The SPM² project took center stage during the Advanced EU Funding & Project Innovation Camp, held from 2–6 June 2025 in Athens, Greece. Organized by the European Academy, the five-day intensive training brought together 37 participants from over 10 countries, all eager to deepen their expertise in EU project design, funding acquisition, and sustainability-driven innovation.
As part of the Project Showcases session, the SPM² project was presented as a powerful, research-based tool for embedding sustainability into EU project management practices and training.
Key Contributions:
SPM² was presented as a competence-oriented model that uses Importance–Performance Analysis (IPA) and the Competency Inefficiency Index (CII) to identify and address sustainability gaps across the project lifecycle
Participants explored how the project’s results can inform the design of modern, evidence-based curricula for EU project professionals
The case study underscored the growing need for sustainability integration in proposal design, project delivery, and capacity building efforts aligned with Horizon Europe and Erasmus+
The presentation resonated strongly with a diverse audience including project managers from universities, SMEs, public institutions, and NGOs, as well as National Contact Points, proposal evaluators, and trainers.
Reception & Impact:
SPM² sparked insightful discussions on systematically embedding sustainability competences into institutional EU project strategies. Participants praised the practical relevance of the project’s findings and its value in enhancing project success and policy alignment.
Visibility:
The SPM² project was formally included in the European Academy training curriculum, and its visibility was extended through a LinkedIn post and repeated references across multiple sessions of the Innovation Camp.
