EU funding programmes represent a major opportunity for the growth and innovation of Third Sector and Civil Economy organisations, as well as for the communities and territories in which they operate. However, these opportunities remain largely underutilised.
Since 2017, Fondazione Triulza has been promoting, in partnership with Fondazione Cariplo and a range of Italian and European networks, tools, services and training programmes designed to support the internationalisation of the Third Sector by facilitating access to European networks and funding opportunities.
Since 2023, Fondazione Triulza has been officially recognised by the European Union as an Italian Social Economy Cluster for its work in promoting the development of social tech enterprises and social innovation within MIND – Milan Innovation District.
Tools and Actions for the Internationalisation and Innovation of the Third Sector
BEEurope: Bet on European Energies – Capacity Building Programme
In 2017, in partnership with Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione Triulza launched BEEurope: Bet on European Energies, an initiative designed to help Third Sector and Civil Economy organisations access European and international funding opportunities while developing strategic partnerships for innovative social projects.
In 2017, in partnership with Fondazione Cariplo, Fondazione Triulza launched BEEurope: Bet on European Energies, an initiative designed to help Third Sector and Civil Economy organisations access European and international funding opportunities while developing strategic partnerships for innovative social projects.
BEEurope aims to provide organisations—including small and medium-sized organisations—with training, information and advisory services to strengthen their capacity in European project design and increase their participation in EU funding programmes.
Among its flagship initiatives are the BEEurope Master’s Programme in European Project Design and BEEAgency, the European Project Design Support Service.
Link to learn more about the programme’s tools and services.
Fondazione Cariplo's European Projects Co-financing Instrument
In 2026, Fondazione Triulza was appointed by Fondazione Cariplo to support Third Sector organisations in preparing and submitting EU-funded projects through the new integrated European Projects Co-financing instrument.
Promoted by Fondazione Cariplo’s Environment, Arts and Culture, Scientific Research, and Social Services programme areas, the initiative combines tailored support for European project development with the possibility of financial co-funding, subject to the approval of the project under the relevant EU funding programme.
The programme also includes thematic and cross-cutting information and capacity-building sessions, offering practical guidance and concrete opportunities for applying to European calls, together with a systematic scouting activity identifying the funding opportunities most relevant to Third Sector organisations.
Visit the EU Calls Radar for the Third Sector page for regularly updated information.
Social Economy and Europe
MIND – Milan Innovation District is one of the few international innovation districts where civil society plays an active role, thanks to the work of Fondazione Triulza and its network of Third Sector and Civil Economy organisations.
Since 2023, Fondazione Triulza has officially been part of the European Social Economy Cluster, one of the European Union’s industrial clusters, and has been included in the European Cluster Collaboration Platform (ECCP).
Today, Fondazione Triulza is recognised as one of Italy’s leading organisations promoting and advancing the social economy by strengthening the role of Third Sector organisations within MIND and by developing innovative capacity-building programmes, technology transfer initiatives and social procurement practices in collaboration with universities, research centres, businesses and Civil Economy networks.
Fondazione Triulza is also a member of Diesis Network, one of Europe’s largest networks dedicated to the development of the social economy and headquartered in Brussels. Link to learn more.
Participation in EU programmes
Fondazione Triulza actively participates in European networks and partnerships to develop collaborative projects under a range of EU funding programmes, involving its network of founding organisations. Among the European projects in which Fondazione Triulza has participated as a partner are two Erasmus+ projects:
