Some useful tips for those interested in submitting a Horizon 2020 proposal. What are the evaluators looking for? Hands-on approach to H2020 proposal writing.

1. HORIZON 2020
Proposal Development
A hands-on approach

2. Your partner in EU funding
We provide and present the dispersed and technical information on EU
policies, funding opportunities and programmes in a streamlined and
simplified way to relevant stakeholders in Europe and worldwide

3. Develop and manage research and innovation
projects under the EU programmes since 2000
Design and deliver practice-driven training programmes
on successfully developing and managing projects under
the EU programmes since 2004.
What we do

4. IN NUMBERS
• In-house experts, researchers and trainers: 20+
• Proposals directly involved in: 400+
• Projects implemented under FP5/6/7 and H2020: 70+
• Training courses delivered: 300+
• Webinars and e-learning courses held: 50+
• In-house courses held at European organisations: 100+

5. Submitting a successful H2020 Proposal:
Where to start?

6. General Remarks on H2020
Proposal in response to a
Topic included in a Call
described in a Work
Programme: understand
the research agenda
setting, and how you can
contribute to it
Mostly “top-down”
specifications in the work
programmes: understand
clearly the Commission’s
expectations
Competition is at
EU/Programme level: no
national quotas, best
projects are awarded
grants
Transnational Cooperation
and Multidisciplinarity as
essential factors: minimum
partnership requirements
Proposals are evaluated
by independent experts:
understand the
evaluation process and
criteria

7. Idea vs. call
Have a specific project idea?
Have a general interest in a particular field?
Screen through the Work Programme: some fields are
covered under several Work Programmes
Make sure that your project idea fits 100% the WP topic
and that you include all of the call requirements in your
project design.

8. Partner search: some
useful resources
• Your own network!
• Info Days and other EU events
• National Contact Points
• CORDIS
• Partner Search Facilities: BioHorizon, S3, ETNA2020, NCPs CaRE,
Net4Society, Security, Ideal-Ist, NMPTeAm
• European Innovation Partnerships (Active and Healthy Aging,
Agricultural Sustainability and Productivity, Smart Cities and
Communities, Water, Raw Materials)

9. Building a Consortium
• Start with a core partnership – consider key partner’s;
• Expand the consortium once project’s scope and geographical coverage are
defined;
• Consider geographical balance and complementarity (types of institutions and
of expertise);
• Involve SMEs/industry to maximise impact and exploitation;
• Be wary of spreading around your novel ideas;
• Consider involving partners with EU project references;
• If “one proposal” is expected to be funded – BE QUICK!

10. Part B: Make it bullet-proof

11. 0. Within scope
Analyse the work programme
topic carefully:
• Objectives
• Activities
• Means
• Outputs
• Indicators
• Impact
• Budget / Resources
• Disciplines / Partnership

12. 1.1 Objectives
Overall objective  in line with the “specific challenge”.
Specific objectives  to be achieved within the project duration, contributing to the overall
objective.
1.2 Relation to the work programme
Show explicitly how your proposal addresses the topic requirements: Table/bullet points
providing a direct comparison
1.3 Concept and Methodology
• Introduce the different components of the concept under logical sub-sections
• Include tables, graphs, images visualising the concepts and your methodological
approach
• Provide a table on relevant past and ongoing projects highlighting those in which the
partners were involved
1.4 Ambition
• Show the current state of the art in the relevant domains (globally)
• Provide a clear (quantitative) baseline and describe the advance the project will bring
beyond the state of the art
1. Excellence

13. What is the difference
between objectives and
activities?
How are they interrelated?

14. 2.1 Expected impacts
• Describe explicitly how your proposal addresses the expected impacts
listed in the work programme topic: table/bullet points to provide a
direct reflection on the expected impacts listed
• Other impacts: societal, research, industry, environmental?
• Visionary estimations: Jobs, growth, competitiveness, but quantitative
indicators with credible justification
• Discuss barriers and framework conditions (≠ risks!).
2.2 Measures to maximise impact
• List the main project results/outputs and identify the potential
exploitation routes for each of them
• Present a market analysis (competition, barriers, opportunities, etc.)
• Include a table with partners’ individual exploitation plans
• Address sustainability of results
• Consider carefully the IPR issues
• Prepare a tailored dissemination/communication strategy
2. Impact

15. How and to whom can you
communicate your project
results?

16. 3.1 Work plan
• Must be driven by the project’s specific objectives
• Plan as if you would have to implement the project!
• Provide details on the task distribution
3.2 Management structure, procedures, milestones,
Consider specific structures on a case-by-case basis (e.g. Dissemination and Exploitation
Committee, IPR Committee, Stakeholder Committee, End-user Group, etc.)
3.3 Consortium as a whole
• Demonstrate clearly how partners collectively cover all of the required skills and
expertise
• Highlight complementarity in terms of geographical coverage (e.g. provide a map) and
institution types
• Refer to partners’ cooperation history, if applicable
3.4 Resources to be committed
• Carefully estimate required efforts as well as other resources
• Consultative process led by the coordinator (neither democracy, nor dictatorship)
• Consider the work programme topic indication, yet build the budget bottom up
3. Implementation

17. Planning your budget for the
project? Or for yourself?

18. • The budget is important primarily for you
• The more detailed your estimation is, the easier project
implementation will be
• Limited overestimation is suggested (5%)
• Evaluators’ perspective on the budget: secondary
importance
• Modifications and reallocations are possible during
project implementation

19. Receive a positive feedback and prepare the GA!

20. What are the evaluators looking for?

21. • Address different types of evaluators:
• Generalist – Expert
• Fast reader – Slow reader
• Realistic: it will be legally binding!
• Emphasise (repeat) the best ideas, arguments
• This is common work – cooperation – contribution from all is
needed
• Address the evaluation criteria – external person’s point of view

22. Our upcoming training courses
Horizon 2020
Proposal writing:
Focus Impact
European Funding
Academy
Need more details and hands-on practice?
Horizon 2020 Master of
Finance and
Administration +
EC Audits
Horizon 2020 Project
Management and
Finance
Check www.eutrainingsite.com/training-courses for dates and locations!

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www.eutrainingsite.com/blog

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26. Knowledge base and more….

27. Thank you for your attention!
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