Global collaboration action for strengthening the Regional Networks of Excellence and Epidemic Preparedness Consortia
HORIZON JU Coordination and Support Actions
Basic Information
- Identifier
- HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-03-NETWORKS-01-two-stage
- Programme
- Global collaborative action for strengthening the Regional Networks of Excellence and Epidemic Preparedness Consortia
- Programme Period
- 2021 - 2027
- Status
- Closed (31094503)
- Opening Date
- January 30, 2025
- Deadline
- March 20, 2025
- Deadline Model
- two-stage
- Budget
- €53,000,000
- Min Grant Amount
- €13,250,000
- Max Grant Amount
- €13,250,000
- Expected Number of Grants
- 4
- Keywords
- HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-03-NETWORKS-01-two-stageHORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-03-two-stageClinical researchDiarrhoeal diseasesGlobal healthHIV/AIDSMalariaNeglected Infectious DiseasesPreparednessTuberculosis
Description
Expected impact
The actions funded under this topic should contribute to increased international cooperation among researchers and funders, catalyse research synergies, and leverage resources and investments in order to achieve the strengthening of the Regional Networks of Excellence and Epidemic Preparedness Consortia. Proposals are expected to leverage and include the effective in-kind and/or financial contribution of contributing partners, in order to produce meaningful and significant effects enhancing the impact of therelated research activities.
Applicant consortium
The contributions from contributing partners should correspond to the amounts they have committed in the letter of endorsement requesting to become a contributing partner (Article 9 Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085). Their contributions can consist of financial contributions and/or in-kind contributions. Applicant contributing partners must submit the endorsement letter for approval by the Global Health EDCTP3 Governing Board before the deadline for submission of the second-stage applications. It is recommended that the draft letter is submitted to the Global Health EDCTP3 Programme Office sufficiently ahead of deadline for submission of proposals to allow the review[1].
In case of in-kind contribution (even combined with financial contribution), contributing partners become a part of the applicant consortium and participate in the project, as appropriate i.e. as beneficiaries orAffiliated entities in the meaning of Article 8 of the Horizon Europe model grant agreement.
[1] The Global Health Programme Office will ask the applicant contributing partner to revise the letter in case it significantly departs from the template letter published on the Global Health EDCTP3 JU website or is missing any compulsory elements. The preliminary assessment by the Programme Office does not consider the merits of the application. The final decision as to acceptance or rejection of a new contributing partner rests with the Global Health EDCTP3 JU Governing Board
Expected Outcome:Background
The burden of recent outbreaks of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Mpox, Cholera along with the recent COVID-19 pandemic has been tremendous in terms of lives lost. Attempts were made during the epidemic to develop and evaluate vaccines, treatments, and diagnostics for EVD, but these were hampered by weak systems and capacity was not in place to carry out these activities on a very rapid timescale.
The earlier EDCTP Programmes have made important long-term investments towards the African clinical trials ecosystem through the regional networks of excellence, the epidemic preparedness and other related collaborative clinical research activities. The EDCTP consortia for Epidemic Preparedness were ready to carry out research response in several outbreaks across countries that were hosting the projects. It is vital that capacity is strengthened and further developed to undertake rapid evaluation of interventions in clinical trials when future outbreaks occur of emerging or re-emerging diseases. In parallel, strengthening surveillance systems to detect such outbreaks at an early stage, and strengthening laboratory systems to rapidly confirm diagnoses, are of high priority. Assembling background clinical and epidemiological data now on diseases that are currently prevalent and have epidemic potential, will facilitate the planning of clinical trials of new interventions, such as vaccines and treatments, as these are developed.
There are significant clinical research disparities and a very heterogeneous clinical research landscape for conducting clinical trials in SSA across African researchers, institutions, countries and sub-regions.Fostering research collaborations is a means of addressing this challenge through investing in a joint pathway towards a stronger and sustainable SSA clinical research landscape. It is important to invest in efforts that will enable effective management of infectious diseases with epidemic potential using evidence- based preventive methods, prompt laboratory diagnosis, timely treatment, protection of healthcare workers and at the same time ensuring geographical containment.
Alignment and coordination with key players in the field is important to ensure complementarity of investments. Building on EDCTP2 investments and in collaboration with key global health partners (GF, PEPFAR, CEPI, Africa CDC), the Global Health EDCTP3 aims to strengthen the pre-established Networks of Excellence and Epidemic Preparedness Networks, through disease specific networks nodes (such as TB, HIV/AIDS, Malaria and NTDs depending on disease epidemiology and the networks' regional priorities), and horizontal functions weaved in the current health security architecture coordinated by the Africa CDC.
Expected Outcome
The purpose of this topic is to provide funding to restructured EDCTP Regional Networks tailored to the evolving regional clinical trials landscape and learnings from COVID-19, as well as other regional disease threats, towards achieving the pre-defined deliverables set out in this call.
Building on EDCTP2 investments, proposals under this topic should aim to deliver results that are directed, tailored towards, and contributing to the following expected outcomes. Proposals need to address all the following outcomes:
- Strengthening clinical research capacity in order to be able to conduct multi-country clinical trials to ICH-GCP standards and compliance with WHO Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials [1];
- Enhancing collaboration and optimising the use of resources and infrastructures within the network;
- Offering training, mentorship and support to senior scientists to promote professional developmentand scientific leadership in clinical trials;
- Strengthening South-South, North-North and North-South collaborations between researchers and institutions;
- Encouraging and promoting networking and dialogue between researchers, communities and policy makers to maximise the impact of clinical research in Africa;
- Promote resource sharing and harmonisation;
- Establishing or strengthen partnerships with National Public Health Institutes;
- Establishing/strengthening/expanding multidisciplinary epidemiology networks, generating accelerated evidence for optimal management of patients and for guiding public health response to any severe infectious outbreak caused by pathogens within the scope of the Global Health EDCTP3.
[1] Guidance for best practices for clinical trials (who.int)
Scope:Scope
Proposals must address three of the following areas:
1) Expertise
- Strengthening expertise on clinical research in all disease areas in the scope of the Global Health EDCTP3. Proposals aiming to strengthen expertise on HIV/AIDS clinical research are encouraged to align with activities supported by PEPFAR across SSA;
- Strengthening expertise and preparedness for research response to emerging and re-emerging diseases with epidemic potential. Proposals aiming to strengthen expertise and preparedness for research response to emerging and re-emerging diseases with epidemic potential are encouraged to align with activities supported by other funders;
- Supporting National Public Health Institutes in collaboration with Team Europe Initiative "Supporting Public Health Institutes in Africa" [1]. Strengthening/establishment, in conjunction with African CDC, of at least one ICH-GCP-compliant clinical trial site (compliant with WHO Guidance for Best Practices for Clinical Trials [2]) conducted and managed by appropriately qualified staff within the network;
- Pool of interdisciplinary experts organised in networks including at least one NPHI, able to provide accelerated evidence on infectious diseases;
- Training of a specified number of clinical research associates, certified to monitor clinical trials and can be contracted by the Global Health EDCTP3, other funders or clinical trial sponsors to monitor the progress and quality of clinical trials ;
- Strengthening the ethics, regulatory, and pharmacovigilance capacities.
2) Training, mentorship and support to senior researchers
- Develop a comprehensive training and mentorship plan to support the career development of talented individuals through dedicated courses, short term staff exchange programmes, and active rotation process among sites for mentors/trainers and trainees;
- Support a specified number of senior researchers to conduct a research project leveraging the infrastructure, network and expertise supported through this call and EDCTP2 funding.
3) Partnerships
- Enhance South-South and North-South collaboration, and strengthen partnership with National Public Health Institutes and regional public health bodies;
- Propose a sustainability plan and networks that can be pivoted to respond to outbreaks within the respective sub-regions;
- Provide a coordination function to align with Africa CDC and other funders’ strategies and activities to strengthen the African clinical trial ecosystem.
4) Infrastructure
- Upgrade at least one additional clinical laboratory, accredited to the GCLP standards;
- Develop/upgrade or expand a functioning data management service, which can be used by the network or contracted by external clinical trial sponsors.
- Develop/upgrade or expand existing clinical research / clinical trial infrastructure and capabilities to serve both routine and emergency evidence generation for use of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.
Proposals submitted against this topic are expected to leverage financial and/or in-kind contribution from contributing partners. Proposals should define the activities of their project in its entirety, including details of the component(s) for which Global Health EDCTP3 JU funding is requested and the component(s) that are to be financed by contributing partners introduced by the applicant consortium.
Proposals should include consortia with strong representation from institutions and researchers across sub- Saharan African countries, demonstrating a broad regional distribution in the SSA region, including involvement of new institutions and Franco/Lusophone countries, and considering previous EDCTP 1 and 2 investments and current EDCTP3 call. Applicants are also reminded of the expectation of reaching out to organisations in countries with high burden of disease with relatively lower research capacities, for which appropriate funding allocations should be proposed. Collaboration with other international research groups with relevant experience and participation in networking and joint activities, as relevant, is strongly encouraged.
FAIR data principles and open access of publications are required in line with the Model Grant Agreement [3] when relevant.
[1] Public Health Capacity - Africa | Capacity4dev
[2] Guidance for best practices for clinical trials (who.int)
Eligibility & Conditions
General conditions
1. Admissibility Conditions: Proposal page limit and layout
2. Eligible Countries
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
3. Other Eligible Conditions
The conditions are described in General Annex B except for the specific conditions for the Global Health EDCTP3 JU funding as regards entities eligible for funding and consortium composition, the specific rule for countries where the coordinator may be established and the obligation to designate a scientific project leader as below.
Specific conditions replacing the relevant sections in General Annex B to the Horizon Europe Work Programmes.
A. Entities eligible for funding
This section applies to both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA).
To become a beneficiary, legal entities must be eligible for funding. To be eligible for funding, applicants must be established in one of the following countries:
- The Member States of the European Union, including their outermost regions: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden;
- The Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) linked to the Member States: Aruba (NL), Bonaire (NL), Curação (NL), French Polynesia (FR), French Southern and Antarctic Territories (FR), Greenland (DK), New Caledonia (FR), Saba (NL), Saint Barthélemy (FR), Sint Eustatius (NL), Sint Maarten (NL), St. Pierre and Miquelon (FR), Wallis and Futuna Islands (FR);
- Countries associated to Horizon Europe[1]: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Faroe Islands, Georgia, Iceland, Israel, Kosovo[2], Moldova, Montenegro, New Zealand (associated to Pillar II 'Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness' as from the Work Programmes 2023 onwards, including for the institutionalised European partnerships), North Macedonia, Norway, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom;
- Until association agreements start producing legal effects either through provisional application or their entry into force, transitional arrangements apply. The transitional arrangements apply, at the time of the adoption of this Work Programme, with regard to the following countries and legal entities established in these countries, with which association negotiations are being processed or where association is imminent):Morocco, South Korea, Switzerland
- The following countries which are constituent states of the EDCTP Association [3]: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Eswatini, Gabon, The Gambia, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea-Conakry, Kenya, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe.
Legal entities which are established in countries not listed above will be eligible for funding if provided for in the specific call/topic conditions, or if their participation is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority.
Entities established in low- and middle-income countries that are not members of the EDCTP Association and listed in the Horizon Europe List of Participating Countries on the Funding & Tenders Portal [4] are not eligible for funding unless the specific country in which the entity is established, is associated to Horizon Europe or if the participation of the entity is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority.
B. Consortium composition
Unless otherwise provided for in the specific call conditions, for all actions, due to the policy objectives of the Global Health EDCTP3 JU, legal entities forming a consortium are eligible to participate in actions under the programme provided that the consortium includes as beneficiaries:
- At least three legal entities independent from each other and each established in a different country, where legal entities are eligible to receive funding;
- At least one independent legal entity established in a Member State, or in an associated country to Horizon Europe that is a member of the EDCTP Association; and
- At least one independent legal entity established in a sub-Saharan African country that is a member of the EDCTP Association.
This condition applies to both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and SupportActions (CSA).
For the two CSA topics, i.e. topic HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-02-FELLOW-01-two-stage and topic HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-03-NETWORKS-01-two-stage - according to which the EDCTP Association is obligatorily part of the consortium as coordinator, the EDCTP Association must not be counted as one of the three independent legal entities necessary to ensure the eligibility of the consortium composition.
Specific cases:
Affiliated entities — Affiliated entities are eligible for funding if they are established in one of the countries listed above, or in a country identified in the specific call/topic conditions.
Associated partners — Entities not eligible for funding and therefore not able to participate as beneficiaries or affiliated entities (i.e. entities which participate in the action without signing the grant agreement, and without the right to charge costs or claim contributions) are allowed, subject to any conditions regarding associated partners set out in the specific call conditions.
International organisations – International European research organisations are eligible to receive funding. Other international organisations are not eligible to receive funding unless their participation is considered essential for implementing the action by the granting authority. International organisations with headquarters in a Member State or associated country are eligible to receive funding when provided for in the specific call conditions.
Specific rules regarding legal entities that may be the coordinator of an indirect action
In accordance with Article 110(2) of the Council Regulation 2021/2085 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe[5], where entities established in a third country without an agreement to protect the financial interests of the Union participate with funding in an indirect action, the coordinator of the indirectaction must be established in a Member State or associated country, or South Africa.
Scientific project leader
If the coordinator is not established in a country in SSA (please see previous paragraph), the designation of a scientific project leader established in a SSA country member of the EDCTP Association with the roles as described below is mandatory. A work package on ‘scientific project leadership’ must be included in the proposals and budget needs to be provided for this activity. The scientific project leader oversees the project scientific governance and leadership. For this purpose, proposals must include a work package where the details of scientific project leadership are laid down. The scientific project leader should indicatively perform the following tasks:
- During the call for proposals and selection process, coordinate meetings on and drafting of the full project proposal;
- Work with the coordinator and other beneficiaries on the drafting and negotiation of the consortium agreement and other legal agreements among the beneficiaries;
- Act as the key contact point for the Global Health EDCTP3 JU regarding all scientific action governance issues, steer and provide oversight in the development of the scientific actions, without prejudice to the tasks entrusted directly to the coordinator as per the Model Grant Agreement;
- Support and collaborate with the coordinator on its monitoring activities and the adoption of appropriate internal measures, to ensure that beneficiaries are fulfilling their obligations regarding budget, timeline, deliverables, and scientific quality;
- Review the action’s deliverables and reports before their submission by the coordinator;
- Lead the work packages(s) related to the tasks of scientific project leadership.
Annex 1 to the grant agreement and the consortium agreement should address the relationship of the scientific project leader with the coordinator regarding their respective tasks, for example sharing of the information received from or sent to the Global Health EDCTP3 JU on all issues of interest for the proper scientific management of the action.
[1] The list is correct at the time of adoption of this work programme. Please see the Horizon Europe List of Participating Countries on the Funding & Tenders Portal for up-to-date information on the current list and on the position for Associated Countries: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_horizon-euratom_en.pdf
[2] This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
[3] The list is correct at the time of adoption of this work programme. For an update, please check the EDCTP Association website www.edctp.org
[4] Horizon Europe List of Participating Countries on the Funding & Tenders Portal https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/common/guidance/list-3rd-country-participation_horizon-euratom_en.pdf
[5] Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe and repealing Regulations (EC) No 219/2007, (EU) No 557/2014, (EU) No 558/2014, (EU) No 559/2014, (EU) No 560/2014, (EU) No 561/2014 and (EU) No 642/2014. OJ L 427, 30.11.2021, p. 17–119; Regulation - 2021/2085 - EN - EUR-Lex (europa.eu).
All proposals submitted under this topic must include the EDCTP Association as a coordinator already at the first stage of the proposals' submission. This requirement is justified by the financial and administrative expertise of the EDCTP Association on project management and its technical expertise in SSA, which are relevant in the context of this lump sum Model Grant Agreement pilot. This is relevant namely regarding distribution of payments and quality of the reporting and deliverables. Most importantly, the EDCTP Association has a unique expertise in terms of African and European collaboration and wide knowledge of the research context in sub-Saharan Africa, which are crucial for the coordination of large collaborative schemes that are expected to work in the successful projects of this topic, as well as presence in Africa, ensuring proximity to the field and the activities implemented by the projects.
The eligible costs of the EDCTP Association in the actions funded under this topic may not be reimbursed by the JU and may be used as a basis for in-kind contributions to operational activities (IKOP). This in-kind contribution of the EDCTP Association will cover the coordination activities of the project. On the basis of the outcome of the first stage evaluation, the applicant consortia of the highest ranked short proposals (first stage) will be invited to contact the EDCTP Association in order to include it as coordinator in their full proposal (second stage) and obtain the estimated amount of the Association’s contribution as well as any other relevant information. First stage applicants should nevertheless include an entity acting as coordinator to submit the proposal. The EDCTP Association must not be counted as one of the three independent legal entities necessary to ensure the eligibility of the consortium composition, as requested in the Call conditions, "Specific conditions to Global Health EDCTP3 JU - B. Consortium composition".
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
4. Financial and operational capacity and exclusion
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5a. Evaluation and award: Award criteria, scoring and thresholds
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
5b. Evaluation and award: Submission and evaluation processes
Specific conditions related to Scores and weighting
Replacing the scores and weighting section in General Annex D to the Horizon Europe Work Programmes as regards second stage of two-stage evaluations, for both Research and Innovation Actions (RIA) and Coordination and Support Actions (CSA)
Evaluation scores will be awarded for the criteria, and not for the different aspects listed in the table. For full applications, each criterion will be scored out of 5. The threshold for individual criteria 1 (Excellence) and 2 (Impact) will be 4 and for criterion 3 (Quality and Efficiency of the implementation) will be 3. The overall threshold, applying to the sum of the three individual scores, will be 12.
Proposals that pass the individual threshold and the overall threshold will be considered for funding, within the limits of the available call budget. Other proposals will be rejected.
Nota bene, for the first stage of the two-stage evaluation of both RIAs and CSAs, the scores and weightingas indicated in Annex D of the General Annexes of the Horizon Europe work programme 2023/2025 apply.
In addition to the aspects of award criteria included in General Annex D, the following aspects are taken into consideration during the evaluation of second-stage proposals:
- For the ‘impact’ criterion: Production of meaningful and significant effects enhancing the impact of the relevant support and coordination activities via the inclusion of effective in-kind and/or financial contribution of contributing partners.
- For the ‘quality and efficiency of the implementation’ criterion: Leveraging of financial and/or in-kind contributions from contributing partners that are equal or greater than the requested JU contribution, in order to ensure the necessary resources and effort for the action.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
5c. Evaluation and award: Indicative timeline for evaluation and grant agreement
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
6. Legal and financial set-up of the grants
Eligible costs will take the form of a lump sum as defined in the Decision of 7 July 2021 authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme – the Framework Programme for Research and Innovation (2021-2027) – and in actions under the Research and Training Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community (2021-2025) [[This decision is available on the Funding and Tenders Portal, in the reference documents section for Horizon Europe, under ‘Simplified costs decisions’ or through this link: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/opportunities/docs/2021-2027/horizon/guidance/ls-decision_he_en.pdf]].
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
Specific conditions
JU right to object to transfer/exclusive licensing
The Global Health EDCTP3 JU may, up to 4 years after the end of the action, object to a transfer of ownership or to the exclusive licensing of results, as set out in the specific provision of Annex 5 of the Model Grant Agreement. In addition, in accordance with Article 24(3) of Council Regulation 2021/2085 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe [1] and the Model Grant Agreement, the right toobject applies also to participants that have not received funding from the JU.
[1] Council Regulation (EU) 2021/2085 of 19 November 2021 establishing the Joint Undertakings under Horizon Europe and repealing Regulations (EC) No 219/2007, (EU) No 557/2014, (EU) No 558/2014, (EU) No 559/2014, (EU) No 560/2014, (EU) No 561/2014 and (EU) No 642/2014; OJ L 427, 30.11.2021, p. 17.
Access to information and involvement of contributing partners.
Evaluation
Global Health EDCTP3 may invite any contributing partners providing financial contributions under a certain topic to propose one representative as observer to participate in the evaluation process under confidentiality safeguards. This possibility does not apply to contributing partners that are part of a consortium submitting a proposal under the relevant topic.
Reports and deliverables
By applying under any topic, participants consent that the JU reserves the right to share their project reports and deliverables with contributing partners providing financial contributions under the relevant topic. Global Health EDCTP3 may consult the relevant contributing partners for the purpose of assessing the reports and deliverables. The reports and deliverables will be shared under confidentiality safeguards.
Other requirements
As the funding in these actions will also be provided by contributing partners introduced by Global Health EDCTP3, by applying under this topic, participants consent that the JU will share their project technical reports and deliverables with the contributing partners participating in the action, who may provide input to the JU for the assessment of the reports and deliverables.
For all projects under this topic, the designation of a scientific project leader with the roles as described in the introduction is mandatory. A work package on ‘scientific project leadership’ must be included in the proposals and budget needs to be provided for this activity.
Application and evaluation forms and model grant agreement (MGA):
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Note: despite blind evaluation being mentioned in the standard application form for stage 1 proposals, available in the Funding and Tenders Portal (at the stage of adoption of this Work Programme), please note that this call is not part of the ‘blind evaluation pilot’, therefore no anonymisation is required for stage 1proposals of the two-stage calls.
Standard application form (HE CSA Stage 1)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE RIA, IA and CSA Stage 1)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Framework Partnership Agreement FPA
Call-specific instructions
Information on financial support to third parties (HE)
Additional documents:
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 4. Health
HE Main Work Programme 2023–2025 – 13. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Support & Resources
Online Manual is your guide on the procedures from proposal submission to managing your grant.
Horizon Europe Programme Guide contains the detailed guidance to the structure, budget and political priorities of Horizon Europe.
Funding & Tenders Portal FAQ – find the answers to most frequently asked questions on submission of proposals, evaluation and grant management.
Research Enquiry Service – ask questions about any aspect of European research in general and the EU Research Framework Programmes in particular.
National Contact Points (NCPs) – get guidance, practical information and assistance on participation in Horizon Europe. There are also NCPs in many non-EU and non-associated countries (‘third-countries’).
Enterprise Europe Network – contact your EEN national contact for advice to businesses with special focus on SMEs. The support includes guidance on the EU research funding.
IT Helpdesk – contact the Funding & Tenders Portal IT helpdesk for questions such as forgotten passwords, access rights and roles, technical aspects of submission of proposals, etc.
European IPR Helpdesk assists you on intellectual property issues.
CEN-CENELEC Research Helpdesk and ETSI Research Helpdesk – the European Standards Organisations advise you how to tackle standardisation in your project proposal.
The European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their recruitment – consult the general principles and requirements specifying the roles, responsibilities and entitlements of researchers, employers and funders of researchers.
Partner Search help you find a partner organisation for your proposal.
Latest Updates
PROPOSAL NUMBERS
Call HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-03-two-stage has closed on 03.09.2025.
11 proposals have been submitted.
The breakdown per topic is:
- HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-03-NETWORKS-01-two-stage: 11
Evaluation results are expected to be communicated in January 2026.
EVALUATION RESULTS (STAGE 1)
Published: 10/01/25
Deadline: 20/03/25
Available budget: EUR 53.000.000
In accordance with the call conditions, the evaluation of the first-stage proposals was made looking only at the criteria 'Excellence' and 'Impact'. The threshold for both criteria was 4. The overall threshold (applying to the sum of the two individual scores) was set for each topic/type of action with separate call-budget-split at a level that allowed the total requested budget of proposals admitted to stage 2 be as close as possible to 3 times the available budget (and not below 2.5 times the budget):
- HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-03-NETWORKS-01-two-stage: 8
The results of the evaluation for each topic are as follows:
HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-03-NETWORKS-01-two-stage | |
Number of proposals submitted (including proposals transferred from or to other calls) | 20 |
Number of inadmissible proposals | 0 |
Number of ineligible proposals | 5 |
Number of above-threshold proposals | 6 |
Total budget requested for above-threshold proposals | 141.900.000,00 € |
Summary of observer report:
The evaluations were in the estimation of both observers impartial, fair and equitable. No issues of confidentiality were seen to arise.
This was, in particular, enabled by a careful selection of experts and recorders as well as ensuring that any experts or recorders with a COI were excluded from the discussions of the proposal in question. The use of the SEP platform for all aspects of the reports (IER, CR and QC) also reinforced the confidentiality of the evaluation.
No issues of non-conformity were observed and the evaluation followed all the applicable rules. The eligibility of proposals was determined by the Unit prior to the assignment of experts to proposals. Any issues of proposals being not being “in scope” were discussed by the experts during the consensus meetings.
We recently informed the applicants about the evaluation results for their proposals on 01/07/2025.
For questions, please contact [email protected]
GENERALISED FEEDBACK for successful applicants after STAGE 1
In order to best ensure equal treatment, successful stage 1 applicants do not receive the evaluation summary reports (ESRs) for their proposals.
Join the networking platform and find the right partners and co-funders to maximise the chances of your proposal at the second stage. Discover more and register.
Please bear in mind that your full proposal will now be evaluated more in-depth and possibly by a new group of outside experts.
Please make sure that your full proposal is consistent with your short outline proposal. It may NOT differ substantially. The project must stay the same.
Call HORIZON-JU-GH-EDCTP3-2025-03-two-stage_stage1 has closed on the 20/03/2025.
20 proposals have been submitted.
Evaluation results are expected to be communicated in July 2025.