Show notes
How Regions Build the Foundations for EU FundingWith Alina Totti from Provincie Noord-BrabantCheck out the episode websiteIn this episode I’m joined by Alina Totti from Provincie Noord-Brabant to talk about how regions build the foundations that eventually lead to EU funding. Noord-Brabant is one of Europe’s most innovative regions, with strong advanced manufacturing traditions and a global industrial profile. But what interested me in this conversation is not only the region’s success. It is the work underneath that success: building relationships with other regions, understanding what Brussels is doing, shaping a regional story around innovation, and creating the long-term trust that makes later project collaboration possible. We go into smart specialisation, the Vanguard Initiative, the importance of interregional networks, and how stepping-stone instruments can help SMEs move toward bigger European calls. Alina explains very clearly that proposals do not start when the call opens. They start much earlier — when regions know who they are, what they are good at, who they should work with, and how they want to position themselves in Europe. It is a really strong episode for anyone working in regional development, innovation ecosystems or the strategic side of EU funding.Time codes: 01:39 Guest introduction and fly in06:21 What Provincie Noord-Brabant is13:36 The Vanguard Initiative and Smart Specialisation35:05 The Importance of Relationships51:14 Long-Term Lobbying and Why the Region Invests in It01:08:33 Reflections and advice01:10:45 The toughest challenge
