Interested? We can help you to justify this investment to your superiors.

1. Why ECORYS Academy?

• Our knowledge of EU Structural Funds in general and INTERREG in particular;
• The proposals we support are successful: Example the DeltaNet project http://deltanet2009.wordpress.com/ (INTERREG IV C)
• Our partners are EU networks and Regions: European Institute for Territorial Cooperation - Nord Pas de Calais Region, West Midlands in Europe, ULI/Urban Investment Network, among other.

2. Why this course?

• We are practitioners, professional advisers, scientific and independent; our training methods are interactive and designed to create value;
• We focus the training on the INTERREG programmes (cross-border, transnational or interregional) that you are interested in to ensure that your 2.5 days are well-spent;
• During the training you will also work on your own proposal idea, be invited to present it and receive feedback;
• We go through the several steps of project preparation:
  - INTERREG terminology, language and rules
  - Content development
  - Team building & Partnership building
  - Financing
  - Indicators
  - Risk assessment and risk management 

3. A high training fee?

• ECORYS Academy is not receiving any public funds;
• Our fees are competitive in the market, and not necessarily higher than public providers; they also guarantee the quality of our trainers and the training content;
• The fees help to ensure that only committed and qualified participants join the training; these could well become your partners in the future;
• The fee includes training course material, meals and follow up/advise service. We care for your projects and can advise you after the courses free of charge; all participants become thus part of the INTERREG community, with potentially long-lasting benefits;
• The return on investment on this course can be impressive. Example: when working on a typical INTERREG application of € 2 mln, the benefits of the training easily amount to € 200,000, based on a conservative estimate that participation in this course raises the chance of winning such a project by a modest 10%. The investment in this training represents then just 1% (including travel and accommodation) of the benefits;
• What you invest in preparation can often be refunded if you win:
  - Some financial support (or reimbursement) can be obtained from some EU programmes, government funding schemes or private funds for training purposes Contact your INTERREG National Contact Point and relevant Ministry (?);
  - The INTERREG programmes can  refund some preparation costs after the approval of the project proposal;

4. Why do I need to travel to Brussels?

• Brussels is the heart of Europe: EU policies are drafted, discussed and decided here; you will be close to the Institutions that provide the funding you apply for; 
• Brussels is accessible from all corners of Europe, which prevents excessive travel times and costs;
• Brussels is the ideal place for networking and finding partners for your project proposals; you can combine the training schedule with other meetings and businesses opportunities.