The Innovation and Networking Office of I-SENSE/ICCS organized an informative webinar on Horizon Europe and other funding instruments. The event featured opening remarks from Dr. Angelos Amditis, Research Director of ICCS and Director of I-SENSE/ICCS, as well as Dr. Ioannis Karaseitanidis, Technical Director of I-SENSE/ICCS.
The webinar was presented by Mr. Georgios Megas, Head of the Innovation and Networking Office of I-SENSE/ICCS and former National Contact Point (NCP) for Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry, Space), and Dr. Sofia Xesfiggi, NCP for Horizon Europe Cluster 1 (Health) and the Cancer Mission, from the National Documentation Centre (EKT).
Key topics discussed included the Horizon Europe pillars, partnerships (co-funded, co-programmed, institutionalized), cascade funding mechanisms such as the open call from the RurBarnive project, evaluation criteria, Key Strategic Objectives (KSOs), and Impact Pathways. Programs like EIT and the EIC Accelerator were also presented, along with support tools such as the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), National Contact Points (NCPs) acting as Horizon Europe HelpDesks in each country, and networks like Ideal-ist. Additionally, synergies with other programs, such as the Digital Europe Programme (DEP), were highlighted.
Special emphasis was placed on analyzing Horizon Europe’s priorities, including the Destinations, with examples from Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry, Space) and Cluster 1 (Health), as well as topic-specific scope analysis. Angelos Amditis pointed out that ICCS succeeds in passing approximately one-third of its proposals, making it one of the most successful entities in Europe. ICCS ranks among the top one or two organizations in various Horizon Europe thematic areas, such as Cluster 4 (Digital, Industry, Space) and Cluster 5 (Climate, Energy, Mobility), and is recognized globally for its high success and participation rates.
Structure:
- The main strategies, structure, and key pillars of Horizon Europe
- Types of actions and participation methods (RIA, IA, CSA, PCP, etc.), topic analysis
- Additional funding opportunities (EIT, Cascading Grants, Cassini, ESA, partnerships, etc.)
- Support networks (Enterprise Europe Network, National Contact Points)
- ISENSE ICCS participation and collaboration opportunities
The workshop aimed to provide researchers, specialized scientists unfamiliar with procedural aspects, and other staff members with a broader understanding of Horizon Europe and related funding opportunities and support networks. Understanding the European framework is not only essential for proposal writers but also for those who collaborate with partners and manage projects on a daily basis, enabling them to identify new opportunities and contribute more actively to research.
Additional similar webinars will be organized in the future, with a focus on more practical topics and deeper insights into proposal writing, consortium creation, and more.
