In this interview, Mateusz Kowacki, EU Project Manager at F6S, reflects on the pivotal role the team played in managing and delivering the VOXReality Open Call for Third Parties. From navigating tight timelines and unexpected challenges to supporting five innovative third-party projects through a full year of development, F6S brought resilience, collaboration, and a commitment to impact. Mateusz shares key lessons learned, the lasting influence of VOXReality on F6S’s future programs, and why he believes that the success of third parties is, ultimately, a shared success.
Looking back over the course of the VOXReality project, what do you consider F6S’s most significant achievement or contribution to its success?
F6S did a great job with all the preparation and implementation of the Open Call opportunities for Third Parties. I really think that we should be particularly proud of these great results achieved by TPs as we have been also part of this process. I must say, sometimes, it wasn’t easy. We have faced several challenges and issues, but my perception was that no matter what we will find a way out and, in the end, we will showcase great results. Now, I think if you ask TPs about their experience with us there will be only humble and I believe positive feedback. And just to make it more poetic I guess TPs success is our success, as we have been there for them.
What were some of the key challenges F6S faced during the open call process, and how did your team overcome them?
At the very beginning of implementation, we had some issues with the timeline. However, thanks to the motivation coming from all project partners and TPs we managed to erase this initial delay. We knew also that some things during the first review didn’t go as we planned. Solution for this was a co-creation session of what and how we do better. I must say it was teamwork all the time, without pointing fingers, putting blame etc, I was and still I’m very proud of this accomplishment.
In what ways has participating in VOXReality shaped or influenced F6S’s approach to future innovation programs or open call management?
I think that you should be ready for everything, that could be a lesson from it. While preparing the program we need to allocate some time for risk management and potential mitigation. This for sure will facilitate our work in the future. Maybe, a bit joking, but we might always ask us what the worst-case scenario could be – and based on this we can shape our mitigation plan. Obviously, it’s something that we have already introduced but sometimes everyday situations might be even more surprising than this risks log excels.
What impact do you think VOXReality has had on the third-party projects you supported, and how do you envision their growth beyond the project’s conclusion?
I know, because I spoke with all of them, that the impact has been significant. They really appreciate this opportunity created by VOXReality project, and this learning curve during 12 months of implementation. Considering that these 5 TPs have been selected amongst dozens of other applications it proves already that their initial idea was great. After this implementation they are on a different level now with different challenges. I’m sure that it’s not the last time we have heard about them and that they will still finetune and develop their services and products.
As the VOXReality project wraps up, what are your main takeaways, and what advice would you give to other organizations participating in similar EU-funded initiatives?
That only by working with ‘as a team’ mindset can we achieve great things and see great results. It’s not true that brilliant ideas are created by brilliant individuals being alone. Those great things are always the result of the exchange of thoughts, opinions, perspectives which we can only get by working in a team.
Mateusz Kowacki
EU Project Manager @ F6S