The Project Office of APP conducted an information webinar dedicated to the current opportunities of the Interreg NEXT Poland-Ukraine cross-border cooperation program for the period until 2027. The main topic of the event was the Small Project Fund, with the next call for applications expected in July this year. The speaker was Yaryna Voronych, a leading specialist of the International Project Support Group of the Project Office, who presented a comprehensive overview of financial support instruments for the academic community. Researchers and lecturers of the University took part in the webinar.
During the webinar, the structure of the European Union's cohesion policy and the role of Interreg series programs in strengthening local interaction were analyzed in detail. Particular attention was paid to the specifics of "soft" projects aimed at developing social ties, cultural exchange, educational integration, and youth cooperation. Unlike large-scale infrastructure initiatives, the Small Project Fund is oriented toward a people-to-people cooperation format with a maximum total budget of up to two million euros and a high level of grant coverage, amounting to 90% of the project cost.
Analyzing the application evaluation criteria, the speaker emphasized the priority of the cross-border effect, which accounts for forty percent of the total score. Experts will assess the partners' ability to jointly solve shared challenges and ensure the sustainability of results after the funding period ends. Furthermore, an important aspect is the quality of completing the application form in the English-language online generator, where special attention is paid to the logical consistency of goals according to the SMART methodology and the strategic justification of regional needs.
Following the event, potential applicants were recommended to begin the preparatory phase, which includes searching for foreign partners and a detailed analysis of regulatory documents, in particular, the catalogue of costs and requirements for proof of delivery. The further work of the Project Office will focus on providing consulting support to University researchers for the preparation of competitive project proposals before the announcement of the July call.
