About

Independent Horizon Europe Grant Consultancy

Turning European research policy into funded, deliverable projects

EU Project AB

EU Project AB is the trading name of Ainars Blaudums, an independent Horizon Europe grant consultant working with universities, research organisations, SMEs and international consortia across the EU and UK.

Since 2014, EU Project AB has provided senior-level advisory support with a clear objective: helping research-driven organisations secure competitive funding under EU framework programmes and successfully deliver EU-funded projects.

I work directly with clients across the full proposal and project lifecycle – from strategic positioning and call selection to proposal structuring, evaluation readiness and implementation support. In many cases, clients engage me for a specific phase of the process, ensuring flexibility and targeted expertise.

For complex or large-scale assignments, I collaborate with a trusted network of experienced research grant professionals. This flexible model ensures personalised, accountable support while providing access to complementary expertise when required.

About Ainars Blaudums

I bring over 20 years of experience in EU research and innovation funding, spanning Framework Programme 5 (FP5) through Horizon Europe.

My background combines engineering, finance, economics, legal and R&D expertise. As a result, I translate complex regulatory and policy frameworks into structured, fundable strategies aligned with European Commission expectations.

Over the past two decades, I have supported the preparation, submission, negotiation and implementation of more than 100 successful EU-funded projects, including:

• Horizon Europe – European Research Council (ERC) grants
• Horizon Europe – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
• Collaborative projects under Horizon Europe Pillar 2
• Previous framework programmes including FP6, FP7 and Horizon 2020

Extensive experience working with European Commission project officers and multinational consortia enables me to provide practical, evaluation-focused guidance grounded in real-world implementation experience.

Expertise Across the Full Grant Lifecycle

My consultancy covers the complete Horizon Europe support cycle, including:

• Identifying and assessing relevant funding opportunities
• Aligning proposals with official evaluation criteria
• Structuring competitive Excellence, Impact and Implementation sections
• Budget planning and financial compliance
• Risk mitigation and project governance
• Grant agreement preparation and reporting strategy

Beyond Horizon Europe, I have substantial hands-on experience preparing and delivering projects under CIP, ICT PSP, Eureka!, Eurostars, Interreg and ESIF (ERDF and ESF). This broader perspective allows me to provide informed guidance across diverse European funding schemes.

A portfolio of selected projects is available on the Experience page.

Explore the Project Portfolio

Knowledge Transfer & Institutional Experience

Since 2014, I have worked within leading UK universities in EU funding advisory roles. This institutional experience complements my independent consultancy work and strengthens my understanding of internal research development processes.

In parallel, I provide:

• Institutional training workshops
• Online training on ERC, MSCA and collaborative grants
• One-to-one coaching for researchers and project coordinators
• Practical guidance on proposal evaluation and award procedures
• Technical and financial reporting best practices

Importantly, knowledge transfer activities are typically integrated into consultancy engagements to ensure tangible, outcome-oriented results rather than purely informational sessions.

Independent, Structured, Outcome-Oriented

EU Project AB operates as a focused, independent consultancy. Consequently, clients benefit from:

• Direct senior-level involvement in all assignments
• Clear accountability and continuity
• Absence of institutional conflicts of interest
• Practical, experience-based advice rather than generic guidance

This structured and transparent approach supports strategic clarity, stronger proposals and risk-aware project delivery.

Working Across the EU & UK

Services are delivered remotely or on site across the EU and UK, depending on client requirements.

If you are preparing a Horizon Europe proposal or managing an EU-funded project and require structured, independent support, I would be pleased to discuss your needs.

Contact EU Project AB

---

---