Proposal Development
Developing a successful funding proposal requires far more than completing an application template. Each funding programme has its own evaluation logic, strategic objectives, and expectations regarding excellence, impact, implementation, innovation, or capacity building. At EFMC, we provide tailored proposal development support across the full European funding landscape, helping researchers, institutions, companies, and consortia transform ambitious ideas into highly competitive proposals.
Our approach combines scientific expertise, strategic positioning, evaluator insight, and practical proposal development experience. We workclosely with applicants to strengthen project concepts, align proposals with programme objectives.
European Research Council (ERC)
We support researchers in developing highly competitive ERC proposals focused on scientific excellence, ground-breaking ambition, feasibility,and research leadership. Our services cover all ERC funding schemes, including Starting Grants (StG), Consolidator Grants (CoG), Advanced Grants (AdG), Synergy Grants (SyG), and Proof of Concept (PoC).
Our support includes:
- Developing a compelling scientific vision and research narrative
- Strengthening the ground-breaking nature and ambition of the project
- Positioning the Principal Investigator's leadership, independence, and scientific achievements
- Optimising Part B1 and Part B2 in line with ERC evaluation criteria
- Ensuring consistency between scientific objectives, methodology, and expected impact
- Preparing applicants for ERC interviews and panel evaluation
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)
We support researchers, universities, and international consortia in developing competitive MSCA proposals across Postdoctoral Fellowships (PF), Doctoral Networks (DN), Staff Exchanges (SE), and COFUND.
Our support includes:
- Structuring excellence, impact, and implementation sections
- Developing training, supervision, and career development programmes
- Strengthening mobility, knowledge transfer, and capacity-building elements
- Supporting consortium design and partner roles
- Aligning proposals with MSCA evaluation criteria and policy objectives
- Optimising project impact and long-term researcher development pathways
Horizon Europe Pillar II – Global Challenges and European Industrial Competitiveness
We support collaborative consortia in developing impact-driven proposals that address societal challenges and contribute to European policypriorities.
Our support includes:
- Structuring Excellence, Impact, and Implementation sections
- Developing work packages, governance structures, milestones, and deliverables
- Strengthening impact pathways, exploitation strategies, and stakeholder engagement
- Ensuring coherence between objectives, outcomes, activities, and consortium roles
- Aligning proposals with call-specific expected outcomes and impacts
Defence & Security Funding
We support defence companies, research organisations, SMEs, public authorities, and international consortia in developing strategically positioned proposals across the European defence and security funding landscape.
Our support includes:
- Strategic positioning of technologies and capabilities
- Consortium development and partner identification
- Capability development and exploitation planning
- Alignment with operational requirements and end-user needs
- Strengthening impact, deployment, and innovation pathways
Innovative Europe (EIC)
We support innovation-focused projects aiming to accelerate technology development, commercialisation, and market adoption.
Our support includes:
- Strengthening innovation and commercialisation strategies
- Developing business, deployment, and investment narratives
- Structuring pathways towards market uptake and scale-up
- Aligning proposals with innovation ecosystem requirements
- Supporting investor readiness and exploitation planning
WIDERA – Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area
We support institutions in developing strategic proposals aimed at capacity building, institutional transformation, and long-term research excellence.
Our support includes:
- Developing institutional growth and excellence strategies
- Designing governance, sustainability, and business plans
- Structuring partnerships with leading European organisations
- Strengthening knowledge transfer and capacity-building activities
- Aligning proposals with excellence and widening objectives
Whether supporting an individual researcher applying for an ERC grant or a large international consortium preparing a collaborative project, EFMC provides the strategic guidance, scientific expertise, and proposal development support needed.