EU Project Chronicles - InnovEU, research and innovation

InnovEU S5E13 - Episode 100

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What if the most dangerous mistake you could make right now was writing a brilliant Horizon Europe proposal for a future that is already obsolete?

A hundred episodes ago, InnovEU started with a simple question: Who actually does European projects? We explored capacity building, partnerships, evaluators, open calls, and the practical mechanics of getting funded.

Then the world shifted.

Artificial intelligence accelerated. Platform power deepened. Energy insecurity rose. The housing crisis started squeezing the very middle class that innovation depends on.

So the question behind this podcast had to change.

We moved from asking How do we get funded? to asking a much more strategic and uncomfortable question: Are we funding the right future, or are we funding our own extractive dependency?

In this 100th episode, I step back and connect the dots.

This is not just a recap. It is built from 5 seasons, dozens of expert conversations, and more than 150,000 data points of Transition Science. It is designed for researchers, innovators, proposal writers, founders, project managers, universities, SMEs, and policymakers who want to understand where Europe is really going, and what that means for the projects they build next.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

* The evolution of innovation in Europe: why Europe still produces great science but keeps struggling to scale, commercialize, and defend its own value chains.

* The AWTY awakening: why a project is no longer strong just because it sounds green or digital. Evaluators increasingly expect balance across the five major transitions.

* The clash with platform capitalism: what the warnings from Nick Srnicek, Cory Doctorow, Luc Julia, Ethan Zuckerman, Gemma Galdon-Clavell, and Jan Gerlach mean for your proposal, your business model, and your technical architecture.

* The real decision question for 2026: are you proposing an isolated technological gimmick, or are you building resilient, sovereign, future-proof solutions for Europe’s transition gaps?

Watch or listen to the full episode

Watch the full episode

* On Substack: https://fernandocgaspar.substack.com/podcast

* On YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhPsYe80-Wq1bOuVZmZGso_Kr3W8biIpx&si=2fr5iVhGLEwo2F3j

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* On Spotify:

* On Apple Podcasts:

πŸŽ™οΈ The InnovEU Master Playlist: The Road to 100

To mark this milestone, I am releasing the complete archive of the journey so far.

Bookmark this page.

Whether you need a new partner, tactical advice on proposal writing, sharper thinking on EU innovation funding, or a deeper understanding of platform capitalism, digital sovereignty, AI regulation, war economy dynamics, and economic transitions, the archive is here.

The linked playlist below follows the episode directory built from the InnovEU archive across Seasons 1 to 5.

Season 5: Platform Capitalism and Transition Science

S5E12 | Wikipedia and AI | Jan GerlachSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E11 | Algorithmic Liability | Gemma Galdon-ClavellSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E10 | Energy of IntelligenceSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E9 | Big Tech TrapSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E8 | Platform Future | Ethan ZuckermanSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E7 | AI Funding Europe | Luc JuliaSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E6 | Platform Extraction | Cory DoctorowSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E5 | AutocraciesSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E4 | AI Regulation | Brando BenifeiSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E3 | Green Power InnovationSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E2 | Platform Capitalism | Nick SrnicekSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S5E1 | Economics in AI AgeSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

Season 4: The Five Transitions in Action

S4E15 | Cheap EnergySubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E14 | Housing CrisisSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E13 | AI PlatformsSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E12 | Book PresentationSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E11 | What Success Looks LikeSubstack β†— | YouTube β†—

S4E10 | Middle Class SqueezeSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E9 | Housing TransitionSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E8 | TransparencySubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E7 | Beyond GDPSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E6 | Readiness TransitionsSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E5 | Europe Two WarsSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E4 | EU Innovation FundingSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E3 | Failing TransitionsSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E2 | AWTY Future EU ProjectsSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S4E1 | Turning EU Calls into WinsSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

Season 3: Deep Dives and the New Globalization

S3E26 | Digital Transitions Ready | Ricardo PinheiroSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E25 | Digital Transition Index | Jean-Michel ViolaSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E24 | Why Proposals FailSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E23 | Circular Innovation | Pablo FrieiroSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E22 | War Economy Index | Lily BethencourtSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E21 | Quality EU Projects | Paola D’EliaSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E20 | Digital Push Lacks | Efthymios SerpetzoglouSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E19 | Melanie Das | Melanie DasSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E18 | Green Claims | Leandro CartelliSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E17 | Smart Cities | Antonio Álvarez RomeroSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E16 | Green Tech Tariffs | Cristina PΓ©rez SimΓ³nSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E15 | Ricardo OutdatedSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E14 | Tariffs and InnovationSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E13 | Dead Globalization | Josh DorfmanSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E12 | Tariffs + Funding | Annetta BenzarSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E11 | Communication ProblemSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E10 | ReArm Impact | Anna ContuSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E9 | Evaluators ScoreSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E8 | War EconomySubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E7 | Dev Traps | Bilal AlmobarakSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E6 | Tech Power + AI | Davide BalbiSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E5 | EU Startup FundingSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E4 | Proposal + Hydrogen | Luis EstebanSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E3 | Partnership Building | ErΓ§an KüçükarslanSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E2 | U!REKA IDEA Selection | Ana LuΓ­sa Raposo; Mona RomanSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S3E1 | Readiness Pyramid | Marco AmiciSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

Season 2: Policy, Strategy and Draghi’s Report

S2E10 | Relevance, One Health and Media Call | Ricardo AssunçãoSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S2E9 | Open CallsSubstack β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S2E8 | Is the Application Selection Process Rigged? | Fernando MotaSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S2E7 | Green Transition, Vlore University and SME Support Call | Eva CipiSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S2E6 | AWTY Index, Digital Transition in the EU and USASubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S2E5 | The AWTY Index, Digital TransitionSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S2E4 | Digital Transition in EU and USA | Walaa FaridSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S2E3 | Global Innovation Index vs. Draghi ReportSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S2E2 | Draghi’s Report | Christof ThΓΆnySubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S2E1 | Erasmus Evaluation Mysteries | Igor RazbornikSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

Season 1: The Foundations of EU Projects

S1E14 | Season Balance and Hate SpeechSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E13 | Entrepreneurship, Democracy & Gender | Estephany Guillermo; Özge Zençir AkçakmakSubstack ↗ | YouTube ↗ | Spotify ↗ | Apple Podcasts ↗

S1E12 | Episode 12 | Rexhina Marku; Henrik HaubroSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E11 | Episode 11 | Stefanos PanakouliasSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E10 | Episode 10 | Mariafranca Caruso; Pablo MoralesSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E9 | Episode 9 | Alessio Lupi; Maria Angeles SobreroSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E8 | Episode 8 | Alfonso SantanielloSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E7 | Episode 7 | Fatma Trabelsi; Armend BerishaSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E6 | Interviews + EIE Call | Polina Stavrou; Anna Lisa TronoSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E5 | Episode 5 | Stefanie Thomas; Gordana RadovicSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E4 | Episode 4 | Ivana Miőković; Gabriel VartopeanuSubstack ↗ | YouTube ↗ | Spotify ↗ | Apple Podcasts ↗

S1E3 | Episode 3 | Danilo Castrolla; Angelina Taneva-VeshoskaSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E2 | Episode 2 | Jane Enkhbaatar; Eleonora PerottiSubstack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

S1E1 | Episode 1Substack β†— | YouTube β†— | Spotify β†— | Apple Podcasts β†—

πŸ“˜ My new book, now available on Amazon

If you want to go deeper into economic transitions, green transition, digital transition, war economy, new globalization, and housing, this episode is grounded in the framework behind my new book:

πŸ‘‰ Transition Science In The EconomyπŸ”— https://a.co/d/c7RoOA4

This is the bigger architecture behind the AWTY Index and the five transitions. If this episode resonates with you, the book takes the argument much further.

🧰 My digital tools for EU projects

Want to improve your EU funding success rate and save serious time?

🟦 SmartProposal AI

Your AI co-pilot for improving EU proposals line by line using evaluator criteria.πŸ”— https://rpb.li/YAm2E

🟩 Build Winning Consortia GPT

A practical tool to map, assess, and strengthen partnerships so you build consortia that win, not just apply.πŸ”— https://payhip.com/b/vEPZd

These tools are already being used by project managers, researchers, universities, and SMEs across Europe.

πŸ’¬ Let’s grow this community together

If this episode helped you think more clearly about Europe’s future, innovation funding, and the real forces shaping EU-funded projects:

* πŸ‘ Like the podcast on your favourite platform

* ⭐ Subscribe on Substack or in your podcast app

* πŸ”„ Restack this post on Substack

* πŸ’¬ Leave a comment and tell me which episode changed how you think

* πŸ“€ Share this archive with colleagues working on research, innovation, and EU projects

* πŸ”— Follow me on LinkedIn for shorter, sharper insights: https://www.linkedin.com/in/fernandoacgaspar/

And if you would like to be featured on the podcast for the next 100 episodes, send me a private message and let’s talk.

Because Europe’s transitions are already shaping our future.

And your project needs to be part of that story.



Get full access to Polis Doxa - The Transitions Letter at fernandocgaspar.substack.com/subscribe