The European Commission’s Digital Europe Programme has opened a major call for projects on “Digital Solutions for Regulatory Compliance Through Data” (deadline: October 2, 2025). The initiative seeks AI, API, and eID Wallet-driven solutions that make compliance easier, faster, and more secure across the EU.
While the headlines will focus on the tech consortia competing for € millions in co-funding, there’s a less obvious—but equally crucial—factor for success: marketing and adoption.
Why This Call Matters
This funding round will support 3–4 pilot projects testing automated compliance systems in real-world environments. Projects that stand out will not only demonstrate strong technology but also show how regulators, banks, and businesses will actually adopt them.
For SMEs in the FinTech space, this opens a unique window:
- Join a consortium as a marketing/adoption partner.
- Differentiate bids with clear strategies for user onboarding.
- Turn compliance into growth by aligning funnels and campaigns with regulatory use cases.
The Gap Most Consortia Miss
Winning a tender is step one. Delivering a pilot that people actually use is step two. This is where many tech-driven bids fall short.
Even the smartest compliance system risks failing if:
- Users don’t understand the benefits.
- Banks and regulators find onboarding confusing.
- Communication around security and trust isn’t clear.
That’s not a technology problem—it’s a marketing and customer journey problem.
How Funnels and Ads Drive Compliance Adoption
Here’s how digital marketing funnels, targeted ads, and customer journeys directly impact EU-funded projects:
- Increased Conversion
Digital landing pages guide regulators, financial institutions, and SMEs through project value, building trust and buy-in. - Targeted Outreach
Ads and campaigns tailored to specific stakeholders (banks, SMEs, auditors) improve awareness and credibility. - Streamlined Journeys
Funnels simplify complex compliance workflows, making it easy for users to understand how to integrate new tools. - ROI on Funded Work
Every euro of EU co-funding goes further when adoption accelerates. Marketing ensures projects don’t just deliver tech, but real-world impact.
Practical Advice for SMEs Entering This Call
If you’re considering bidding—or joining a consortium—here are three actions to strengthen your position:
- Include a Marketing Partner
Show evaluators you’ve thought beyond the tech. Adoption, visibility, and stakeholder engagement count. - Build a Communication Funnel
Prepare a funnel that translates your compliance solution into simple, trust-building messages for regulators and users. - Align Tech and Marketing
Treat user onboarding as customer acquisition: integrate trust signals, testimonials, and guided journeys.
Why SMEs Are Positioned to Win
Large incumbents may have resources, but SMEs are more agile at combining innovation + storytelling. That’s a competitive edge in tenders where evaluators look for technical quality and scalability through adoption.
At SME Consulting (smeconsulting.ae), we help FinTech companies turn EU-funded projects into adopted solutions. Our funnels, ads, and digital journeys maximize ROI, conversion, and visibility.