blue!

Being part of an EU project can help you to achieve your institution’s individual goals. Implementation gives you the opportunity to roll out your agenda in a European context. Whether you work with other European partners or individually: The selected EU funding programme has to be in alignment with your institution’s need for action. If your organisation wants to benefit from European funding, it is usually required to contribute some of its own resources. Strategic considerations will help you to make the best use of your organisation’s financial means and realise its potential.

blue! can assist you in the following ways:

• Brief analysis with regard to your “fit” in the EU funding landscape.
• Optimization of internal processes for improved EU funding promotion (e.g. content-related project generation, interdepartmental coordination processes, financial accounting and cost-benefit analyses)
• Networking with state and federal funding sources for your optimal funding opportunities
• Development and support of an EU funding strategy via training and long-term partnership
• Advice on strategic communication with the EU institutions – as a mouthpiece for the region in Europe or for your own integration into European networks

An EU project provides a wide range of opportunities for advancing your organisation’s objectives, such as recruitment and qualification of staff, institutional branding etc. We are committed to designing projects that meet these strategic objectives and are perceived by our clients as bringing clear value to their organisations. At the same time, we provide continuous updates on current trends in the EU funding landscape. In the funding period 2021-2027, for example, funding programmes have closer mutual links which should be addressed, and projects should put a particular emphasis on an even stronger focus on climate protection (EU Green Deal), on innovation, and economic aspects. Our comprehensive services for project development and implementation include:

• Project application: development of an own EU project with regards to coordination and full service for application procedures (content, strategy, budget and partner consortium)
• Coordination and management of administrative requirements as well as technical project content
• Financial management and project accounting
• Project monitoring and controlling
• Coordination and negotiations with programme bodies
• Project communication and public relations
• Coordination with PR-Agencies, political bodies, press/media and external stakeholders
• Event management (International Conferences, Round Tables, moderation online or on-site, etc.)
• Preparation and management of financial audit procedures
• Evaluation of own position in the EU funding landscape

For many years, blue! has been advising EU programme bodies, namely in the area of technical programme assistance. Our services to the programme level include:

• Comprehensive programme development services: content and process
• Evaluation: Ex-ante evaluation, ongoing evaluation, mid-term, or ex-post
• Stakeholder management – dialogues and surveys
• Programme communication: Presentations and seminars

European policies are shaped by EU-regulations and strategies which require individual implementation, initiative and creativity on all levels. These include NATURA2000, the Water Framework Directive or cross-cutting directives on biodiversity, climate protection, renewable energies, environmental compatibility or flood protection. Between the various thematic fields, many possibilities for creative solutions emerge to foster planning on municipal or regional level. blue! offers the following services:

• Strategic planning in the areas of nature conservation, biodiversity and climate protection
• River management concepts and mapping of spatial and morphological structures
• Natura 2000 – implementation and communication
• Geographical Information Systems and cartography (GIS)
• Management of Networks and communication at EU level / Interface to regional activities

blue! supports SMEs (small and medium-sized companies) on their individual path to greater sustainability with modular consulting services that are tailored to address the clients’ level of knowledge and individual goals.

Research on topics of European relevance can take place from local to EU level. blue! stands for a process-oriented research approach with a close link to practical results that can be easily implemented. Our scope of services comprises:

• Research at EU level through studies or research projects
• National research on EU themes
• Visualisation of research or study results (surveys, maps, graphs)