From June 2 to 6, 2025, the city of Athens, Greece hosted the Advanced EU Funding & Project Innovation Camp, a five-day intensive training event organized by the European Academy. The camp brought together EU project professionals from across Europe for a deep dive into advanced project design, innovation strategies, and sustainability integration in EU-funded initiatives.
Dual Contribution: Training and ESG Advocacy
Dr. Danijela Ćirić Lalić (Faculty of Technical Sciences, University of Novi Sad / European Academy) participated in the event in a dual role — as a lead trainer and tutor, and as a project ambassador for ESG4PMChange. In addition to delivering high-level capacity-building sessions, she used the opportunity to present ESG4PMChange as a best-practice example of how sustainability principles can be woven into the core of project management and design.
Training Highlights and ESG4PMChange Integration
The Innovation Camp gathered 37 participants from over 10 countries, including project managers, funding experts, consultants, and representatives from universities, SMEs, NGOs, and public institutions.
Throughout the week, participants engaged in:
- In-depth modules on EU funding programs, proposal logic, impact strategy, and evaluation criteria
- Practical simulations and group work
- Showcases of real projects exemplifying successful implementation
On Day 4, during the Project Showcases session, ESG4PMChange was presented as a model for embedding ESG competencies into EU project design. The discussion emphasized:
- The value of integrating ESG frameworks into proposal logic models
- The link between governance, sustainability, and impact
- The importance of capacity building in multidisciplinary teams using structured competence tools
Engagement, Visibility, and a Step Toward the Future
he presentation of ESG4PMChange during the Innovation Camp resonated strongly with participants, generating lively discussion and clear interest in practical applications of the ESG competence framework. Many attendees saw its potential as a valuable tool for enhancing proposal quality, aligning with funding priorities across Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Interreg, and other EU programs, and strengthening institutional project strategies.
Beyond the session itself, the project gained meaningful visibility through official European Academy training materials, multiple references during sessions on impact and evaluation, and direct engagement with participants, many of whom expressed interest in future collaboration. A personal LinkedIn post by the presenter further extended the project’s reach within the EU project community.
By taking part in this high-level capacity-building event, ESG4PMChange reaffirmed its relevance not just as a research endeavor, but as a concrete, adaptable framework for real-world project development. With ESG principles becoming central to EU policy and funding strategies, the Innovation Camp provided a powerful platform to inspire new ideas, build connections, and equip professionals with tools for delivering more sustainable and impactful projects.
