Horizon Europe Proposal Writing Camps: Complete Training Guide

Horizon Europe proposal writing camps are intensive 3-day training programmes organized by the European Commission to support researchers and innovators in developing high-quality collaborative project proposals. These camps focus on applications to be submitted under the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, covering funding opportunities under Pillar II (Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness) and Pillar III (Innovative Europe), as well as Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions under Pillar I (Excellent Science).

The European Commission has been expanding these training initiatives to associated countries and third countries, with recent camps announced for Moldova (16-18 February 2026 at the National Agency for Research and Development in Chisinau) and Azerbaijan (9-13 February 2026 in Baku, comprising 3 training days plus 2 days of expert consultations). These camps target experienced researchers, early-career researchers including PhD candidates, innovation stakeholders, and National Contact Points, with selection taking place after registration deadlines.

What Training Components Are Included in Proposal Writing Camps?

Horizon Europe proposal writing camps typically include three core training components: intensive proposal development workshops, collaborative learning sessions, and individual expert consultations. The 3-day camp structure provides comprehensive coverage of the Horizon Europe application process, from identifying suitable calls to submitting competitive proposals.

The workshop sessions focus on practical skills development, including how to decode call requirements, align project concepts with EU policy priorities, and develop each section of a Horizon Europe proposal according to the three evaluation criteria: Excellence, Impact, and Quality and Efficiency of Implementation. Participants work in groups to apply concepts to real call examples, often drawing from Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy, Mobility) and Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment) calls under Pillar II.

Individual expert consultations represent a unique value proposition of these camps. These personalized sessions support participants in consortium building, securing appropriate roles within consortia, and matching their expertise to specific call requirements. For the Moldova camp, consultations begin in early December 2025 (approximately 2 months before the February 2026 camp) and are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis following eligibility verification.

Workshop Session Structure

The workshop sessions follow a structured approach covering the complete proposal development lifecycle. Day 1 typically focuses on understanding the Horizon Europe programme structure, work programmes, and call identification strategies. Participants learn to navigate the Funding and Tenders Portal effectively and understand the policy context behind specific destinations (thematic areas based on EU policy priorities).

Day 2 concentrates on proposal structure and content development, with detailed coverage of Part A (administrative information) and Part B (technical description) components. According to the Horizon Europe Standard Application Form templates, Part A is generated by the IT system based on participant information, while Part B requires uploading a PDF document following specific templates downloaded from the submission system.

Day 3 typically covers advanced topics including budget planning, consortium management, and submission procedures. The training emphasizes practical application, with participants working on actual call examples and receiving feedback on their proposal concepts.

How Do Individual Expert Consultations Support Proposal Development?

Individual expert consultations provide personalized guidance for concrete proposals targeting specific Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 calls. These one-on-one sessions complement the group workshop format by addressing specific challenges related to individual research concepts and consortium situations.

The consultation process typically covers four key areas: call decoding and interpretation, expertise-call matching assessment, consortium building strategies, and role definition within collaborative projects. Experts help participants understand the nuanced requirements of specific calls and identify the most appropriate funding instruments for their research concepts.

Consortium building support represents a critical component of these consultations, particularly for first-time applicants to Horizon Europe. Experts provide guidance on partner identification, consortium composition requirements, and strategies for securing appropriate roles (coordinator, work package leader, or partner) based on the participant's experience level and institutional capacity.

Consultation Booking and Timeline

Expert consultations operate on a first-come, first-served basis with eligibility verification requirements. For the Moldova camp, consultations begin in early December 2025, approximately 2 months before the February 2026 training event. This extended timeline allows participants to engage with experts during their actual proposal preparation process.

The consultation booking system typically requires participants to provide information about their research concept, target calls, and specific support needs. Experts then assess the feasibility of matching participants' expertise to their chosen calls and provide recommendations for alternative funding opportunities where appropriate.

Each consultation session addresses specific challenges related to the participant's proposal concept, making the guidance directly applicable to their submission timeline. This personalized approach significantly enhances the practical value of the training programme compared to generic proposal writing workshops.

What Topics and Funding Instruments Do the Camps Cover?

Horizon Europe proposal writing camps provide comprehensive coverage of collaborative research funding opportunities across multiple programme pillars. The primary focus is on Pillar II (Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness), which represents the largest portion of the Horizon Europe budget according to the European Commission's Horizon Europe programme page.

Under Pillar II, camps cover all six clusters: Cluster 1 (Health), Cluster 2 (Culture, Creativity and Inclusive Society), Cluster 3 (Civil Security for Society), Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry and Space), Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy and Mobility), and Cluster 6 (Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Environment). Each cluster contains multiple destinations (thematic priority areas) with specific calls for proposals published in the work programmes.

Pillar III coverage includes the European Innovation Council (EIC) instruments, particularly the EIC Accelerator which provides funding support to high-risk, high-impact innovations. Training also covers European Innovation Ecosystems opportunities within Pillar III.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Coverage

The camps include dedicated sessions on Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) under Pillar I, which represents a significant portion of the total Horizon Europe budget according to the Horizon Europe Programme Guide. MSCA coverage includes all action types: Postdoctoral Fellowships, Doctoral Networks, Staff Exchanges, and COFUND programmes.

Participants learn about MSCA-specific requirements including mobility rules, career development components, and the unique evaluation criteria that emphasize excellence of the researcher, quality of the training, and impact on career development. The training addresses both individual fellowship applications and institutional applications for hosting MSCA fellows.

Special attention is given to international cooperation opportunities within MSCA, particularly relevant for participants from associated countries like Moldova and third countries like Azerbaijan. The training covers eligibility requirements, mobility patterns, and strategies for developing competitive MSCA applications.

Who Should Attend Horizon Europe Proposal Writing Camps?

Horizon Europe proposal writing camps target four primary participant categories: experienced researchers seeking to enhance their proposal writing skills, early-career researchers including PhD candidates new to EU funding, innovation stakeholders from private sector and technology transfer organizations, and National Contact Points responsible for supporting researchers in their countries.

Experienced researchers benefit from camps by learning about new features in the 2026-2027 work programmes and current programme procedures. These participants typically seek to improve their success rates or transition to coordinator roles in collaborative projects.

Early-career researchers, including PhD candidates, represent a priority target group for capacity building initiatives. These participants learn fundamental concepts of EU research funding, proposal structure requirements, and career development opportunities available through various Horizon Europe instruments. The camps provide essential knowledge for researchers planning to establish independent research careers within the European Research Area.

Innovation Stakeholder Participation

Innovation stakeholders from private companies, technology transfer offices, and innovation agencies benefit from understanding Horizon Europe opportunities for business participation. The training covers specific requirements for private sector involvement, including Technology Readiness Level (TRL) expectations, exploitation planning, and intellectual property considerations in collaborative research projects.

These participants learn about funding instruments specifically designed for innovation, including the EIC Accelerator, EIC Pathfinder, and innovation actions under Pillar II clusters. The training addresses business model development, market analysis requirements, and strategies for leveraging EU funding to accelerate technology commercialization.

National Contact Points attend camps to enhance their advisory capabilities and stay current with programme developments. These participants need comprehensive knowledge of all programme components to provide effective support to researchers in their countries.

How Do Participants Apply for Proposal Writing Camps?

Application procedures for Horizon Europe proposal writing camps follow a competitive selection process with specific registration deadlines and eligibility requirements. According to the European Commission announcement, for the Azerbaijan camp, the registration deadline is 28 January 2026, while Moldova participants can register through the dedicated portal until their respective deadline.

The application process typically requires completion of an online registration form providing information about the applicant's research background, institutional affiliation, experience with EU funding, and specific learning objectives. Applicants must demonstrate their connection to the target country and their commitment to developing Horizon Europe proposals.

Selection criteria generally include research excellence, potential for successful proposal development, institutional support for EU project participation, and alignment with camp objectives. Priority may be given to first-time applicants to Horizon Europe, early-career researchers, and participants with specific research concepts ready for proposal development.

Registration Requirements and Documentation

Registration forms typically request detailed information about the applicant's research profile, including current projects, publication record, and previous experience with national or international funding programmes. Participants may need to provide a brief description of their research concept and target funding instruments.

Institutional affiliation verification is required, with applicants needing to demonstrate their connection to eligible research organizations, universities, or innovation entities in the target country. For associated countries like Moldova, participants from any eligible institution can apply, while third countries may have specific restrictions.

The selection process considers the overall composition of participant cohorts, aiming for balanced representation across career stages, research disciplines, and institutional types. This approach ensures diverse learning environments and effective peer-to-peer knowledge exchange during workshop sessions.

What Are the Practical Implications for Project Coordinators?

Project coordinators should view Horizon Europe proposal writing camps as strategic capacity building opportunities for consortium development and proposal quality improvement. These camps provide direct access to European Commission experts and peer networks that can significantly enhance consortium building capabilities and proposal competitiveness.

For coordinators planning to expand their consortia to include partners from associated countries or third countries, participating in or supporting team member participation in these camps creates valuable networking opportunities. The camps facilitate connections between experienced coordinators and emerging researchers, potentially leading to stronger consortium partnerships.

Coordinators should encourage team members, particularly early-career researchers and first-time EU applicants, to participate in relevant camps. A consortium with members trained in current Horizon Europe procedures and requirements typically produces higher-quality proposals and demonstrates stronger implementation capacity to evaluators.

Strategic Partnership Development

The networking component of proposal writing camps extends beyond the formal training programme. Participants develop professional relationships with peers from their region and internationally, creating foundations for future collaborative proposals. Coordinators can leverage these relationships to strengthen their consortium building capabilities.

For multi-country consortia, having partners who have completed formal EU proposal writing training demonstrates consortium readiness and reduces coordination risks during proposal development. This training credential can be highlighted in partner capability descriptions within proposal submissions.

Coordinators should also consider the camps as opportunities to identify potential work package leaders or specialized partners with specific expertise areas. The combination of technical knowledge and EU funding procedural knowledge makes camp participants particularly valuable consortium members.

Proposal Quality Enhancement

Teams with members trained through European Commission proposal writing camps typically produce more strategically aligned proposals with stronger policy connections and clearer impact pathways. The camps emphasize understanding EU policy contexts and expected impacts, leading to more compelling proposal narratives.

The expert consultation component provides insights into evaluation criteria interpretation and common proposal weaknesses that coordinators can apply across their entire proposal portfolio. This knowledge transfer benefits not only the specific participants but entire research groups and institutions.

Coordinators should establish internal knowledge sharing procedures to capture insights from camp participants and integrate them into institutional proposal development processes. This approach maximizes the return on investment from training participation and builds long-term proposal writing capacity.

The expansion of proposal writing camps to associated countries and third countries reflects the European Commission's commitment to strengthening the global research and innovation ecosystem around Horizon Europe. As the programme moves toward the 2028-2034 framework with its proposed enhanced funding approach, these capacity building initiatives will become increasingly important for maintaining competitive, high-quality proposal submissions across all eligible countries and institutions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long are Horizon Europe proposal writing camps and what is included?

Horizon Europe proposal writing camps are intensive 3-day training programmes that combine practical workshops with individual expert consultations. The camps cover collaborative research proposals under Pillars II and III, plus Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, with personalized guidance sessions starting approximately 2 months before the camp dates.

Who is eligible to attend Horizon Europe proposal writing camps?

Camps target experienced researchers, early-career researchers including PhD candidates, innovation stakeholders, and National Contact Points. Participants must be affiliated with eligible institutions in the target country, with selection based on research excellence and potential for successful proposal development.

What funding instruments are covered in the proposal writing camps?

The camps cover Pillar II collaborative research projects across all six clusters, Pillar III innovation instruments including EIC Accelerator, and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions under Pillar I. Training focuses on the Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027 calls with practical examples from multiple thematic areas.

How do participants apply for Horizon Europe proposal writing camps?

Applications require completion of online registration forms with research background information, institutional affiliation verification, and research concept descriptions. Selection is competitive with specific deadlines (such as 28 January 2026 for Azerbaijan), and slots for expert consultations are assigned first-come, first-served.

What makes individual expert consultations valuable during the camps?

Expert consultations provide personalized guidance on call decoding, expertise-call matching, consortium building strategies, and role definition within collaborative projects. These one-on-one sessions address specific challenges for concrete proposal concepts targeting Horizon Europe 2026-2027 calls.