They account for around 20% of the EU budget 2021-2027. In this direct management, the European Commission is responsible for all steps in a programme's implementation: launching the calls for proposals, evaluating submitted proposals, signing grant agreements, monitoring project implementation, assessing the results, and making payments. These tasks are carried out by the Commission's departments, at its headquarters, in the EU delegations or through EU executive agencies; there are no third parties. Calls for proposals under direct management are published on the Funding and Tenders Portal.

Relevant direct management funds for clusters include:

• HORIZON Europe
• Single Market Programme
• Digital Europe Programme
• Innovation Fund
• EU4Health Programme
• Programme for the Environment and Climate Action (LIFE)
• Creative Europe Programme
• European Defence Fund
• ERASMUS+

The European Cluster Collaboration Platform, on behalf of the European Commission, DG GROW, organised the EU Clusters Talk “EU funding opportunities II – Direct management programmes” on 27 September 2023, 8:30 – 10:00 CET, to give an overview of the programmes and funding opportunities, explain the mechanisms, and share project examples with the involvement of clusters.

Speakers included:

• Christophe Galand, Head of Unit, DG BUDG, European Commission;
• Bjørg Dam, Project Manager, Life Science Cluster Denmark;
• Eva Vicente Barragán, Operations Coordinator - Project Management Engineer, ICAMCyL;
• Maurizio Malè, Cluster Project Manager, Venetian Cluster.

Watch the full recording of the webinar:

This event is part of regular online meetings brought to the cluster community by the European Cluster Collaboration Platform. They offer up-to-date insights into the latest industrial policies and clusters’ involvement, projects, and best practices, the latest ECCP news, and funding opportunities. The EU Clusters Talks are a space to exchange knowledge and to discuss cluster-relevant topics, which will change with every meeting.

This EU Clusters Talk is open to participants from the European Union and SMP/COSME countries. Approval for attending the session will be given individually.