Step into the Christmas Intelligence Lab and discover how intelligence, evidence and professional judgement can transform the way EU Funds risks are identified, investigated and addressed.
This intensive three-day masterclass combines practical intelligence techniques, realistic EU Funds cases and team-based investigations. Participants explore how Human Intelligence (HI), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) and Hybrid Co-Intelligence can be used together to strengthen management, verification, control and audit.
The central principle is simple:
Trust is good. Evidence is better. Intelligence makes the difference.
Through practical case labs, mini-investigations and life-like integrity scenarios, participants learn how to identify red flags, assess information, build evidence trails, challenge explanations and develop alternative approaches to verification and audit.
The masterclass goes beyond theory. Participants work in teams on evolving cases where the facts are not always clear, information may be incomplete and professional judgement is essential. They investigate, analyse, verify, escalate and present their findings — using intelligence tools and techniques to uncover what may be hidden beneath the surface.
One of the special features of Day 2 is a surprise visit to an EU-funded project in Vienna.
Participants leave the classroom and enter a real project environment, where they can observe how an EU-funded initiative operates in practice and put their intelligence mindset to work.
The visit creates an opportunity to connect the masterclass concepts with the real world — encouraging participants to observe carefully, ask intelligent questions, identify potential risk signals and consider what evidence they would seek as managers, verifiers, auditors or integrity professionals.
The surprise format adds an element of curiosity and realism to the learning experience, turning the city itself into part of the Vienna Intelligence Mission.
Participants are not simply observers. They become part of the investigation.
Working through realistic cases and practical missions, teams must observe, question, investigate, connect information, test assumptions and follow the evidence.
The programme includes hands-on exercises where participants can use their own laptops to explore intelligence tools and techniques in practice.
The final mission brings everything together: teams present their findings, explain their intelligence approach, demonstrate their evidence trail and reflect on the lessons learned.
The learning experience continues beyond the classroom with the EU-funded project visit, a guided exploration of Vienna’s historic centre, and observation activities inspired by Human Intelligence.
A festive food-tasting experience and informal networking provide an opportunity to exchange ideas and strengthen professional connections in a relaxed atmosphere.
The ability to find information is no longer enough.
Professionals responsible for protecting EU Funds need to know which information matters, how to test it, how to connect the pieces and how to turn information into reliable evidence and sound professional judgement.
This masterclass provides a practical environment to develop those capabilities — combining the classroom, real-life project observation, intelligence techniques and challenging investigations in one immersive experience.
Use intelligence wisely. Challenge every story. Innovate. Follow the evidence.
And become a Vienna Integrity Guardian — Master of Intelligence, Evidence & EU Funds Protection.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Our seminars are designed for public-sector professionals, EU Funds experts and other stakeholders involved in the planning, programming, implementation, management, monitoring, verification, audit and control of EU-funded programmes and projects, including:
Whether you are involved in strategic programming, day-to-day programme management, project implementation, financial management, monitoring, verification, audit, compliance or policy development, our seminars provide practical knowledge and tools that can be applied directly in your professional environment.
Central theme: Investigation — from traditional control thinking to intelligence‑driven management, verification, audit and evidence.
09:00–09:30 — Opening of the Christmas Intelligence Lab
09:30–10:30 — The Changing Risk Landscape
10:30–10:45 — Coffee Break
10:45–12:00 — Core Concepts of Hybrid Co‑Intelligence
12:00–13:00 — Lunch
13:00–15:00 — Real-Life Intelligence Cases
15:00–15:15 — Coffee Break
15:15–17:00 — Applied Intelligence Workshop
09:00–10:30 — Hybrid Co‑Intelligence for EU Funds
10:30–10:45 — Coffee Break
10:45–12:00 — Case Labs: Practical Intelligence Work
12:00–13:00 — Lunch
13:00–15:00 — Case Mission 1 (Start)
A Life‑Like Integrity and Intimidation Case Teams investigate, escalate, design alternative verification/audit approaches, and prepare findings.
15:00–15:15 — Coffee Break
15:15–16:30 — Case Mission 1 (Continuation)
16:30–18:30 — Vienna Guided Tour & Food Tasting Experience (End of Day 2)
A celebratory cultural experience to close Day 2:
17:00–18:30 — SURPRISE MISSION
One of the special features is an unexpected field mission: a surprise visit to an EU-funded project in Vienna.
Participants leave the classroom and enter a real project environment, where they are challenged to observe the project from an intelligence, integrity, verification and audit perspective.
Without relying solely on prepared information, participants are encouraged to:
What do you see when you stop looking only at the documents?
Participants return with observations and intelligence that will feed into the final mission on last Day.
09:00–10:30 — Case Mission 1 (Continuation)
10:30–10:45 — Coffee Break
10:45–12:00 — Case Mission 2: The Christmas Kick‑Off Mystery
EU Funds, Rural Sports and the Old Boys’ Network Teams observe, analyse, investigate, use Hybrid Co‑Intelligence, AI and OSINT.
12:00–13:00 — Lunch
13:00–15:00 — Team Presentation Challenge
Each team presents:
15:00–15:15 — Coffee Break
15:15–16:30 — Awards Ceremony
Winning team receives the title: The Vienna Integrity Guardians — Masters of Intelligence, Evidence & EU Funds Protection
16:30–17:00 — Closing Session
This course will take place in the elegant and historic city of Vienna, offering a rich cultural setting and inspiring urban backdrop for an immersive learning experience.
In addition to comprehensive training materials, the seminar fee covers the following:
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