PowerPoint Presentation

[Audio] "Hello everyone. Today we are looking at the horizon. We aren't just talking about how to get funding for what you are doing today, but how to structure your projects so they are irresistible to the funders of tomorrow. Whether that funding comes from Horizon Europe, private Venture Capital, or national grants, the requirements are shifting. We are moving from a phase of 'funding cool technology' to 'funding systemic resilience.' Let's dive into how we prepare for that.".

[Audio] "Let's look at our first pillar: Designing proposals aligned with future EU priorities. If you read the latest work programs from Brussels, you'll notice a change in vocabulary. They are no longer just asking for 'innovation'; they are asking for 'resilience' and 'strategic autonomy.' To be funding-ready, your proposal needs to hit three specific notes. First, Climate Resilience. We aren't just mitigating climate change anymore; we are adapting to it. Future funding will prioritize projects that help farmers survive extreme weather events. If your project is about irrigation, frame it as 'drought resilience.' If it's about crop breeding, frame it as 'heat stress adaptation.' Second is Data Governance. The EU is currently obsessed—rightfully so—with who owns data. With the introduction of the Data Act and the AI Act, you cannot just say 'we use big data.' You must explicitly explain how you protect the user's sovereignty. A future-ready proposal promises that the farmer owns their data, and the system is interoperable. Third is the Circular Bioeconomy. The EU wants to stop paying for waste disposal and start funding waste valorization. If you are producing food, what happens to the biomass? If your project creates a loop—where waste becomes fertilizer or energy—you are immediately moved to the top of the pile.".

[Audio] "Now, let's move to the business side. Grant evaluators are tired of projects that die the moment the public funding stops. They want to see Data-Driven Business Models that are self-sustaining. We are seeing three models dominating the future landscape. First, Predictive Maintenance. This is the 'low hanging fruit.' If you are using sensors, don't just sell the data; sell the avoidance of failure. If you can prove to a funder that your model saves a farmer €5,000 in tractor repairs or prevents a crop disease outbreak before it spreads, you have a business case, not just a tech project. Second, and this is huge: Carbon Accounting. Carbon is becoming a currency. However, the market is plagued by 'greenwashing.' Future funding will go to projects that provide 'MRV'—Monitoring, Reporting, and Verification. If your project can use satellite data or soil sensors to mathematically prove carbon sequestration, you are building a mint for digital assets. Third, Digital Twins. This is about risk reduction. A Digital Twin allows a farm manager to simulate a season before planting a single seed. It answers 'What if?' scenarios. This is a high-value service that banks and insurance companies are very interested in funding because it lowers their risk exposure.".

[Audio] "So you have the policy alignment and the business model. How do you sell this? Let's talk about Communicating Impact. Private investors and public evaluators speak slightly different languages, but they meet in the middle on ESG Metrics (Environmental, Social, Governance). Avoid vague statements like 'we help the environment.' Be specific. Use metrics like 'kilograms of Nitrogen avoided per hectare' or 'reduction in water usage by 20%.' Under the 'Social' aspect, discuss rural regeneration. Does your project bring high-tech jobs to rural areas? That is a massive tick-box for European funding. But there is one metric that trumps them all: Farmer Adoption KPIs. The graveyard of Agritech is filled with brilliant apps that no farmer ever opened twice. Investors know this. When you pitch, do not just show your technology stack. Show your 'stickiness.' What is your churn rate? How many hectares are actively managed on your platform? Is the user interface designed for a tablet in a muddy field, or a desktop in an office? If you can prove that farmers actually use and trust your tool, you have de-risked the investment significantly.".

[Audio] "No project succeeds in isolation. The fourth component of being funding-ready is your ecosystem. You need Strengthened Partnerships. The EU is moving away from single-beneficiary grants toward 'multi-actor approaches.' You need to engage with Living Labs. These are open innovation ecosystems where farmers are co-creators, not just test subjects. If you can say, 'We are testing this in 3 Living Labs across Spain, Poland, and Greece,' you show validation. Then, look at DIHs (Digital Innovation Hubs) and Competence Centers. These are your gateways. They provide the infrastructure you don't want to buy yourself—supercomputing, testing facilities, and legal support. Finally, mention AgriDataSpaces. We are moving toward a Common European Agricultural Data Space. Your project needs to show that it isn't building a walled garden. You need to show that you are ready to plug into these shared data spaces to exchange information securely. This 'ecosystem thinking' shows evaluators that you are building infrastructure, not just a product.".

[Audio] "To wrap up, I want to leave you with a tool. This is the 'Is My Project Future-Funding-Ready?' Checklist. Before you submit your next proposal, ask these five questions: The Policy Check: Does my project directly address a Mission (like Soil Health) or a specific Deal (like the Green Deal)? If not, pivot. The Data Check: Can I explain my data governance in one sentence? Is it sovereignty-first? The Business Check: If the grant money disappeared tomorrow, do I have a customer willing to pay for the value of the data? The Adoption Check: Have I validated the UX with actual end-users? Do I have the KPIs to prove it? The Ecosystem Check: Am I a lone wolf, or am I connected to a DIH or Living Lab? If you can answer 'Yes' to these, you aren't just ready for the next grant cycle—you are ready for the next decade of innovation. Thank you.".

thank you!. TALLHEDA has received funding from the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No. 101136578. Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency (REA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them..