European innovation and funding consultancy since 1986
European innovation
funding consultancy for ambitious organisations
Zabala Innovation helps companies, research organisations and public authorities identify, secure and manage European funding for innovation, sustainability and industrial transformation.
670+
professionals
15
offices
10,000+
organisations supported
40
years
European funding requires more than preparing a proposal. Organisations need to identify the right opportunities, define a funding strategy, develop competitive projects and manage them successfully once funded.
Zabala Innovation provides specialised services across the entire funding lifecycle. They can be delivered individually or combined through a comprehensive support model adapted to each organisation’s funding pipeline and internal capabilities.
We assess your organisation's innovation priorities, projects and investment plans to identify and prioritise the most suitable European, national and regional funding opportunities. Our teams combine funding diagnosis, opportunity monitoring and strategic roadmaps to build a structured funding pipeline.
We provide advisory services related to industrial competitiveness, sustainability, innovation strategy and public policy. Our experts contribute to studies, diagnostics, ecosystem analysis and strategic roadmaps supporting public and private organisations across European innovation ecosystems.
We develop competitive European proposals from strategy and narrative to consortium design and partner coordination. Our experts structure work packages, budgets and impact strategies, coordinating technical content and submission according to the requirements of each programme.
We provide full or modular support for EU-funded projects, covering project set-up, administrative, financial and technical coordination, consortium management, reporting and risk monitoring. Our teams can also support communication, dissemination, exploitation, impact and stakeholder engagement throughout implementation.
In Spain, France and Portugal, we also support organisations with national and regional public funding and innovation tax incentives for R&D, investment, competitiveness and internationalisation projects.
We help organisations strengthen their positioning within European innovation ecosystems, strategic value chains and collaborative initiatives. Our approach combines stakeholder mapping and engagement, EU platform participation, partnership development and long-term positioning around relevant European priorities.
We provide strategic and operational secretariat support for European partnerships, platforms, associations and innovation ecosystems. Our teams coordinate governance bodies, stakeholders and working groups, while supporting meetings, events, communications and the day-to-day operation of European initiatives.
Through Kaila, our AI-powered platform built on European funding and innovation data, organisations can monitor funding opportunities, identify potential partners and analyse innovation ecosystems and technology trends across Europe.
Our comprehensive service combines funding strategy, opportunity monitoring, proposal preparation and project support within a continuous model adapted to your organisation's innovation pipeline.
For nearly four decades, Zabala Innovation has supported organisations across Europe in securing public funding, managing collaborative projects and participating in strategic innovation initiatives.
Our experience combines proposal preparation, project implementation, ecosystem coordination and long-term European collaboration.
|
EU PROPOSALS SUBMITTED ANNUALLY
+20 European Programmes analysed
|
HORIZON EUROPE
HEU & other R&I programmes
|
||
|
+250
EU proposals
per year To a wide variety of
EU programmes |
40%
Success
rate EU average: 13%
|
+600
Proposals
submitted |
+1B€
Funding
obtained |
|
INVESTMENT PROGRAMMES
Innovation Fund, CEF, EDF, etc.
|
INVOLVEMENT IN EU PROJECTS
|
||
|
+150
Proposals
submitted |
+2.8B€
Funding
obtained |
+131
EU projects as partner
or coordinator |
+500
EU-funded projects
supported through Project Management
services 2021-2024 |
👉 Figures are based on Zabala Innovation’s internal reporting, including proposal submissions, approved funding results and European project portfolio data. Success rates refer to evaluated proposals in selected EU funding programmes and may vary by programme, topic and call.
Last updated: September 2026.
EU programmes are designed around policy priorities, technology maturity and expected impact. We help you identify the right pathway and turn it into a competitive project.
Funding instruments supporting collaborative research, technology development and innovation deployment across European strategic priorities. These programmes typically support medium-to-high TRL projects involving international consortia, strong innovation capacity and measurable European impact.
Relevant for
Research centres · Universities · SMEs · Corporations
Typical project types
Collaborative R&D · Pilot projects · Technology validation · Demonstration activities
Funding maturity:
TRL 1-7
Key programmes
These instruments typically support projects involving international consortia, advanced research activities and medium-to-high TRL innovation initiatives.
EU funding supports collaborative defence R&D, the development of strategic technologies and stronger European defence capabilities.
These instruments help organisations develop next-generation defence technologies, strengthen cross-border industrial cooperation and contribute to Europe’s security, resilience and strategic autonomy.
Relevant for
Defence companies · SMEs · Research organisations · Technology providers · Industrial consortia
Typical project types
Defence R&D · Dual-use technologies · Cybersecurity · Advanced materials · Autonomous systems · Space and communications · Disruptive defence technologies
Funding maturity:
Research & development · Technology demonstration · Prototyping and testing · Pre-market development
Key programmes
EU funding supports industrial transformation, advanced manufacturing and the development and deployment of strategic technologies across European value chains.
These instruments help companies modernise production, scale innovative technologies and strengthen the competitiveness, resilience and technological capacity of European industry.
Relevant for
Industrial corporations · Manufacturing companies · SMEs · Technology providers · Research organisations · Industrial clusters
Typical project types
Advanced manufacturing · Industrial digitalisation · Robotics and automation · Semiconductors · Advanced materials · Process innovation · Clean manufacturing technologies
Funding maturity:
TRL 4–9 · Pilot and demonstration · Industrial scale-up · First-of-a-kind deployment
Key programmes
These programmes support high-impact industrial projects contributing to resilience, security and strategic European value chains
Funding instruments supporting industrial decarbonisation, clean technologies, energy transition and climate neutrality objectives. These programmes support industrial decarbonisation, clean energy deployment, environmental protection and the transition towards a climate-neutral and resource-efficient European economy.
Relevant for
Corporations · Industrial groups · Energy companies · Public authorities
Typical project types
Hydrogen · Batteries · CCUS · Renewable fuels · Energy infrastructure · Circular economy
Funding maturity:
TRL 6-9
Key programmes
These programmes support industrial decarbonisation, clean energy deployment, circular economy, climate resilience and the transition towards climate-neutral value chains.
Funding instruments supporting sustainable mobility, resilient transport systems, smart infrastructure and cross-border connectivity. zabala.eu
These programmes contribute to the development of efficient, low-carbon and interoperable European transport networks.
Relevant for
Transport operators · Infrastructure managers · Public authorities · Engineering companies · Mobility ecosystems
Typical project types
Rail innovation · Sustainable mobility · Alternative fuels infrastructure · Smart logistics · Hydrogen mobility · Transport digitalisation
Funding maturity:
TRL 6-9
Key programmes
These programmes contribute to sustainable transport systems, mobility innovation and cross-border infrastructure development.
Funding instruments accelerating Europe’s digital transition, technological capacity and secure connectivity. These programmes support digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence deployment, cybersecurity and advanced digital ecosystems.
Relevant for
Technology companies · SMEs · Corporations · Public authorities · Digital ecosystems
Typical project types
Artificial intelligence · Cybersecurity · Data spaces · Cloud infrastructure · Digital platforms · Semiconductors · Advanced connectivity
Funding maturity:
TRL 5-9
Key programmes
These instruments support cybersecurity, AI deployment, digital infrastructure and advanced technological capacities.
Funding instruments supporting healthcare innovation, biotechnology, medical research and public health resilience. These programmes foster collaborative health ecosystems and accelerate the development of innovative healthcare solutions.
Relevant for
Healthcare organisations · Biotech companies · Research centres · Universities · Public authorities
Typical project types
Medical technologies · Biotechnology · Personalised medicine · Health data · Diagnostics · Pharmaceutical innovation · Public health systems
Funding maturity:
TRL 1-9
Key programmes
These programmes support innovation in health technologies, preparedness and medical research.
Funding instruments supporting sustainable food systems, circular bioeconomy and agricultural innovation. These programmes promote resource efficiency, biotechnology applications and resilient agrifood value chains.
Relevant for
Agrifood companies · Cooperatives · Research organisations · Public authorities · Bioeconomy ecosystems
Typical project types
Sustainable agriculture · Circular bioeconomy · Food innovation · Biomaterials · Bioprocesses · Waste valorisation
Funding maturity:
TRL 3-8
Key programmes
Funding instruments supporting urban sustainability, climate-neutral cities and integrated territorial innovation. These programmes promote innovative urban solutions combining mobility, energy, digitalisation and citizen engagement.
Relevant for
Cities · Public authorities · Urban ecosystems · Mobility operators · Technology providers
Typical project types
Smart cities · Urban mobility · Climate-neutral cities · Urban digitalisation · Energy efficiency · Citizen participation
Funding maturity:
TRL 6-9
Key programmes
Funding instruments fostering skills development, education, mobility, cultural cooperation and knowledge exchange across Europe. These programmes strengthen European collaboration in education, creativity and talent development.
Relevant for
Universities · Educational institutions · Cultural organisations · Research centres · NGOs
Typical project types
Academic mobility · Skills development · Creative industries · Educational innovation · Cultural cooperation · Research careers
Key programmes
These instruments strengthen European cooperation in education, skills and creative sectors.
Funding instruments supporting territorial cohesion, regional innovation ecosystems and cross-border collaboration.
These programmes strengthen regional competitiveness and promote balanced economic development across Europe.
Relevant for
Regions · Public authorities · Development agencies · Clusters · Innovation ecosystems
Typical project types
Regional innovation strategies · Cross-border cooperation · Territorial development · Smart specialisation · Innovation ecosystems
Key programmes
These programmes support regional innovation ecosystems, territorial cooperation and economic development.
Funding needs vary by organisation, sector and innovation strategy. We connect each organisation with the right funding opportunities and expertise across the European innovation lifecycle.
We help corporations finance R&D, industrial investment and transformation projects across Europe, from decarbonisation and digitalisation to strategic technologies and collaborative innovation.
Relevant support
Funding strategy & diagnosis · Proposal writing · Project management · European positioning · National & regional funding
Relevant programmes
Horizon Europe · Innovation Fund · Clean Industrial Deal · CEF · European Defence Fund · Chips JU
We help SMEs and scale-ups fund technology development, demonstration and growth while accessing European partnerships and collaborative innovation opportunities.
Relevant support
Funding strategy & diagnosis · Proposal writing · Consortium & partner search · Project management · Funding intelligence
Relevant programmes
EIC Accelerator · Horizon Europe · EIC Pathfinder · Digital Europe · I3 · Cascade Funding
We support universities and research organisations in securing funding for research excellence, collaborative R&D, technology development and knowledge transfer across Europe.
Relevant support
Funding strategy · Proposal writing · Consortium building · Project management · Dissemination & exploitation · European positioning
Relevant programmes
Horizon Europe · ERC · MSCA · EIC Pathfinder · Digital Europe · CBE JU
We help public authorities and regional agencies access European funding and develop innovation policies, territorial strategies and stronger regional ecosystems.
Relevant support
Innovation consulting · Funding strategy · Studies & diagnostics · Project management · Stakeholder engagement
Relevant programmes
Interreg Europe · European Urban Initiative (EUI) · I3 · LIFE · Horizon Europe · CEF
We help clusters, associations and European innovation ecosystems strengthen their positioning, coordinate stakeholders and develop collaborative initiatives across Europe.
Relevant support
European positioning · Secretariat management · EU platforms · Stakeholder engagement · Proposal development
Relevant programmes & initiatives
Horizon Europe · I3 · Interreg Europe · CBE JU · Chips JU · European Partnerships
We identify the most relevant EU, national and regional funding opportunities.
We assess fit, timing, eligibility, effort and expected impact.
We define the project structure, consortium, budget and impact strategy.
We coordinate the submission process and support grant agreement preparation.
Once funded, we support project set-up, consortium coordination, reporting, risk monitoring, reviews and other management needs throughout implementation.
We help organisations build long-term positioning and future funding pipelines.
Why organisations choose Zabala Innovation
We connect funding strategy, proposal development, project management, innovation consulting and European positioning within a single approach.
Four decades of European experience
Since 1986, we have supported organisations in navigating European innovation programmes, projects and ecosystems.
Multidisciplinary capabilities
Our teams combine technical, financial, legal, administrative and strategic expertise for complex innovation and investment projects.
Expertise across programmes and sectors
We combine programme knowledge with sector expertise across energy, defence, industry, mobility, digital technologies, health and other European priorities.
Flexible end-to-end support
Organisations can work with Zabala throughout the funding lifecycle or access specialised support for specific needs and project phases.
Embedded in European ecosystems
Our participation in European platforms, partnerships and strategic initiatives gives our teams first-hand knowledge of emerging priorities, stakeholders and innovation ecosystems.
Beyond funding projects, Zabala Innovation coordinates and supports European technology platforms, partnerships and strategic initiatives across energy, industry, construction, bioeconomy and advanced manufacturing.
SET-IndEU · SET Plan · ISGAN · ETIP Hydropower · Batteries Europe · ETIP SNET · CBE JU · IAM-I
Our teams publish regular insights on European funding programmes, industrial policy, sustainability, innovation ecosystems and strategic European initiatives.
Download guides and documents to gain in-depth insight into news, legislation, programmes, and R&D&I trends.
Gain deeper insight into current R&D&I developments through the views of our experts, who offer a different perspective.
Kaila combines AI-powered technology with Zabala Innovation’s expertise in European funding and innovation ecosystems.
Organisations can monitor funding opportunities, analyse innovation ecosystems, identify strategic partners, map technology trends and explore collaborative networks across Europe.
Zabala Innovation brings together more than 670 professionals with expertise in European funding, innovation strategy, sustainability, industrial competitiveness and collaborative projects.
Our multidisciplinary teams combine programme knowledge with technical, financial, legal and administrative capabilities to support organisations throughout the funding and project lifecycle.
670+ professionals · 70+ PhDs and researchers · 40+ years in EU programmes · 15 offices across Europe · Multidisciplinary technical and strategic teams
