Frequently Asked Questions
Why private companies?
When EU Member States - or companies which they are affiliated with - would like to influence EU decision-making processes, they can do so through the usual EU fora and structures. Blue Door Consulting does not wish to interfere with any of these practices.
However, most of the time private companies are not aware of the policy objectives articulated by the European Union and the opportunities for potential cooperation (beyond applying for EU funding).
This must be financed by the European Union…
It is important to note that Blue Door Consulting has no legal, financial or any other relation with any EU institution, agency or other related entities, nor is it in any way related to these entities.
How can I cooperate with Blue Door Consulting?
You can get in touch with us through the options outlined on the ‘About Us’ and ‘Contact Us’ pages.
We will contact you for an online or personal meeting (covid situation permitting) for a consultation to outline objectives and priorities.
Afterwards, we will make you a tailor-made, personalised offer, based on individual needs.
Can I choose services one-by-one?
Of course! The consultation helps decide what exactly is required for the success of our partner.
I would only like to apply for EU funding.
Of course, this is possible as well and we stand ready to help!
Blue Door Consulting covers all stages of the application process - from project preparation and development to the monitoring of relevant applications, as well as proposal writing, including consortium building with European partners - taking over the administrative burden from the partners.
Are these the same sources known as operational programs?
Absolutely not! Many Hungarian business are unaware that when it comes to European Union grants, it's not just about the domestic (indirect, or distributed by national authorities) sources, but there are also many direct grant sources announced and evaluated directly by EU institutions.
Therefore, different criteria must be met, and the way the application is prepared and submitted is also different. Most grant calls require the creation of cross-border consortium collaborations, which contributes to the development of the networks of companies, facilitating their integration into the European market.
What are direct sources good for?
Domestic companies are missing out on an alternative funding opportunity – about 1 billion EUR annually – which would help them grow, innovate, and gain a larger market share at the European level through the development of European relationships.
Direct sources provide opportunities for domestic business development, the execution of research and development projects, making improvements, and facilitating the digitization and greening of companies. We actively strive to strengthen the position of Hungary and the Central and Eastern European region in the utilization of direct sources as much as possible and to create innovative projects that can serve as examples for other European countries.
Practical information
Consortium
Typically, cooperation from at least 3 different entities from 3 different countries is required, which contributes to the development of domestic companies' networks, facilitating their integration into the European market. The grant application describes the project implemented within the framework of cross-border cooperation.
Amount
Typically, 1-3 million EUR per consortium (but often much higher amounts) can be applied for within various European Union programs and the calls for proposals issued under them – this amount may increase depending on the planned duration of the project.
Co-financing
The European Union typically provides 70%-100% co-financing for most direct grants.
Submission
The grant application is mostly prepared in English and submitted electronically. The evaluation process begins after the deadline of the respective call for proposals, so it is not done in the order of submission. In the case of a positive decision, the total turnaround time (from the deadline of the respective call for proposals to the disbursement) is roughly 10-12 months.