Horizon Europe: Guide for beginners
Learn about the first steps in getting closer to a successful Horizon Europe project.
Published on 30/10/2024 by Marlene Kopf
Horizon Europe is the European Union’s flagship research and innovation funding programme for 2021-2027, with a budget of €93.5 billion. Understanding this programme can open up significant funding opportunities for your research. Learn with our Horizon Europe guide what you need to know to get started.
What is Horizon Europe?
Horizon Europe is designed to tackle global challenges, boost the EU’s competitiveness, and support EU policies. It funds a wide range of research and innovation activities, from basic research to applied science and market-ready innovations.
Programme structure
Horizon Europe is organized into three main pillars:
1. Excellent science
Supports frontier research, including Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions for researcher mobility.
2. Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness
Addresses societal challenges and industrial technologies.
3. Innovative Europe
Focuses on breakthrough innovations and market-creating solutions.
Key features of the Horizon Europe programme
1) Open science: Mandatory open access to publications and emphasis on open science principles.
2) Missions: Goal-oriented approach to tackle specific challenges, such as climate change or cancer research.
3) European Innovation Council: Supports high-risk, high-impact innovations with scale-up potential.
How to get started
In our Horizon Europe guide for beginners, we recommend these first steps:
1) Identify suitable calls: Browse the Horizon Europe work programmes to find relevant funding opportunities in your field.
2) Form a consortium: Most projects require collaboration with partners from at least three different EU member states or associated countries.
3) Register on the Funding & Tenders portal: Create an account on the Funding and Tenders Portal and obtain a Participant Identification Code (PIC) for your organization.
4) Prepare your proposal: Focus on the three key sections:
- Excellence: Outline your project’s objectives and methodology.
- Impact: Describe the expected outcomes and their significance.
- Implementation: Detail your work plan and consortium structure.
Submit your proposal: Follow the guidelines carefully and submit before the deadline.
Tips for success
1) Understand evaluation criteria: Familiarize yourself with how proposals are assessed to improve your chances of success.
2) Consider the broader context: Align your project with EU priorities and policies.
3) Seek support: Get in touch with your National Contact Point (NCP) for guidance and advice.
4) Find more tips for a successful project proposal on our website.
This is the next level after our Horizon Europe guide for beginners.
In a nutshell
Horizon Europe offers exciting opportunities for natural scientists to secure funding for groundbreaking research. By understanding the programme’s structure and requirements, you can increase your chances of submitting a competitive proposal. Remember, successful applications often require time, effort, and collaboration, so start early and seek support when needed.
By going through this Horizon Europe guide for beginners, you have done a step into the right direction! To go further, you will get more information on our website, on the websites of the European Commission, e.g. here and here, and from your National Contact Point, e.g. here.
The European Commission offers several online trainings related to proposal writing on this website.