Top 7 Reasons Horizon Europe Consultants Boost Proposal Success Rates
(and Slash Your Admin Burden)

Main Takeaways:

• Horizon Europe is the EU’s largest and most ambitious research and innovation programme, offering €95.5 billion in funding (2021–2027), with average success rates around 12%, making expert proposal development essential.
• Horizon Europe consultants play a strategic role in enhancing proposal success by identifying the right calls, aligning with EU priorities, crafting compelling narratives, and avoiding common pitfalls.
• Proposal writing is only one part of the challenge; consultants also manage budgeting, compliance, ethics, gender plans, consortium building, and legal documentation.
• Working with a consultant can save 100–150 hours of internal effort and reduce the risk of technical rejection, particularly for SMEs and universities.
• Many funded proposals succeed on resubmission, and consultants can provide detailed feedback and realignment after the first attempt.
• Argentum Consultants is a trusted partner with proven expertise in helping organizations across Europe and Israel secure Horizon Europe funding. Argentum adds value not just in writing, but in strategy, partnership building, and long-term funding planning.

What exactly is Horizon Europe and why is it so competitive?

Dreaming of securing substantial EU funding for your groundbreaking research or innovative project? Horizon Europe offers unparalleled opportunities, but navigating its intricate landscape can feel like a daunting task.

Organizations considering Horizon Europe funding often evaluate whether engaging external consultancy support is necessary or beneficial. While many teams possess strong internal expertise in their respective fields, Horizon Europe proposals require a mix of strategic alignment, technical compliance, and administrative precision that can challenge even experienced applicants. The programme’s complexity, reflected in success rates that typically average around 12%- means that seemingly minor issues, such as inconsistent impact narratives or incomplete consortium documentation, can significantly lower the chances of securing funding.

Consequently, many research institutions, SMEs, and consortia opt to work with consultants who specialize in EU research funding frameworks. These professionals offer support throughout the entire proposal process, from identifying suitable calls and forming effective partnerships to developing clear, evaluator-focused narratives and ensuring compliance with all formal requirements.

This strategy helps applicants strengthen their proposals and use internal resources more efficiently, especially when time constraints or limited experience with Horizon Europe processes create additional challenges.

This article presents the Top 7 Reasons Horizon Europe Consultants Enhance Proposal Success Rates and Reduce Administrative Burden, explaining why collaborating with an experienced consultant can be a strategic advantage in securing EU funding.

The Dual Challenge: Low Success Rates & High Admin Burden

For organizations pursuing Horizon Europe funding, two primary obstacles consistently stand in the way of success: low approval rates and a heavy administrative load. Both factors can deter even the most promising applicants- but they’re precisely where professional consultants can make a measurable difference.

What are the typical success rates for Horizon Europe proposals, and how much can a consultant realistically improve them?

For organizations pursuing Horizon Europe funding, two primary challenges often limit success: low approval rates and a significant administrative workload. These factors can be discouraging even for highly experienced applicants and require substantial preparation and coordination to address effectively.

Success Rates in Context

Across Horizon Europe, success rates generally range between 10% and 15%, depending on the specific call, topic area, and funding scheme. For example:

EIC Pathfinder or ERC Starting Grants typically have success rates below 10%.

Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA) often average between 12% and 15%.

Some thematic partnerships or co-funded calls may occasionally exceed 20%, although these are less common.

These figures reflect the programme’s highly competitive nature, which is influenced by factors such as the volume of proposals submitted by leading European institutions, strict eligibility requirements, and comprehensive evaluation criteria. Proposals are also assessed on their alignment with EU policy priorities, including the European Green Deal, digital transformation, and societal challenges.

The Role of Consultants

Specialized Horizon Europe consultants can support applicants in addressing these challenges by:

Framing the project to align clearly with evaluators’ expectations and assessment criteria.

Strengthening the narrative on innovation, impact, and European added value.

Providing insights based on experience with previous submissions and familiarity with evaluation practices.

Ensuring that proposals fully comply with technical requirements, formatting guidelines, and submission protocols.

While no external support can guarantee funding, evidence suggests that applicants working with experienced consultants tend to have higher success rates. For example, some consultancies report internal success rates of 30-40%, depending on factors such as the maturity of the proposal, the clarity of the project concept, and the level of collaboration with the applicant team.

How significant is the “admin burden” in Horizon Europe applications, and what does it typically involve?

The administrative complexity involved in preparing a Horizon Europe proposal is frequently identified as a significant barrier to participation. Even well-resourced teams with experience in EU funding frameworks often find the process time-intensive and highly detailed, requiring sustained coordination across multiple contributors.

A full proposal submission can represent several hundred hours of work, depending on the scale of the project and the number of partners involved. This effort extends well beyond drafting scientific content and typically includes:

Participant registration in the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, including validation of legal entity information and PIC codes.

Development of proposal sections– Excellence, Impact, and Implementation– each subject to specific formatting requirements and the need for clear supporting evidence.

Preparation of a comprehensive work plan and budget, detailing tasks, deliverables, milestones, and resource allocations across all consortium members.

Consortium coordination, including drafting Letters of Intent, defining roles and responsibilities, and ensuring partner commitments are properly documented.

Completion of legal and ethical documentation, such as data protection protocols, ethics self-assessments, and open access plans.

Integration of policy-related components, including gender equality considerations, exploitation and dissemination strategies, and alignment with relevant EU priorities.

These requirements are compounded by the need to navigate the portal’s technical aspects, manage multilingual materials, and address last-minute queries or clarifications from potential partners, all often under strict deadlines.

For many applicants, particularly SMEs, research teams, and first-time participants, this administrative workload can divert substantial internal resources away from core activities. Errors such as incomplete documentation or inconsistencies in budgeting can result in disqualification, regardless of the underlying quality of the project.

Specialized consultants can help reduce this burden by:

Coordinating the preparation of technical sections and ensuring consistency across the proposal.

Establishing structured timelines and clear task distribution within the consortium.

Managing portal submissions and communication with partners.

Reviewing all materials to confirm compliance with formal eligibility and formatting requirements.

In this context, external support can enable applicant teams to focus their efforts on the scientific and innovative aspects of the proposal while maintaining the level of administrative precision that Horizon Europe demands.

The MSS and ACL Approach: Two Strategic Pillars for Horizon Europe Success in applying for European grants

To help clients navigate the complexity of European grants and maximise their funding potential, we work with two interconnected strategic approaches:

MSS – Multi Submission Strategy

Our Multi Submission Strategy (MSS) is built on the idea that non-dilutive funding is not a one-off opportunity but a long-term growth pathway. Rather than pursuing a single grant, MSS involves a continuous, strategic submission process targeting multiple opportunities that align with a company’s R&D and innovation goals.

MSS helps organizations to:

Maximize their chances of success through repeated, targeted submissions

Reduce internal workload by applying structured project management and grant writing support

Tap into overlooked or lesser-known funding opportunities

Build and leverage R&D partnerships within the European research ecosystem

We see MSS working best for companies that view EU funding not just as financial support but as a strategic tool for growth, collaboration, and market positioning.

The Solution – Engaging Horizon Europe Consultants

Applying for Horizon Europe funding involves a combination of technical precision, strategic alignment with policy priorities, and coordinated project management. Many organizations, whether research institutions, SMEs, or consortia, possess the scientific expertise necessary to develop strong concepts but encounter challenges in translating those concepts into proposals that meet all formal, administrative, and evaluative requirements.

Horizon Europe consultants contribute specialized knowledge and structured support across the full proposal lifecycle. Their role extends beyond drafting content; they typically act as partners in project strategy, funding compliance, and operational planning. This includes identifying the most suitable calls for a project’s objectives, aligning the proposal narrative with EU policy frameworks, coordinating consortium contributions, and managing the detailed administrative processes required for submission.

For applicants with limited internal capacity, unfamiliarity with Horizon Europe procedures, or time constraints linked to other commitments, engaging experienced consultants can be an effective approach to strengthening proposal quality and reducing administrative risk.

The following sections outline seven key areas where Horizon Europe consultancy services have been shown to provide substantial added value in the development and submission of competitive proposals.

The 7 Core Reasons Horizon Europe Consultant is Worth Engaging

Reason 1: Unparalleled Expertise and Up-to-Date Knowledge

Horizon Europe consultants bring a combination of specialized expertise in EU research funding frameworks and continuous monitoring of evolving programme priorities. This expertise can be particularly valuable in contexts where evaluation criteria and policy objectives change frequently and require precise alignment within proposals.

For example, in 2023, a medical imaging consortium based in Central Europe was preparing a submission to a Cluster 1 Health topic when the European Commission issued updated guidance that significantly modified the scope and evaluation focus. With support from an experienced consultant, the consortium revised its narrative and work plan to reflect the new requirements, ultimately securing funding under the revised call conditions.

By collaborating with consultants who track policy updates, work programme amendments, and shifts in strategic priorities, such as the introduction of mission-driven innovation and digital sovereignty objectives, applicants can reduce the risk of submitting proposals that are out of step with evaluators’ expectations.

1. Deep Dive into Program Specifics: Horizon Europe is organized across multiple pillars and funding schemes, each governed by distinct rules and objectives. Consultants maintain familiarity with the complete programme architecture, from Pillar II clusters focusing on thematic areas such as health, climate, and digital transformation to EIC Pathfinder calls targeting high-risk, high-reward innovation, and ERC grants supporting frontier research. This understanding helps ensure proposals are designed in a way that aligns precisely with both the thematic and policy context of the relevant call.
2. Mastery of Evaluation Criteria: All proposals are assessed against three principal criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation. Consultants support applicants in interpreting these criteria and translating them into clear, actionable proposal sections. This process includes developing coherent work packages, defining measurable impacts, and demonstrating European added value in a way that is accessible to evaluators.
3. Constant Monitoring of EC Updates: The European Commission periodically releases updates to templates, evaluation guidance, and strategic work programmes. Consultants maintain active awareness of these changes, enabling applicants to avoid outdated terminology, inconsistencies, or misalignment with emerging policy directions. This ongoing monitoring can be especially important in calls that incorporate cross-cutting objectives, such as environmental sustainability, inclusiveness, and digitalisation.

Reason 2: Strategic Call Identification & Project Alignment

Selecting the appropriate funding call is often one of the most critical factors determining whether a Horizon Europe proposal is competitive. Even a well-developed project concept can be unsuccessful if it does not align clearly with the specific objectives and expected impacts of the call text. Consultants provide structured guidance to ensure that project ideas are matched to the most relevant opportunities and positioned in a way that demonstrates clear compliance with evaluators’ expectations.

1. Avoiding “Square Peg in a Round Hole”: One of the most frequent reasons for low evaluation scores is the submission of proposals to calls where the thematic scope or policy focus is not fully compatible with the project objectives. Consultants conduct a detailed assessment of the proposed concept, comparing it to multiple call texts and eligibility criteria to identify the most strategically appropriate funding option. This process reduces the likelihood of submitting proposals that evaluators may consider only partially relevant.
2. Maximizing Relevance: Successful proposals consistently demonstrate how the project will address the expected outcomes and specific objectives articulated in the Horizon Europe work programme. Consultants support applicants in developing proposal narratives that explicitly reference these priorities and use terminology consistent with the call description. This ensures the proposal communicates its alignment and anticipated contribution to EU policy goals.
3. Identifying Synergies: Beyond a single submission, consultants often assist in identifying complementary calls, related European funding mechanisms, or clustering opportunities that can strengthen the long-term funding strategy. This may include recommending participation in coordinated and support actions (CSA), exploring cascade funding options, or establishing partnerships with organizations active in related topics. Taking this broader perspective can help applicants develop a diversified funding roadmap and enhance the visibility and impact of their research or innovation activities.

Reason 3: Consortium Building and Networking Prowess

A well-composed consortium is often one of the decisive factors in the evaluation of Horizon Europe collaborative projects. While a strong scientific or technological concept is essential, evaluators place significant emphasis on whether the partnership demonstrates the capacity, credibility, and complementarity needed to deliver the proposed outcomes. Proposals that lack diversity in expertise, geographical representation, or sectoral involvement frequently receive lower scores in the Quality and Efficiency of the Implementation criterion.

Specialized consultants contribute value by drawing on established networks of trusted partners across Europe, including universities, research and technology organizations (RTOs), SMEs, public authorities, and civil society actors. In addition to facilitating introductions, they provide guidance on structuring consortia to align with the expectations embedded in the call text and relevant policy frameworks.

Let’s take a look at a real-life example:

A renewable energy company based in the Balkans sought to develop an Innovation Action (IA) under Cluster 5. With support from external consultancy, the applicant assembled a consortium of ten organizations, including a Fraunhofer institute in Germany, a municipal authority in the Netherlands, and an SME from Ireland. This partnership structure enhanced the project’s credibility and capacity to address policy objectives related to climate transition. The proposal was ultimately awarded €4.1 million in funding.

Di‑Hydro – Digital Maintenance for Sustainable and Flexible Operation of Hydropower Plants is a Horizon Europe Innovation Action (Grant Agreement No 101122311) funded with approximately €4.5 million. The project, managed by Greek and Serbian hydropower operators along with partners in Italy, developed predictive maintenance tools and digital twins for hydropower clusters across the three countries. Consultants supported the consortium by coordinating partner roles, preparing narrative sections aligned with call objectives on climate action and digitalisation, and ensuring cohesive integration across technical work packages.

1. The Cornerstone of Collaborative Projects: Most Horizon Europe calls for RIA and IA funding explicitly require a consortium comprising partners from at least three different EU Member States or Associated Countries. Beyond meeting minimum eligibility, evaluators look for evidence of a cohesive, complementary partnership capable of addressing the work programme’s objectives in full. Consultants assist applicants in identifying gaps in expertise, regional representation, or stakeholder engagement, and in addressing these gaps in a targeted way.
2. Leveraging Extensive Networks: Experienced consultants maintain extensive professional networks developed through prior project involvement, participation in European platforms, and collaboration with sectoral clusters. This network access enables applicants to engage appropriate partners efficiently, including organizations that may not be readily accessible through conventional channels.
3. Facilitating Trust and Collaboration: Establishing a consortium requires more than signing Letters of Intent. Consultants support the development of clear role definitions, governance arrangements, and communication protocols to promote effective collaboration during both the proposal preparation phase and project implementation. This approach helps ensure the partnership presents a unified and credible proposal that addresses evaluators’ expectations regarding management structures and resource allocation.

Reason 4: Crafting Compelling Narratives and Grant-Winning Language

Clear, well-structured communication is a core determinant of success in Horizon Europe proposals. Even technically outstanding concepts can underperform if evaluators are unable to understand their value, feasibility, or alignment with EU objectives. In this context, professional consultants contribute by transforming complex content into narratives that are both accessible and persuasive.

According to the European Commission’s Horizon Europe Evaluation Manual, clarity and coherence are among the most frequently cited reasons for proposals being scored below the threshold in the ‘Excellence and Impact’ sections.

1. Beyond Technical Jargon: Many applicants are deeply immersed in their subject matter expertise, which can lead to dense, highly specialized language that is not easily understood by multidisciplinary evaluation panels. Consultants help translate technical details into clear, evaluator-friendly language that effectively communicates the project’s objectives, methodology, and anticipated results. For example, an environmental technology SME working on advanced carbon capture submitted a draft proposal that contained over 40 pages of detailed process engineering. Following iterative refinement with external experts, the narrative was restructured to highlight the practical applications and European added value, ultimately receiving one of the highest Impact scores in the call.
2. Structuring for Impact: Proposals benefit from a coherent structure that allows evaluators to follow the rationale seamlessly across sections. Consultants typically apply proven frameworks for Horizon Europe grant writing that organize content logically, ensuring that each argument builds on the previous one. This structured approach reduces the likelihood of omissions and helps maintain a consistent narrative voice.
3. Highlighting Innovation and Impact: In addition to describing technical advances, successful proposals must clearly articulate their societal, economic, or environmental relevance. Consultants work with applicants to position their solutions within broader European priorities, such as the Green Deal, digital transformation, and resilience, and substantiate claims of innovation with evidence from prior research and market analysis. This emphasis helps proposals stand out in highly competitive calls.
4. Iterative Feedback and Refinement: Developing a competitive proposal is an iterative process rather than a one-time exercise. Consultants conduct multiple review cycles, providing targeted feedback on clarity, consistency, and compliance. This process often includes internal evaluation exercises that simulate actual assessment criteria to identify potential weaknesses early.

In a recent Horizon Europe Innovation Action, a mid-sized consortium working in bio-based materials completed three full revisions before submission, guided by consultants with experience in EU project management services and proposal success rate optimization. The result was an application that scored above the threshold in all categories, illustrating the value of a structured, methodical refinement process.

Reason 5: Mastering the Financial & Administrative Minefield (Slashing Admin Burden)

Administrative issues are among the most frequent causes of proposal rejection in Horizon Europe, regardless of the underlying scientific quality. Proposals can be ruled inadmissible due to inconsistencies in budget calculations, incomplete documentation, or noncompliance with formatting and submission requirements. Addressing these risks requires a structured approach to both financial planning and procedural compliance.

Specialized Horizon Europe consultancy services support applicants by managing this complexity across all stages of preparation. This assistance is particularly valuable for SMEs, first-time applicants, or organizations coordinating multi-partner consortia, where internal capacity may be limited and the workload distributed across multiple contributors.

Recent analyses, including the League of European Research Universities (LERU) report, have estimated that preparing a single Horizon Europe proposal may require the equivalent of two to three person-months of effort when administrative and financial tasks are considered.

1. Budgetary Precision: Developing a Horizon Europe budget involves applying a detailed set of eligibility rules to multiple cost categories, such as personnel costs, subcontracting, equipment, and indirect costs, while also justifying the allocation of resources within the work plan. Consultants provide step-by-step guidance to ensure that budgets are realistic, compliant, and clearly linked to project objectives. This process reduces the likelihood of budget-related clarifications or rejections during evaluation.
2. Compliance Assurance: Each Horizon Europe call specifies strict formatting, documentation, and submission protocols. Errors such as exceeding page limits, using outdated templates, or omitting required statements (e.g., ethics self-assessments, gender equality considerations) can result in proposals being deemed ineligible. Consultants maintain up-to-date knowledge of compliance requirements and establish internal checklists and review processes to confirm that proposals meet all formal criteria before submission.
3. Time-Saving Efficiency: The administrative tasks associated with Horizon Europe submissions include coordinating contributions across beneficiaries, collecting legal and financial documentation, preparing ethics materials, and managing uploads via the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Consultants typically take responsibility for organizing and completing these activities, allowing applicants to focus resources on refining the scientific and technical content. For many organizations, this support can save an estimated 100–150 hours per proposal submission, depending on the size and complexity of the consortium.
4. Risk Mitigation: Consultants apply experience from prior submissions to identify and address common administrative pitfalls. This includes proactively checking consistency between narrative sections and budget tables, validating the eligibility of proposed activities and costs, and ensuring that all required declarations are complete and properly formatted. By systematically managing these risks, consultants help applicants avoid technical rejections that could otherwise negate the effort invested in preparing a strong scientific proposal.

Reason 6: Strategic Review and Quality Assurance

An objective, critical review of the proposal before submission is essential to ensure it meets the high standards expected by Horizon Europe evaluators. Consultants often adopt the perspective of an evaluator to identify potential weaknesses and areas for improvement that may not be apparent to the applicant team.

1. The “Evaluator’s Eye”: By systematically reviewing the proposal against the published evaluation criteria, Excellence, Impact, and Implementation, consultants ask rigorous questions, assess logical coherence, and benchmark the proposal against successful submissions. This approach helps reveal gaps or unclear elements that could reduce scoring.
2. Identifying Weaknesses and Gaps: Consultants provide frank, constructive feedback on narrative clarity, technical soundness, and the substantiation of key claims. They challenge assumptions and highlight sections that may require additional evidence or clearer articulation, thereby enabling applicants to refine their approach before submission.
3. Ensuring Completeness and Cohesion: Beyond content quality, attention to detail is critical. Consultants verify that all required sections and annexes are present and consistent, identify contradictions or redundant information, and confirm that the proposal’s messaging aligns across all components. This thorough review reduces the risk of avoidable deductions during evaluation.

Reason 7: Post-Submission Support & Strategic Re-submission Guidance

The evaluation process provides valuable feedback that can inform future proposal development. Consultants assist applicants in interpreting this feedback and deciding on the appropriate next steps.

1. Understanding Evaluation Results: The Summary Evaluation Report (SER) can be complex and nuanced. Consultants help decode evaluator comments, distinguishing between fundamental concerns and minor issues, and identifying patterns that warrant strategic adjustments.
2. Strategic Re-submission: Many proposals that are unsuccessful on the first submission succeed after revision. Consultants advise on the feasibility of resubmission, suggesting targeted modifications to strengthen the proposal while leveraging existing content and partnerships. This guidance helps optimize resources and increases the likelihood of eventual success.
3. Beyond the Proposal: Some consultancy services extend support beyond proposal preparation, assisting clients during Grant Agreement Preparation (GAP), project kick-off, and subsequent reporting and coordination phases. This continuity can facilitate smoother transitions from funding approval to project implementation and compliance.

Is a Horizon Europe Consultant Right for You?

Organizations considering Horizon Europe funding often face the question of whether to engage in external consultancy support. While many have strong internal expertise, the programme’s complexity, including a competitive success rate averaging around 12% and extensive administrative requirements, can present significant challenges. For startups, SMEs, research institutions, and universities alike, collaborating with an experienced Horizon Europe consultant can provide valuable assistance in aligning proposals with EU priorities, structuring competitive consortia, refining proposal content, and managing administrative tasks. Such support may enhance the overall quality of submissions and help optimize the use of internal resources. Whether preparing an initial application or revising a previous proposal, informed external input can contribute meaningfully to funding outcomes.

When to Consider Engaging a Consultant:

Several scenarios commonly indicate that external consultancy support may enhance an organization’s Horizon Europe proposal development process. These include:

Limited internal resources or specialized expertise in EU funding programmes or proposal writing.

First-time applicants who are unfamiliar with Horizon Europe’s complex administrative and strategic requirements.

Highly competitive calls, where a nuanced understanding of evaluation criteria and strategic positioning can be decisive.

Large, multi-partner projects that require extensive coordination, consortium building, and administrative management.

A clear need to maximize the chances of success, particularly when the stakes are high and internal time constraints exist.

Addressing Common Concerns:

A frequent question concerns the cost versus return on investment (ROI) of engaging a consultant. While consultancy fees represent an upfront expenditure, the alternative- submitting a proposal that fails due to avoidable errors or misalignment- can result in significantly greater costs, including wasted time, internal resource diversion, and missed funding opportunities.

For projects in niche or emerging fields, consultants often bring methodological expertise and strategic insight that transcend specific sectors, supporting applicants in structuring proposals that meet Horizon Europe’s broad innovation and impact criteria.

Choosing the Right Partner:

What to look for in a good consultant/firm (experience, track record, clear communication, client-centric approach).

Selecting an appropriate consultancy partner is critical. Key factors to consider include:

Demonstrated experience and a proven track record in successfully supporting Horizon Europe proposals.

Clear and consistent communication, ensuring transparency and alignment throughout the process.

A client-centric approach, offering tailored support based on the organization’s unique goals and capacities.

Organizations such as Argentum Consultants, with extensive expertise in EU research funding and a collaborative working style, exemplify the type of partners that can provide both strategic and operational value.

ACL – Argentum Consortia Link

EU collaborative projects thrive on strong partnerships. Argentum Consortia Link (ACL) is our structured approach to partnership-building within Horizon Europe consortia. Through ACL, companies can join large-scale EU projects, foster partnerships across sectors, and reduce the burden of consortium coordination.

ACL offers organizations the ability to:

• Join consortia initiated by Argentum or its extended network
• Access active EU project partner searches managed by Argentum’s team
• Form strategic collaborations with leading industry and academic players
• Improve positioning within the European R&I ecosystem
• Gain access to valuable resources, data, and market channels

For many companies, ACL is the entry point into high-profile EU projects – an opportunity to collaborate with top-tier partners and enhance long-term visibility in the innovation landscape.

Why We Evaluate Before We Engage: A Look Inside Our Process

Applying for Horizon Europe funding demands significant resources from any organization – time, personnel, and strategic focus. Not every promising project is immediately suited for this highly competitive arena, and a poorly aligned submission can cost more than just funding opportunities; it can divert momentum and strain partnerships.

This is why we apply a structured internal evaluation before moving forward with any proposal preparation.

The process starts with an Initial Evaluation Call, where our Business Development Managers assess the organization’s innovation activities, development trajectory, and potential fit with Horizon Europe objectives.

This is not a standard introductory conversation. Rather, it is a focused assessment of whether the project presents a credible case for funding within the current policy and competitive landscape. Sometimes, this leads to a recommendation to refine the project further or to consider alternative funding avenues before applying.

When a project demonstrates potential, we proceed to a Strategic Analysis Call, led by a sector-specific Client Strategist. This session examines relevant funding opportunities in depth and explores how a tailored submission strategy might be structured.

Often, these discussions prompt critical reflections: Does the project align with EU policy priorities? Is the consortium structure both compliant and competitive? Would a phased funding approach better serve the organization’s objectives? These insights frequently lead applicants to reconsider aspects of timing, positioning, or partnership composition.

Our experience with hundreds of Horizon Europe proposals has taught us that a carefully considered “not yet” or strategic adjustment often serves applicants better than a rushed submission. That is why we apply a rigorous internal evaluation process, beginning with an in-depth assessment of a project’s alignment with Horizon Europe priorities, followed by strategic analysis tailored to the applicant’s sector and funding potential. This approach enables us to engage only when there is a realistic prospect of success, ensuring that the effort invested by both our team and our clients is well directed. By maintaining this discipline, we help organizations refine their ideas, optimize their positioning, and pursue funding opportunities with a clear, evidence-based strategy.

Bringing Experience and Perspective: Insights from the Field

Real-World Results and Our Network’s Perspective

In 2024, we collaborated on 175 proposals across 62 funding programmes. Over half (58.33%) received positive evaluations from EU expert reviewers. This reflects both the high standard of work by our clients and the strength of structured consultancy support. We are also proud to have joined the European Association of Innovation Consultants (EAIC), underscoring our commitment to professional excellence in the field.”
– Ishai Shamir, CEO, Argentum Consultants

Sharing this kind of insight reminds us that success in Horizon Europe is rarely accidental. It reflects systematic effort, strategic alignment, and strong partnerships – qualities that applicants can foster with the right support network.

Last Thoughts

Engaging a Horizon Europe consultant offers multiple tangible benefits that can substantially improve an organization’s funding journey. By leveraging specialized expertise, applicants can significantly increase their success rates in an intensely competitive environment where average approval hovers around 12%. Consultants also help to reduce the administrative burden, enabling internal teams to focus on core scientific or innovative work rather than navigating complex submission requirements. Furthermore, their strategic guidance provides a critical advantage in aligning projects with evolving EU priorities, building robust consortia, and crafting compelling, evaluator-focused narratives.

For organizations seeking to access Horizon Europe funding, whether for the first time or through strategic resubmission, careful consideration of consultancy support can be a decisive factor in proposal quality and outcome. Horizon Europe represents a transformative opportunity to secure substantial resources for groundbreaking research and innovation across diverse sectors. However, its complexity demands a thoughtful and informed approach to proposal development.

Argentum Consultants, with a proven track record of assisting a broad spectrum of clients across Europe and Israel, stands as a trusted partner in this endeavor. Their deep knowledge of EU funding mechanisms, commitment to client-centric service, and extensive networks provide a foundation for navigating Horizon Europe’s challenges and maximizing funding potential.

We encourage all organizations exploring Horizon Europe opportunities to assess how expert consultancy can complement their internal capabilities and contribute to successful project funding. Approached strategically, Horizon Europe can unlock significant growth, innovation, and impact.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is Horizon Europe, and who is eligible to apply?

Horizon Europe is the EU’s flagship research and innovation funding programme, open to universities, research institutions, SMEs, large companies, NGOs, and public authorities from EU Member States and associated countries.

What is the average success rate for Horizon Europe proposals?

Success rates vary by call but generally range between 10% and 15%. Highly competitive calls like ERC and EIC Pathfinder can be below 10%, while some collaborative calls occasionally exceed 20%.

Can I apply for Horizon Europe funding without a consultant?

Yes, you can apply without a consultant. However, given the programme’s complexity and low success rates, many applicants find that consultants significantly improve proposal quality and reduce administrative burden.

How much time does it take to prepare a Horizon Europe proposal?

A full proposal can take several hundred hours, especially for multi-partner projects. Tasks include budgeting, partner coordination, compliance checks, narrative drafting, and portal submission.

Do Horizon Europe consultants guarantee success?

No consultant can guarantee funding. However, experienced consultants can significantly increase your chances of success by improving alignment, clarity, compliance, and overall strategy.

How do I choose the right Horizon Europe consultant?

Look for a consultant or firm with a proven track record, clear communication style, experience with the specific funding stream you’re targeting, and a collaborative, client-focused approach.

Is hiring a consultant worth the cost?

For many organizations, yes. The ROI of successful funding often far outweighs consultancy fees, especially when factoring in saved time, increased quality, and reduced risk of rejection.

Why consider Argentum Consultants?

Argentum Consultants offers specialized Horizon Europe expertise, a strong track record of funded projects, and deep familiarity with EU policy trends. With a client-first, collaborative approach, Argentum is a trusted partner for organizations seeking to navigate Horizon Europe strategically and successfully.