The NCP4HE project has been designed, on one hand, to bring together and support the needs of the NCP National Coordinators and Legal & Financial NCPs communities and, on the other, to boost a closer and more efficient coordination and cooperation among the different NCP configurations through the infrastructures inherited by the Bridge2HE project, namely the HE NCP Portal and the NCP Virtual Campus, which the project will continue maintaining and developing, enlarging them in content, functionalities and userbase. A large series of activities involving training events, e-learning courses, pre-meetings, meet and exchange workshops, coffee-talks, and mentoring activities, have been planned to provide horizontal support to the whole NPC community, improve mutual learning, and create a structured space for exchange, with a particular focus on newcomers. NCP4HE will also prepare the ground for NCPs in the transition from Horizon Europe to the next Framework Programme working closely with the European Commission and their agencies to ensure a proper interaction with NCPs during that preparatory process. NCP4HE brings together a wide and comprehensive consortium of 36 NCPs host organizations from 22 MS and 9 AS countries, spanning three continents. Additionally, 11 of the 15 widening member countries are represented in the consortium. The project includes a balance mix of NCPs from countries with extensive participation in Horizon 2020 with NCPs coming from countries with low level of participation. This wide spectrum of partners is there to ensure that the project activities and outputs serve as many NCPs as possible, but also that the whole community needs are taken into account when designing and implementing the planned actions.

RICH Europe is a 84 month Coordination and Support Action built on the past experience and achievements of the Research Infrastructures Networks funded under H2020 (RICH and RICH-2). The overall aim of the project is to improve and support the professionalisation and harmonisation of Research Infrastructures National Contact Points (NCPs) services across Europe and to contribute to the consolidation of the European research infrastructure ecosystem. RICH Europe activities have been designed to (1) raise the general standard of support to programme applicants by enhancing NCPs knowledge and capacities and building a more professionalised and collaborative NCPs community, (2) enhance the quality of knowledge of RIs stakeholders about EU RIs calls & programme and raise their awareness about the trans-national and virtual access opportunities to research infrastructures, (3) lower the entry barriers for newcomers, with a focus on widening countries, (4) mainstream RIs in HE with a special focus on Clusters and the EIC programmes, (5) foster the cooperation among RIs at European and international level, and between RIs and the local/regional socio-economic ecosystem. RICH Europe will be implemented by a consortium of 11 officially nominated NCP organizations from 10 EU Member States and 1 candidate Associated Country. The Consortium has an excellent representation of Widening countries (more than half of the partners are from Widening countries) as well as experienced and less experienced NCPs. The project, in its 7 years duration, will address four major target groups: (i) NCPs for Research Infrastructures, (ii) applicants in Horizon Europe RIs calls, (iii) Research Infrastructures and Academia, (iv) Industries and SMEs.

BISONet PLUS4 ENH project aims at enhancing innovation capacities of Czech SMEs – the Czech SME beneficiaries of the EIC Pilot under H2020 and Czech SMEs with high potential for growth. Consortium implementing the project is composed of two EEN partner organisations – TC AV CR being the coordinator and JIC being a partner of the project. TC AV CR and JIC will deliver both type of services „Key Account Management services for SME Instrument beneficiaries“ and service „Enhancing innovation management capacities of SMEs“. The total number of service packages to be delivered within the BISONet PLUS4 ENH project is 84 – 76 service packages is dedicated for „Enhancing innovation management capacities of SMEs“ and 8 for delivering KAM services to of the EIC Pilot under H2020 (EIC Pathfinder Pilot, EIC Accelerator Pilot) beneficiaries. The tool to be used to identify needs of SMEs and gaps in innovation management will be „smE-MPOWER Business Innovation Roadmap methodology”.

NetEuratom is the Network of Euratom National Contact Points with an overall concept to establish a united learning network of NCPs, undertaking transnational activities for a more consistent level of NCP services, resulting in higher quality of submitted proposals from applicants. More specifically, the project aims to provide improved and professionalised services to all Euratom NCPs simplifying access to Euratom calls in nuclear research and trainings and lowering entry barriers for newcomers, through knowledge sharing and skills development (particularly for newcomers and less experienced NCPs), trainings and mentoring activities. Regarding Euratom programme applicants and other relevant stakeholders, the project will provide information and training material needed in order to raise the average quality of proposals submitted as well as matchmaking activities with the scope to link up potential participants with emerging consortia in nuclear research. NetEuratom seeks to establish close collaboration with other Horizon Europe NCP and EU networks through joint organisation of matchmaking and training activities aiming to complement support services to applicants. All project activities and outcomes will be promoted to all Euratom NCPs and the wider public. NetEuratom will be implemented by a consortium of eight officially nominated NCP organisations from eight EU Member States. The project is a Coordination and Support Action with a 60 month duration.