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More competition in the MSCA Doctoral Networks 2023: a look at the statistics

A total of 1,066 proposals were submitted in the third MSCA-DN call in Horizon Europe. Here are some insights on these call statistics, notably the potential effects of the key changes in the rules implemented as of this call.

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Securing funding in health research: Last calls in the HORIZON work programme 2023/24

There is now only one call for Health proposals left under the current Horizon Europe work programme of Cluster 1 with a deadline on 11 April 2024. It will fund a total of 12 projects. More funding for health research is available in Cluster 4, but also in the Health Partnerships, ERA4Health and IHI. Find your most suitable funding!

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Good EU Project financial management starts here – how to set up a HORIZON proposal budget?

Navigating the complexities of Horizon Europe proposal budgets for multi-beneficiary consortiums can be intricate. From estimating costs across varied categories to ensuring adherence to HORIZON rules, the process demands precision. Dive into our insights from years of experience at accelopment and discover how our tailored tools aid in simplifying budget preparations and financial planning. Need expert guidance? We're here to assist!

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Advancing Open Science through Horizon Europe: mandatory and recommended practices

Open Science in Horizon Europe promotes early, broad sharing of research knowledge. This blog post guides you through integrating Open Science from proposal writing to project implementation, emphasising adherence to Open Science mandatory and recommended practices.

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Popular European health research grants – stats for the recent stage-1 submission deadline

The statistics of the recent Horizon Europe Health stage-1 proposal submission deadline on 19 September 2023 suggest that the Health programme is more popular than ever. With more than 1,000 proposals submitted to nine call topics, we wonder how many will be invited in December to submit their full proposals by 11 April 2024.

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Counting down to the MSCA-DN proposal submission deadline – the updated MSCA-NET’s Doctoral Network Handbook is available just in time

This year’s MSCA-DN proposal submission deadline is rapidly approaching. If you’re still unsure about the expected content of some of the sub-sections of your proposal, the recently published MSCA-NET Doctoral Network Handbook may provide some useful answers.

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Unlocking health research funding in Europe: opportunities in 2023, early 2024 and beyond

Health research and innovation continue to take centre stage in the EU's funding landscape. To this end, the European Commission offers a range of funding opportunities to researchers, innovative companies of all sizes, and various entities operating within the health domain.

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Stand out from the crowd – priority criteria for equally scored MSCA DN proposals

The priority criteria for equally scored proposals are no mystery. They are clearly outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme, but often go unread. As we expect the competition for funding to be as fierce as ever, here are the main criteria summarised!

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UK back in Horizon Europe – what does it mean in practice?

On September 7, the UK and the European Commission announced an agreement for the UK association to Horizon Europe. What does that imply? When will this agreement become effective? What about Switzerland? Find out more in this blog post.

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EIC Pathfinder Open or Challenge – same programme, big differences

The Pathfinder Open and the Pathfinder Challenge funding instruments both aim to translate cutting-edge scientific concepts into groundbreaking technologies that will shape the future. Be aware of their differences before submitting your EIC Pathfinder proposal and increase your chances of success.

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Submitting a competitive Eurostars application – the must-haves for a positive evaluation

The new call for proposals to be funded under the EUREKA Eurostars funding scheme opened recently and you can apply for a non-refundable grant for your R&D project until 14 September 2023. When starting to prepare your proposal, there are many things to consider – ranging from the country-specific funding rules to the evaluation criteria and process.

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Can the Eurostars programme fund your research and innovation? Check your eligibility!

Eurostars has become a popular public funding scheme for innovative SMEs. Although the success rates are high, several rather specific requirements need to be fulfilled by applicants. Our eChecker helps you find out whether you are eligible for its latest call for proposals.

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Best practice: Involving Associated Partners in MSCA Doctoral Networks during grant preparation

Associated Partners play an important role in any MSCA Doctoral Network. Here is our best practice guide on how best to involve your Associated Partners in your DN grant preparation.

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MSCA 2023 Doctoral Networks call – the most important changes and novelties

The 2023 call for MSCA Doctoral Networks is now open. We had a look at the updated Guide for Applicants and the Standard Proposal Template to identify the key changes to last year’s call. If you plan to resubmit your DN proposal, make sure to be aware of the most significant changes.

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The SYNSENSO proposal journey

How does an EU-funded project come to fruition? For researchers interested in coordinating or participating in such, the process between the proposal writing stage and the project start can sometimes seem like a black box. In this blog series, we explore the SYNSENSO proposal from contact to contract.

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Taking on the EIC Pathfinder Challenge: new directions in science and technology

The Pathfinder programme supports the research and development of bold ideas for future breakthrough technologies within Horizon EU. It encompasses two funding streams: Pathfinder Open, where applicants can propose any research topic, and Pathfinder Challenge, which provides funding for research projects of high societal, economic and political interest.

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Insights into the results of the 2022 MSCA call for Doctoral Networks

The European Commission has completed the evaluation of the proposals submitted for the 2022 MSCA Call for Doctoral Networks. The results of the 2022 call reveal higher success rates and higher funding thresholds compared to the previous 2021 call. Gain insights into the results.

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Upcoming Horizon Europe “Civil Security” calls – opportunities for you?

A variety of funding opportunities for research and innovation activities in Horizon Europe allow applicants to find the right call in digital infrastructure, technologies and societal factors, including cybersecurity.

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A strong business case for your Eurostars-3 application

With 29% of applications to Eurostars being funded, chances of success are already high. However, there are always ways to increase your chances. One way to make your project stand out and convince the evaluators is to describe your specific business case and the market potential of the project results.

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Be smart – choose Eurostars: Eurostars-3 for innovative SMEs

As an SME you have the possibility to become project leader of a EUREKA Eurostars project and benefit from this funding opportunity’s many advantages. The stunning success rate of 29%, free choice of topic and up to 80% funding for the project's costs make it an attractive programme focused on promoting SMEs. We provide you with hands-on support for the application process.

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Analysis of upcoming Horizon Digital, Industry and Space calls 2023-2024 – opportunities for you?

Digital and industrial technologies shape all sectors of the European economy and the daily routine of us all. The EU reflects this in the budget increase from EUR 1.56 billion (2021-2022) to EUR 2.3 billion (2023-2024) in Cluster 4 of Horizon Europe, tackling Digital, Industry, and Space.

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Upcoming Horizon Europe “Climate, Energy and Mobility” calls – opportunities for you?

The draft Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2024 for Climate, Energy and Mobility (Cluster 5) is published. Our infographic provides an overview on the available funding and shows the different submission deadlines. Find the most suitable call topic for your research and innovation project!

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Upcoming Horizon Europe “Health” calls – opportunities for you?

In November, the publication of the HORIZON Work Programme 2023-2024 for Health (Cluster 1) is expected. Our infographic analyses the available funding and shows the different submission deadlines. Find the most suitable call topic for your research and innovation project!

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Have you already completed the training section in your HORIZON-MSCA-DN proposal?

Based on our experience from previous proposal writing for MSCA calls, we know how important it is to strike a good balance between scientific and technological training on one side and transferable skills courses on the other. What to consider when writing the Doctoral Network training programme?

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Green Deal funding available for climate actions

The Green Deal offers multiple pathways to funding, some are well-known and others not. We can help you navigate the complex funding landscape of the Green Deal to identify the funding instruments and calls that fit your project idea.

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Swiss and UK project partners? What to expect when preparing your Horizon Europe proposal

Researchers and companies from Switzerland and the UK can participate in most Horizon Europe instruments. However, there are some country-specific rules to consider during the proposal preparation. These include a different partner status in the EU portal, affect the budgeting and have several implications on the contents of the proposal document.

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Dissemination in Horizon Europe projects: publications, conferences and more

In a project funded under Horizon Europe, participants are required to plan and carry out their dissemination activities carefully and extensively. At accelopment we are excited to support your proposal and help you spread your research results as widely as possible to maximise the impact of your project.

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Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) doctoral candidates explained

Horizon Europe brought many changes to the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) scheme. As the term Early Stage Researcher (ESR) is no longer used and the rules have changed, we summarise the key conditions for the recruitment of doctoral candidates in a MSCA Doctoral Network (DN).

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What to consider in Horizon Europe stage-2 Health submissions

The European Commission has just communicated the first-stage results of the Horizon Europe Health calls. We have thus checked out the requirements for the upcoming stage-2 submission. Find out what changes you need to make to your proposal to get a successful stage-two submission on the right track.

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MSCA Doctoral Networks 2022 call – important changes in the new proposal template

The European Commission published the 2022 MSCA Doctoral Networks call last week. We had a look at the updated Work Programme, the Guide for Applicants and the updated Standard Proposal Template to find out what is different to last year’s call. If you plan to resubmit your DN proposal, make sure to be aware of the most significant changes.

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New EU funding opportunities for energy-related projects

New energy-related call topics were opened by the European Commission. They belong to the "Battery Partnership" and other parts of the Cluster 5 "Climate, Energy and Mobility". One further call topic was launched under the "Cities Mission". With a deadline of 6 September 2022 there is enough time to prepare and submit applications.

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Insights into the first MSCA Doctoral Network evaluation results under Horizon Europe

The European Commission selected the first Doctoral Networks under Horizon Europe. Gain insights into the results of the 2021 call, which is marked by higher success rates and lower funding thresholds compared to the previous programme.

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An alternative approach to consortium building for EU research and innovation projects

With partners from different countries, diverse backgrounds, and distinct research areas, team or consortium building represents an essential task and challenge best tackled during the proposal preparation before a project even starts.

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A gender lens for EU research on International Women’s Day 2022

Today, we celebrate the 111th International Women’s Day and share some of the latest data on gender (in)equality in research, while linking to relevant Horizon Europe requirements and inviting you to self-explore your implicit biases.

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Succeeding in the first Horizon EU Health proposals – sharing of experience

While waiting for the final statistics on the first Horizon Europe Health calls, we share our experience from the evaluation of some health proposals. This might help applicants who are currently preparing their proposals for the fast-approaching next deadlines.

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EIC Work Programme 2022 published – more changes in the Pathfinder than expected

The first, highly competitive, EIC Pathfinder Open call revealed important novelties for applicants. As in FET-Open, the programme is still targeted at breakthrough, innovative solutions, but with changes ranging from the formalities of the main proposal document to the strict requirement of a multidisciplinary approach.

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Master the Eurostars online portal like a pro

If you are applying for a Eurostars 3 project, you should check out the requirements and especially the web portal through which applicants need to submit their project proposal. Set out to master the Eurostars’ online application portal with the guidelines at hand and your project idea in mind.

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Innovation management in H2020 and Horizon Europe projects – More than just IP protection

The European Commission recently published the Innovation Scoreboard 2021. The report reveals that several global competitors are exceeding the EU’s performance in innovation. Among other measures to excel in innovation, the implementation of innovation management techniques is considered as a powerful tool to maximise the impact of innovation expenditures.

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Happy New Eurostars – apply to the first call of 2022

Eurostars is an essential component of Horizon Europe, with 37 countries from within and outside Europe participating in the Eurostars programme. Each of these “Eurostars countries” has its own funding coverage policy for SMEs and other types of participants.

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Safety nets for Swiss and UK applicants to Horizon Europe

As negotiations on the association of the UK and Switzerland to Horizon Europe remain suspended, the UK and Swiss governments are committed to support successful UK- and Swiss-based applicants.

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Preparing a short stage-1 proposal? Mind the new declaration

As deadlines for two-stage calls in the areas of Health, Climate and Food are getting closer, learn about a key change in the submission process from Horizon 2020 to Horizon Europe.

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Essential tips for your FET Open/ Pathfinder Open proposal (re-)submission

The first, highly competitive, EIC Pathfinder Open call revealed important novelties for applicants. As in FET-Open, the programme is still targeted at breakthrough, innovative solutions, but with changes ranging from the formalities of the main proposal document to the strict requirement of a multidisciplinary approach.

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Road or rail, water or air – funding opportunities for Horizon Europe projects

Cluster 5 of Horizon Europe offers diverse funding opportunities for mobility-related topics: Batteries and fuels or transport by road, rail, water, and air. Several calls are also in collaboration with specific partnerships.

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Towards higher success rates in MSCA Doctoral Network proposals?

A total of 1,076 proposals were submitted for the first MSCA Doctoral Networks (DNs) deadline in Horizon Europe on 16 November 2021. A first analysis of the call statistics reveals an increase in success chances.

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Just over 6% success rate in the first EIC Pathfinder Open call under Horizon Europe

The European Innovation Council selected the first 56 EIC Pathfinder Open projects under Horizon Europe. Read on for an overview of the call statistics and foreseen deadlines for (re-)submission of your proposal.

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Preparing your MSCA-DN proposal? Don`t forget the transferable skills.

Training in transferable skills is an important element of the training programmes included in the EU-funded Marie Curie research and training networks for early-stage researchers and doctoral candidates. They are a “must-have” when planning their next steps within an academic career or applying for jobs in companies and transitioning to industry.

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SGP – The gateway to your next EU-funded research and innovation project

Our Strategic Grant Planning (SGP) service will support you in identifying the best funding opportunity for your idea and in planning your grant applications for the upcoming years. With the start of Horizon Europe and other new EU programmes, we are well set up to guide you through the wide array of funding instruments.

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Less competition than usual in the first Horizon Europe Health calls

For the first Health cluster deadline of Horizon Europe, a total of 591 proposals were submitted. The chances of success seem to be higher than usual. Find the estimated success rates in this blog post.

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Preparing an MSCA Doctoral Network proposal? Mind the latest updates!

MSCA Doctoral Network proposals are being prepared under a tight schedule. At the same time, all changes from the previous Horizon 2020 MSCA ITNs need to be considered.

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No luck with EIC Accelerator? – Why not try Eurostars 3 instead?

Eurostars is an essential component of Horizon Europe, with 37 countries from within and outside Europe participating in the Eurostars programme. Each of these “Eurostars countries” has its own funding coverage policy for SMEs and other types of participants.

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Digitalisation: Virtually everywhere?

The EU`s funding programme Horizon Europe facilitates the digitalisation process by supporting the discovery and development of innovative ICT technologies and their deployment in a wide range of application areas, in the dedicated Cluster 4 focused on Digital, Industry and Space, but also in Health and Climate, Energy and Mobility.

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From H2020 Innovative Training Networks (ITNs) to Horizon Europe Doctoral Networks (DN) – key changes for you to know

The long wait is finally over and the first Doctoral Network (DN) call is now open for submission. We had a look at the Guide for Applicants, the new Standard Proposal Template, and the online forms to find out what is different from the Horizon 2020 Marie Curie ITNs.

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The art of writing convincing proposals – an essential skill for the 21st century

Grant writing has become an essential activity in academia and beyond. The art of convincing funding bodies through persuasive and compelling proposals is all the more important for early-stage researchers (ESRs) willing to progress in their career, be it in an academic or industry setting.

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There is more than food in the Horizon Europe’s Cluster 6 – check out the new funding opportunities

With a total budget of € 2.2 billion for 2021 to 2022, the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 is expected to support a transformative change of the EU economy and society to reduce environmental degradation, stop and reverse the decline of biodiversity, and better manage natural resources while meeting the EU's climate objectives and ensuring food and water security.

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A clean planet for all – a purposeful research programme to achieve Europe’s vision

With a total budget of € 2.8 billion for 2021 to 2022, the Horizon Europe Cluster 5 will contribute to achieving the EU's goal of becoming a climate neutral society. Although the Horizon Europe Climate, Energy and Mobility programme offers a wide array of funding opportunities, we expect a tough competition similar to the previous Horizon 2020 programmes.

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The Global Challenges of Horizon Europe and how they compare to Horizon 2020

From pillars, challenges, clusters, destinations, missions, calls, and call topics to Research and Innovation Actions, Innovation Actions, and Coordination and Support Actions – Horizon Europe, the new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation has it all. The terminology and structure is new and needs some elucidation.

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The 3 big C’s and more in health research and innovation: COVID-19 – Cancer – Cardiovascular diseases

The official Work Programme for Cluster 1 – Health under the 9th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, will be published this spring. With a total budget of €1,86 billion for 2021 to 2022, the Horizon Europe Cluster 1 – Health will fund projects in the 3 big C's health areas: Cancer, Covid-19, and Cardiovascular Diseases.

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From Innovative Training Networks to Doctoral Networks – what to expect

We are all eagerly waiting for the details about the Doctoral Networks under Horizon Europe. The new MSCA Work Programme will be published by the European Commission in mid-May. So, while we are waiting, let's have a look at what we know already.

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Safeguarding the planet through research and innovation projects

The projects that bring forward technologies and innovations for a more sustainable future impress us time and again. They help bringing the European Green Deal to reality. Earth Day puts the spotlight on them.

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The EIC Pathfinder Open – more than just a continuation of H2020 FET Open

The EIC Pathfinder, known as the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) in H2020, has moved from the basic science-driven pillar in H2020 to the more market-driven “Innovative Europe” pillar in Horizon Europe. In addition to some important differences in the structure of the proposal, the focus of the EIC shifts to projects with a strong impact on Europe's economy and society.

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With the first Cluster Health Work Programme in Horizon Europe for a more resilient and healthier Europe

The European Commission will fund research and innovation activities under Horizon Europe for a healthier and more resilient Europe - from supporting mental health, through boosting of digitalisation and efficient health data use, to development of next generation AI tools, therapies, and vaccines.

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EIC Transition – new funding opportunity to advance your FET results

Both, the FET Innovation Launchpad (Horizon 2020) and the EIC Transition (Horizon Europe), have the goal to support the exploitation of results from FET projects. However, the instruments have key differences you should be aware of.

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Finding the right path in the new Horizon Europe EIC Pathfinder

The EIC Pathfinder, previously known as the FET programme in Horizon 2020, will allocate more than € 300 million for high-risk and radical new ideas.

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Last Horizon 2020 Health call results expected soon

While the results for the “Digital transformation in Health and Care (DTH)” calls were issued last week, we expect to receive the last results of the series of Health calls in the coming days.

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Fund your Green Deal project from impressive EUR 983 million call

The European Commission has just published the first Green Deal call of EUR 983,000,000.

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Preparing a Horizon 2020 Health proposal in 6 weeks? Challenge accepted!

Preparing a first stage proposal is possible in a short amount of time if planning is accurate. We provide the relevant steps for success.

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Improve your ITN proposal writing skills with hands-on training and practical examples

Various seminars offer advise on the preparation of ITNs. We highlight, what makes us different, how we approach things and who should attend.

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