[tdr]

+1 to confirm the bureaucracy around governmental/European funding: I lost 6 months on preparations for them and finally quit.

If I would have continued (and be accepted) I would have lost another 3-12 months until signing the contract. After that I'd be caught in at least 2 waves of unexpected monitoring and re-verification (which ultimately means not receiving the money in time from the state, all while I'd still have to pay my taxes, employees and suppliers according to the contract)