FREREF

What FREREF does

FREREF (Forum des Régions Européennes pour la Recherche, l'Education et la Formation) is a non-profit international association (AISBL) under Belgian law, founded in 1991 and headquartered at 44 Boulevard Léopold II, Brussels, Belgium. The organization operates as a network of European regional authorities focused on cooperation in lifelong learning, research, education, and training. Its core activity is coordinating and participating in EU-funded collaborative projects — primarily under Erasmus+ — that bring together regional governments, public employment services, universities, and employer associations from across Europe to develop and compare policy approaches.

FREREF's service portfolio is structured around several thematic project lines: public employment services adaptation to digital and green transitions (NET PES), third-type learning spaces (Places-3T), school-enterprise cooperation (ED-EN Hub, Cokleeco), creative and inclusive teacher training (EXCIITE), regional lifelong learning policy comparison (COMORELP), and civic and citizenship education (CITIZED, Peace Games, Must-a-Lab, PERFECT, LICEAL). The organization operates a small core team of 5 employees and functions as a coordination and dissemination layer rather than as a software or service vendor. Its core methodology is peer-based regional learning, branded as 'benchlearning,' which facilitates cross-regional policy comparison and the exchange of good practices.

Commercially, FREREF does not sell products or services. Its revenue model is grant-based, relying on EU program funding (Erasmus+ and related instruments) channeled through multi-partner project consortia, supplemented by member dues from participating regional authorities. The organization holds associate membership in the Lifelong Learning Platform, participates in the European Commission's EPALE community of practice, and is integrated into the Manu Village third-place facility and the Maison de l'Apprendre network. It serves European regional authorities, public employment services, education ministries, and academic institutions across at least 11 European countries.

Name

FREREF

Legal name

Forum des Régions Européennes pour la Recherche, l'Education et la Formation

Website

https://freref.eu

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

FREREF is a Belgian AISBL non-profit network of European regional authorities that coordinates EU-funded (Erasmus+) collaborative projects on lifelong learning, teacher training, public employment services, and civic education across 11+ European countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Education and Lifelong Learning Network Services

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYEDADADAL

International & Comparative Education Policy Organizations

Education/Education Administration, Accreditation & Policy/Education Policy, Research & Think Tanks

SECONDARYEDAAAEAL

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs

Education/Adult & Continuing Education/Continuing Education (Noncredit) & Lifelong Learning Programs

Keywords

• Lifelong learning networks
• Regional education cooperation
• EU project coordination
• Peer learning exchange
• Public employment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Bruxelles

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

FREREF is a non-profit network of European regions that coordinates EU-funded collaborative projects in lifelong learning, education, and training. It facilitates cross-regional peer learning, policy comparison, and joint project development among regional authorities, public employment services, education institutions, and employer organizations across Europe.

Product overview

FREREF (Forum des Régions Européennes pour la Recherche, l'Education et la Formation) is a European network/association (AISBL) focused on lifelong learning and regional cooperation in education and training. The organization does not offer a commercial product or software platform but rather facilitates collaborative projects and knowledge-sharing networks among European regions. FREREF participates in various EU-funded projects including NET PES (local labor market transitions), Places-3T (third-type spaces for learning), Cokleeco (education-company partnerships), ED-EN Hub (school-enterprise collaboration), COMORELP (regional lifelong learning policy monitoring), and EXCIITE (teacher training and creative learning).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NET PES Project — Local Labor Markets in Transition
• Places-3T Project — Third-Type Spaces
• Cokleeco Project — Education-Enterprise Cooperation
• ED-EN Hub Project — School-Enterprise Collaboration
• COMORELP Project — Regional Lifelong Learning Policy Monitoring
• EXCIITE Project — Creative and Inclusive Teacher Training
• FREREF Network Membership

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

41 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Lifelong Learning Platform (LLL Platform)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFREREF is an associate member of the Lifelong Learning Platform, a European network of institutions working on lifelong learning across Europe.
• Manu VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFREREF is part of Manu Village, a third-place facility for social and professional integration hosted by AFPA Vénissieux.
• Maison de l'ApprendreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFREREF is part of the Maison de l'Apprendre network.
• EPALEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFREREF participates in the EPALE community of practice on regional cooperation in lifelong learning, a European Commission platform.
• France Travail AURAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead coordinator of the NET PES project (Des marchés du travail locaux en transition), focused on adapting public employment services to digital and green transitions.
• VENETO LAVOROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NET PES project representing the Veneto region of Italy.
• LE FOREMcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NET PES project representing the Wallonia region of Belgium.
• SERVICIO PUBLICO DE EMPLEO DE CATALUNYAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NET PES project representing Catalonia, Spain.
• HELSINGIN KAUPUNK (City of Helsinki)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NET PES project representing Finland.
• AGENCIA PARA EL EMPLEO DE MADRIDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NET PES project representing Madrid, Spain.
• AGENZIA REGIONALE TOSCANA PER L'IMPIEGO (ARTI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NET PES project representing Tuscany region, Italy.
• ARBETSMARKNADSFÖRVALTNINGEN (City of Stockholm)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in NET PES project representing Stockholm, Sweden.
• SMART COOPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-coordinator of the Places-3T project on third-type spaces for learning, creating, and entrepreneurship.
• Pour la SolidaritécoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Places-3T project, a Belgian organization focused on solidarity and social economy.
• Fundacio Universitat Empresa de les Illes BalearscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Places-3T project from the Balearic Islands, Spain.
• Centro di Solidarietà di Reggio EmiliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Places-3T project from Italy.
• Dutch Foundation of Innovation Welfare 2 WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Places-3T project from the Netherlands.
• Agence nationale pour la Formation Professionnelle des Adultes (AFPA) DR Auvergne Rhône AlpescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Places-3T project from France.
• MEDEF AURAcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Cokleeco project, representing employers' organization from Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France.
• Rectorat GrenoblecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Cokleeco project, representing the academic authority from Grenoble, France.
• Generalitat de Catalunya EnsenyamentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Cokleeco project, representing the education department of Catalonia, Spain.
• Universita Modena Reggio (Unimore)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Cokleeco project, representing the university from Modena and Reggio Emilia, Italy.
• Confindustria Emilia RomagnacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Cokleeco project, representing the employers' confederation of Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
• Direction Générale de l'Enseignement Obligatoire - CGPEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Cokleeco project, representing compulsory education from Wallonia-Brussels Federation, Belgium.
• Fondation pour l'EnseignementcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Cokleeco project from Belgium, focused on educational initiatives.
• MCDNcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Cokleeco project from Poland.
• IUT Lumière Lyon 2coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ED-EN Hub project from France.
• CIS Scuola Per La Gestione D'impresacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ED-EN Hub project from Italy.
• The Mayor And Commonalty And Citizens Of The City Of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ED-EN Hub project representing the City of London, UK.
• Universidade Nova De LisboacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ED-EN Hub project from Portugal.
• Association Trouver-CréercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in ED-EN Hub project from France.
• Università degli studi di Modena e Reggio EmiliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in EXCIITE project, coordinating the initiative on creative and inclusive teacher training.
• Fondazione Reggio Children - Centro Loris MalaguzzicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EXCIITE project from Italy, known for innovative early childhood education approaches.
• Eotvos Lorand TudomanyegyetemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EXCIITE project from Hungary.
• Örebro UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EXCIITE project from Sweden.
• Fundacio per la Universitat Oberta de CatalunyacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EXCIITE project from Spain.
• Istituto Comprensivo 'A. Manzoni'coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in EXCIITE project, representing an Italian comprehensive school.
• Uniwersytet JagiellonskicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLead partner in COMORELP project from Poland (Jagiellonian University, Krakow).
• Bogazici Universitesi lifelong learning CentercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in COMORELP project from Turkey.
• Wojewodztwo Malopolskie - Wojewodzki Urzad Pracy w KrakowiecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in COMORELP project from the Malopolska region of Poland.
• ARCOLA RESEARCH LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in COMORELP project from the United Kingdom.

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• EPALE (Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe): European Commission multilingual platform for adult learning professionals. FREREF actively participates in EPALE's community of practice, making it a complementary ecosystem peer rather than a competitor.
• European Training Foundation (ETF): EU agency supporting vocational education and training reform in partner countries. Comparable to FREREF in its focus on education-to-employment transitions and regional capacity building, but with a much broader institutional remit.
• Cedefop (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training): EU agency providing vocational education and training policy analysis and research. Operates in the same lifelong learning/employment policy space as FREREF but with significantly larger resources and a regulatory mandate.
• EUROCHAMBRES (Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry): European umbrella for national chambers of commerce, frequently partnering with education networks like FREREF on skills and labor market projects. Comparable in convening power across EU regions and Brussels-based coordination.

Direct peers

• EVTA (European Vocational Training Association): European network of vocational training providers. Closely comparable to FREREF in coordinating EU-funded projects, working with regional authorities, and addressing education-employment transitions.
• Lifelong Learning Platform (LLP): European network of 40+ organizations advocating for lifelong learning across Europe. FREREF is an associate member; both organizations operate as multi-stakeholder networks bridging EU policy and member-level education/training actors.
• EURASHE (European Association of Institutions in Higher Education): European association of higher education institutions focused on professional higher education and lifelong learning. Comparable network structure, EU project involvement, and policy focus on education-employment linkages.
• European Association for the Education of Adults (EAEA): Pan-European association of 120+ member organizations promoting adult learning and lifelong learning. Highly comparable to FREREF in mission, network structure, and EU policy engagement on adult and lifelong learning.
• EUCEN (European University Continuing Education Network): European network of universities focused on continuing education and lifelong learning. Comparable to FREREF in coordinating cross-border projects and shaping EU continuing-education policy.

Regional players

• European Parents' Association (EPA): European network representing parents in education policy. Comparable to FREREF as a Brussels-based network association engaging EU-level education policy, though focused on a different stakeholder constituency.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/freref

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about FREREF