Yesterday, EXCEL4MED took part in an interactive session hosted by InnovinAgri – Office of Technology Transfer & Entrepreneurship at the Agricultural University of Athens.

The session, titled “Writing and participating in funded research programmes”, gathered students and early-career researchers interested in stepping into the world of EU research projects.

It explored the essentials of participating in competitive funding schemes such as Horizon Europe. Key themes included how to build strong and coherent proposals, understand participation rules, and navigate the pathway from an initial idea to a funded project.

Special attention was also given to important cross-cutting topics such as research ethics, open science practices, and the need to ensure that research results go beyond academic outputs and create real-world value.

EXCEL4MED as a real-world example

Our partner Thanos Karvounis (Smart Agro Hub) contributed to the event by sharing his experience in research proposal development and innovation funding.

He provided hands-on advice on preparing competitive applications and underlined key factors that support successful partnerships and funding outcomes.

In this context, he presented EXCEL4MED as an example of a successful Horizon Europe project, showing how collaborative research can translate into tangible impact in the agri-food sector.

Karvounis also highlighted how multidisciplinary cooperation and well-aligned partnerships can significantly increase the chances of success in EU-funded programmes.

The seminar enabled direct exchange between experienced professionals and the next generation of researchers, while also reinforcing the importance of building skills and awareness around EU funding opportunities. These capabilities are essential for turning research ideas into impactful projects.