Horizon Europe – EU Funding Consulting https://eufundingconsulting.eu Writing successful EU grant applications Tue, 26 May 2026 18:46:18 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0 https://eufundingconsulting.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/EU-Funding-Consulting-Logo-Favicon-e1702469651692-150x150.png Horizon Europe – EU Funding Consulting https://eufundingconsulting.eu 32 32 From idea to proposal architecture – how strong Horizon Europe proposals are built https://eufundingconsulting.eu/horizon-europe-strong-proposal-architecture/ https://eufundingconsulting.eu/horizon-europe-strong-proposal-architecture/#respond Fri, 17 Apr 2026 18:00:00 +0000 https://eufundingconsulting.eu/?p=9163

From idea to proposal architecture - how strong Horizon Europe proposals are built

A strong Horizon Europe proposal does not begin with writing.

That may sound surprising, especially when deadlines are approaching and many coordinators feel pressure to start filling in sections as quickly as possible. But in practice, one of the most common reasons proposals remain weaker than they could be is that drafting starts before the proposal architecture is really in place.

The consortium often begins with a promising idea, a motivated team and perhaps even some early text. But what is still missing is the structure underneath: the logic that connects the project concept to the specific Call, the expected outcomes, the methodology, the impact pathway and the implementation design. In other words, they have an idea, but not yet a full proposal architecture.

Successful Horizon Europe proposals are grounded in a project idea that is shaped into a coherent and convincing proposal logic spanning Excellence, Impact and Implementation.

Table of Contents

What is proposal architecture?

Proposal architecture is the underlying structure of the proposal. It is the strategic framework that determines how the different parts of the application fit together and support one another. It helps ensure that the proposal does not simply contain good individual elements, but reads as one coherent project with a clear rationale and convincing internal logic.

This includes, for example:

  • which problem the project addresses and why it matters in the context of the Call,
  • the project’s overall objective and specific objectives,
  • how the methodology is meant to work,
  • what results are expected and how they relate to the topic’s expected outcomes,
  • how the project is expected to translate its work into impact,
  • who in the consortium is expected to play which role,
  • and which implementation arrangements are needed to support credible delivery.

 

When this underlying logic is strong, the proposal comes across as focused, coherent and convincing.

Why good ideas are not enough

Many applicants begin with a genuinely valuable project idea. The concept may be innovative, timely and scientifically or practically strong. But Horizon Europe does not fund good ideas in the abstract – the proposed project needs to clearly respond to a specific Call and convincingly show how they will deliver what the topic is asking for.

This is where many proposals struggle – A project idea may be interesting in itself, but still not be sufficiently shaped for Horizon Europe. It may be too broad, too local, too early-stage, too technically driven without enough stakeholder logic. And sometimes the issue is that the project is not yet clearly enough aligned with the expected outcomes of the topic, or that its connection to the broader EU policy context may remain underdeveloped.

For example, a consortium may have a strong technical concept, but the proposal does not clearly explain why the methodology is capable of producing the promised results. Or the impact section may contain positive ambitions, but no credible chain showing how project outputs would realistically lead to wider uptake or change. Or the implementation may look like a list of activities rather than a structured plan built around objectives and results.

In many cases, they reveal that the underlying proposal logic is not yet fully clear or coherent.

The shift from concept to structure

A promising idea becomes a stronger proposal when it is examined through a more strategic set of questions.

  • Why is this project the right response to this specific Call?
  • What exactly is the project meant to achieve in line with the expected outcomes of the Call?
  • What will evaluators need to see in order to consider the project credible?
  • How do the objectives, methodology, results and expected impacts fit together?
  • What kind of implementation structure is needed for the proposal to come across as realistic and manageable?
  • Why is this consortium the right one to deliver this project?

 

These questions help shape the skeleton of the proposal before full drafting begins.

That does not mean everything must be fully fixed from the start. Horizon Europe proposal development is often iterative. Ideas evolve, roles shift, and work plans are refined. But it is still important to establish the core architecture early enough, so that drafting builds on a shared strategic foundation rather than trying to invent the logic section by section.

What strong proposal architecture usually includes

While every project is different, strong Horizon Europe proposals usually involve a number of core elements.

(1) A clear and Call-responsive project logic

The proposal needs to show that it responds to the specific problem framing of the Call, the expected outcomes, and often also the broader destination or policy logic around it. A convincing proposal does not just say that their proposal is relevant, but shows how the planned project directly contributes to what this Call is trying to achieve. For example, instead of broadly claiming relevance to climate goals, the proposal would explain how its concrete results are expected to support the specific outcomes described in the topic and would, where appropriate, express that contribution in concrete and measurable terms.

(2) Objectives that guide the proposal

Objectives are one of the key structural anchors of the proposal.

If they remain too broad, too numerous or insufficiently operational, the proposal can easily lose clarity and internal coherence. In such cases, the methodology, work plan, deliverables and even the impact logic may no longer align as clearly as they should.

Well-defined objectives provide direction for the project as a whole. They help structure the proposal, support consistency across sections and make it easier for evaluators to understand what the project is concretely intended to achieve, and why that ambition is credible.

(3) A methodology that matches the ambition

In strong proposals, the methodology is not just a description of planned activities, but a convincing explanation of how the project will move from starting point to results.

This includes choices of approach, sequencing, integration across disciplines or sectors where relevant, stakeholder involvement, validation logic, and the explanation of why the proposed method is suitable for achieving the objectives.

A common weakness in weaker proposals is that the methodology sounds active and detailed, but the connection to the intended results remains too implicit. A strong proposal makes that connection explicit and convincing.

(4) A credible pathway to impact

Impact is one of the central parts of a Horizon Europe proposal, and also one that many applicants find particularly challenging.

A convincing impact logic explains how the project’s results are expected to contribute to the outcomes and wider impacts set out in the Call. It identifies who is expected to benefit, what needs to happen for uptake or change to occur, and what the project will do to support that process through dissemination, exploitation, engagement, sustainability planning or other relevant measures.

Where this logic is missing, impact often remains either too abstract or too narrowly framed around communication activities, without showing clearly how change is expected to occur.

(5) An implementation structure that reflects the project logic

The implementation structure should show that the consortium has translated its strategic intent into a realistic and workable delivery plan. It should make the project appear manageable, demonstrate clear sequencing and interdependencies, and give evaluators confidence that the proposed work can be carried out as planned.

A strong implementation section reflects the project’s objectives and methodology in a clear and consistent way. Its work packages, tasks, deliverables and milestones should follow the overall proposal logic and fit together coherently. If that alignment is missing, evaluators may begin to question the proposal’s overall credibility.

Why proposal architecture improves writing

Once the underlying logic of the proposal is clear, writing often becomes much easier.

Sections begin to flow more naturally because they are no longer developing in parallel without a shared direction. Repetition tends to reduce, as each part has a clearer role within the proposal as a whole. The text also becomes more internally consistent, because the same project logic runs through Excellence, Impact and Implementation. Even drafting discussions within the consortium are often more productive at that stage, as people are no longer working from slightly different assumptions about what the project is meant to achieve.

This is also why some proposals can read very well on the surface and still fail to convince. If the underlying logic is still not fully clear, even strong writing has its limits.

Bringing the pieces together

For applicants preparing a Horizon Europe proposal, it is worth investing enough time in the underlying proposal logic before full drafting begins. This preparatory work can sometimes feel slower at first, but it often saves considerable time later on. It reduces rewrites, avoids inconsistencies and makes the final proposal much more robust.

A promising project idea is an essential starting point. But it is not yet a proposal.

To become a strong Horizon Europe application, that idea needs to be developed into a coherent and convincing overall concept – one that is aligned with the Call, consistent across sections, realistic in implementation and credible in its pathway to impact.

This is often where the foundations are laid for a proposal that is coherent, credible and ready to compete.

Preparing a Horizon Europe proposal?

My new guided live group programme, Horizon Europe Proposal Writing Mastery, helps you turn a promising Horizon Europe project idea into a more competitive and evaluator-aligned proposal.

We are starting on 16 June 2026 – learn more and register here.

Are you planning to apply for Horizon Europe funding? Check out the new free resource to help you write clear, evaluator-aligned proposals that score higher: Horizon Europe Strategic Proposal Language Toolkit

Need support with your Horizon Europe proposal? Feel free to get in touch to discuss the best way I can help. 

Astrid Mechel - EU Funding Consulting

Author: Astrid Mechel

https://eufundingconsulting.eu

Hello, I’m Astrid Mechel, EU funding expert and trainer. I help organisations develop stronger EU funding proposals, with a particular focus on Horizon Europe. My perspective is shaped by more than 20 years of experience with EU funding programmes, including as a Horizon Europe National Contact Point, within the EU institutions, and as an expert evaluator. I focus particularly on collaborative projects in the areas of environmental sustainability and social impact.

Read more articles here:

]]> https://eufundingconsulting.eu/horizon-europe-strong-proposal-architecture/feed/ 0 Writing a winning Horizon Europe proposal: Think like an evaluator https://eufundingconsulting.eu/horizon-europe-proposal-think-like-an-evaluator/ https://eufundingconsulting.eu/horizon-europe-proposal-think-like-an-evaluator/#respond Fri, 16 May 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://eufundingconsulting.eu/?p=7254

Writing a winning Horizon Europe proposal: Think like an evaluator

Securing Horizon Europe funding can be transformative for your research or innovation project. However, the competition is intense, and writing a winning proposal requires more than just a good idea – it demands strategic thinking, clear communication, and last but not least, a good understanding of the evaluation process.

Horizon Europe is a highly competitive programme, receiving significantly more applications than its available budget can support. Hence, for getting funded, you need to obtain a top score. Aim to get as close as possible to the maximum score of 15 points. To boost your chances, you need to think like an evaluator – because success depends not just on the quality of your idea, but on how clearly and convincingly it aligns with the evaluation criteria. This mindset shift can be the key to turning a solid proposal into a fundable one.

Table of Contents

How evaluators look at your proposal

When you submit your Horizon Europe proposal, the granting authority will allocate your proposal to independent expert evaluators. These external experts are tasked with assessing your proposed project. This includes evaluating your proposed project’s relevance to the requirements of the Call for Proposals, the expected impact of your planned project and the soundness of its implementation plan. The selected experts are typically subject-matter experts who evaluate often a high number of proposals in a relatively short period of time.

The evaluators follow strict evaluation criteria and scoring systems as outlined in the Horizon Europe Work Programme’s General Annexes. In addition, general considerations should not be overlooked: For example, from a communication standpoint, evaluators will be looking for clarity, coherence and a logical flow of information. Keep in mind that they are neither required nor expected to read between the lines. Your proposal must clearly present the necessary information, exactly where and how the evaluators expect to find it.

Adopting the evaluator’s viewpoint

Thinking like an evaluator means stepping out of your role as the passionate researcher or innovator, into the mindset of someone who has to critically, quickly and fairly judge your proposal based on a predefined set of criteria. How to approach this in practice:

(1) The art of clear writing

Evaluators must often review multiple proposals in a limited time. Overly complex and jargon-heavy writing can dilute your key messages. Use plain, professional language. Structure your proposal with clear headings and coherent flow. Keep in mind that the evaluator may be an expert in the broader field, but possibly doesn’t have specialised knowledge of your project’s particular niche.

Tip: Incorporate visuals (such as tables, charts and diagrams) to support complex explanations, and enhance the readability by breaking up dense text, e.g. into shorter paragraphs.

(2) Follow the evaluation criteria rigorously

Horizon Europe proposals are judged primarily on three criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and efficiency of the implementation. In the context of your very specific project, address each of them accordingly in your proposal:

  • Under Excellence, emphasise your concept, objectives and methodology.
  • For Impact, demonstrate how your results will make a difference, not just academically, but socially, economically or environmentally.
  • In Implementation, provide a credible work plan, realistic timeline and explain the consortium composition and an appropriate division of roles.

Apart from these overall requirements, concrete expectations are outlined directly in the application form. Each section is subdivided. For instance, the Excellence section includes a sub-section for “Objectives and ambition”. The form provides detailed instructions on what to include in this part, along with a recommendation about the number of pages for the sub-section as a guideline. This suggested length serves purely as an orientation and is not a strict limit. It will help you stay within the overall maximum page limit for the complete proposal, which may not be exceeded – any excess pages will be removed, and evaluators will not see the information they contain!

In terms of content for the “objectives and ambition” sub-section, you are expected to clearly state your project’s objectives, ensuring they align with the Horizon Europe work programme and are both measurable and achievable. You should also explain how your work goes beyond the current state-of-the-art by introducing novel, ground-breaking elements. Furthermore, indicate the project’s maturity in terms of research and innovation, including relevant Technology Readiness Levels, and support your claims with comparisons to existing market solutions, patents, or reference publications where applicable.

Tip: Use the exact wording from the evaluation criteria in your text. This helps evaluators quickly identify that you are directly addressing each required point.

(3) Anticipate doubts

Evaluators are asked to spot weaknesses. Think like an evaluator and try to identify potential red flags in your proposal and address them accordingly.

Ask yourself:

  • Are the objectives measurable and realistic?
  • Is the timeline feasible?
  • Is the budget justified?
  • Which are real risks and are they properly addressed in your proposed risk management strategy?


Don’t leave room for assumptions.

Tip: Ask a colleague who is unfamiliar with your project to check your proposal very critically to simulate an evaluator’s perspective.

(4) Demonstrate your project’s impact

One of the most common reasons for failure of a proposal is a weak Impact section. And for ‘Innovation Actions’, the Impact criterion carries even more weight in the evaluation than the other two criteria, and more than it does in ‘Research and Innovation Actions’. You need to prove your project will achieve something meaningful beyond the project itself.

Evaluators are looking for:

  • A well-thought-out dissemination and exploitation plan
  • Clarity on who the beneficiaries are
  • Long-term sustainability of the outcomes

Tip: Avoid vague statements like “this research will help society.” Be specific: Who exactly benefits? How? When?

Don’t just mention the expected impacts, but translate them into concrete Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Evaluators expect a clear demonstration of how you will measure success and provide evidence that your project contributes meaningfully to addressing the issues targeted by Horizon Europe funding.

(5) Think beyond science

Evaluators of Horizon Europe Pillar 2 consortium projects (under the thematic Clusters) are looking for more than academic excellence, they need to see that your project addresses real societal challenges and aligns with EU policy objectives. Be explicit about how your proposal contributes to key Horizon Europe Destinations – strategic impact areas – defined in the Work Programme. You should also link the expected outcomes to the relevant EU policies and strategies referenced there. For example, if your project focuses on sustainable agriculture, demonstrate how it supports the European Green Deal, Farm to Fork Strategy or resilience in food systems.

This policy alignment helps evaluators clearly understand the broader relevance and value of your work, enhancing the prospect of a high score.

(6) Ensure consistency across the proposal

Evaluators don’t read your proposal’s individual parts in isolation, they look for coherence. If you describe an objective in the Excellence section, make sure it’s reflected in your work plan and budget. If you highlight policy influence of your planned project in the Impact section, then you should show in the Dissemination and Communication part how you will reach and engage relevant policy-makers.

Other examples for ensuring consistency:

  • Objectives need to align with the content of the work packages
  • Your budget is reflecting the described activities
  • Partner roles match their expertise

(7) Consortium composition

In Pillar 2 projects (i.e. consortium projects under the thematic Clusters), evaluators expect to see the synergies between the partners of the consortium. They assess whether your consortium has the right mix of expertise, geographic diversity and sectoral representation to deliver on the project’s ambitious goals. Clearly describe each partner’s role and explain why this specific consortium composition is best suited to solve the addressed challenge.

(8) Engage stakeholders and end-users

Show that you understand who your stakeholders are and how they’ll be involved in the project. Initiatives such as co-creation workshops, pilot implementations and policy dialogues that demonstrate active end-user involvement and ensure practical applicability of outcomes will be more favourably assessed.

(9) Presentation matters

One final point about presentation: a well-organised, professional-looking proposal A well-organised, professional-looking proposal makes a good first impression. Consistent formatting, clear layout, uniform fonts and error-free language signal care and competence, and create a trustworthy impression that evaluators may associate with the quality of your project implementation.

Leave enough time before submission for proofreading and layout checks, ideally by someone who’s not involved in the writing process to benefit from a fresh and objective perspective.

Final thoughts: Write for the evaluator

A common mistake among applicants is writing the proposal for themselves or their peers. But in a Horizon Europe proposal, your actual audience is the evaluator. Thinking like an evaluator from the start doesn’t only improve clarity and focus but significantly increases your chances of success.

Your evaluators are looking for consortia that:

  • Deliver EU added value and demonstrate clear impact
  • Respond directly to the expected impact and outcomes of the topic
  • Demonstrate a well-composed and competent consortium
  • Present a clear implementation plan with tangible outputs


Ask yourself: If you were the evaluator, would you want to fund the project? And would you trust this consortium to deliver what is being promised in the proposal?

By taking on the evaluator’s perspective, your proposal goes beyond promises and becomes truly persuasive – and you get a big step closer to Horizon Europe funding success.

—

Preparing a Horizon Europe proposal?

My new guided live group programme, Horizon Europe Proposal Writing Mastery, helps you turn a promising Horizon Europe project idea into a more competitive and evaluator-aligned proposal.

We are starting on 16 June 2026 – learn more and register here.

Are you planning to apply for Horizon Europe funding? Check out the new free resource to help you write clear, evaluator-aligned proposals that score higher: Horizon Europe Strategic Proposal Language Toolkit

Need support with your Horizon Europe proposal? Whether you are looking for an expert review, tailored feedback, or full proposal-writing assistance, feel free to get in touch to discuss the best way I can help. 

Astrid Mechel - EU Funding Consulting

Author: Astrid Mechel

https://eufundingconsulting.eu

Hello, I’m Astrid Mechel, EU funding expert and trainer. I help organisations develop stronger EU funding proposals, with a particular focus on Horizon Europe. My perspective is shaped by more than 20 years of experience with EU funding programmes, including as a Horizon Europe National Contact Point, within the EU institutions, and as an expert evaluator. I focus particularly on collaborative projects in the areas of environmental sustainability and social impact.

Read more articles here:

]]> https://eufundingconsulting.eu/horizon-europe-proposal-think-like-an-evaluator/feed/ 0 Avoiding common mistakes in financial management of Horizon Europe projects https://eufundingconsulting.eu/financial-management-horizon-avoid-errors/ https://eufundingconsulting.eu/financial-management-horizon-avoid-errors/#respond Tue, 21 Jan 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://eufundingconsulting.eu/?p=6139

Avoiding common financial mistakes in Horizon Europe projects

Horizon Europe offers funding opportunities for cutting-edge research and innovation projects. However, managing finances can be challenging due to the programme’s complex regulations, and mistakes may result in substantial reductions in grant payments. This article explores common financial errors in Horizon Europe projects and provides guidance on how to avoid them. Read my guest expert article which I have written for EMDESK.

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Preparing a Horizon Europe proposal?

My new guided live group programme, Horizon Europe Proposal Writing Mastery, helps you turn a promising Horizon Europe project idea into a more competitive and evaluator-aligned proposal.

We are starting on 16 June 2026 – learn more and register here.

Do you need support with an EU grant application or an ongoing project? Check out my EU grant writing support offers.

You don’t want to miss any new blog articles? Sign up for the EU Funding Newsletter.

Astrid Mechel - EU Funding Consulting

Author: Astrid Mechel

https://eufundingconsulting.eu

Hello, I’m Astrid Mechel, EU funding expert and trainer. I help organisations develop stronger EU funding proposals, with a particular focus on Horizon Europe. My perspective is shaped by more than 20 years of experience with EU funding programmes, including as a Horizon Europe National Contact Point, within the EU institutions, and as an expert evaluator. I focus particularly on collaborative projects in the areas of environmental sustainability and social impact.

Read more articles here:

]]> https://eufundingconsulting.eu/financial-management-horizon-avoid-errors/feed/ 0 Involving organisations from third countries in Horizon Europe projects https://eufundingconsulting.eu/participation-third-countries-in-horizon-europe-projects/ https://eufundingconsulting.eu/participation-third-countries-in-horizon-europe-projects/#respond Sun, 29 Sep 2024 12:16:14 +0000 https://eufundingconsulting.eu/?p=5305

Involving organisations from third countries in Horizon Europe projects

Horizon Europe projects within funding pillar 2 (Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness) revolve around partnerships for international cooperation as one of the prerequisites for EU funding. Mostly, the funded consortia are composed of organisations from EU Member States or associated countries. Sometimes it can make sense to involve partners from third countries as well. Find out about the benefits of involving organisations from third countries and the underlying conditions to take into account when you are preparing a proposal for Horizon Europe funding, in my guest blog article written for EMDESK.

—

Preparing a Horizon Europe proposal?

My new guided live group programme, Horizon Europe Proposal Writing Mastery, helps you turn a promising Horizon Europe project idea into a more competitive and evaluator-aligned proposal.

We are starting on 16 June 2026 – learn more and register here.

Are you planning to submit an EU grant application and need support? Check out my EU grant writing offers.

You don’t want to miss any new blog articles? Sign up for the EU Funding Newsletter.

Astrid Mechel - EU Funding Consulting

Author: Astrid Mechel

https://eufundingconsulting.eu

Hello, I’m Astrid Mechel, EU funding expert and trainer. I help organisations develop stronger EU funding proposals, with a particular focus on Horizon Europe. My perspective is shaped by more than 20 years of experience with EU funding programmes, including as a Horizon Europe National Contact Point, within the EU institutions, and as an expert evaluator. I focus particularly on collaborative projects in the areas of environmental sustainability and social impact.

Read more articles here:

]]> https://eufundingconsulting.eu/participation-third-countries-in-horizon-europe-projects/feed/ 0 First time applying for a Horizon Europe project grant? What to watch out for https://eufundingconsulting.eu/first-time-applying-for-horizon-europe-grant/ https://eufundingconsulting.eu/first-time-applying-for-horizon-europe-grant/#respond Mon, 26 Aug 2024 18:30:00 +0000 https://eufundingconsulting.eu/?p=5149

First time applying for a Horizon Europe project grant? What to watch out for

Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship funding programme for research and Innovation projects and known for its complexity, high standards and strong competition for funding. Successful applicants need to demonstrate a solid alignment with EU priorities and convince the evaluators of the project’s excellence and impact. While this may be intimidating in particular for first time applicants, being aware of the following key factors can enhance your chances of success considerably when preparing your Horizon Europe application.

Table of Contents

Preparing for a competitive selection process

Horizon Europe is one of the most competitive EU funding programmes, attracting the best research institutions, universities, SMEs as well as big and well-known companies. The success rate is often low and, depending on the individual funding strand, can go down to 10-20%. This means it is possible not to be selected for funding although your project is great and your received score very high. To have a chance of being funded, a thorough preparation of your proposal is decisive.

Most Horizon Europe Calls (in particular the Calls for pillar 2 – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness) require international cooperation, meaning that applicants must build consortia with other suitable partners. In most cases, you need to ensure that your consortium includes partners (independent legal entities) from at least three different EU member states or associated countries, unless the Call specifies different criteria. Then, how many partners you should have in your consortium (beyond the minimum requirement) depends on your specific project’s goals. Each partner must have clearly defined roles and will need to bring an added value to the consortium.

It will be the coordinator of the project who is in charge of compiling all necessary information and commitments from the other partners. The lead organisation (coordinator) will have to earmark enough time in advance, for example to collect the necessary documents, agreements regarding the distribution of responsibilities between partners and process everything before submitting the application via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The coordinator will have significant administrative and, later-on if the project is selected for funding, reporting responsibilities. High-quality Horizon Europe proposals need several and sometimes even more than six months of thorough preparation, especially if a larger number of project partners is involved.

Looking into and beyond the Call text

First of all, carefully read the published text of the Call for Proposals and be sure that your project is aligned with the goals stated in the Call. You will also need to read the associated Horizon Europe Work Programme as it gives more information about expected objectives to be reached by the sought projects as well as the evaluation criteria. Also look at the related documents such as in particular the ones on EU policy priorities and strategies within your thematic area which are referred to in the Call text or the relevant Work Programme part. Explain in your application how your project proposal addresses these priorities and strategies.

You will need to explain in your application what the state of the art of your thematic activity is and how your project will bring more value to the table than what is already known and implemented. How is your project different to what is already current practice and/or in how far does your project add an important new perspective or approach to previous efforts in that particular thematic field?

Spotting must-haves for your project in the Call text

When reading the Call text, don’t overlook the fine print. The exact wording is important. There are some hints in the text what the EU considers must-haves for the to-be-funded projects. When describing your project, don’t leave out any of the specified aspects. If the Call text states that you should address a “and” b in the project, it is a requirement to address both. Only when you address all required elements of the Call you will be able to receive the required high score to be selected for funding. Also, the words “should”, “recommended” and “encouraged” are essential as they indicate what is being expected from sought projects. Given the high competition for funding, an utmost should be done to accommodate as many of these expectations as possible.

Application forms and procedures

The application process requires filling out extensive forms and providing a comprehensive description of the project’s objectives, methodology, expected impacts and work plan. Requirements regarding submission formalities are binding. For example, there is a strict page limit and the formatting for the pages and texts are prescribed too. Although the technical description part has to be uploaded onto the application portal in a separate document, don’t exceed the limit. The system will make excess pages automatically invisible and therefore any given information coming after the page limit won’t be taken into account for the evaluation.

Proposals must break down the project into clear work packages with specific milestones, deliverables and timelines. Applicants need to create a coherent and realistic plan that demonstrates efficient resource allocation and project management.

Other criteria to be included in the proposal

There are a number of other criteria which need to be addressed and explained in the application form and which may however depend on the kind of project you are planning to implement. For example, Horizon Europe applicants need to demonstrate compliance with ethical guidelines, which may require specialised expertise or additional project planning efforts. Other criteria are covering various aspects of research and innovation to ensure that projects adhere to the highest standards of integrity and respect for human rights, animal welfare, environmental sustainability, data protection and security. Addressing these aspects appropriately is another important component for the success of any proposal.

Evaluation criteria

When you are writing your proposal, you already need to think in terms of evaluation criteria. This means you need to know what the (externally contracted) evaluators of the European Commission score your texts against. For each criterion the proposal must reach 3 out of 5 points as a threshold, whereas the overall score must reach 10 out of 15 to be able to be considered for funding. For Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs), the evaluation criteria are:

  • Excellence: Your project should demonstrate a high level of innovation and scientific quality. Outline clearly what the innovation aspects, ambitions and research methodologies are. Within Excellence, you will also need to take into account an appropriate consideration of the gender dimension in the research and innovation content, the open science principle (sharing and management of research outputs) and the engagement of citizens/civil society and end users (as appropriate).

  • Impact: Outline how your project will contribute to the expected impacts of the Call. This includes societal and economic impacts, as well as how it addresses EU policies and priorities (e.g. Green Deal, digital transition). Also, the planned dissemination and communication activities for the project will be looked at by the evaluators here. For Innovation Actions, the weighting of the impact criterion is 1.5.

  • Quality and efficiency of the implementation: Provide a clear and feasible work plan with defined work packages, milestones and deliverables. Demonstrate the capacity of the individual participants and of the consortium as a whole. This includes an appropriate resource allocation (staff, budget) as well as a sound project management and risk mitigation strategies.

Besides, it is important to fill in the information which is required into the right place of the proposal template. The evaluators may only consider the text provided in the concerned sections when giving their score and are not supposed to assume any other potentials.

Mastering the application process for Horizon Europe grants

Successfully applying for a Horizon Europe grant requires a thorough preparation, attention to detail and a good collaboration with your consortium partners. Consortia are required to demonstrate the highest levels of scientific excellence, innovativeness and impact for the proposed project. Begin the process early enough and allocate sufficient time to developing, writing and adapting your proposal.

The preparation of a successful Horizon Europe proposal can be considered both time-consuming and resource-intensive. However, participating in a Horizon Europe project offers newcomers significant benefits, not only access to substantial funding, but also opportunities for international collaboration and an enhanced visibility within the research and innovation community. Newcomers can build valuable networks, gain experience in interdisciplinary projects and enhance their reputation on which they can build in the future.

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Preparing a Horizon Europe proposal?

My new guided live group programme, Horizon Europe Proposal Writing Mastery, helps you turn a promising Horizon Europe project idea into a more competitive and evaluator-aligned proposal.

We are starting on 16 June 2026 – learn more and register here.

—

Are you planning to apply for Horizon Europe funding? Check out the new free resource to help you write clear, evaluator-aligned proposals that score higher: Horizon Europe Strategic Proposal Language Toolkit


Need support with your Horizon Europe proposal? Whether you are looking for an expert review, tailored feedback, or full proposal-writing assistance, feel free to get in touch to discuss the best way I can help. 

Astrid Mechel - EU Funding Consulting

Author: Astrid Mechel

https://eufundingconsulting.eu

Hello, I’m Astrid Mechel, EU funding expert and trainer. I help organisations develop stronger EU funding proposals, with a particular focus on Horizon Europe. My perspective is shaped by more than 20 years of experience with EU funding programmes, including as a Horizon Europe National Contact Point, within the EU institutions, and as an expert evaluator. I focus particularly on collaborative projects in the areas of environmental sustainability and social impact.

Read more articles here:

]]> https://eufundingconsulting.eu/first-time-applying-for-horizon-europe-grant/feed/ 0 EU innovation funding for SMEs – Delving into Horizon Europe and the EU Structural Funds https://eufundingconsulting.eu/eu-innovation-funding-for-smes/ https://eufundingconsulting.eu/eu-innovation-funding-for-smes/#respond Thu, 28 Mar 2024 08:00:00 +0000 https://eufundingconsulting.eu/?p=3289

EU Innovation Funding for SMEs – Delving into Horizon Europe and the EU Structural Funds

EU Innovation Funding for SMEs – Delving into Horizon Europe and the EU Structural Funds

Both Horizon Europe and the EU Structural Funds provide funding for research and innovation projects. However, the design, conditions and objectives of the sought projects as well as the funding modalities are different. Here is what you need to know to figure out which programme could be right for you.

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Knowing the differences between the innovation funding programmes

For your new innovation project, there may be several EU funding opportunities available. However, it is important to look at the small print. Especially, Horizon Europe, the EU’s framework programme for research and innovation, and the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund (within the EU Structural Funds) offer opportunities to get your innovation project idea funded.

There are a few general considerations to be made to figure out if your project would be eligible for one fund or the other, and what the conditions in terms of the application procedures and funding rates are. One major differentiation is, for example, if you plan to do your project alone or in cooperation with other partners.

Knowing which programme your project could fall into, the basic features of the programmes and where to look for funding can save you a lot of time and avoid missed opportunities. After reading this article you have a clearer idea what is possible in terms of EU funding for innovative SMEs, in which direction to go and how these programmes actually work.

We start with a comparison between Horizon Europe and the EU Regional and Cohesion Funds as they are the biggest and therefore most important sources for EU funding in the innovation domain. Innovation projects may be funded as well through LIFE, the Innovation Fund or the Digital Europe Programme – their main features will be described towards the end of this article too.

What kind of projects do Horizon Europe and the Structural Funds support?

Horizon Europe research and innovation funding

Horizon Europe is the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation. Horizon funds first-class research, excellence and innovative solutions to societal problems. The competition for funding is very high. Roughly five times as many proposals are being submitted than the equivalent of the available budget, whereas this fluctuates between the individual thematic funding strands. Horizon Europe has a budget of about 95 billion € for the funding period 2021-2027. 35% of it is earmarked for projects that contribute to the EU’s climate objectives.

The Calls for Proposals typically refer to a defined technology readiness level, i.e. the technological maturity level which your endeavor should have at the start and the level which should be achieved when the project is completed.

Opportunities for innovation funding for SMEs can be found in pillar 2 (Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness) and pillar 3 (Innovative Europe).

Thematically, there are 6 clusters within pillar 2:

  • Cluster 1 – Health
  • Cluster 2 – Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society
  • Cluster 3 – Civil Security for Society
  • Cluster 4 – Digital, Industry and Space
  • Cluster 5 – Climate, Energy and Mobility
  • Cluster 6 – Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment


For project applications within the Clusters, you would usually need to form a consortium with a minimum of 3 partners (independent organisations) from different EU Member States or countries which are associated to Horizon Europe. In order to be the consortium leader, you will need to fulfill certain requirements in terms of available resources, both in operational and financial terms, which will have to be added your grant application.

Within the European Innovation Council (EIC – in Horizon’s pillar 3 “Innovative Europe”), it is possible to apply as an individual SME or small mid-cap (up to 499 employees), including as a start-up. Projects to be funded are expected to develop or scale up breakthrough innovations. Funding can amount up to 2.5 million € for grants and up to €15 million for equity investments through the EIC Fund. The EIC Accelerator has a 3-step application process. Unfortunately, the success rate has been particularly low so far (around 5%) because of very high application numbers.

Some Horizon Europe partnerships offer opportunities for the involvement of SMEs too. Partnerships are initiatives by the European Commission which are being implemented with other public partners and sometimes private partners. Currently, 49 Horizon Europe partnerships are operating.

For example, there is a partnership for innovative SMEs – Eurostars which is managed by national funding agencies through ca. annual Calls for funding. It offers opportunities for SMEs for research and innovation which is close to the market, as well as for the internationalisation of innovative SMEs.

A second example is a partnership of the European Institute for Technology and Innovation – EIT Inno Energy. There is currently an open Call for start-ups for 7 topics:

  • Energy for transport and mobility
  • Energy storage
  • Renewable energy
  • Smart and efficient buildings and cities
  • Energy efficiency
  • Circular economy
  • Smart electric grids


A maximum of 2 million € can be granted. 30% of co-funding has to be covered by the applicant. The Call is open throughout 2024. There are quarterly cut-off dates for applications, the last opportunity is for 31 December 2024.

Innovation funding through EU Structural Funds: The European Regional Development Fund

EU Regional Policy has the objective to support the development of the regions and to reduce disparities between EU regions. Funded projects are therefore expected to contribute to the overall competitiveness of the particular region. Its budgetary allocation is the second highest in the overall EU budget, after EU agricultural policy. The budget of the European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund+, Cohesion Fund and Just Transition Fund together amount to ca. 350 billion € in the funding period 2021-2027.

Regional and Cohesion Fund projects need to contribute to the EU’s policy priorities to make the EU more innovative, competitive, environmentally sustainable and socially inclusive. Consequently, a broad variety of projects can be funded.

As far as innovation and research projects are concerned, funding can be obtained in line with two specific objectives of the Funds:

Specific Objective 1 (A more competitive and smarter Europe):

  • Research and innovation capacities and uptake of advanced technologies
  • Digitisation for citizens, companies, research organisations and public authorities
  • Sustainable growth and competitiveness of SMEs and job creation in SMEs
  • Skills for smart specialisation, industrial transition and entrepreneurship
  • Digital connectivity


Specific Objective 2 (A greener Europe, transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy):

  • Energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
  • Renewable energy
  • Smart energy systems, grids and storage (other than the ones funded through the Trans-European Energy Network (TEN-E)
  • Climate change adaptation and disaster risk prevention and resilience
  • Access to water and sustainable water management
  • Transition to a circular and resource efficient economy
  • Protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity and green infrastructure, reducing pollution
  • Sustainable multimodal urban mobility


The EU target of reaching a net zero carbon economy plays an increasing role, a minimum of 30 % of the overall allocation earmarked for this objective.

The more developed regions (i.e. those regions within Member States having a GDP per capita of above 100% of the EU-27 average) have an additional minimum requirement: They have to allocate a minimum of 85% to the above mentioned specific objectives 1 and 2, which demonstrates the high significance of not only climate and sustainability funding, but also of investments in innovation in terms of the EU’s priorities.

The Cohesion Fund is available to 15 Member States: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. From the Cohesion Fund, these countries receive an extra of ca. 24 billion € for projects contributing to specific objective 2 (Greener Europe).

The Just Transition Fund (JTF) finances regions which, during the transition to a climate neutral economy, are more affected than other regions by the loss of jobs in the fossil energy related production sector. Regions eligible for funding from the JTF can provide for example support to SMEs for the construction, expansion and modernisation of business premises for increased energy and resource efficiency.

What type of support is available and how can you apply?

For Horizon Europe, the Calls for Proposals and funded projects are managed by the European Commission and its Executive Agencies. The Calls are published in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. You can see the past, currently open as well as forecasted Calls. You can search by programme parts such as for a particular cluster or by keyword search. The Calls are also included in the Work Programmes of Horizon Europe – these are usually drawn up for a period of two years. The current one is the 2023-2024 Work Programme.

When you apply for a Horizon Europe Call, you will have to submit the application form digitally through the Funding & Tenders Portal with uploads of some required documents. Your application will be evaluated by a group of independent experts who give scores related to the excellence, impact and implementation of the proposed project. You will hear about the outcome of your application max. 5 months after the closure of the Call. For the signature of the grant agreement, in case your project is selected for funding, a maximum of 3 additional months can be expected.

For the European Regional Development Fund, innovation funding can be obtained in the form of grants or low-interest loans. The grants are managed by the designated regional authorities and its implementing bodies. These are, for example, Bundesländer in Germany, provinces in the Netherlands, regions in France – whereas the implementation tasks can be delegated to more specialised bodies in the region such as regional development banks, innovation promotion agencies etc.

The exact funding topics are determined within Operational Programmes which are running for 7 years, currently for the period 2021-2027, and which are subject to approval by the European Commission. The regional authorities select and monitor all projects which can, depending on the size of the region, be several hundreds or thousands within the 7-year funding period. The region gets a certain co-financing from the EU, the rest has to be provided from within the Member State (depending on the programme or project, this can be from the national, regional or local level).

What co-financing rate for projects can be expected depends on the region and usually also on the type of project. If your organisation is based in a “rich” region such as Hamburg or Luxemburg, the overall regional programme’s financial allocation will be lower and the EU co-financing rate max. 50%. In less developed regions in terms of GDP (regions of Greece, Portugal, Romania, Baltic countries for example) the EU co-finances up to 85%.

Grants can be assigned by non-competitive funding schemes for SMEs for as long as there is enough budget available, or by open competitions for innovation funding which are subject to a selection procedure.

Some regions offer loans with favorable conditions (financial instruments) which are mostly managed by a designated regional development bank.

In general, success rates for applications tend to be higher than for Horizon Europe, in particular if there is a funding scheme to help innovation investments for SMEs.

Other EU programmes supporting innovation projects

For innovation projects, a few more EU funding programmes exist as well, which address environment and climate projects as well as at the EU’s digital transition.

LIFE is the EU programme for the environment and climate action. The programme includes four funding strands:

  • Nature and biodiversity
  • Circular economy and quality of life
  • Climate change mitigation and adaptation
  • Clean energy transition

 

Within these areas, LIFE supports innovative SMEs and start-ups for close-to-market solutions as well. Submitted projects are expected to be at an advanced stage so that the products and processes should be able to be utilized on the market during or shortly after the end of the project. Funding can be obtained by applying to Calls for Proposals which are published ca. once per year. Depending on the thematic area, the EU co-funding rates mostly vary between 55 and 75%.

With a similar goal in the digital domain, the Digital Europe Programme aims to bring the results of latest innovations in the digital field to the market. There are some opportunities for funding (with a co-funding rate of generally 50%) for supercomputing, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, advanced digital skills and for ensuring the wide use of digital technologies across economy and society.

The Innovation Fund is another source of funding for innovation projects. It caters to a specific sub-section of innovation: innovative low-carbon technologies, such as for example renewable energy, decarbonisation of energy-intensive industries, energy storage and carbon capture technologies. A certain level of maturity of the technology to be funded is expected. Most of the budget goes to large projects which have the potential to achieve substantial emission reductions. One part is going to small-scale projects. In this context, according to the last two published Calls for Proposals, a project is considered “small-scale” when its costs are between 2.5 and 7.5 million € (and up to 20 million € for carbon capture). Up to 60% of the project expenditure can be financed by the EU.

Applying for Horizon Europe or the Structural Funds?

All in all, the decision to go for either Horizon Europe or the Structural Funds will first of all depend on the question if your project is able to meet the criteria of the respective funding programme. After having figured out if your planned project is – in its initial design or after some adaptation tweaks – eligible for funding from Horizon Europe or the European Regional Development Fund / Structural Funds, check the application procedures. How much detail is needed, how much time will you have to allocate to preparing your proposal? Is there still enough time left to write a high-quality proposal until the deadline for the submission of proposals?

You will probably find more frequently an open opportunity through Structural Funds in your region, whereas Horizon Europe Calls are published ca. once a year for each thematic area. For both you will need to check if your project is indeed a real fit in terms of what exactly is required regarding the exact content and sought outcome for a project.

Funding may be easier to get from the Structural Funds and the success rate be higher than for Horizon Europe, but it could still be worth the extra effort to apply for Horizon. One important aspect to consider is if you can really carry out your project alone (through Regional Funds) or would it perhaps be much better to work together with other organisations such as research institutes or universities to achieve an even better outcome (Horizon Europe)? Think of the benefits that such ties could bring you not only for this concrete project, but also for further activities in the future.

Wishing you best of success for your fundraising!

If you would like to discuss current EU funding opportunities for your innovation project, don’t hesitate to contact me for a non-binding and free-of-charge orientation call.

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Astrid Mechel - EU Funding Consulting

Author: Astrid Mechel

https://eufundingconsulting.eu

Hello, I am Astrid Mechel and I work (for the most part) with small and medium sized organisations who aim to access EU funding. It is my goal to help discovering suitable EU project funding possibilities and to provide support to submit a high-quality grant application. My main thematic focus is on grants for research and innovation, environmental sustainability as well as on social inclusion and participation.

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Horizon Europe funding opportunities for small and medium-sized NGOs and public authorities

Horizon Europe funding opportunities for small and medium-sized NGOs and public authorities

When speaking about Horizon Europe, the EU funding programme for research and innovation, it’s not typically associated with small and medium-sized organisations. However, even when you are not one of the “big players” and haven’t participated in the EU programmes for research and innovation yet, Horizon Europe offers a variety of opportunities for non-profit organisations and entities to join projects, to contribute to innovative practices and to bring in the expert insights regarding your particular beneficiary group into important research projects. Discover here what that can be in concrete.

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Fundamental principles for successful research and innovation projects

When it comes to progress in research and innovation, it’s not surprising that big consortia of big research institutions, companies or other entities indeed play the main role. However, depending on the specific Call for Proposals, a contribution of smaller entities can make an important difference. Of course, this is under the condition that you have qualified staff to carry out the project, who are experts in the field you would like to apply for. It’s important to know that Horizon Europe seeks excellence and the competition for funds is pretty high, so submitting a mediocre proposal is not a viable option.

This article focuses on opportunities for non-profits such as small and medium-sized NGOs and public authorities who would like to accomplish research and innovation projects with a societal, citizen and/or environmental focus. The article does not directly cover SMEs (there is a separate article about SME funding opportunities in Horizon Europe and other programmes), whereas the general aspects also apply to SMEs.

Concrete funding opportunities exist for NGOs and public authorities such as towns and municipalities to bring in the voice and needs of their beneficiary group and citizens, as a partner in a project, for example by conducting studies, surveys or focus groups.

Funding opportunities in the Horizon Clusters and Missions

It is a general objective that research and innovation outcomes should benefit society. Therefore, the consideration and inclusion of societal aspects into funded projects is very important. Societal aspects are generally enshrined in Horizon Europe with ‘Social Sciences and the Humanities (SSH)’ as a cross-cutting subject. For example, certain innovations to increase the efficiency of production systems have implications for workers and can cause a shift of skills required on the labour market. Or in health research non-medical aspects such as the socio-economic situation and the environment play a role. This means that the inclusion of social sciences and humanities expertise is a must in certain Horizon Europe Calls (these topics are “flagged for SSH”).

Funding for projects with a focus on society, political systems and citizens is most clearly seen in Horizon’s ‘Cluster 2 – Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society’. There, for example projects related to social dialogue, social inclusion, citizen engagement and gender equality, but also to fighting extremism and disinformation are being funded. On the Cordis website, the EU results platform for research and innovation projects, you can find some examples of previously funded projects in the field ‘Challenges to democracy in Europe’ and for ‘Social Innovation’ for inspiration.

Funding for NGOs and public authorities wishing to participate in society, citizen or environmental and climate projects  can also be found in other parts of Horizon Europe, in particular the clusters of pillar 2 (‘Global challenges and European industrial competitiveness’ – comprising 6 thematic clusters in total:

  • Health
  • Culture, creativity and inclusive society
  • Civil security for society
  • Digital, technology and space
  • Climate, energy and mobility
  • Food, bioeconomy, natural resources, agriculture and environment

 

Moreover, the  Horizon Europe “missions” offer funding possibilities for NGOs and public authorities. Five missions have been set up to support a European green, healthy and inclusive transformation. Each of the missions runs until 2030 and the funding areas are:

  1. Adaptation to Climate Change
  2. Cancer
  3. Restoring our Ocean and Waters
  4. 100 Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities
  5. A Soil Deal for Europe – transition towards healthy soils

 

In case you have a project idea, and depending on your previous experience and a solid operational and financial capacity, you can either lead a project as a coordinator, or be a project partner carrying out specific tasks within work packages. For most funding applications within the Horizon Europe clusters, you’ll need partners. In principle a consortium has to consist of minimum 3 independent organisations from at least three EU countries or countries associated to Horizon Europe.

If you plan to be the coordinator for a project but still need more project partners or if are simply interested in being a project partner within an open Call for Proposals, you can make use of the Funding & Tender Portal partner search tool. In order to enter information for your partner search or for proposing yourself as a partner, you need a user account (i.e. an “EU Login” account). Then, you can enter your information for the specific Call for which you are searching a partner or in which you would like to participate as a partner. For many Calls, the European Commission and Horizon’s thematic networks are organising information sessions about the Call, sometimes with a dedicated match making event or they may even offer a matchmaking platform.

For an easy(ier) start

When you are not (yet) up to the rather extensive application process that Horizon Europe multi-beneficiary grants entail, so-called ‘cascading grants’ might be for you. Cascading grants are grants that are provided by on-going Horizon Europe projects which provide smaller sub-grants to beneficiaries for certain purposes. Depending on the individual openings, you would not always be required to build a consortium, meaning that you could be the single beneficiary, which simplifies the application and implementation of the project. Two examples (at the time of writing of this article):

The Pathway to Resilience project aims to strengthen climate resilience by enhancing the capacities of regional and local administrations to become more climate resilient. One pillar of the project’s strategy is the engagement of citizens and other stakeholders in the process. Pathways2Resilience is giving sub-grants to at least 100 regions or communities throughout two Calls. In the first Call (deadline in May 2024), grants of up to 210,000€ were available for 40 regions and communities to implement projects of max. 18 months that address climate resilience through the development of climate adaptation pathways, e.g. adaptable trajectories which build on existing data and projections of climate change risks.

Within the HUMUS project (Healthy Municipal Soils), municipalities and regions are supported to protect and restore soil health via sustainable soil management. As in the previous project example above, the active involvement of citizens and stakeholders in decision-making is important. Training about soil health and exchanges of best practices are also being organised within the project. In HUMUS’ first Call (deadline in April 2024), funding was available for 20 public entities or entities governed by public law. Funded projects are expected to develop e.g. participatory processes on soil health and sustainable land management at local and/or regional level, and the development of regional/local action plans. The selected sub-projects receive up to 30,000€ per grant for a max. duration of 12 months.

Going ahead with Horizon Europe?

Horizon Europe offers some funding opportunities for non-profits such as small and medium sized NGOs and municipalities or towns. Whereas acting as the coordinator of a project consortium may still pose a considerable challenge, being one of the project partners within a consortium can be a possibility to bring in your valuable know-how and the particular view of your beneficiary group. Small-scale grants issued by larger Horizon projects (cascading grants) may also be an option. All in all, participation in Horizon Europe can be an enriching experience for your organisation and lead to more funding and cooperation opportunities in the future.

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Are you planning to apply for Horizon Europe funding? Check out the new free resource to help you write clear, evaluator-aligned proposals that score higher: Horizon Europe Strategic Proposal Language Toolkit

Need support with your Horizon Europe proposal? Whether you are looking for an expert review, tailored feedback, or full proposal-writing assistance, feel free to get in touch to discuss the best way I can help. 

 

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Astrid Mechel - EU Funding Consulting

Author: Astrid Mechel

https://eufundingconsulting.eu

Hello, I’m Astrid Mechel, EU funding expert and trainer. I help organisations develop stronger EU funding proposals, with a particular focus on Horizon Europe. My perspective is shaped by more than 20 years of experience with EU funding programmes, including as a Horizon Europe National Contact Point, within the EU institutions, and as an expert evaluator. I focus particularly on collaborative projects in the areas of environmental sustainability and social impact.

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