Sustainability and follow-up funding for Erasmus+ KA2 projects
An Erasmus+ KA2 project only achieves its full impact when the content, networks, and innovations developed are utilised beyond the funding period. However, many projects lose visibility and influence after the funding ends. To prevent this from happening, you should develop a strategy for continuation and follow-up funding at the planning stage.
Why a sustainable impact is crucial
Many Erasmus+ projects deliver innovative solutions, but valuable results are often lost after funding closes. The European Commission expects project results to be utilised in the long term — be it through integration into educational curricula, provision on open access platforms, or institutional collaborations.
Sustainability not only means that developed content remains accessible, but also that it is actively passed on and utilised. Projects that engage relevant stakeholders at an early stage have a significantly better chance of achieving long-term impact.
Sustainability begins in the planning phase
Long-term impact does not happen by chance — it must be incorporated into project planning from the outset. As early as the application stage, you should explain how your project results will last beyond the funding period. Close co-operation with institutions that will integrate the materials or methods you develop into their structures is essential.
Example: learning modules with built-in sustainability
- ✓Involve partner institutions in curriculum design from the start — not just as beta testers
- ✓Agree in writing which partner will incorporate the modules into their standard programmes
- ✓Design digital resources so they function independently of ongoing project support
- ✓Use platforms such as Zenodo or ResearchGate for long-term open access publication
Partners who have a clear institutional interest in your results are far more likely to use them after the project ends.
A targeted dissemination strategy is equally important — drawing the attention of relevant stakeholders to your results at an early stage, rather than launching a communications push in the final month.
Disseminating and anchoring project results in a targeted manner
Publication on a website alone is not enough. Sustainable impact requires targeted dissemination and strategic partnerships.
- ✓Cooperations with educational institutions and authorities — to integrate results into curricula or certification programmes
- ✓Trainings for multipliers — to directly involve specialists in the application of new methods
- ✓Networking events — to enable knowledge exchange and transfer successful concepts into new contexts
Funding opportunities for follow-up projects
Many Erasmus+ projects can be further developed after the funding period — through an expansion of content, new partnerships, or scaling up successful activities. Follow-up funding enables you to continue or build on what you have started.
| Funding source | What it covers |
|---|---|
| New Erasmus+ calls | New consortium, expanded scope, or continuation of proven approaches |
| Horizon Europe | Research and innovation projects building on KA2 outputs |
| European Social Fund (ESF+) | Employment, education, and social inclusion initiatives |
| National education programmes | Country-specific funds for proven methodologies |
| Foundations and private funders | Topic-specific grants for scaling high-impact results |
To maximise your chances with follow-up applications, collect data on your project's effectiveness throughout its implementation — not just at the end. Clear documentation of success to date is essential, as funding organisations expect reliable evidence of long-term impact.
Conclusion — success factors for a long-term impact
Projects that create sustainable structures have a greater reach and more durable impact. Strategic planning, targeted partnerships, and early preparation for follow-up funding are the key factors that separate projects with lasting influence from those that are forgotten once the grant period closes.
- ✓Plan for sustainability from the application stage — not as an afterthought
- ✓Actively disseminate results and integrate them into existing institutional structures
- ✓Involve multipliers and strategic partners as early as possible
- ✓Identify potential follow-up funding sources during implementation
With the right strategy, your Erasmus+ project will not just be a completed measure — it will become a long-term initiative with a lasting impact on the field.
Try it yourself
Generate your complete application draft for free and see how these principles work in practice.
Generate my draft →