Attila Wootsch from Privanova participated in the first episode of the SPARKUP project podcast, which was moderated by Ana Cumbo from the Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences.
The discussion explored the European R&D funding landscape for CBRNE-related innovation, with a particular focus on opportunities available for SMEs and organisations seeking to enter the EU-funded research ecosystem.
During the conversation, Attila highlighted the role of major EU funding instruments such as Horizon Europe, the European Defence Fund (EDF), EIC Accelerator, EU4Health, and NATO Science for Peace and Security programmes. He explained how these frameworks support innovation in civil security, defence, health preparedness, and emerging CBRNE technologies.
A key topic of the podcast was what makes a proposal truly competitive. According to Attila, successful EU proposals begin with a clearly identified real-world problem and a strong story that demonstrates impact, innovation, and implementation potential. He also emphasised the importance of building balanced consortia with experienced partners, key opinion leaders, and broad European representation.
The discussion further addressed common mistakes in proposal writing and project implementation, including overestimating innovation potential, unrealistic KPIs, poor timing estimates, and insufficient understanding of the current state of the art.
The podcast also showcased the role of the SPARKUP project as a Coordination and Support Action (CSA), designed to strengthen knowledge exchange, networking opportunities, capacity-building, and collaboration across the European CBRNE community, particularly in widening countries and Eastern Europe.
The episode concluded with practical advice for organisations taking their first steps toward EU funding, encouraging SMEs to explore the Funding & Tenders Portal, review existing projects on CORDIS, attend EU Info Days, and actively build visibility and partnerships within the European innovation ecosystem.
