​The EU has several different funding programmes that you may be able to apply for, depending on the nature of your business or project. Out of a annual budget of around €160 billion, 85% is spent on funding programs.

There are two different types of EU funding:

  1. Direct EU funding, directly managed by EU Institutions and supported by the EU budget
  2. indirect EU funding, managed by national and regional authorities and comprises nearly 80% of the EU budget, mainly through 5 big funds that come under the umbrella of the European Structural and Investment Funds.​

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A - Direct Funding: Grants and Contracts

Under direct funding, you will find:
  1. grants (specific projects related to the EU policies)
  2. contracts (for providing services, goods and work)
Both are directly managed by the EU Commission and other EU Institutions on the Funding and Tenders portal.

B - Indirect Funding: Structural and Investment Funds

Indirect EU funding is managed by national and regional authorities and is covered by the EU budget mainly through 5 big funds (European Structural and Investment Funds):
  1. European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)
  2. European Social Fund (ESF)
  3. Cohesion Fund (CF)
  4. European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development  (EAFRD)
  5. European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF)