As they take a bigger role in the innovation ecosystem, more oversight is needed of consultancies that help start-ups apply for EU funding
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The European Commission needs to step up its oversight of the private consultants that are playing an increasingly prominent role in Europe’s innovation funding system, as competition to win grants from Horizon Europe increases and new participants attempt to take part in the programme for the first time.
“The reality is that a large majority of applicants use consultancy services even though there is no correlation with successful outcomes,” said Ana Barjasic, chair of the European Innovation Council’s working group on Widening countries. “Ignoring this reality is shortsighted and advocates for a business-as-usual approach - which is not in favour of entrepreneurs and innovators,” Barjasic said.
The European Innovation Council (EIC), Horizon Europe’s main start-up…
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