Finding the right partners for an EU proposal is crucial, but even more important is convincing them to join you on this journey. Whether you’re coordinating a Horizon Europe project or any other EU-funded proposal, your success often depends on the strength and motivation of your consortium.
Index
- Build from the core
- Invest in relationships before the call
- Help others understand your project at a glance
- Trust matters, choose partners you can rely on!
- Look beyond reputation
- Engage partners early
1. Build from the core
Start with a small group of highly reputable researchers, typically 3 to 4, who already know and trust each other. These core partners form the backbone of the proposal and usually take on leadership roles. Define your project structure, objectives, and expected outcomes early. Identify which capabilities are already covered within the core and which need to be brought in later. Remember: consortia are built around people, not organisations!
2. Invest in relationships before the call
Strong partnerships don’t form overnight. The most effective collaborations grow out of long-standing professional relationships: from co-authoring papers, attending conferences, and informal exchanges during scientific events. Use coffee breaks and networking events as much as plenary sessions to explore common goals.
3. Help others understand your project at a glance
Once the core idea and logic of the intervention are clear, develop a short abstract outlining the project’s goals, the call, and the expertise needed. Distribute it through research networks, university channels, simple word of mouth, or the European Commission portal. This helps you reach interdisciplinary or international partners who align with your project’s needs.
4. Trust matters, choose partners you can rely on!
New organisations can bring fresh perspectives, but ensure every partner can contribute effectively from the outset. Partners with prior EU project experience often bring valuable know-how that eases coordination and strengthens the proposal. If including a newcomer, make sure you have the time and resources to support their on-boarding. Trust, reliability, and readiness to engage are key to building a strong, balanced consortium.
Extra tip: Consider geography strategically! 🌍Include partners whose location meaningfully strengthens dissemination, uptake, or impact, rather than for coverage alone.
5. Look beyond reputation
Avoid the assumption that a big name guarantees success. Evaluators focus on the quality of the contribution, not the brand. Sometimes, a smaller SME or university department with the right expertise and motivation is a better fit than a large institution with limited interest or availability. As Marco Liviantoni, EU grants senior expert, puts it: “It’s not just about scientific knowledge, but also about their commitment and ability to bring in new ideas. You might have a Nobel Prize winner on board, but if they’re not engaged, it won’t work. Driving a proposal requires a huge effort.”
META Group plays an active, integrated role in EU-funded projects, working alongside researchers and entrepreneurs throughout the project lifecycle to ensure research results are effectively exploited and disseminated. With META Group leading the communication, dissemination, and exploitation activities in your future EU-funded project, your proposal can gain significant value and strengthen your impact section.
6. Engage partners early
Emerging organisations or researchers need to engage strategically. Review the Horizon Europe work programmes regularly and identify relevant calls, ideally up to two years in advance.
“The very last possible moment is when the call opens.” Says Liviantoni. “Ideally, by that point, your core group of partners should already be in place, at least 2–3 months earlier, with the logic of intervention and the project abstract developed.”
Use conferences and networks to initiate targeted discussions so potential partners see you are aligned and ready.
META Group works hands-on with research teams from universities and emerging companies across multiple sectors to maximise the impact of their solutions and technologies. With experience guiding over 200 consortia toward measurable results in EU-funded projects, META Group offers proven expertise in proposal writing, project coordination, and managing dissemination, exploitation, and communication work packages. If you are looking for a reliable partner to support your next EU-funded project, contact us!