Horizon Europe Proposal Writing Workshop for First-Time Applicants

Are you planning to apply for a Horizon Europe grant and need clear, practical guidance on how to write a competitive proposal?

This interactive workshop is designed for those with beginner or lower-intermediate experience with Horizon Europe, the EU’s research and innovation funding programme. Whether you are applying soon or planning ahead, you'll gain a clear roadmap to navigate the Horizon Europe proposal process.

We'll draw on concrete examples, in particular from upcoming Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy and Mobility) Calls, as well as Cluster 2 (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society) Calls opening in 2027. At the same time, the methodologies we discuss are relevant and applicable across all Horizon Europe Clusters.

Workshop Format

A compact, hands-on training held in a small group (max. 10 participants) to ensure a tailored and interactive experience. You’ll receive step-by-step instructions on how to prepare a strong proposal, with room for your questions throughout. There will be mini exercises to apply your knowledge right away.

Indicative agenda:

9:30–9:45 | Welcome and Horizon Europe proposal essentials

• Understanding the logic of Horizon Europe collaborative projects
• Connecting the Call, project concept and evaluation criteria
• How proposals are assessed under Excellence, Impact and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation

9:45–9:55 | Starting an application in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal

• Creating and managing the application
• Roles, access rights and practical submission responsibilities

9:55–10:10 | Part A: administrative and organisational information

• Participant and organisational information
• Gender equality plans, ethics and security
• Operational and financial capacity
• Key points to prepare before submission

10:10–10:40 | Building a convincing Excellence section

• Translating the Call requirements into clear project objectives
• Demonstrating ambition, relevance and methodological credibility
• Connecting objectives, methodology and project results
• Practice exercise: strengthening the project’s objectives and alignment with the Call

10:40–11:10 | Developing a credible pathway to Impact

• Understanding the relationship between results, outcomes and longer-term impacts
• Identifying target groups, users and stakeholders
• Planning dissemination, exploitation and communication
• Exercise: developing an initial pathway from project results to expected impact

11:10–11:20 | Short break

11:20–11:50 | Designing a credible Implementation approach

• Connecting the work plan to the project objectives and expected results
• Linking partner roles and responsibilities to the proposed work
• Establishing appropriate management and decision-making arrangements
• Identifying critical implementation risks and mitigation measures

11:50–12:15 | Structuring work packages and project delivery

• Developing coherent work packages and tasks
• Defining appropriate deliverables and milestones
• Ensuring consistency between activities, responsibilities and timing
• Exercise: reviewing the logic of the work plan and partner contributions

12:15–12:30 | Introducing resources and budget planning

• Connecting resources and person-months to the proposed work
• Main cost categories and common budgeting considerations
• Actual-cost and lump-sum Calls
• Ensuring consistency between the work plan, partner roles and budget

12:30–13:00 | Proposal quality check and final Q&A

• Essential must-haves of a competitive Horizon Europe proposal
• Common weaknesses to identify before submission
• Final questions and next steps