SERN’s Position on Inclusive Access to EU Funding 

Context 

SERN was pleased to contribute to the recent Implementation Dialogue at the European Commission on access to EU funding. 
The discussion was a valuable opportunity to bring the perspective of regional innovation ecosystems into a high-level European conversation, and to share practical insights drawn from SERN’s day-to-day work with partners across regions. 

Why this matters 

EU funding is an important tool for helping European ecosystem actors turn ideas into projects, strengthen partnerships, and support innovation in practice. 
Through its work with public authorities, innovation agencies, incubators, accelerators, research centres, startups, and SMEs, SERN sees the strong value these opportunities bring. At the same time, there is clear potential to make them even easier to understand, access, and use, particularly for smaller organisations. 

A practical priority: reducing complexity 

From SERN’s perspective, one of the main priorities is to continue making access to funding simpler and more workable in practice. 
Across regional ecosystems, many organisations are ready to engage, but the process can feel demanding. Administrative requirements, supporting documentation, and reporting obligations often require time and internal capacity that smaller organisations do not always have at hand. This is particularly true for startups, SMEs, and actors with limited resources and experience in EU-funded programmes. 

Points emerging from practice 

Based on its experience across European regions, SERN highlighted several practical points that are important to consider. 

Administrative requirements 

Procedures can still be resource-intensive, particularly for smaller organisations and first-time applicants. 

Fit with operational realities 

For startups and SMEs, applying for funding requires time, planning, and internal resources that are not always easy to balance with daily activities and market demands. 

Timing of procedures 

Innovation actors often move quickly. Evaluation processes that take several months can therefore be difficult to align with the pace at which organisations need to make decisions. 

Deadlines and implementation timeframes 

Short deadlines for applications or implementation can also make participation harder, especially for organisations with smaller teams or less administrative capacity. 

Clarity matters 

SERN also underlined the importance of visibility and clarity, particularly when it comes to new instruments. 
For many organisations, the EU funding landscape already involves multiple programmes, rules, and entry points. In that context, communication matters. Opportunities need to be visible, understandable, and easy to navigate if they are to reach the actors they are designed to support. 

What could help 

Drawing on its experience, SERN pointed to four practical areas that could further strengthen access to EU funding: 

• Clearer and more centralised communication across programmes  
• Lighter and more streamlined procedures  
• Faster evaluation processes 
• Increased alignment with the needs and timelines of smaller organisations  

Conclusion 

SERN welcomed the opportunity to contribute to this exchange and to bring practical experience from across regional innovation ecosystems into the discussion.  
Europe needs funding that works well for the people and organisations building projects, testing ideas, and creating value in regions. We welcome efforts to make EU funding more accessible and usable in practice, which can help turn European priorities into stronger results on the ground.