Jean-Michel Viola (LinkedIn)
Dean of Mesos Business School and expert in EU funded innovation ecosystems, Jean-Michel shares:
– What’s broken in EU reskilling efforts — and how to fix it
– Why purpose matters more than buzzwords in innovation frameworks
– The untapped potential of HEInnovate and the Pact for Skills
– How bureaucracy frustrates startups and educational institutions
– And why new partnerships are key for smarter EU innovation funding
📢 “Plenty of startups jump in... and hit the wall.” — Jean-Michel Viola
📩 Part 3: Open Call Analysis — ESF-SI-2025-DEP-01
A €10M opportunity under the European Social Fund Plus
This open call supports social innovation projects focused on disability employment.
We cover:
– Eligibility criteria and consortium requirements
– Budget range (€500k–€1M), co-financing rules, and deadlines
– Alignment with EU policy on reskilling and inclusion
– Why this is a strategic fit for education, health, and skills-focused proposals
This is one of the most practical EU funding opportunities of the year.
📺 Watch or Listen Anywhere
🎧 Substack: https://fernandocgaspar.substack.com/podcast
🎥 YouTube: Watch the playlist
🎧 Spotify: Listen here
🎧 Apple Podcasts: Click here
🚀 Enjoyed the episode? Let’s connect:
✅ Like the podcast on your favorite platform
✅ Subscribe on Substack or any podcast app
✅ Restack this post to reach more innovators
✅ Comment and share with colleagues in EU funding and innovation strategy
✅ Follow me on LinkedIn for short, practical insights
✅ Want to be featured on the podcast? DM me.
Let’s build projects that get funded — and that truly change things.
See you inside the episode.
📊 Last Week’s Poll Result:
What’s the real reason most proposals fail, according to Elena Chapa?
Here’s what you thought:
✅ Too much boring jargon – 50%
Weak impact storytelling – 25%
Wrong partners – 25%
Missed the real problem – 0%
🎙️ Elena reminded us that even the best ideas fall flat when they sound like EU-ese.
👉 “You need clarity, not complexity,” she said.
Want your proposal to shine? Start by cutting the clutter.
Share this post