How to Effectively Use the EU Funding & Tenders Portal:
The European Commission’s Funding & Tenders Portal is the EU’s central online platform for finding and applying for European funding opportunities and public procurement tenders. It provides access to programmes such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Creative Europe, Digital Europe, and many others. Through the portal, organisations can search for open calls, submit proposals, manage projects, and access guidance documents and partner search tools.
Access the portal here:
EU Funding & Tenders Portal
Lump Sum Funding in Horizon Europe:
Lump Sum funding is a simplified EU project funding model in which beneficiaries receive fixed amounts for completed project activities and work packages, rather than reporting actual costs in detail. The approach is designed to reduce administrative burden, simplify financial management, and place greater emphasis on project results and deliverables. Lump Sum schemes are increasingly used in programmes such as Horizon Europe and require clear planning, realistic budgeting, and well-defined project outputs from the proposal stage.
Horizon Europe Info Days:
Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area (WIDERA) is a part of the Horizon Europe programme aimed at reducing research and innovation disparities across Europe. It supports institutions and countries with lower participation rates in EU research programmes by strengthening research capacity, international cooperation, institutional excellence, and integration into European research networks.
WIDERA is particularly relevant for the Central and Eastern European region, including Lithuania, as it provides additional opportunities for universities and research institutions to enhance competitiveness, attract international partnerships, and build long-term research excellence. The programme supports capacity-building initiatives, staff development, networking, and institutional reforms, helping regional institutions become more active participants in the European Research Area. For smaller or developing institutions, WIDERA also serves as an important pathway toward greater visibility, sustainability, and access to future Horizon Europe funding opportunities.
Cost Network
COST (European Cooperation in Science and Technology) is an EU-funded programme that supports the creation of international research networks, known as COST Actions. It is one of the longest-running European frameworks for research collaboration and is particularly valued for its flexibility and inclusiveness. COST does not fund research itself; instead, it funds networking activities that bring together researchers and innovators across Europe and beyond. The goal is to facilitate knowledge exchange, build capacity, and strengthen collaboration.
COST Actions typically run for four years and support:
- Workshops, conferences, and meetings
- Short-Term Scientific Missions (research visits)
- Training schools
- Dissemination and communication activities
COST is open to:
- Researchers at all career stages (including early-career researchers)
- Innovators and industry representatives
- Public institutions and NGOs
Why do researchers value COST?
Provides low-barrier entry into international research networks.
Helps build track record and partnerships for larger EU programmes (e.g., Horizon Europe).
Supports capacity building in institutions with developing research systems.
Creates opportunities for women researchers and underrepresented groups to gain visibility and leadership experience.
Flexible and bottom-up (researchers propose topics).
Strong networking and mobility opportunities.
Enables collaboration without requiring large project funding.