10 Expert Tips to Win Your Next EU Grant

The biggest mistake is applying to the wrong call. Before writing a single word, ensure your project genuinely matches the call's objectives. Ask yourself:

• • Does my project directly address the call's expected outcomes?
• • Can I demonstrate European added value?
• • Is my technology/solution at the right maturity level?
• • Do I have the right consortium composition?

Every EU proposal is scored against specific criteria. For Horizon Europe, these are typically:

• Excellence - Quality, innovation, methodology
• Impact - Benefits to society, economy, science
• Implementation - Workplan, resources, management

Each criterion is scored 0-5. Most calls have threshold scores (often 4/5) for each criterion. Failing any threshold means automatic rejection, regardless of your overall score.

Your consortium can make or break your proposal. Evaluators look for:

• • Complementary expertise covering all work packages
• • Geographic balance across EU member states
• • Mix of research institutions, industry, and end-users
• • Track record of successful collaboration
• • Clear roles without duplication

Impact is where most proposals fall short. Evaluators want to see:

• • Quantified outcomes (jobs, revenue, publications, patents)
• • Clear pathway from project results to real-world change
• • Credible exploitation and business plans
• • Contribution to EU policy objectives

Don't just describe what you'll do—explain why it matters and who will benefit. Connect your project to Green Deal targets, digital sovereignty, or other strategic priorities.

Your evaluators are experts, but not necessarily in your specific field. Write clearly and avoid:

• • Unexplained acronyms and jargon
• • Dense paragraphs without structure
• • Assumptions about reader knowledge
• • Marketing language without substance

Use clear headings, bullet points, tables, and figures. Make key information scannable. The easier your proposal is to read, the better it will score.

You must prove your approach goes "beyond the state of the art." This requires:

• • Comprehensive literature/market review
• • Clear comparison with competing approaches
• • Explanation of what's novel in your solution
• • Evidence that alternatives don't solve the problem

Be honest about existing solutions. Evaluators can spot cherry-picked comparisons. Show you understand the landscape and explain specifically how you'll advance it.

Your work plan proves you can actually deliver. Essential elements:

• • Logical flow between work packages
• • Realistic timelines with dependencies
• • Clear deliverables and milestones
• • Appropriate resource allocation
• • Credible risk management

Budgets are scrutinized carefully. Avoid these common mistakes:

• • Padding - Inflated costs raise red flags
• • Underbudgeting - Shows lack of understanding
• • Imbalance - One partner getting most funds without justification
• • Missing categories - Forgetting equipment, travel, subcontracting

Modern EU proposals require careful attention to cross-cutting issues:

• Ethics - Human subjects, AI, dual-use concerns
• Gender - Team composition, gendered aspects of research
• Open Science - Data management, open access publishing
• Sustainability - Environmental considerations

These aren't tick-box exercises. Poor handling of ethics or gender dimensions can significantly lower your score.

The difference between funded and unfunded proposals is often in the polish. Before submitting:

• • Internal review by all consortium partners
• • External review by someone unfamiliar with the project
• • Compliance check against call requirements
• • Language and formatting review
• • Final read-through by the coordinator