The text is usually not very long, only a few pages, however, it is packed with important information, key words and guidelines that we cannot miss if we want to write a successful proposal. The crucial step is to find various elements in the topic text and highlight them for all the partners to use as guidance while developing a proposal.
Namely, as each proposal should be a collaborative effort, the process of developing the idea and the writing itself is more often than not iterative, long and non-linear. This leads to many concepts and elements from the original topic text to be disregarded and eventually forgotten in the proposal. Partners tend to focus on their own ideas, which is not necessarily wrong, however we must remember that all the proposals and eventually projects need to fit the Commission’s long-term agenda and strategies.
What can the topic text provide us with? Short answer is, it depends. Some topics are very exhaustive and can provide us with very concrete requirements: which partners to bring on board, which activities to implement, which target groups are obligatory, etc. In other cases, topics tend to give a general overview of expectations and outcomes, without many details on specific methodologies required or specific institutions mentioned.
In both cases, a good analysis is needed to be able to fully understand the topic requirements and address them in the proposal. What should we search for in the topic text?
Background: The topic usually provides a general description of needs/issues/challenges that EU or specific target group(s) are facing. Remember that this is just a small portion of the background research you need to do – there is more context in the adequate Work Programme and Horizon Europe Strategic Plan provided. This section will help us define the needs we are addressing later in the proposal: general and specific, meaning those focused on specific target groups and end users.
Objectives: Even though objectives are something we need to define ourselves in the proposal, the topic text can be helpful in numerous ways. Firstly, we can see if our objectives respond and cover the desired outcomes and if they are in line with the expected impact (on the level of the destination). Secondly, we can also see how the Commission formulates objectives – a very useful tool as applicants often fall into the trap of defining objectives as activities.
Activities: Speaking of activities, depending on how prescriptive the call is, there is a chance that the topic states explicitly what kind of activities a successful application is expected to have. Depending on how many projects are funded under the topic, these activities are either obligatory (if one or two projects will be funded) or we can be selective based on our capacities and focus (if more than two projects will be funded). Mapping these activities will be very useful while creating your methodology and can be helpful when you are setting the basis of your work plan.
Outputs: The topic text can sometimes indicate concrete outputs (not to be mistaken with outcomes, which are obligatory effects our project needs to produce). Outputs are tangible results of our project, created for concrete target groups. As everything in the proposal is connected, make sure to produce outputs that are in line with your objectives, EC’s outcomes and impact(s), but also to keep in mind that different target groups will need different results. For example, you would not aim a scientific study at policy makers as this would show a lack of understanding of your target group and the way it operates. Rather, think about what kind of long-term effects your outputs can produce and how can they be sustainable after the project is done to produce desired impact.
Disciplines:
Interdisciplinarity is one of the main features of Horizon Europe and in that light, we should always bear in mind that it is encouraged to cooperate with various disciplines and also various types of institutions. The logic behind this is that this kind of cooperation can lead to better and more societally relevant results. There will be topics that will be very explicit about which types of disciplines/institutions are encouraged in the partnership. Generally speaking, if the topic states that something is encouraged, it should be considered almost as obligatory. Successful proposals will always cover as much of the scope as possible and even fill out some gaps in the Work Programme.
Geographical coverage:
Perhaps the topic will focus on a specific geographical region of Europe, but this is fairly rare. In case nothing is mentioned in the text, the presumption should always be that our coverage should be at least on the European level. What does this mean in practice? For sure it is not expected of us to have an organization from each country in the consortium. However, our results need to be replicable at least in the European context. For that to be possible, we should strategically select those organizations coming from various regions of Europe and based on relevant criteria for the topic – for example, you could focus on different policy frameworks, educational systems, different natural disasters in various regions, etc. – all depending on what is relevant to your topic. In case international cooperation is mentioned in the text though, we have an obligation to go beyond European borders and make our results globally relevant. More on geographical coverage read HERE.
Cross-cutting issues:
Cross cutting issues are usually listed at the very end of the topic text and it’s easy to spot them as they are separated and named as cross-cutting issues. However, we can always find them in the text as well and that usually provides more details on why these issues are relevant for us to address. These cross-cutting issues, whatever they may be (gender, international cooperation, co-creation, etc.) need to inform and underpin everything we will be doing within the project: from research to implementation and impact. Make sure to get familiar with the terms in Horizon Europe context, as there can be many specificities and these cross-cutting issues are often not self-explanatory, but rather there is a lot of context and explanations behind the Commission including them in your topic.
Conclusion
In the competitive landscape of Horizon Europe funding, call analysis is not just a preliminary step; it is a strategic imperative. By meticulously analyzing calls, organizations can align their proposals with European priorities and enhance the quality and competitiveness of their submissions. This strategic approach not only increases the chances of securing funding, but also contributes to the overarching goals of Horizon Europe. As such, investing in thorough call analysis is a crucial step towards unlocking the vast potential of Horizon Europe funding.
