In a period of profound geostrategic realignment, a new initiative is moving beyond traditional diplomacy to cement European resilience through the universal language of innovation. As enlargement countries look toward Brussels, FundingBox is stepping in to ensure they arrive not just as political partners, but as technological powerhouses.

For decades, the “European project” was defined by trade and open borders. Today, it is increasingly defined by silicon, green energy, and the digital transition. However, a persistent shadow remains: an “innovation gap” where gross domestic expenditure on R&D in enlargement countries typically languishes below 1% of GDP [Source: World Bank.

Project at a Glance: The POLICY ENLARGE Mission

• The Mission: Strengthening R&I policymaking and implementation across 10 enlargement countries.
• The Capital: €300,000 distributed via cascade funding to 45 third-party projects.
• The Target Regions: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia, Kosovo, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, and Ukraine.
• The Orchestrator: FundingBox, as part of a consortium coordinated by RCISD (Hungary).

The “F” Factor: A Legacy of Regional Leadership

At FundingBox, we have always argued that the traditional funding journey—Family, Friends, and Founders—is incomplete without the right orchestrator. We are the final “F”. Our commitment to this region is an evolution, not a new venture. POLICY ENLARGE is the direct strategic successor to the POLICY ANSWERS project, led by Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI),  which laid the groundwork for research and innovation policy implementation across the Western Balkans [Source: Western Balkans Info Hub].

We are leveraging this legacy to deepen our footprint. FundingBox is already a familiar face on the ground, currently managing the GIZ WB6 contract to build capacity for European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs)and National Contact Points of DIGITAL Europe and the RCC NextHub programme to empower regional innovators accessing EU Funding. From the €20 million SEEDS OF BRAVERY action supporting Ukrainian startups to the support of the deployment of EDIHs in Moldova, we are not just visiting these markets; we are part of their permanent infrastructure.

Micro-Grants, Macro Impact: The Funding Breakdown

Under the coordination of RCISD in Hungary, we are operationalising this vision by distributing €300,000 through a “user-centric” cascade funding model. We are moving research out of the lab and into the lives of citizens through three precision-engineered instruments:

• Joint Regional Innovation Actions (€120,000): Supporting up to 15 projects that align local talent with the EU Green Deal and Digital Transformation.
• Collaborative Uptake of Results (€80,000): Funding 10 pilot actions that bring research out of the lab to validate solutions in real-world settings.
• People-to-People Cooperation (€100,000): 20 mobility grants to facilitate a “brain circulation” of researchers and entrepreneurs between regional intra-enlargement and the wider EU.

“Policy Enlarge allows us to turn the ambition of a unified European Research Area into a tangible reality for local innovators,” says Maria Roca, Project Manager at FundingBox. “We are not just funding projects; we are building a permanent regional ‘deal flow’ of experts and organisations committed to shaping the ecosystems of Europe’s frontiers.”

The “So What?” Factor: Why This Matters for Europe

For those unfamiliar with EU framework programmes, these projects may seem like bureaucratic exercises. In reality, they are the “engine room” of continental stability. The impact of POLICY ENLARGE is measured in three transformative shifts:

1. Halting the Brain Drain: By providing local researchers with EU-level funding and mobility, we create reasons for the brightest minds to stay and build in their home countries rather than emigrating.
2. Market Integration: These small-scale pilots act as “proofs of concept,” making local deep tech startups more attractive to venture capital and private investors across the continent.
3. A Seat at the Table: Helping these ten countries align with the European Research Area (ERA) ensures they can participate as equals in future EU framework programmes (like the upcoming FP10), moving from “aid recipients” to “innovation partners.”

To ensure this impact is permanent, we are establishing a web of Local Contact Points and a network of “Supportive Partners”. By hosting 10 dedicated InfoDays, we are introducing our ecosystem of over 530 digital intermediary organisations in Western Balkanand a new generation of regional Business Support Organisations. Are you based in an Enlargement Country and you’d like to support us in promoting these opportunities to your network? Join our FundingBox Supportive Partners Programme today by filling in this form. The Big Picture

Innovation is the ultimate form of diplomacy. As we expand our work into Türkiye and Georgia for the first time in this context, we are mindful that a more integrated innovation ecosystem is a more stable one.

POLICY ENLARGE is the next step in a journey that began with POLICY ANSWERS—a commitment to a future where a founder in Sarajevo or a researcher in Kyiv has the same seamless access to the European dream as their counterparts in Paris or Berlin.

For more information on the upcoming Open Calls and how to participate, visit the Enlargement Info Hub