From 4-6 March 2025, SIOPE welcomed colleagues from Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos (VULSK) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) of Lithuania for a three-day secondment at its Brussels office, organised as part of the SCARLET project, which is funded by the European Commission. The event was designed to support knowledge exchange and strengthen project management capacity for EU-funded initiatives.
Four representatives from VULSK and NCI joined SIOPE’s Projects and Grants Team and senior management to explore the full project lifecycle, from proposal development to implementation and reporting.
The programme included sessions on pre-submission processes such as project writing strategies and EU Funding and Tenders Portal exercises. Day two focused on consortium building, budget preparation, and submission workflows for EU4Health and Erasmus+ programmes. The teams also connected outside the office during a networking dinner in Brussels.
On the final day, discussions shifted to project implementation topics, including risk and time management, reporting, communication and dissemination strategies, and financial management. A highlight of the day was a collaborative session with the European Commission Project Officer responsible for the SCARLET project, providing valuable insight from the Funding body’s perspective.
This secondment, part of the SCARLET project’s capacity-building activities, proved to be a highly productive and engaging experience. Both teams left with deeper knowledge, practical tools, and stronger ties, paving the way for future collaboration in advancing paediatric oncology through EU-funded initiatives.
The next SCARLET secondment is planned for September 2025 and will focus on Communications and Marketing for EU-funded projects – stay tuned!
