EU project development refers to the multidisciplinary process of designing, drafting, submitting, and managing projects funded by the European Union (EU). This activity requires not only a deep understanding of EU funding programmes, but also strong technical skills, problem-solving abilities, and a solid network of partnerships.
Therefore, EU project development is not merely a bureaucratic exercise — it is a strategic tool available to public authorities, NGOs, universities, companies, and start-ups seeking to access EU funding to grow, innovate, and maximize their impact.
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What is the purpose of EU project development?
The main goal of EU project development is to seize opportunities offered by European funding, transforming needs and ideas into concrete projects aligned with EU priorities.
Through EU project development, it’s possible to:
- access co-funding for research, training, technological innovation, and social inclusion;
- strengthen international cooperation networks;
- experiment with innovative solutions;
- boost the competitiveness of companies and start-ups.
As such, EU project developers play a key role in driving development and transformation processes, connecting local needs with european strategies.
History of EU project development
EU project development emerged in response to the increasing complexity of European Union (EU) policies and funding programmes. Its evolution began with the founding of the European Economic Community (EEC) through the Treaty of Rome in 1957.
Initially, European funds were limited and focused mainly on sectors such as agriculture (via the Common Agricultural Policy, or CAP) and regional development. However, as the EEC’s responsibilities grew—and later those of the EU, officially established with the Treaty of Maastricht in 1993—the range of funding programmes expanded to include research, innovation, culture, education, and cooperation.
The need for a more structured approach to project design emerged during the 1980s and 1990s, when the EU began launching more complex funding instruments, such as the Framework Programmes for research and technological development. The first, Framework Programme 1 (FP1), was launched in 1984.
These programmes required detailed planning, collaboration among international partners, and strict adherence to funding criteria. As a result, a new professional figure became essential: the EU project developer—an expert in drafting and managing projects aligned with EU priorities and regulations.
There is no official birthdate
There is no precise date marking the “birth” of EU project development, but its growth can be placed between the 1980s and 1990s (JO Group was founded in 1998), in parallel with the expansion of EU programmes and the increasing professionalization of EU fund management.
The role of the EU project developer, however, became fully established in the 2000s, as funding calls grew more complex and demanded greater expertise.
The evolution to the present day
Today, EU project development is a recognized profession, supported by associations, networks (such as the European Projects Association), and dedicated training programs. It plays a key role for public bodies, SMEs, NGOs, and institutions that aim to contribute to the EU’s strategic goals, such as sustainability, research, and social cohesion.
With the 2021–2027 EU budget and the NextGenerationEU recovery plan (launched in response to the COVID-19 crisis), EU project development has taken on an even more crucial role in accessing unprecedented funding opportunities, including the €750 billion Recovery Fund.
In short, EU project development is the result of the EU’s evolution. It was born out of the need to translate policy into actionable projects, and since the 1990s, it has become a key tool for taking full advantage of European funding opportunities.
Main EU funding programmes 2021–2027: from Erasmus+ to LIFE
The European Union offers a wide range of funding programmes, each with specific goals. Here are the most well-known:
Erasmus+: education, training, youth and sport
Erasmus+ is the EU’s flagship programme for education, training, youth and sport, with a budget of approximately €26.2 billion for the 2021–2027 period.
Designed to enhance skills, employability, and a sense of European citizenship, it supports the mobility of students, teachers, apprentices, and young people, offering experiences such as studying abroad, internships, and participation in volunteer projects.
But Erasmus+ goes beyond mobility: it also funds partnerships among schools, universities, youth organizations, and local authorities to exchange good practices and innovate in education.
With a strong focus on inclusion, sustainability, and digital transformation, the programme also supports sport-related activities, promoting inclusive events and initiatives. It acts as a bridge to connect cultures and strengthen European identity, with calls for proposals managed at both national and EU level.
Horizon Europe: research and innovation
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s main programme for research and innovation, with a budget of approximately €95.5 billion for the 2021–2027 period.
It focuses on funding projects that push the boundaries of science and technology, tackling global challenges such as climate change, health, the digital transition, and industrial sustainability.
Structured around three pillars — Excellent Science, Global Challenges and Industrial Competitiveness, and Innovative Europe — the programme supports collaboration among universities, research centers, SMEs, large companies, and other stakeholders, often through transnational partnerships.
Projects range from fundamental research, such as studies on new medical therapies, to the development of cutting-edge technologies, including renewable energy solutions and artificial intelligence (AI). Funding opportunities are published on the Funding & Tenders Portal, making Horizon Europe a key driver of EU competitiveness and scientific progress.
Creative Europe: culture and creativity
Creative Europe, with a budget of approximately €2.4 billion for the 2021–2027 period, is the EU programme dedicated to the cultural and creative sectors. It supports cinema, music, theatre, literature, and media.
The programme promotes cultural diversity, transnational cooperation, and competitiveness by funding initiatives such as film co-productions, festivals, theatre networks, and platforms for emerging artists.
Targeting cultural organizations, producers, publishers, and associations, Creative Europe encourages access to European markets, digital transformation, and inclusion. Aligned with the EU’s cohesion and innovation goals, it offers centrally managed calls for proposals that help preserve Europe’s artistic and cultural heritage while fostering the growth of the creative industries.
Digital Europe: digital transformation
The Digital Europe programme, with a budget of around €7.5 billion for the 2021–2027 period, leads the EU’s digital transformation, focusing on artificial intelligence, supercomputing, cybersecurity, and digital skills.
It supports businesses, public bodies, and organizations in developing advanced technologies and building a workforce equipped for an increasingly digital future. The programme funds initiatives such as the deployment of 5G infrastructure, the creation of digital innovation hubs, and training courses to boost IT competencies.
Interreg: cross-border and interregional cooperation
Interreg is a key European Union programme. Funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), it promotes cross-border, transnational, and interregional cooperation between European regions to address shared challenges and strengthen territorial cohesion.
With a budget of approximately €10.1 billion for the 2021–2027 period, it focuses on themes such as sustainable development, innovation, natural resource management, transportation, and social inclusion, encouraging regions and countries to collaborate on projects that go beyond national borders.
Aimed at public authorities, organizations, SMEs, and NGOs, Interreg is structured around three main strands: cross-border cooperation (e.g., between neighboring regions in different countries), transnational cooperation (across larger geographic areas), and interregional cooperation (exchange of best practices across the EU). It funds initiatives such as joint management of natural parks, cross-border transport infrastructure, and shared training programs, with calls managed by regional or national authorities.
LIFE: environment and climate
The LIFE programme, with a budget of approximately €5.4 billion for the 2021–2027 period, is dedicated to environmental protection and climate action. It represents the EU’s commitment to sustainability.
LIFE funds projects that preserve biodiversity, promote the circular economy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support climate change adaptation. Targeted at public authorities, organizations, businesses, and NGOs, it supports practical initiatives such as restoring natural habitats, managing waste, and developing clean technologies.
With a strong alignment to the priorities of the European Green Deal, LIFE encourages innovative and replicable solutions, often involving partners from multiple countries.
Each programme is governed by public calls for proposals, which define eligibility requirements, budgets, timelines, and application procedures.
NextGenerationEU: recovery and resilience
NextGenerationEU is a temporary programme worth €806.9 billion, active from 2021 to 2026. It was created to help relaunch the European economy after the COVID-19 pandemic, with a strong focus on green and digital transitions. At its core is the Recovery and Resilience Facility, which allocates €672.5 billion for reforms and investments in EU member states, including energy-efficient building upgrades, the digitalization of public administration, and the development of sustainable infrastructure.
Primarily targeting EU member states, it supports national recovery plans that promote employment, sustainability, and resilience. Managed through agreements between the EU and national governments, it is a unique instrument designed to respond to immediate crises while building a stronger and more cohesive future.
Single Market Programme: economy and competitiveness
The Single Market Programme, with a budget of approximately €4.2 billion for the 2021–2027 period, supports the competitiveness and proper functioning of the EU’s internal market. It helps SMEs grow and expand, funds the standardization of products and services, protects consumers, and strengthens market surveillance.
Targeted at businesses, consumer associations, and public bodies, it promotes projects such as support for start-ups entering new markets or campaigns to improve product safety. Centrally managed, it plays a vital role in ensuring a fairer, more competitive, and more integrated economy across the Union.
What does an EU project developer do?
An EU project developer is a cross-functional professional whose responsibilities include:
- analyzing EU funding calls;
- building international partnerships;
- drafting project proposals, including objectives, activities, expected impact, and budget;
- managing and monitoring the implementation of approved projects;
- reporting expenses in compliance with EU regulations.
The most sensitive phase is the initial one, where the ability to turn an idea into a coherent project concept is essential. This concept must align with the EU’s political priorities, such as digitalization, the green economy, inclusion, and women’s empowerment.
Real-life examples of EU project development by JO Group
These projects show how EU project development can turn ideas into impactful, cross-border solutions.
1. STEM-IT: AR and VR for the school of the future
STEM-IT, coordinated by VITECO — the Italian software house of the JO Group — promotes the use of augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) in STEM education (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The project involves schools, teachers, and developers with the aim of enhancing STEM learning in lower and upper secondary schools through immersive technologies.
2. OSCRAT: strengthening cybersecurity and helping SMEs comply with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
OSCRAT aims to enhance cybersecurity for European SMEs. How? By focusing on key EU policy frameworks, including the Digital Single Market strategy, the EU Radio Equipment Directive (RED), the AI Act, NIS2, and the European Green Deal.
The project’s main goal is to develop a free, open-source tool that supports companies in assessing their cybersecurity systems and verifying compliance with the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA), which seeks to ensure EU-wide adherence to quality standards in the field of cybersecurity.
All partnership management and coordination activities are carried out by PMF Research, the research and development (R&D) center of the JO Group.
3. SHE FOUNDER: Erasmus for aspiring women entrepreneurs
Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs is implemented through the European project SHE FOUNDER_ENTREPRENEURSHIP IS WOMEN 4, more commonly known as SHE FOUNDER.
The goal of SHE FOUNDER — in which JO Consulting, the flagship management consultancy firm of the JO Group, is a partner — is to develop an international outlook, enhance the competitiveness of European SMEs, and promote the creation of potential start-ups or small businesses across participating countries.
SHE FOUNDER focuses on groups of female entrepreneurs who propose sustainable business models centered on environmental and/or digital themes.
Why should you invest in EU project development?
In today’s context, EU project development stands out as a strategic lever to access funding opportunities. As we’ve seen, the 2021–2027 period is shaped by key priorities such as:
- environmental sustainability,
- digital innovation,
- social cohesion,
- youth and women’s empowerment,
- strengthening of professional skills.
Each funded project represents an opportunity to build networks, drive innovation, and generate meaningful impact.
Want to launch a European project? We’re looking for partners — contact us
The JO Group cluster of companies, founded in 1998 by visionary entrepreneur Giuseppe Ursino, is actively involved in the development and management of EU-funded projects across various fields: education, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation, and eco-sustainability.
If you represent a company or institution interested in applying for EU funding calls, we are actively looking for reliable partners to co-design high-quality, impactful project proposals.
Fill out the contact form at the bottom of the page to email us, call us at +390950936053, or message us on WhatsApp.
“Connecting visions, generating impact — that’s what EU project development is all about today.”
— Giuseppe Ursino, CEO of JO Group