After the results of the 2022 Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Networks (DN) call were published, many are now at the grant preparation stage. While this process is well-structured, many consortia may still experience some challenges. We discuss some possible challenges during the DN grant preparation and how to address these.
Managing a Horizon Europe (HORIZON) funded project can be at times demanding and daunting. Our Implementation Plan guides consortia through the key administrative and management processes of their Horizon Europe project. Let’s dive into the details of this resource and explore why we believe it's an essential tool for any EU-funded project.
How does an EU-funded project come to fruition? For researchers interested in coordinating or participating in such, the process between the proposal writing stage and the project start can sometimes seem like a black box. In this blog series, we explore the SYNSENSO proposal from contact to contract.
We discuss the new requirements regarding project exploitation and periodic reporting in Horizon Europe. We explore how R&I projects can meet the requirements outlined in the EU valorisation policy and how accelopment's innovation management system, accelINNO®, can support these efforts. Stay informed by subscribing to our blog updates!
The Pathfinder programme supports the research and development of bold ideas for future breakthrough technologies within Horizon EU. It encompasses two funding streams: Pathfinder Open, where applicants can propose any research topic, and Pathfinder Challenge, which provides funding for research projects of high societal, economic and political interest.
The European Commission has completed the evaluation of the proposals submitted for the 2022 MSCA Call for Doctoral Networks. The results of the 2022 call reveal higher success rates and higher funding thresholds compared to the previous 2021 call. Gain insights into the results.
accelopment is celebrating its 15th anniversary. What started out as a one-woman company in a garage offering proposal writing, project management and dissemination services has quickly developed into an organisation with more than two dozen employees, supporting R&D projects from the first idea to the project completion in multiple innovative areas.
We at accelopment recognize the importance of gender equality and strongly value diversity and inclusion. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone can reach their full potential and achieve their goals.
A variety of funding opportunities for research and innovation activities in Horizon Europe allow applicants to find the right call in digital infrastructure, technologies and societal factors, including cybersecurity.
With 29% of applications to Eurostars being funded, chances of success are already high. However, there are always ways to increase your chances. One way to make your project stand out and convince the evaluators is to describe your specific business case and the market potential of the project results.
It may seem that modern technology and accessibility of recording devices makes video creation a simple task, the time needed to develop a meaningful audio-visual story should not be underestimated. Thorough planning beforehand will save you some precious time in the production phase. Learn how to develop an impactful video to communicate about science.
As an SME you have the possibility to become project leader of a EUREKA Eurostars project and benefit from this funding opportunity’s many advantages. The stunning success rate of 29%, free choice of topic and up to 80% funding for the project's costs make it an attractive programme focused on promoting SMEs. We provide you with hands-on support for the application process.
Digital and industrial technologies shape all sectors of the European economy and the daily routine of us all. The EU reflects this in the budget increase from EUR 1.56 billion (2021-2022) to EUR 2.3 billion (2023-2024) in Cluster 4 of Horizon Europe, tackling Digital, Industry, and Space.
A total of 946 proposals were submitted in the second MSCA-DN call in Horizon Europe - a number that lets us anticipate one of the highest success rates in ITN/DN calls since the first FP7 ITN call in 2007.
The draft Horizon Europe Work Programme 2023-2024 for Climate, Energy and Mobility (Cluster 5) is published. Our infographic provides an overview on the available funding and shows the different submission deadlines. Find the most suitable call topic for your research and innovation project!
Achieving the United Nations’ ambitious Sustainable Development Goals is one of Horizon Europe’s main targets. Find out how we use the targets set by the so-called Global Goals to leverage ongoing research and innovation projects and identify possible synergies and collaborations.
In November, the publication of the HORIZON Work Programme 2023-2024 for Health (Cluster 1) is expected. Our infographic analyses the available funding and shows the different submission deadlines. Find the most suitable call topic for your research and innovation project!
Based on our experience from previous proposal writing for MSCA calls, we know how important it is to strike a good balance between scientific and technological training on one side and transferable skills courses on the other. What to consider when writing the Doctoral Network training programme?
Online videos open new avenues for science communication. Videos can be used to raise awareness, document research, introduce project partners, share new scientific methodologies, showcase results and more. Our communications team has put together an overview of video types that effectively promote the project and help engage the audience.
The Green Deal offers multiple pathways to funding, some are well-known and others not. We can help you navigate the complex funding landscape of the Green Deal to identify the funding instruments and calls that fit your project idea.
In a complex yet rich EU research and innovation landscape, our strategic grant planning will provide you with the key facts on the most promising funding schemes for your research ideas along with a timeline covering submission deadlines for the next two years.
While in a previous blog post we covered the key steps in getting started with social media for EU projects, herein we explore what content to share to combine both trustworthy and engaging information.
Research projects funded by the EU benefit from high-quality project management and professional communication with a specific focus on research and EU requirements. At accelopment, we regularly offer internships to train students and early career professionals in this area.
Researchers and companies from Switzerland and the UK can participate in most Horizon Europe instruments. However, there are some country-specific rules to consider during the proposal preparation. These include a different partner status in the EU portal, affect the budgeting and have several implications on the contents of the proposal document.
While having a dedicated project website is a well-established requirement for EU-funded projects, over the last years the use of social media for EU project communication has been increasingly encouraged by the EC. In this first blog post of a series, we share some advice and tips on where to start.
Ensuring that projects have become an integral part of any Horizon Europe project. This is reflected in the Plan for Dissemination and Exploitation including Communication Activities (PDEC). In this blog post, we share our most important learnings on the topic, including the do’s and dont’s of writing this mandatory deliverable.
In a project funded under Horizon Europe, participants are required to plan and carry out their dissemination activities carefully and extensively. At accelopment we are excited to support your proposal and help you spread your research results as widely as possible to maximise the impact of your project.
Project coordinators and partners often think that EU project management in Horizon Europe refers to only scientific coordination. However, it also covers the operational management of the grant and it bringstogether up to 15 partners. The project coordinator has a truly challenging job in aligning the work towards a joint project goal and accelCOCKPIT® is designed to make this task a seamless process.
Horizon Europe brought many changes to the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) scheme. As the term Early Stage Researcher (ESR) is no longer used and the rules have changed, we summarise the key conditions for the recruitment of doctoral candidates in a MSCA Doctoral Network (DN).
The European Commission has just communicated the first-stage results of the Horizon Europe Health calls. We have thus checked out the requirements for the upcoming stage-2 submission. Find out what changes you need to make to your proposal to get a successful stage-two submission on the right track.
The European Commission published the 2022 MSCA Doctoral Networks call last week. We had a look at the updated Work Programme, the Guide for Applicants and the updated Standard Proposal Template to find out what is different to last year’s call. If you plan to resubmit your DN proposal, make sure to be aware of the most significant changes.
Transferable skills are key to successful MSCA Doctoral Networks. Provide your Doctoral Candidates with adequate training in project management as well as in communication and dissemination, truly building up their transferable skillset, their disposition towards teamwork, collaboration, and outreach.
New energy-related call topics were opened by the European Commission. They belong to the "Battery Partnership" and other parts of the Cluster 5 "Climate, Energy and Mobility". One further call topic was launched under the "Cities Mission". With a deadline of 6 September 2022 there is enough time to prepare and submit applications.
As so many others had to during the global pandemic, the EU-funded projects we are involved in adapted, learnt, and grew their knowledge and experience in digital communication. Find some best practice examples you might want to implement in your own project, supplemented with the corresponding digital work culture.
How can you navigate through the development process of the Plan for Dissemination and Exploitation including Communication activities for Horizon Europe projects? Get familiar with key elements and requirements of the European Commission towards this mandatory deliverable.
For many of the successful MSCA Doctoral Networks (DN) it will be the first time preparing a Horizon Europe grant. While much of the process is similar or unchanged to previous years, it is worth checking that you are aware of the latest terminology and some key principles to ensure a smooth grant preparation process.
The European Commission selected the first Doctoral Networks under Horizon Europe. Gain insights into the results of the 2021 call, which is marked by higher success rates and lower funding thresholds compared to the previous programme.
Our project managers have been involved in several Horizon EU projects already and gathered extensive insights into the Grant Agreement Preparation process. With the hope of easing the process for other successful EU project coordinators and partners, summarised below are our team’s latest tips to navigate through a hopefully smooth GAP process.
EU-funded projects aim to reach a wide audience, but their website accessibility is often overlooked. With a few simple improvements, you can change this for your project website.
With partners from different countries, diverse backgrounds, and distinct research areas, team or consortium building represents an essential task and challenge best tackled during the proposal preparation before a project even starts.
Today, we celebrate the 111th International Women’s Day and share some of the latest data on gender (in)equality in research, while linking to relevant Horizon Europe requirements and inviting you to self-explore your implicit biases.
While waiting for the final statistics on the first Horizon Europe Health calls, we share our experience from the evaluation of some health proposals. This might help applicants who are currently preparing their proposals for the fast-approaching next deadlines.
We aim to raise awareness for all the women in science, the hurdles they have overcome, the dreams they have achieved, and the path they are pursuing. As a sparring partner in EU-funded research projects, we have the exciting role of supporting innovations in science, many of which are brought forward by women.
The first, highly competitive, EIC Pathfinder Open call revealed important novelties for applicants. As in FET-Open, the programme is still targeted at breakthrough, innovative solutions, but with changes ranging from the formalities of the main proposal document to the strict requirement of a multidisciplinary approach.
Many ongoing MSCA ITNs that build on the mobility of early-stage researchers have been severely affected by the pandemic. How does the REA handle the four most common issues, 1: ESR recruitment delays, 2: Adapting the training plan, 3: Adjusting the secondment plans, and 4: Delays of deliverables and milestones?
If you are applying for a Eurostars 3 project, you should check out the requirements and especially the web portal through which applicants need to submit their project proposal. Set out to master the Eurostars’ online application portal with the guidelines at hand and your project idea in mind.
The European Commission recently published the Innovation Scoreboard 2021. The report reveals that several global competitors are exceeding the EU’s performance in innovation. Among other measures to excel in innovation, the implementation of innovation management techniques is considered as a powerful tool to maximise the impact of innovation expenditures.
If your project gets funded, the EC requires you to establish a Consortium Agreement to ensure the (IP) rights and obligations, for all partners, that are not defined in the EC Grant Agreement. Using the DESCA template remains the gold standard.
Eurostars is an essential component of Horizon Europe, with 37 countries from within and outside Europe participating in the Eurostars programme. Each of these “Eurostars countries” has its own funding coverage policy for SMEs and other types of participants.
As negotiations on the association of the UK and Switzerland to Horizon Europe remain suspended, the UK and Swiss governments are committed to support successful UK- and Swiss-based applicants.
As deadlines for two-stage calls in the areas of Health, Climate and Food are getting closer, learn about a key change in the submission process from Horizon 2020 to Horizon Europe.
The first, highly competitive, EIC Pathfinder Open call revealed important novelties for applicants. As in FET-Open, the programme is still targeted at breakthrough, innovative solutions, but with changes ranging from the formalities of the main proposal document to the strict requirement of a multidisciplinary approach.
Cluster 5 of Horizon Europe offers diverse funding opportunities for mobility-related topics: Batteries and fuels or transport by road, rail, water, and air. Several calls are also in collaboration with specific partnerships.
A total of 1,076 proposals were submitted for the first MSCA Doctoral Networks (DNs) deadline in Horizon Europe on 16 November 2021. A first analysis of the call statistics reveals an increase in success chances.
The European Innovation Council selected the first 56 EIC Pathfinder Open projects under Horizon Europe. Read on for an overview of the call statistics and foreseen deadlines for (re-)submission of your proposal.
Good quality at all levels of your Horizon Europe project is highly desirable. From the professional quality management to implement your project, to adherence to scientific quality requirements and operational quality procedures at participant level, we can support you with our experience.
Training in transferable skills is an important element of the training programmes included in the EU-funded Marie Curie research and training networks for early-stage researchers and doctoral candidates. They are a “must-have” when planning their next steps within an academic career or applying for jobs in companies and transitioning to industry.
Our Strategic Grant Planning (SGP) service will support you in identifying the best funding opportunity for your idea and in planning your grant applications for the upcoming years. With the start of Horizon Europe and other new EU programmes, we are well set up to guide you through the wide array of funding instruments.
For the first Health cluster deadline of Horizon Europe, a total of 591 proposals were submitted. The chances of success seem to be higher than usual. Find the estimated success rates in this blog post.
Transferable skills training are a key componenet for MSCA-ITNs and Doctoral Networks. Take our “master quiz” to test your knowledge in some transferable skills aspects and get a taste of what to expect from our online transferable skills training modules.
MSCA Doctoral Network proposals are being prepared under a tight schedule. At the same time, all changes from the previous Horizon 2020 MSCA ITNs need to be considered.
Eurostars is an essential component of Horizon Europe, with 37 countries from within and outside Europe participating in the Eurostars programme. Each of these “Eurostars countries” has its own funding coverage policy for SMEs and other types of participants.
The EU`s funding programme Horizon Europe facilitates the digitalisation process by supporting the discovery and development of innovative ICT technologies and their deployment in a wide range of application areas, in the dedicated Cluster 4 focused on Digital, Industry and Space, but also in Health and Climate, Energy and Mobility.
The long wait is finally over and the first Doctoral Network (DN) call is now open for submission. We had a look at the Guide for Applicants, the new Standard Proposal Template, and the online forms to find out what is different from the Horizon 2020 Marie Curie ITNs.
Grant writing has become an essential activity in academia and beyond. The art of convincing funding bodies through persuasive and compelling proposals is all the more important for early-stage researchers (ESRs) willing to progress in their career, be it in an academic or industry setting.
With a total budget of € 2.2 billion for 2021 to 2022, the Horizon Europe Cluster 6 is expected to support a transformative change of the EU economy and society to reduce environmental degradation, stop and reverse the decline of biodiversity, and better manage natural resources while meeting the EU's climate objectives and ensuring food and water security.
With a total budget of € 2.8 billion for 2021 to 2022, the Horizon Europe Cluster 5 will contribute to achieving the EU's goal of becoming a climate neutral society. Although the Horizon Europe Climate, Energy and Mobility programme offers a wide array of funding opportunities, we expect a tough competition similar to the previous Horizon 2020 programmes.
From pillars, challenges, clusters, destinations, missions, calls, and call topics to Research and Innovation Actions, Innovation Actions, and Coordination and Support Actions – Horizon Europe, the new Framework Programme for Research and Innovation has it all. The terminology and structure is new and needs some elucidation.
The official Work Programme for Cluster 1 – Health under the 9th Framework Programme for Research and Innovation, Horizon Europe, will be published this spring. With a total budget of €1,86 billion for 2021 to 2022, the Horizon Europe Cluster 1 – Health will fund projects in the 3 big C's health areas: Cancer, Covid-19, and Cardiovascular Diseases.
We are all eagerly waiting for the details about the Doctoral Networks under Horizon Europe. The new MSCA Work Programme will be published by the European Commission in mid-May. So, while we are waiting, let's have a look at what we know already.
The projects that bring forward technologies and innovations for a more sustainable future impress us time and again. They help bringing the European Green Deal to reality. Earth Day puts the spotlight on them.
Identifying the right funding opportunity at the right time has become a critical skill in both academic and industry settings. Especially for less experienced, early-stage researchers, it remains challenging to keep track of suitable funding opportunities to pursue their career.
When your project is selected for EU funding, the Grant Agreement (a funding contract between the European Commission and the project consortium) is a prerequisite for the project to start. The new framework programme Horizon Europe has brought key changes to the Model Grant Agreement.
The EIC Pathfinder, known as the Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) in H2020, has moved from the basic science-driven pillar in H2020 to the more market-driven “Innovative Europe” pillar in Horizon Europe. In addition to some important differences in the structure of the proposal, the focus of the EIC shifts to projects with a strong impact on Europe's economy and society.
Science communication is a valuable transferable skill, one that is becoming more and more important with the increase of digital communication channels and platforms. Learn about how we can help Early Stage Researchers in mastering it for a successful career.
The European Commission will fund research and innovation activities under Horizon Europe for a healthier and more resilient Europe - from supporting mental health, through boosting of digitalisation and efficient health data use, to development of next generation AI tools, therapies, and vaccines.
Both, the FET Innovation Launchpad (Horizon 2020) and the EIC Transition (Horizon Europe), have the goal to support the exploitation of results from FET projects. However, the instruments have key differences you should be aware of.
While Horizon Europe has officially started, the association agreements between the European Commission on one side and the Horizon 2020 Associated Countries and the United Kingdom on the other, are still in an early phase. This raises the question about the current eligibility of these applicants.
Alongside the benefits of working in gender balanced teams, the inclusion of sex and gender aspects in research and innovation leads to research outputs and innovations that are of higher quality, more societally relevant and of added business value.
The EIC Pathfinder, previously known as the FET programme in Horizon 2020, will allocate more than € 300 million for high-risk and radical new ideas.
With the scarcity of research funding and the increasing competition in academia, properly managing research projects has become all the more important. Having a realistic project plan in terms of scope, time and costs is a critical criterion to acquire funding.
A Data Management Plan is a priority for recently started ITNs. Read in this blog how you and your ESRs will get to grips with the essentials of data management.
In late December 2020, UK and Switzerland expressed their political will to be associated to Horizon Europe with the EU/UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement and the approval of the Horizon 2021-2027 package by the Swiss parliament.
Wood experts discussed solutions and shared ideas for a sustainable future at the event series on Wood for the future (EU Green Week partner events).
While the results for the “Digital transformation in Health and Care (DTH)” calls were issued last week, we expect to receive the last results of the series of Health calls in the coming days.
The European Commission has just published the first Green Deal call of EUR 983,000,000.
Since 2008, accelopment AG has been located in Zurich, Switzerland. Now we happy to announce that we have crossed the boarder and you can no longer only find us in Zurich but also in Heidelberg, Germany!
Discover our latest transferable skills online training courses for ESRs in ongoing MSCA-ITNs. Pick and choose from six interactive, hands-on modules.
Early next year, the European Commission will officially launch “Open Research Europe”, a full open access peer reviewed publishing platform for research resulting from Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe.
A best practice guide to help you best coordinate the involvement and participation of Partner Organisations in your ITN.
Since 2014, 991 projects have been successfully funded through the Eurostars programme and you could be number 992!
What impact does COVID-19 have on gender equality in research and innovation?
Learn how to assess the impact of COVID-19 on our research projects and communicate it to the EC.
Keep managing efficiently your H2020 project with our tips.
Keep managing efficiently your H2020 project with our tips.
Keep managing efficiently your H2020 project with our tips.
Identifying the right funding scheme for your research can sometimes be compared to finding a needle in a haystack. We can support you in making the process more efficient.
Project management and communication are key to successful ITNs. Learn why.
SOSLeM - a project supported by accelopment - wan the FCH JU Awards 2019.
The FET Open project Lumiblast wins the Innovation Radar Prize 2019 for Innovative Science and we are proud to be part of this project for the past three years.
Dr Filiep Vanpoucke, researcher at Cochlear and project coordinator of MOSAICS, speaks about his experience with ITNs and accelopment.
accelopment's update on the status of funding in Europe after Brexit.
Dr Colin Clarke, Principal Investigator at NIBRT and project coordinator of STACCATO, speaks about his experience with ITNs and accelopment.
ITN review meetings focus on a transparent application process, equal opportunities with regard to gender and origin, active involvement of ESRs, as well support and communication.
With the introduction of the new ITN review meeting, Project Coordinator need to be aware of some important changes. We provide a checklist to support you.
Konstantin Lutze, CTO of HSE AG and Eurostars project coordinator, tells about his experience with the SME Instrument programme and accelopment.
Besides beneficieries, ITNs offer the possibility to include Partner Organisations in the project. The following article looks at the most common roles and linked requirements.
Based on the lastest report of the IPR Helpdesk and our own experience, we have come up with the most important Do’s and Don’ts to maximize the impact of your project.
Preparing a first stage proposal is possible in a short amount of time if planning is accurate. We provide the relevant steps for success.
The question of how the project will be funded is a complex topic that needs to be addressed thoroughly since funding rules differ between the eligible countries and types of organisations.
Various seminars offer advise on the preparation of ITNs. We highlight, what makes us different, how we approach things and who should attend.
To support researchers, academics and companies in their quest for funding, accelopment has been offering the Strategic Grant Planning (SGP) with the goal of identifying the best possible funding opportunities for your project idea and setting up a realistic action and time plan for the preparation of successful applications.
Learn about the cash flow in Horizon 2020 projects, the risks for participating SMEs and how to avoid them.
A look back at the last 10 years.
The definition of an ESR is rather short: “ESRs shall, at the time of recruitment by the host organisation, be in the first four years (full-time equivalent research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree.”