The Horizon Europe programme offers a wide range of funding opportunities for research and innovation, while exposing applicants to strong competition. In response to these challenges, the wideraexperts.eu portal was developed as part of the NCP_WIDERA.NET project, coordinated by the National Contact Point for EU Research Programmes (NCP) at the National Centre for Research and Development (NCBR). One of the key services provided through this initiative is free pre‑screening of grant applications. It enables expert feedback on project proposals before they are submitted to the European Commission.

Strengthen Your Proposal Before the Evaluation

Proposal pre‑screening is a professional assessment of an almost final version of a project proposal, carried out by an experienced international expert selected from a specialised expert database. As a result, project teams receive an independent and objective view of their proposal – closely reflecting the actual evaluation process.

The expert identifies both the strengths of the proposal and the areas requiring improvement, and provides concrete, practical recommendations that can significantly enhance its competitiveness. The assessment covers key project aspects, including the coherence of the concept, the logic of the planned activities, the structure of work packages, the adequacy of objectives, and compliance with evaluation criteria.

The great value of this service lies in its international perspective. Proposals are reviewed by experts from different countries who are thoroughly familiar with the standards and expectations of European evaluators. – Anna Hapek‑Sikora, NCP/NCBR

This support is particularly valuable at the final stage of proposal preparation, when there is no longer room for major changes and well‑targeted expert feedback – based on real evaluation experience – may determine whether the proposal exceeds the evaluation threshold and achieves success. The service is completely free of charge for applicants who meet the eligibility criteria specified on the project website.

Support for Teams from Widening Countries

Proposal pre‑screening is available to project coordinators and work package leaders from countries covered by the EU Widening initiative, provided that the formal eligibility requirements (eligible countries) are met. The initiative targets countries, including Poland, that show relatively lower levels of participation and success in EU framework programmes, and provides additional support mechanisms. The aim is to reinforce research and innovation capacity and enhance the participation of these countries in European research and innovation funding programmes.

Project teams often highlight that, thanks to the pre‑screening, they gain not only concrete feedback on their proposal, but also greater confidence in the chosen strategy. –
Anna Wieczorek, NCP/NCBR

Pre‑screening is available for Horizon Europe proposals prepared within the following areas: WIDERA (Widening Participation and Strengthening the European Research Area), ERA (European Research Area) actions, Pillar II clusters, Institutionalised European Partnerships, the EIC Pathfinder instrument, and EU Missions. The entire process is carried out in cooperation with National Contact Points, which support applicants at the proposal submission stage and in selecting the appropriate international expert.

The NCP_WIDERA.NET Project. More Than Proposal Pre‑screening

The NCP_WIDERA.NET project provides system‑level support for applicants by combining the expertise of National Contact Points with the experience of international experts. In addition to proposal pre‑screening, the project offers training, individual advisory services, access to expert databases, and support for building international project consortia.

According to Anna Hapek‑Sikora and Anna Wieczorek from the NCP/NCBR project coordination team, the project’s objective is not only to improve the quality of individual proposals but also to strengthen the long‑term competencies of teams applying to Horizon Europe.

The project offers travel grants, which enable participation in international brokerage events, matchmaking activities, and networking meetings. These opportunities allow project teams to actively develop cooperation networks, identify consortium partners, and strengthen their position within the European research and innovation ecosystem.

If you are preparing a proposal for Horizon Europe and want to increase your chances before official submission, join pre‑screening process within NCP_WIDERA.NET.

More information:
widera@ncbr.gov.pl