How to Structure a Winning Horizon Europe Excellence Section
Securing funding under the European Union’s flagship research and innovation program, Horizon Europe, is a highly competitive endeavor. With success rates often hovering around single digits for popular calls, having a good idea is simply not enough. You need a meticulously crafted proposal that convinces evaluators from the very first page.
The Excellence section (Section 1) is the beating heart of your proposal. It is where you lay the foundation, define your scientific or technological breakthrough, and prove that your project is not only innovative but fundamentally sound. Evaluators will read this section first, and if they aren't captivated and convinced here, your chances of a high score in the Impact and Implementation sections drop significantly.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to structure a winning Horizon Europe Excellence section, aligned with the latest application templates for Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Innovation Actions (IA).
The Anatomy of the Excellence Section
In Horizon Europe, the Excellence section is strictly divided into two main sub-sections:
1.1 Objectives and Ambition
1.2 Methodology
While the structure seems simple, the specific requirements packed into these sub-sections demand a strategic approach. Here is how to tackle each part.
1.1 Objectives and Ambition: The 'Why' and the 'What'
This subsection must immediately hook the evaluator. It needs to clearly state what you want to achieve and demonstrate how it goes beyond what is currently available.
Crafting Bulletproof Objectives
Avoid vague aspirations like "we aim to improve sustainability in agriculture." Horizon Europe evaluators are looking for SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound).
Be Specific and Quantifiable: Instead of "reduce emissions," write "reduce CO2 emissions of the manufacturing process by 25% compared to the 2023 industry baseline."
Align with the Call Topic: Your objectives must read like a direct response to the expected outcomes listed in the specific Work Programme call topic. If the call asks for digital twin technologies in healthcare, your objectives must explicitly mirror that goal.
Structure for Scannability: Present your overall objective in a bold, overarching statement, followed by 3 to 5 specific objectives presented in a bulleted list or a clean table.
Demonstrating Ambition and Pushing the State-of-the-Art (SotA)
Evaluators need to know where the scientific or technological baseline currently stands, and exactly how your project will push past it.
Establish the Baseline: Briefly but accurately describe the current State-of-the-Art. Cite recent, high-impact literature, current patents, or existing market solutions.
Highlight the Gap: Identify the limitations, bottlenecks, or knowledge gaps in the current SotA.
Define the Breakthrough: Clearly articulate how your project bridges this gap. Explain your innovation potential.
Map the TRL (Technology Readiness Level): If applicable to your call, explicitly state the starting TRL of your technology and the target TRL by the end of the project. Justify these levels with concrete evidence.
1.2 Methodology: The 'How'
If Section 1.1 is your destination, Section 1.2 is your roadmap. This is traditionally the longest part of the Excellence section and requires rigorous scientific and technical detailing.
The Overall Concept and Models
Start by giving a bird’s-eye view of your approach before diving into the weeds.
The Main Concept: Explain the fundamental mechanisms, models, or assumptions your project relies on. Why did you choose this specific approach over alternatives?
National and International Alignment: Show how your methodology builds upon existing knowledge, previous EU-funded projects, or national initiatives. Do not reinvent the wheel; show that you are standing on the shoulders of giants.
Interdisciplinarity
Horizon Europe heavily favors breaking down silos.
Explicitly describe how your project integrates disciplines (e.g., combining materials science with behavioral psychology, or artificial intelligence with environmental law).
Explain why this interdisciplinary approach is essential to solving the specific problem. Social Sciences and Humanities (SSH) integration is particularly crucial in many clusters—do not treat it as an afterthought.
The Gender Dimension in R&I Content
This is a frequent stumbling block for applicants. Note that this is not about the gender balance within your consortium team (which is covered elsewhere). This is about how gender differences impact the research itself.
Ask the Right Questions: Does the disease you are studying affect men and women differently? Do male and female users interact with your proposed software differently? Are the safety standards you are improving based solely on male physiological data (like traditional car crash test dummies)?
Integrate the Findings: Clearly explain how sex and gender analysis will be integrated into your data collection, testing, and validation phases. If it is genuinely not relevant, you must explicitly state and justify why.
Open Science Practices
Unlike Horizon 2020, Open Science is now evaluated directly under Excellence in Horizon Europe. It is no longer just a checkbox; it is a core part of your methodology.
Go Beyond Open Access: Publishing in Open Access journals is the bare minimum. You must detail early and open sharing of research (e.g., pre-prints, registered reports).
FAIR Data: Explain how your research outputs will be Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR).
Citizen Science: Where relevant, incorporate citizen science, public engagement, or co-creation with end-users into your methodology. Show how the public will be involved in designing or validating your research.
Research Data Management (RDM): Briefly outline your RDM strategy, mentioning how data will be curated, stored, and shared safely (while respecting GDPR and intellectual property rights).
4 Golden Rules for a Winning Section
To elevate your Excellence section from "good" to "funded," keep these structural and stylistic tips in mind:
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words: You have a strict page limit (typically 45 pages for RIA/IA). Use high-quality diagrams to save space and clarify complex concepts. A well-designed PERT chart, a conceptual architecture diagram, or a visual map comparing your solution to the SotA can provide evaluators with an instant understanding of your project.
Ensure Flawless Consistency: The Excellence section does not exist in a vacuum. The methodology described in Section 1 must perfectly match the Work Packages detailed in Section 3 (Implementation). The breakthroughs claimed in Section 1.1 must directly lead to the expected impacts claimed in Section 2 (Impact).
Format for the Tired Evaluator: Evaluators read dozens of proposals, often after a long day of their regular jobs. Use bold text to highlight key phrases, utilize bullet points, leave adequate white space, and strictly follow the provided template headings.
Avoid Jargon Overload: While your proposal will be read by experts, they might not be experts in your specific sub-niche. Write clearly, define your acronyms, and ensure that the fundamental concept is easily understandable to a broad scientific audience.
Conclusion
Structuring a winning Horizon Europe Excellence section requires a delicate balance of visionary ambition and rigorous, practical methodology. By setting SMART objectives, definitively pushing the State-of-the-Art, and meticulously integrating modern requirements like Open Science and the Gender Dimension, you set a rock-solid foundation for your proposal.
Navigating European funding is complex, but you don't have to do it alone. CUBICVANGUARD provides independent strategic consulting and critical analysis for innovation and R&D projects. Connect with us today to ensure your next proposal is structured for success.