Every year, thousands of strong ideas are submitted to EU programmes such as Horizon Europe, ERC, Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Erasmus+, LIFE and Digital Europe, to mention a few. Yet only a fraction make the Final Cut because funds are limited, but your proposal can sit at the top as a perfect candidate to receive the funding whilst others never make it.
Why?
Because most proposals don’t fail on the idea. They fail because the writing doesn’t convince evaluators. The difference between a funded and unfunded proposal often lies in clarity, structure, and credibility.
Here are 5 tips, with practical examples, to make the Excellence section of your EU proposal more competitive.
#1 - Be Ambitious, but Realistic
Evaluators want ambition. But ambition without evidence comes across as empty promises.
Ambition is clear, but also measurable and credible.
Weak Example
“This project will transform European healthcare forever.”
Strong Example
“By piloting a telemedicine platform across 5 rural regions, the project aims to reduce patient travel time for chronic care by 40% within three years.”
#2 - Show Knowledge of the State-of-the-Art
Proposals that ignore what’s already been done raise red flags. Evaluators need to see that you know the research and funding landscape.
Weak Example
“No one has ever applied AI in education.”
Strong Example
“Previous initiatives have used AI for personalised learning in secondary schools. Our project advances this by developing an adaptive model for vocational training, tested in three EU Member States.”
This shows awareness and the gap your project will fill.
#3 - Set SMART Objectives
Objectives that are vague or too broad don’t inspire confidence. SMART objectives – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound – give your project credibility.
Weak Example
“Improve energy efficiency in public buildings.”
Strong Example
“Reduce electricity use in municipal libraries by 15% within 24 months, through smart lighting and building management systems.”
Specific. Measurable. Time-bound.
#4 - Make Your Methodology Concrete
Buzzwords won’t win points. Evaluators want to see exactly how you’ll reach your objectives.
Weak Example
“We will use cutting-edge technology to study biodiversity.”
Strong Example
“We will deploy drone-based imaging to map coastal wetlands, combined with machine-learning analysis to detect habitat changes, verified through field sampling in Spain and Portugal.”
Clear methods = evaluator trust.
#5 - Link Excellence to Impact
Don’t treat proposal sections as silos. A strong Excellence section naturally flows into Impact. Show how your methods and objectives lead to broader societal or policy change.
Strong Example
“By demonstrating a low-cost hydrogen storage system, the project reduces local energy costs and contributes to Europe’s 2030 climate neutrality targets, linking scientific originality to measurable policy impact.”
Conclusion
Winning EU proposals aren’t just about bold ideas. They’re about making evaluators believe those ideas are achievable, relevant and impactful.
At Kahu – Guardian of Innovation, we help researchers and institutions strengthen their proposals with evaluator-style insights so they submit with more confidence and less stress.
Would you like tailored feedback before you submit?
