A strong proposal for Europe’s most competitive funding programme

Writing a Horizon Europe proposal is a discipline in its own right. The bar is high, competition is international, and the requirements around excellence, impact and implementation are strict. At the same time, the potential reward is significant: funding for ground-breaking research and innovation, in collaboration with leading partners from across Europe. Hezelburcht helps organisations realise that potential: from initial ideas through to a submitted, well-substantiated proposal.

The challenges when it comes to Horizon Europe proposals

Writing a Horizon Europe proposal demands time, expertise and oversight that not every organisation has readily available:

• The application needs to align with the specific scope and expectations of the call, as well as with broader EU policy.
• A consortium of multiple partners needs to be coordinated, each with their own contribution, timeline and expectations.
• Excellence, impact and implementation must be worked out convincingly and consistently with one another. This includes the budget, work packages and risk management.
• Reviewers have limited time per proposal: a clear structure and strong visual support make a genuine difference.

Without experienced guidance, there is a real risk that a strong underlying idea fails to achieve the score it deserves.

Our approach in Horizon Europe proposal writing support

Hezelburcht supports the full Horizon Europe application process, tailored to what your project needs.

1. Feasibility analysis and sharpening the focus

Before writing begins, we take a critical look together: does the project proposal align well with the call and the underlying policy? Where does the strongest impact case lie? Which adjustments to scope or consortium would improve the chances of success? This results in a clear direction and a well-considered go/no-go decision.

2. Guiding the writing process

Hezelburcht takes the lead in the writing process, working closely with the project coordinator. We:

• set up and monitor a timeline and track progress;
• guide partners using targeted questionnaires for each section;
• collect and edit input from all partners into one coherent proposal;
• support the preparation of the budget and administrative forms;
• liaise with the national contact point and EU project officer where useful;
• ensure the proposal is submitted correctly and on time.

3. Additional support, where needed

Depending on the stage and your needs, Hezelburcht can also support with:

• advice on EU rules, procedures and consortium composition;
• content review of (parts of) the text, including the impact section;
• design of figures and visuals that clearly present the project structure and consortium;
• a thorough quality check and layout of the full proposal;
• sparring and general advice to strengthen your own team’s knowledge of Horizon Europe.

Extensive experience, proven results

Hezelburcht has been actively involved in preparing European funding applications since the EU’s fourth Framework Programme. A substantial share of the proposals we support results in a successful award, well above the average success rate within Horizon Europe. We translate that experience into practical advice: what reviewers are looking for, which pitfalls commonly weaken proposals, and how to avoid them.

Beyond the application

Our involvement doesn’t stop at submission. For awarded projects, Hezelburcht also offers support with project management, including financial and scientific progress reporting and day-to-day project coordination.

Curious what Hezelburcht can do for your Horizon Europe application?

Get in touch with our team. In an introductory conversation, we’ll discuss your project, the relevant call, and how our support can best fit your situation. Get in touch via 088 495 20 00 or info@hezelburcht.com for more information!