About

EU Project AB

EU Project AB is a trading name of Ainars Blaudums, a professional consultancy specialising in the European Union’s research and innovation framework programmes, including Horizon Europe. It offers comprehensive, tailored support for the EU Horizon Europe programme applicants, including assistance for research support staff, training sessions for groups of academics, one-to-one coaching for individual researchers, available both on-site and remotely, and application reviews.

About Ainars

Ainars is an EU research funding expert with 20 years of hands-on experience in Research & Development support. With a strong academic foundation in engineering, finance, and economics, I bring a unique blend of technical knowledge and legal acumen, further enriched by extensive experience across governmental, industrial, and academic sectors.

Throughout my career, I have developed deep expertise in European funding programmes, beginning with Framework Programme 5 (FP5) and continuing through FP6, FP7, Horizon 2020, and now Horizon Europe. Over the years, I have successfully supported the preparation, submission, and management of winning grant applications across these programmes. My in-depth understanding of their evolving requirements, priorities, and evaluation criteria has enabled me to deliver consistent success for my employers, clients, and partners.

This long-term engagement with EU funding initiatives, coupled with collaboration with European Commission project officers, has provided me with a unique perspective on the strategic development of competitive proposals and the effective implementation of funded projects.

Expertise

As a strategic advisor, negotiator, and project leader, I have a proven track record of success in multidisciplinary and multicultural environments. I specialise in managing teams, finances, and risks with precision, ensuring the seamless execution of projects from inception to completion. My expertise covers the entire research support lifecycle, including:

  • Identifying funding opportunities
  • Crafting competitive proposals
  • Implementing projects, and
  • Delivering measurable outcomes.

Among my key strengths is my ability to support successful applications for prestigious funding schemes, including:

  • European Research Council (ERC) Grants
  • Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA), and
  • Collaborative proposals under Horizon Europe’s second pillar, Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness, and its predecessor programmes.

I have an extensive track record of working with Horizon Europe and its predecessors, as well as other EU programmes such as CIP, ICT PSP, Eureka!, Eurostars, Phare, Interreg, and ESIF (including ERDF and ESF). A portfolio of approximately 100 projects I have supported is available on my professional experience page, showcasing the breadth and depth of my expertise.

Knowledge Transfer

Since 2014, while employed by several leading UK universities, I also deliver coaching, training sessions, and onsite support for universities, businesses, and other organisations. These services are tailored to meet the needs of diverse audiences and can be conducted remotely, face-to-face, or in a hybrid format. I offer both individual and group sessions, ensuring flexibility and adaptability to the specific requirements of my clients.

My expertise covers a wide range of topics, including:

  • Specific funding schemes under Horizon Europe
  • Preparing high-quality grant applications that align with funders’ expectations
  • Understanding the proposal evaluation and grant award process
  • Practical guidance on project implementation
  • Technical and financial reporting best practices
  • Ensuring compliance with contractual requirements, and
  • Efficiently addressing legal and financial challenges.

Through these services, I aim to empower researchers, businesses, and institutions to maximise their success in securing and managing EU-funded projects.

Offer

I believe that my practical expertise, continually evolving theoretical knowledge, and comprehensive understanding of research funders - including their requirements, procedures, and expectations - will continue to contribute to the advancement of the broader funding landscape.

This knowledge is available to universities, research institutions, large enterprises, and smaller companies seeking to better understand and navigate the complexities of research and innovation funding. My services are offered at a competitive fee, ensuring accessibility for organisations of all sizes.

If you are interested in the services provided by EU Project AB, please leave your enquiry in the contact box. For further details about my professional track record and experience, feel free to visit my LinkedIn profile.


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