1. Start Early and Plan Ahead
Give yourself about six months to build your consortium from if you are starting from scratch. While you might move faster with the right contacts, planning ahead ensures you make strategic choices without rushing.
2. Embrace Diversity
A diverse consortium is a winning consortium. Aim for geographical diversity across countries and expertise diversity across sectors. Don’t just focus on research institutes for example for your Research and Innovation Action (RIA) proposal—include SMEs, industry players, and other stakeholders to create a well-rounded team.
3. Research and Engage
Look into previous projects related to your call of interest. Identify partners who have participated before and consider reaching out to them. This not only brings valuable experience but also helps you gauge potential competition.
4. Share Selectively
When first approaching potential partners, provide essential details—like the call title, deadline, and basic requirements and the role you envision for them (but of course keep an open mind to their recommendation when it comes to their potential roles) —while being cautious about sharing too much. This allows you to assess interest without revealing too much to potential competitors.
5. Establish a Core Team
Start with a core group (around 3-5 partners) of partners who can help shape the project’s vision and concept. This core team will set the foundation for your consortium and ensure everyone is aligned from the start.
6. Communicate Clearly and Transparently
Effective communication is key. Keep everyone informed and clearly define roles early on. Transparency builds trust and keeps the consortium united.
7. Identify and Fill Expertise Gaps
Assign roles as early as possible, and identify any gaps in expertise. Bringing in the right partners to fill these gaps strengthens your proposal and ensures all Work Packages (WPs) and roles are covered.
8. Leverage the Expertise Within Your Team
While the coordinator often leads the proposal writing, tap into the expertise of your partners. A collaborative approach not only distributes the workload but also enriches the proposal with diverse perspectives.
9. Balance Leadership with Collaboration
As the coordinator, guide the consortium while welcoming input from your partners. Striking a balance between leadership and collaboration is key to making sound decisions without alienating your team.
10. Address Administrative Requirements Early
Ensure all partners are familiar with the EU Funding and Tenders portal and have the necessary administrative details in place, such as PIC numbers. Handling these tasks early prevents delays down the line.
11. Stay Flexible and Adapt
As your consortium evolves, be prepared to adapt. Flexibility is crucial for addressing challenges and optimizing your proposal.
By following these strategies, you’ll build a diverse, well-prepared, and collaborative consortium that stands out in Horizon Europe.
Are you eager to learn more about consortium building and proposal writing? Check out our dedicated page on proposal writing materials and courses.
