In this post, Eirini Theofanidou, Proposal Development Executive (EU & International), highlights upcoming networking events that can help you find partners for Horizon Europe research funding applications.
You might already be very familiar with EU research funding opportunities such as the ERC or Marie Sklodowska Curie Fellowships, but perhaps you’re less familiar with the opportunities available to fund challenge-led, collaborative research projects. In Horizon Europe, these funding calls fall under what is known as ‘Pillar 2: Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness’, and provide funding for collaborative projects from €2m to €15m in value. A key eligibility requirement for applying to these calls is having international partners involved in your project. Read more about how to find suitable Horizon Europe funding calls in our previous blog post.
Building the best consortium
Applying for EU Research and Innovation funding is highly competitive. The European Commission aims to fund the best projects, with the highest potential for achieving the intended outcomes and impact. All calls under Pillar II are for challenge-led, collaborative projects with a multi sectoral and multi-disciplinary approach, and require that you bring a consortium together. Building the best consortium is a key factor for successful collaborative applications; you need to demonstrate that partners have complementary expertise and cover different, yet relevant research disciplines. In Horizon Europe, unless otherwise provided for in the specific call conditions, legal entities forming a consortium are eligible for participation in collaborative RIA/IA projects provided that the consortium includes:
- at least one legal entity established in a Member State of the EU, and
- at least two other independent legal entities each established either in a different Member State (MS) or an Associated Country (AC).
Applications for Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) may be submitted by one or more legal entities, which may be established in a Member State of the EU, Associated Country, or in exceptional cases and if provided for in the specific call conditions, in a third country.
Finding the right partners
Finding the right partners for your project is not always easy, but one way to find them is by attending a so-called ‘brokerage event’. Brokerage events are (virtual) matchmaking events, and offer a great opportunity to meet potential partners and make new contacts. They are organised by different National Contact Points or organisations and they bring together relevant stakeholders intending to apply for funding in the Horizon Europe calls. National Contact Points (NCPs) is the main structure to provide guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in Horizon Europe. During these events, participants can share their ideas in order to identify partners for their projects. It is an ideal (virtual) space to meet your future research partners for EU-funded research collaborations; attendees are researchers from the public and private sectors, industry, NGOS, etc. and they come from different EU member states, associated and third countries ( for eligibility see Annex B –Eligibility).
Current events
Below is a list of the currently advertised brokerage events and links to the EU Horizon Europe Information day for each cluster:
Please note that Information days give the opportunity to receive information and ask questions about the novelties, main funding instruments and processes of Horizon Europe and they are not brokerage events.
- Brokerage event on Horizon Europe Cluster 1‘Health’ on 5 July, 9:30 am – 16:30 pm UK time, registration until 30 June. The Information day for Cluster 1 is on 1 July.
- Brokerage event on Horizon Europe Cluster 2 ‘Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society‘ from 9:00 am – 13:00 pm UK time on Friday 2 July, registration by 30 June. The event will take place a day after the European Commission’s Cluster 2 Information Day on 1 July.
- Brokerage event on Horizon Europe Cluster 3 ‘Civil Security for Society’ on 29 June, registration by 25th June for attendees and by 22nd June for pitch presenters. The Information day for Cluster 3 is on 30 June.
- Brokerage event on Horizon Europe Cluster 4 ‘Digital’ Brokerage event on 24-25 of June.
- Brokerage event on Horizon Europe Cluster 4 ‘Digital, Industry & Space’ on 1 July. Information days for cluster 4 are on 29 & 30 June.
- Brokerage event on Horizon Europe Cluster 5 ‘Climate, Energy and Mobility’ on 7 of July, from 08:30 to 17:00 UK time. Registration by 5th of July. The event will take place a day after the European Commission’s Cluster 5 Information Days on 5&6 of July.
- Brokerage event on Horizon Europe Cluster 6 ‘Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment’ on 9 July, from 9am-13pm UK time. Registration by 6 July for attendees (while pitch videos by those interested in coordinating a consortium and which will be available to view online ahead of the event must be submitted by 25 June). The event will take place a day after the European Commission’s Cluster 6 Information Days on 7 & 8 July.
- Brokerage events on Horizon Europe Clusters 1, 3, 4 and 5. The virtual event aims to help develop links between researchers in Southeast Asia (ASEAN) (including Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and Malaysia) with researchers in EU member states or Horizon Europe Associated Countries. The events will run from 28-30 June with specific focus on:
- Cluster 1: Health (AI & Health, Infectious Diseases, Health & Climate Change);
- Cluster 3: Civil Security for Society (Disaster Management, Pandemic preparedness);
- Cluster 4: Digital, Industry, Space (Circular Economy); and
- Cluster 5: Climate, Energy, Transport (Green Tech)
The list will be updated as more events are advertised.
Horizon Europe
Horizon Europe is the 9th Framework Programme through which the EU will fund research and innovation. It will run for seven years from 2021-2027, and be funded by the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). The UK is expected to soon become an associated country to Horizon Europe. The UK will therefore have the same rights and obligations as other countries associated to the Programme. You can read more about Horizon Europe in our previous blog. Work Programmes are now available for all Clusters.
Funding available to build EU collaborations
Looking for funding to build your EU research collaborations? Take a look at the funding available from the Scottish Government (deadline 12:00, 12 July 2021) or consider applying for Una Europa Seed Funding (deadline 16:00, 19 July 2021). Some of the Scottish Research Pools also have funding available to build EU partnerships.
Support available from Edinburgh Research Office
You can read more about opportunities for funding from Horizon Europe on our dedicated ERO EU & International Research Funding page (UoE access only). If you are looking for tips on how to build a Research Network, visit our ERO pages on support for complex bids (UoE access only).
More from this author
