If you want to perfect your Excellence section and boost your chances of Horizon Europe, ERC, or MSCA funding – this guide is for you.
Too often, brilliant research ideas fall short not because the science isn’t strong, but because the writing lacks clarity, structure, or precision. The Excellence section is where your proposal makes its first serious impression – and evaluators begin forming their judgment long before they even reach the Impact or Implementation sections.
In this post, we break down realistic examples of “weak vs strong” writing across major research areas – from health and energy to digital, transport, and agriculture. These examples are fictional, but they reflect exactly the type of language and logic that evaluators respond to.
Use them to sharpen your own writing, avoid common mistakes, and turn your proposal into a standout submission.
#1 - Health & Medical Research
Weak Excellence Paragraph
“This project will improve cancer treatment and provide better healthcare to patients across Europe. It is innovative and will help save lives.”
Strong Excellence Paragraph
“This project develops a nanoparticle-based drug delivery system for pancreatic cancer, aiming to increase treatment effectiveness by 30% in pre-clinical trials. By targeting drug release directly to tumour cells, it builds on previous EU-funded oncology studies while addressing a critical survival gap for one of the most lethal cancers.”
#2 - Energy & Climate
Proposals that ignore what’s already been done raise red flags. Evaluators need to see that you know the research and funding landscape.
Weak Excellence Paragraph
“Our project will make Europe greener by using renewable energy solutions. It is unique and will benefit the environment.”
Strong Excellence Paragraph
“This project pilots a modular hydrogen storage unit capable of reducing household energy costs by 20% in three demonstration regions. By combining electrolysis with low-cost composite materials, it addresses gaps left by current EU energy storage projects and contributes directly to the EU’s 2030 climate neutrality targets.”
#3 - Digital & AI
Objectives that are vague or too broad don’t inspire confidence. SMART objectives – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound – give your project credibility.
Weak Excellence Paragraph
“We will use advanced digital technologies to improve education in Europe. This is innovative and will support teachers and students.”
Strong Excellence Paragraph
#4 - Transport & Mobility
Buzzwords won’t win points. Evaluators want to see exactly how you’ll reach your objectives.
Weak Excellence Paragraph
Strong Excellence Paragraph
“This project deploys 20 autonomous electric shuttles across three EU capitals, aiming to cut passenger waiting times by 25% within two years. By integrating AI route optimisation with real-time passenger data, it closes a key gap identified in EU mobility roadmaps and supports the Green Deal’s sustainable transport targets.”
#5 - Agriculture & Food
Weak Excellence Paragraph
“We will use technology to improve farming and support food security in Europe.”
Strong Excellence Paragraph
“This project applies drone-based imaging and machine learning to optimise water use in vineyards, reducing irrigation needs by 30% across Mediterranean pilot sites. By extending methods validated in previous EU agri-tech projects, it addresses climate-driven water scarcity while enhancing the competitiveness of Europe’s wine sector.”
#6 - Social Sciences & Humanities
Weak Excellence Paragraph
“This project will promote equality in Europe and make societies stronger.”
Strong Excellence Paragraph
“This project analyses labour market integration of migrants in five EU countries using comparative big data methods. By combining employment datasets with ethnographic fieldwork, it identifies systemic barriers to workforce inclusion and develops policy recommendations aligned with the EU’s New Pact on Migration and Asylum.”
⭐ Key Takeaway
The difference between ‘weak’ and ‘excellent’ writing often comes down to:
• Specificity – Use clear numbers, locations, and concrete methods instead of vague claims.
• Alignment – Show how your work directly supports EU roadmaps, missions, and strategic priorities.
• Clarity over jargon – Replace empty buzzwords with language that’s simple, direct, and convincing.
Conclusion
Strong ideas deserve strong proposals. An Excellence section that is clear, measurable, and connected to EU priorities makes evaluators confident in your project’s potential.
At Kahu – Guardian of Innovation, we help researcherstransform vague Excellence sections into competitive ones so they can submit with confidence and less stress.
Would you like evaluator-style feedback on your Excellence section?
