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Strategic Analysis
A winning proposal for the Research Management Facility must position the initiative as an operational engine driving institutional transformation across Widening research performing organisations (RPOs), rather than a theoretical training scheme. The core strategy hinges on having a credible, highly visible Widening coordinator backed by established European research management associations (such as EARMA) to co-deliver tailored institutional upgrade plans aligned with the European Competence Framework for Research Managers (RM Comp). Proposals must demonstrate a sustainable, scalable pan-European network that institutionalizes professional recognition, operational capacity, and cross-border ERA integration across low-R&I performing regions.
Support the assessment of institutional needs in research management, administration and training in close collaboration with the research performing institutions that express interest in their expertise;
Support the development of a tailor-made implementation plans to establish or upgrade research management capacities at institutional level;
Facilitate peer exchange and best practice sharing between Widening countries and more experienced institutions to support sustainable capacity building;
Deliver training modules for research managers in Widening countries to strengthen their skills and professional competences, in line with the European Competence Framework for Research Managers [1] ;
Facilitate networking opportunities for research managers from Widening countries at European and international levels, to strengthen peer exchange, promote best practice sharing, and enhance their integration into the broader research management ecosystem.
Encourage the establishment of stronger research management capacities in Widening countries to enhance their participation in the European Research Area;
Support institutional reforms in research institutions and national R&I systems to strengthen governance, efficiency, and alignment with European research and innovation priorities;
Strengthen human capital with entrepreneurial and well-trained research managers;
Promote and support multidisciplinary and transnational cooperation in the field of research management to foster knowledge exchange, capacity building, and alignment of best practices across institutions and countries;
Promote of ERA priorities such as research integrity and responsible research and innovation (ethics, public engagement, gender equality, science education, open access) and knowledge valorisation, thereby strengthening the institution’s overall research ecosystem.
No expected impacts identified for this destination.
European Competence Framework for Research Managers (RM Comp)
highThe European Competence Framework for Research Managers (RM Comp) outlines the core competencies, skills, and knowledge profiles required for research management professionals across the European Research Area (ERA). Developed under ERA Policy Agenda Action 17, it aims to standardise, recognise, and professionalise research management careers within research-performing organisations.
Evaluators expect proposals to directly utilise, refine, or validate the RM Comp framework to structure training, career development pathways, and capacity-building activities. Proposals should clearly show how project methodologies contribute to the formal professional recognition of research managers and align institutional practices with the framework's competency descriptors.
Specific requirements
Topic-specific consortium
Many CSA topics require a broader consortium than the general-annex minimum. The call-specific Eligibility and admissibility conditions override the general annex.
Restricted beneficiary type
Many CSA calls are reserved for specific beneficiary types (national funding agencies, research infrastructures, standards bodies). Check the call.
Coordination/support activities only
CSA funds coordination, networking, policy support, dissemination, training. Not research activities per se.
Gender Equality Plan
GEP eligibility criterion applies to public bodies, research organisations, higher education institutions from MS/AC.
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described in Annex A and Annex E of the Horizon Europe Work Programme General Annexes.
Proposal page limits and layout: described in Part B of the Application Form available in the Submission System.
described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
A number of non-EU/non-Associated Countries that are not automatically eligible for funding have made specific provisions for making funding available for their participants in Horizon Europe projects. See the information in the Horizon Europe Programme Guide.
To achieve the expected outcomes, participation as coordinators is limited to legal entities established in Widening countries, as defined in the Horizon Europe regulation.
Applications must be submitted by a consortium including participation, as beneficiaries, of at least three independent legal entities: Each established in a different Member State or Associated Country; and two of which are established in a Member State.
Due to the specific nature of the call, organisations hosting WIDERA NCPs in Widening countries are exceptionally eligible to participate.
Others conditions are described in Annex B of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex C of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex D of the Work Programme General Annexes.
are described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes and the Online Manual.
described in Annex F of the Work Programme General Annexes.
described in Annex G of the Work Programme General Annexes.
The Commission estimates that an EU contribution of around EUR 7.00 million would allow these outcomes to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of a proposal requesting different amounts.
The total indicative budget for the topic is EUR 7.00 million.
Application form templates — the application form specific to this call is available in the Submission System
Standard application form (HE CSA)
Evaluation form templates — will be used with the necessary adaptations
Standard evaluation form (HE CSA)
Guidance
Model Grant Agreements (MGA)
Call-specific instructions
Information on financial support to third parties (HE)
Information on clinical studies (HE)
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 1. General Introduction
HE Main Work Programme 2026-2027 – 15. General Annexes
HE Framework Programme 2021/695
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Funding & Tenders Portal Terms and Conditions
Funding & Tenders Portal Privacy Statement
HE Specific Programme Decision 2021/764
EU Financial Regulation 2024/2509
Decision authorising the use of lump sum contributions under the Horizon Europe Programme
Rules for Legal Entity Validation, LEAR Appointment and Financial Capacity Assessment
EU Grants AGA — Annotated Model Grant Agreement
Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
Evaluators will immediately verify strict eligibility conditions: coordination is strictly restricted to legal entities established in Widening countries, and the consortium must include at least three independent legal entities from different MS/AC, with at least two in Member States (noting that organisations hosting WIDERA NCPs are exceptionally eligible). Under the award criteria, evaluators will scrutinize:
Everything the call asks for, seen from the call's point of view. Each line shows what answers it, and which partner carries it.
This matrix lists everything the call asks for: outcomes, impacts, scope, the requirements buried in the call text, and policy alignment. Sign up free and GrantForge tracks each line against the concept you build.
| Requirement | Covered by | Carried | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope activities | |||
| SC1Support the assessment of institutional needs in research management, administration and training in close collaboration with the research performing institutions that express interest in their expertise; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC2Support the development of a tailor-made implementation plans to establish or upgrade research management capacities at institutional level; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC3Facilitate peer exchange and best practice sharing between Widening countries and more experienced institutions to support sustainable capacity building; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC4Deliver training modules for research managers in Widening countries to strengthen their skills and professional competences, in line with the European Competence Framework for Research Managers [1] ; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| SC5Facilitate networking opportunities for research managers from Widening countries at European and international levels, to strengthen peer exchange, promote best practice sharing, and enhance their integration into the broader research management ecosystem. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected outcomes | |||
| EO1Encourage the establishment of stronger research management capacities in Widening countries to enhance their participation in the European Research Area; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO2Support institutional reforms in research institutions and national R&I systems to strengthen governance, efficiency, and alignment with European research and innovation priorities; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO3Strengthen human capital with entrepreneurial and well-trained research managers; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO4Promote and support multidisciplinary and transnational cooperation in the field of research management to foster knowledge exchange, capacity building, and alignment of best practices across institutions and countries; | · | · | Sign up to track |
| EO5Promote of ERA priorities such as research integrity and responsible research and innovation (ethics, public engagement, gender equality, science education, open access) and knowledge valorisation, thereby strengthening the institution’s overall research ecosystem. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Other requirements | |||
| REQ1Full geographical coverage of all Widening countries and Outermost RegionsApplicants must demonstrate how they will ensure full geographical coverage of activities across all Widening countries, including Outermost Regions and relevant Associated Countries. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ2Support to successful applicants of ERA Research Manager actionsThe facility may support successful applicants of ERA Research Manager actions in identifying leading research managers internationally. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ3Documentation and feedback methodology to the European CommissionProposals must include a methodology on documentation and feedback to the European Commission detailing profiles of supported institutions, recommendations provided, follow-up actions implemented, and impacts achieved. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| REQ4Target estimates and demand prioritisation strategyProposals must provide an estimate of targeted institutions and individuals commensurate with the requested EU contribution, and describe how support will be prioritised if demand exceeds available resources. | · | · | Sign up to track |
| Expected impacts | |||
| No expected impacts in this call. | |||
| Underlying policies | |||
| POL1european competence framework for research managers (rm comp)The European Competence Framework for Research Managers (RM Comp) outlines the core competencies, skills, and knowledge profiles required for research management professionals across the European Research Area (ERA). Developed under ERA Policy Agenda Action 17, it aims to standardise, recognise, and professionalise research management careers within research-performing organisations. | · | · | Sign up to track |
The binding rules of this call. Items marked auto are verified by GrantForge from the call and the template. The others are yours to confirm.
LMIC entities auto-eligible
Low/middle-income country entities are automatically eligible for funding.
Topic-specific consortium
Many CSA topics require a broader consortium than the general-annex minimum. The call-specific Eligibility and admissibility conditions override the general annex.
Restricted beneficiary type
Many CSA calls are reserved for specific beneficiary types (national funding agencies, research infrastructures, standards bodies). Check the call.
Coordination/support activities only
CSA funds coordination, networking, policy support, dissemination, training. Not research activities per se.
Gender Equality Plan
GEP eligibility criterion applies to public bodies, research organisations, higher education institutions from MS/AC.
4 key insights you must internalise before writing. Each is grounded in the call text and tells you what evaluators will actually look for. Share these with your consortium before drafting.
A proposal will be rejected before evaluation if the coordinator is not established in a Widening country. The call exceptionally allows organisations hosting WIDERA NCPs to participate, offering a strategic mechanism to embed national multipliers directly into the consortium for scalable outreach.
Source: Eligibility rules
Evaluators will heavily scrutinize the proposal's operational alignment with the European Competence Framework for Research Managers (RM Comp). Training modules and career development pathways must not be generic; they must directly utilize and validate the RM Comp competency descriptors to secure high marks in Excellence.
Source: Underlying policies
The project must function as a facility rather than a static training program. Proposals must deploy a solid diagnostic methodology for institutional needs assessments and establish concrete mentoring schemes connecting advanced European institutions with Widening RPOs to ensure sustainable capacity building.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
To maximize the Impact score, the proposal must prove how the facility will drive long-term institutional reform. This requires verifiable mechanisms for the institutional uptake of specific ERA priorities, explicitly including open science, gender equality, ethics, and knowledge valorisation.
Source: Evaluation criteria (pre-award)
Talk to the Grant Coach to build your concept. There is no set order: start wherever your project starts. The sections below mirror what the conversation produces, and your coverage tracks the progress. You can refine everything once your project workspace is created.
The problems this call frames, and who they affect. Your concept and plan address them.
Universities, research centers, and public research institutes in Widening countries requiring structural modernisation of their research support offices.
Pre-award, post-award, knowledge transfer, ethics, and legal/financial support personnel working in Widening research institutions.
National ministries, funding councils, and NCP host organisations responsible for national R&I capacity, governance, and framework conditions.
Researchers, academic consortia, and European scientific networks benefiting from enhanced administrative and project management support in Widening regions.
The long-term impacts your project should drive, and the policies they serve.
Institutional adoption of upgraded research governance frameworks, robust ethics and integrity protocols, and Open Science mechanisms across Widening RPOs.
Systematic upskilling and certification of research managers in Widening countries aligned with the European Competence Framework, improving proposal submission success and grant execution.
Creation of persistent cross-border RMA communities and institutional twinning schemes that increase participation and coordination by Widening institutions in Horizon Europe.