From idea to grant
1. Work programme and call opening
Calls are announced in multi-annual work programmes and then open on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal. The window between opening and deadline is usually two to five months, so serious preparation starts before a call opens.
Details and sources
- Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 is the basis for calls with deadlines in 2026 and 2027; its General Annexes set the standard rules.
- Observed opening windows: ERC Starting Grant 2026 opened 9 July 2025, deadline 14 October 2025 (about 3 months).
- MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026: opens 9 April 2026, deadline 9 September 2026 (5 months).
- Erasmus+ CBHE 2025: opened 3 December 2024, deadline 6 February 2025 (about 2 months).
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters 2025: published 21 November 2024, deadline 13 February 2025 (about 3 months).
- European Universities 2026: opened 18 November 2025, deadline 4 March 2026 (about 3.5 months).
- Creative Europe cooperation projects 2025: published 10 December 2024, deadline 13 May 2025 (5 months).
- Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships (National Agencies): fixed annual deadline 5 March (12:00 Brussels) for projects starting 1 September to 31 December; duration 12 to 36 months.
Sources: Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 15 General Annexes (sections D, F, G) (European Commission (copy hosted by Science|Business; file dated 18 May 2026), 2026-05-18); MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - call timeline HORIZON-MSCA-2026-PF-01 (European Research Executive Agency (REA), accessed 2026-10-14); Topic ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-2 - call updates (submissions per strand; Strand 2 evaluation results) (EACEA, EU Funding & Tenders Portal, 2025-07-15); Topic ERASMUS-EDU-2025-PEX-EMJM-MOB - evaluation results (EACEA, EU Funding & Tenders Portal, 2025-07-18); Call for proposals ERASMUS-EDU-2026-EUR-UNIV, Partnerships for Excellence - European Universities, V1.0 (European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), 2025-11-18); Topic CREA-CULT-2025-COOP-1 - evaluation results for COOP-1, COOP-2, COOP-3 (EACEA, EU Funding & Tenders Portal, 2025-10); Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, version 1 (award criteria; Part C indicative timeline and payments) (European Commission, 2025-11-12)
2. Preparation: consortium and writing
Partly confirmed The EU does not prescribe a preparation time. Because the open window is short and two-stage calls require a nearly final partnership already at stage 1, consortium building in practice has to start from the work programme, before the call opens.
Details and sources
- Two-stage Horizon Europe calls: the stage-1 proposal is limited to 10 pages and assessed only on Excellence and Impact.
- Single-stage calls: the full proposal (Excellence, Impact, Quality and efficiency of implementation) is submitted at once.
- Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships: an organisation may take part in a limited number of applications per deadline (see Programme Guide 2026, Cooperation Partnerships eligibility).
- Horizon Europe: a validated PIC is not required for submission; legal entity validation happens during grant preparation.
Sources: Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 15 General Annexes (sections D, F, G) (European Commission (copy hosted by Science|Business; file dated 18 May 2026), 2026-05-18); Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, version 1 (award criteria; Part C indicative timeline and payments) (European Commission, 2025-11-12)
3. Single-stage and two-stage calls
Most calls are single-stage. In two-stage Horizon Europe calls, a short outline is screened first and only the best are invited to submit a full proposal.
Details and sources
- Stage 1: only Excellence and Impact are scored; threshold 4 out of 5 for each.
- Stage-1 overall cut-off is set so that the budget requested by proposals invited to stage 2 is as close as possible to 3 times the available budget, and not less than 2 times; normally 8 or 8.5 out of 10.
- Timing: stage-1 result around 3 months after the stage-1 deadline; stage-2 result around 5 months after the stage-2 deadline; grant signature around 8 months after the stage-2 deadline.
- If indicated in the call, stage-1 proposals are evaluated blind (applicants must not disclose their identity).
Sources: Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 15 General Annexes (sections D, F, G) (European Commission (copy hosted by Science|Business; file dated 18 May 2026), 2026-05-18)
4. Evaluation criteria and thresholds
Each programme scores proposals against fixed criteria with minimum thresholds. Passing the threshold only makes a proposal eligible for ranking; funding depends on rank and budget.
Details and sources
- Horizon Europe (RIA/IA/CSA): Excellence, Impact, Quality and efficiency of implementation, each scored 0-5; threshold 3 per criterion and 10 out of 15 overall. For Innovation Actions, Impact is weighted 1.5 for ranking.
- MSCA: overall threshold 70 out of 100; weighting for ranking Excellence 50%, Impact 30%, Implementation 20%.
- ERC: scientific excellence is the sole criterion (project and principal investigator). Step 1 scores A, B or C on the synopsis and CV; only A proceeds. Step 2: full proposal, external reviews, interview for StG and CoG; final A (fundable if budget allows) or B.
- Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships (Programme Guide 2026): at least 70/100 overall and at least half of each criterion (Relevance 13/25, Project design 15/30, Partnership 10/20, Impact 13/25).
- Erasmus+ CBHE (2026): at least 60/100 and half of each criterion (Relevance 15, Design and implementation 15, Partnership 10, Impact 10).
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters (2026): at least 70/100; minimum Relevance 22, Design and implementation 15, Partnership 10, Impact 10.
- Erasmus Mundus Design Measures (2026): at least 60/100 with per-criterion minimums.
- European Universities 2026: at least 80/100 overall and 17/25 for each of the four criteria.
- Creative Europe cooperation projects: 70/100 quality threshold (2024 call); actual funding cut-offs in 2025 were 86 (small), 91 (medium), 85 (large).
- Real cut-offs are far above thresholds: Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters funding threshold was 87 points in 2025 and 86 in 2026.
Sources: Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 15 General Annexes (sections D, F, G) (European Commission (copy hosted by Science|Business; file dated 18 May 2026), 2026-05-18); Evaluation Form (HE MSCA), version 2.2 (European Commission, Funding & Tenders Portal, 2025-12-17); Practical hints and tips for a successful ERC application (ERC presentation, evaluation steps A/B/C) (European Research Council, 2025-10); Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, version 1 (award criteria; Part C indicative timeline and payments) (European Commission, 2025-11-12); Call for proposals ERASMUS-EDU-2026-EUR-UNIV, Partnerships for Excellence - European Universities, V1.0 (European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), 2025-11-18); Topic ERASMUS-EDU-2025-PEX-EMJM-MOB - evaluation results (EACEA, EU Funding & Tenders Portal, 2025-07-18); Topic ERASMUS-EDU-2026-PEX-EMJM-MOB - evaluation results (EACEA, EU Funding & Tenders Portal, 2026-07); Topic CREA-CULT-2025-COOP-1 - evaluation results for COOP-1, COOP-2, COOP-3 (EACEA, EU Funding & Tenders Portal, 2025-10); 159 Creative Europe cooperation projects proposed for EU funding (2024 call) (Creative Europe Desk Slovenia (secondary), 2024-07-26)
5. From deadline to result (time to inform)
EU law caps how long applicants wait for a decision. Horizon Europe is faster than the general EU rule; ERC and Erasmus+ centralised actions take longer.
Details and sources
- General EU rule (Financial Regulation 2024/2509, Art. 197(2)): inform applicants within max. 6 months of the deadline; sign grant within max. 3 months of informing successful applicants.
- Horizon Europe Regulation 2021/695, Art. 31: inform all applicants within max. 5 months of the deadline; sign grant agreements within max. 8 months. Work programmes may set shorter periods.
- Art. 31(3): the 5/8-month limits may be exceeded for ERC actions, missions, and proposals undergoing ethics or security checks.
- Horizon Europe General Annexes 2026-2027: result around 5 months, grant signature around 8 months after the deadline (single-stage).
- MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships 2026: deadline 9 Sep 2026, notification 9 Feb 2027 (5 months), grant signature 9 May 2027 (8 months).
- MSCA Doctoral Networks 2025: deadline 25 Nov 2025, results published 25-26 Mar 2026 (about 4 months); grant signature planned July 2026.
- ERC Starting Grant 2026: deadline 14 Oct 2025, results 3 Sep 2026 (about 10.5 months). ERC Synergy 2026: deadline 5 Nov 2025, results expected autumn 2026.
- EIC Pathfinder Open 2025: deadline 21 May 2025, results 23 Oct 2025 (5 months). EIC Accelerator cut-off 1 Oct 2025: interviews 19-23 Jan 2026, results 17 Feb 2026 (4.5 months).
- Erasmus+ (Programme Guide 2026): KA2 managed by National Agencies (e.g. Cooperation Partnerships) about 5 months to decision and grant signature; KA2/KA3 managed by EACEA about 6 months to decision, about 9 months to grant signature.
- CBHE 2025: deadline 6 Feb 2025, information July 2025, grant signature November 2025.
- Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters 2026: deadline 12 Feb 2026, information July 2026, grant signature October 2026.
- European Universities 2026: deadline 4 Mar 2026, information July 2026, grant signature October-November 2026.
- Creative Europe cooperation 2025: deadline 13 May 2025, information October 2025, grant signature January 2026.
- COST Open Call OC-2025-1: closed late October 2025, 80 Actions approved 19 May 2026 (about 7 months), Actions start September-November 2026.
Sources: Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, Article 31 'Time-to-grant' (European Parliament and Council, Official Journal L 170, 2021-04-28); Regulation (EU, Euratom) 2024/2509 on the financial rules applicable to the general budget of the Union (recast), Article 197(2) (European Parliament and Council, Official Journal L series, 2024-09-26); Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 15 General Annexes (sections D, F, G) (European Commission (copy hosted by Science|Business; file dated 18 May 2026), 2026-05-18); MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships - call timeline HORIZON-MSCA-2026-PF-01 (European Research Executive Agency (REA), accessed 2026-10-14); Doctoral Networks 2025: Results published (NKS MSC (German National Contact Point MSCA), 2026-03-26); MSCA Doctoral Networks - 2025 call timeline (HORIZON-MSCA-2025-DN-01-01) (European Research Executive Agency (REA), accessed 2026-10-14); ERC Starting Grants 2026 - Statistics (European Research Council, 2026-09-03); EIC Pathfinder Open 2025 call draws record interest from the research community (European Innovation Council, 2025-05-23); Over EUR 140 million awarded under EIC Pathfinder 2025 (European Innovation Council, 2025-10-23); Strong interest in EIC Accelerator funding: 923 companies applying for final 2025 cut-off (European Innovation Council, 2025-10-17); 61 start-ups and SMEs secure EIC support in latest round of the EIC Accelerator (European Innovation Council, 2026-02-17); Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, version 1 (award criteria; Part C indicative timeline and payments) (European Commission, 2025-11-12); Topic ERASMUS-EDU-2025-CBHE-STRAND-2 - call updates (submissions per strand; Strand 2 evaluation results) (EACEA, EU Funding & Tenders Portal, 2025-07-15); Topic ERASMUS-EDU-2026-PEX-EMJM-MOB - evaluation results (EACEA, EU Funding & Tenders Portal, 2026-07); Call for proposals ERASMUS-EDU-2026-EUR-UNIV, Partnerships for Excellence - European Universities, V1.0 (European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA), 2025-11-18); Topic CREA-CULT-2025-COOP-1 - evaluation results for COOP-1, COOP-2, COOP-3 (EACEA, EU Funding & Tenders Portal, 2025-10); 80 new COST Actions approved (COST Association, 2026-05-21); COST Open Call attracts record submissions (oc-2025-1 initial analysis) (COST Association, 2025-10-30)
6. Grant agreement preparation
A positive result is an invitation to grant preparation; the funding commitment comes with the signed grant. Legal and financial checks follow before signature.
Details and sources
- Invitation to grant preparation does not constitute a formal commitment; legal entity validation, financial capacity and exclusion checks follow.
- Proposals that pass thresholds but miss out for budget reasons can go to a reserve list or receive a Seal of Excellence (if the call provides for it).
- Horizon Europe target: grant signed within 8 months of the deadline (Art. 31 HE Regulation).
- Erasmus+ EACEA actions: grant signature about 9 months after the deadline (Programme Guide 2026).
Sources: Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 15 General Annexes (sections D, F, G) (European Commission (copy hosted by Science|Business; file dated 18 May 2026), 2026-05-18); Regulation (EU) 2021/695 establishing Horizon Europe, Article 31 'Time-to-grant' (European Parliament and Council, Official Journal L 170, 2021-04-28); Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, version 1 (award criteria; Part C indicative timeline and payments) (European Commission, 2025-11-12)
7. Project start, reporting and payments
Partly confirmed After signature the consortium receives a pre-financing float, reports at the end of each reporting period, and receives interim and final payments.
Details and sources
- Horizon Europe pre-financing: normally 160% of the average EU funding per reporting period (maximum grant / number of periods).
- 5% to 8% of the maximum grant is deducted from pre-financing for the Mutual Insurance Mechanism (returned at the end if not used).
- Horizon Europe pre-financing is paid within 30 days of entry into force or 10 days before the start date, whichever is later; interim and final payments within 90 days of the report.
- Interim plus final payments are typically capped at 90% of the maximum EU contribution until the final payment; exact figures are in the grant Data Sheet.
- Reporting period length is set in each grant agreement Data Sheet (point 4.2); no single EU-wide value.
- Erasmus+: pre-financing within 30 days of the last signature; further pre-financing (where foreseen) within 60 days of request once 70% of the previous instalment is used.
- Erasmus+ Cooperation Partnerships projects start between 1 September and 31 December of the call year (5 March deadline).
Sources: Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 15 General Annexes (sections D, F, G) (European Commission (copy hosted by Science|Business; file dated 18 May 2026), 2026-05-18); Grant payments in Horizon Europe (FFG (Austrian Research Promotion Agency, Horizon Europe NCP), accessed 2026-10-14); Erasmus+ Programme Guide 2026, version 1 (award criteria; Part C indicative timeline and payments) (European Commission, 2025-11-12)
8. Resubmission rules
Partly confirmed Most programmes allow resubmission at the next call. ERC is the main exception: a weak score blocks the applicant for one or two calls.
Details and sources
- ERC 2027 calls (StG/CoG/AdG): not eligible if scored C at step 1 in the 2025 or 2026 StG/CoG/AdG call, or B at step 1 in the 2026 call.
- ERC Plus 2027: same rules plus exclusion of applicants not retained at step 1 of the 2026 ERC Plus call.
- ERC Synergy 2027: C at step 1 in 2025 or 2026 SyG/StG/CoG/AdG, or B at step 1 in 2026 in any of these calls, makes applicants ineligible.
- ERC Synergy 2026: applicants scored B at step 1 of Synergy 2025 were not eligible.
- Stricter 2027 rules announced on 16 April 2026 were withdrawn by the ERC Scientific Council on 29 April 2026 after protests.
- Horizon Europe two-stage calls: a proposal failing stage 1 (below 4 in Excellence or Impact, or below the cut-off) ends; it can be resubmitted to a later call where the topic recurs.
- MSCA, EIC Accelerator, Erasmus+ and Creative Europe set no general waiting period in the sources reviewed; check each call document.
Sources: ERC Scientific Council readjusts rules for reapplication (European Research Council, 2026-04-29); Changes to the 2026 and 2027 Work Programmes (European Research Council, 2025-06-02); Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, Part 15 General Annexes (sections D, F, G) (European Commission (copy hosted by Science|Business; file dated 18 May 2026), 2026-05-18)