The first 2020 EPSI Brokerage event held today in Brussels at EPSI House of Sport. More than 70 active participants are present.[responsivevoice_button voice=”UK English Female” buttontext=”Listen to the article (click again to stop)”]

A networking a project opportunity in the heart of Brussels. This is Sport Project Lab, first EPSI Brokerage event in 2020. At EPSI House of Sport, more than 70 participants coming from all around Europe, meet in order to turn their sport ideas into real projects, aiming at creating successful proposals for EU grants.

After a first introduction by EPSI Co-Executive Directors Alberto Bichi and Rene Wijlens about the event, where they had the opportunity to present EPSI strategic partners (and the EU Programmes to be analysed during the day: Erasmus+, COSME, Horizon2020 and LIFE) the first key note speech is made by Yves LeLostecque, Head of the Sport Unit at the European Commission: “Sport has increasing importance over the years and, at the same time, budget for the sport chapter within Erasmus+ increased, reaching more than 70 million € in 2020″ he said.

The stage is then given to Bert de Colvenaer, Executive Director at ECSEL Joint Untertaking and the ecosystem they are building and the relevant innovation and technology projects they are developing.

In the second part of the morning, EPSI Stretegic Partners illustrate and analyse the different EU Programme opportunities: after an introduction of the Bjorn Koopmans (IDEA Consulting) on the new EU Programming Period 2021-27, it is the turn Jordi Escribà (B-Link) who talks about COSME; Paolo Neri (Warrant Hub) describes  LIFE; Pierre Padilla (N-Able) presents H2020 SME; while Valerio di Tommaso (ECOS Europe) and Arthur Le Gal (KEA) give advices about how writing a successful Erasmus+ sport project proposal.

During the afternoon, several EPSI members present their project ideas about different topics, like e-sports, sport and disabilities, alternative mobility, vitality cities, and so on. This session is particularly useful, in order to divide participants in the different roundtables with EPSI Strategic Consultants, discussing opportunities and shaping these ideas into real project proposals and – in next months – applications for EU funding.