BAU International University Batumi continued its efforts to strengthen its research capacity and international academic collaborations with a new training programme. A training session titled “Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities and Preparing Competitive Grant Applications” was successfully held at the university. Organized for academic and administrative staff, the programme aimed to develop participants' knowledge and competencies in international grant activities, project development processes, and competitive application preparation.

The training was delivered by Professor Alexandra Mikhailidi. Throughout the programme, the structure of Horizon Europe, current funding opportunities, methods for developing international partnerships, and key components of successful grant applications were discussed in detail. Participants gained practical information on matching their research and project ideas with appropriate funding calls, clearly defining project objectives, and constructing a strong application dossier.

Horizon Europe Funding Opportunities and the Project Development Process

Horizon Europe stands out as one of the major international programmes supporting research and innovation-oriented projects. During the training held at BAU International University Batumi, the overall structure of the programme and various funding mechanisms were examined. Participants gained insights into identifying suitable calls, aligning project ideas with call priorities, and strategically planning applications.

Particular attention was drawn during the training to the processes of international cooperation and partnership development. It was emphasized that strong project partnerships enhance the sharing of knowledge and experience among different universities, research institutions, and professional organizations. Participants also made assessments on identifying potential partners, planning the division of tasks, and correctly structuring project consortia.

How to Prepare Competitive Grant Applications?

Another key section of the programme focused on the preparation of competitive grant applications. Emphasis was placed on clarifying project objectives, defining expected outcomes, explaining the contribution the project would deliver, and preparing the application text in a persuasive structure. Thus, participants evaluated not only the importance of having a good project idea but also of transforming this idea into a clear, coherent, and strong application dossier.

The training was conducted in an interactive format. In sessions featuring active participation from academic and administrative staff, views were exchanged on different project approaches and potential international collaborations. This method contributed to participants linking the knowledge they acquired with their own fields of work and future project ideas.

Strengthening International Research Capacity at BAU Batumi

BAU International University Batumi aims to build sustainable capacity in the areas of research development, scientific production, internationalization, and academic collaboration. The Horizon Europe training stands out as an important part of this approach.

At the end of the training, certificates of achievement were presented to the participants. The programme offered the university's academic and administrative staff an important development opportunity in more effectively evaluating international funding opportunities, developing new research partnerships, and preparing competitive project applications.

BAU International University Batumi continues to support an international project culture, expand research networks, and strengthen the institution's visibility in global academic collaborations through similar training sessions.

The work organized within this scope is also valuable for disseminating project writing experience within the institution. Properly reading Horizon Europe calls, identifying suitable partners, and linking project objectives to measurable outcomes are among the core steps of the application process. Thanks to the training, participants gained a common framework for approaching funding applications more systematically, developing project ideas according to international standards, and evaluating collaboration opportunities more effectively. Such capacity-building activities by the university can contribute to increasing the quality of future international projects, helping the academic community build stronger ties with the European research ecosystem, and supporting long-term institutional learning.