UNDARK

Horizon Europe Proposal Elaboration Workshops Series

2^nd Workshop: HE Proposal Management

October 8, 2025

The second workshop in the Horizon Europe Proposal Development Series took place on October 8, 2025, at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in San Cristobal de La Laguna, Canary Islands. Led once again by Ana Sofia Caires Branco, expert in European research funding and CEO of Saturntech, this session focused on Project Management within Horizon Europe.

Participants explored best practices for project coordination, financial and legal management, and reporting—covering both traditional and lump sum funding schemes. The workshop also addressed mandatory activities such as dissemination, communication, and data management planning, as well as strategies for intellectual property rights and results exploitation. Through detailed presentations and interactive discussions, attendees gained practical insights on how to effectively manage EU-funded projects and ensure compliance, impact, and sustainability from proposal to final reporting.

Slides:  research.iac.es/proyecto/undark/media/presentations/UNDARK_2nd_workshop_v1_with_links.pdf

1^st Workshop: HE Proposal Elaboration Workshop (ERC & MSCA)

April 9, 2025

The first workshop in the Horizon Europe Proposal Development Series took place on April 10, 2025, at the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC) in San Cristobal de La Laguna, Canary Islands. It brought together 26 participants, including both on-site and remote attendees, primarily researchers from the Instituto de Astrofísica de Canarias (IAC), who are preparing to submit proposals to Horizon Europe’s highly competitive European Research Council (ERC) and Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) funding schemes.
This session focused on understanding the structure, objectives, and strategic approach required for both ERC and MSCA proposals. Through detailed presentations and interactive discussion, attendees explored the core evaluation criteria, eligibility rules, and practical strategies for aligning research ideas with the expectations of each programme. The workshop laid a solid foundation for future sessions by clarifying the initial steps of successful proposal preparation, including choosing the right scheme and framing strong, innovative project concepts.

Ana Sofia Caires Branco, distinguished expert in European research funding and CEO of Saturntech partner of UNDARK, led the session. With over 25 years of experience in managing and drafting European research and innovation projects, and more than 20 years as an evaluator for the European Commission—including over 200 H2020 proposals - Ana brings a unique and practical perspective on what makes a successful Horizon Europe proposal. Drawing on deep expertise across multiple EU programs and a background in Technological Physics Engineering, she shared key strategies, common pitfalls, and expert insights to help participants strengthen their proposals and maximize their chances of funding.

You may find the presentations from the workshop available below, providing a deeper dive into both ERC and MSCA funding opportunities and proposal strategies.

Slides:  research.iac.es/proyecto/undark/media/presentations/UNDARK_1ST_workshop_v3.pdf