From Call to Competitive Proposal - Double success rate after the use of OC Proposal lab
Proposal Lab is a structured proposal engineering and co-creation system that converts Horizon Europe calls into evaluator-ready submissions. It integrates consortium architecture, pre-designed proposal structure aligned with Horizon Europe proposal template requirements, impact pathway planning, and built-in sustainability mechanisms from the very beginning.
All OpenCosmos (OC) members receive full access to the Proposal Lab service at no additional cost, allowing them to design, structure and refine their proposals within a guided, expert/evaluator-oriented framework.
How it works:
Phase 1 - Strategic Call & Consortium Engineering
Step 1: You let us know your interest to initiate a proposal at a specific call (Call link and deadline) either as a coordinator or a core partner through filling the respective form you can find on GET STARTED Button.
Step 2: We assess the call and inform you whether/how it can be supported by us under the Proposal Lab service and proceed to next step. Normally you need a core (not complete) consortium and some preliminary work on the state of the art analysis related to the call.
Step 3: We arrange a 30 minute live session with you to discuss the proposal next steps.
Step 4: We organise a live consultancy session with all the core partners (1.5 hours) to work together on the pre-requisites for a winning proposal under this call (identify related previous work to use as background info, policies and documents to consider, the workplan outline with the required objectives and challenges and the proposal concept/summary as well as next steps) and can support you also on setting the proper collaborative platform for developing the proposal (Teams, Google workspace, Onedrive, google drive, OpenCosmos, etc)
Phase 2 - Proposal Co-Creation & Architecture
Step 5: You work on the missing elements as emerged from the live session and when confirmed we proceed to the next step
Step 6: We provide you a pre-worked application specifically for this call with (detailed guidance on what has to be written, some pre-worked sections already writen as examples or first content for the Excellence, Impact and Implementation) and some guidance on the project budget distribution. (It is already 30%-40% of the whole proposal!)
Step 7: You work on the provided application form and when final draft is ready proceed to the next step
Phase 3 - Evaluator Gate & Submission Readiness
Step 8: We evaluate the final draft of the proposal
Step 9: You address the identified weaknesses and submit the proposal.
Step 10: Right after submission, we all celebrate since it was a big journey and we wait for the results. :)
Eligibility Gate & Sustainability Integration Layer
We offer this for free consultancy and writing support for anyone who:
✔ Have selected a specific Horizon Europe call topic and understood its technical scope
✔ Commit to integrating up to three OpenCosmos member organisations in the consortium and
✔ Integrate the OpenCosmos Accelerator / its founder Key Innovations Cyprus Ltd as a standardisation expert and/or sustainability and innovation engine within the proposal
What the Accelerator embeds into your proposal
Strategic guidance to transform research results into real-world adoption
Sustainability planning and visibility through our platform and expert network
Innovation management coaching (e.g. IP protection, patentability, business alignment)
Dissemination through a curated innovation community across academia and industry
Access and support to future funding opportunities (EIC Transition, investment matchmaking, etc.)
Ready to Start?
Submit your request to access Proposal Lab and double the success rate of your proposal. Also, please read the EC evaluation flaws HERE.
Navigate Through All Open and Upcoming European Funding Opportunities
Discover the most relevant EU funding programmes for your organisation and start identifying your next opportunity. Explore the EU Funding & Tenders Portal to discover open and upcoming opportunities across programmes such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Digital Europe, Creative Europe, LIFE, and the European Defence Fund.
Use your interest-related keywords to obtain more tailored results directly from the portal.
AI-Powered EU Grants Finder
Navigate European funding opportunities with AI-powered grant discovery.
Discover relevant EU funding opportunities matched to your organisation, interests and profile. The EU Grants Finder uses AI to identify and rank suitable open calls across major European funding programmes, helping you focus on opportunities that are relevant to your work.
Explore matched calls, understand why they may be relevant to your organisation, and discover related funded projects that can help you assess the opportunity and shape your proposal.
Get access for free:
Stay Ahead of EU Funding Opportunities
Discover upcoming EU funding opportunities across Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, Digital Europe, Creative Europe, LIFE and other European programmes.
Our Funding Radar highlights key calls, deadlines and strategic opportunities, helping you identify what is coming next and prepare early.
Subscribe to the OpenCosmos Newsletter to receive the latest funding opportunities, updates and insights directly in your inbox.
Proposal Lab in Action
The OpenCosmos Proposal Lab is now in a new active cycle, supporting members from proposal development and consortium building through to submission.
A 100% success rate in HORIZON-CL4-2026-01-MAT-PROD-48
2 proposals submitted – 2 funded under this specific Proof of Market call.
VISION-X – Bringing an EU-funded manufacturing simulation technology to market as a cloud-native SaaS solution, with KIC supporting commercialisation, sustainability and investor readiness.
NANOBLOC-AIRPATH – Advancing an antimicrobial coating into a market-ready clean-air solution, with KIC leading sustainability assessment and market-access/scale-up readiness.
Now: 6 proposals under development
Erasmus+ Centres of Vocational Excellence (CoVE)
EIC Transition Open ×2
HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-TRANSFO-04
HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-02
HORIZON-CL2-2026-01-DEMOCRACY-10
Beyond proposal support
In selected proposals, OpenCosmos also joins the consortium, contributing in areas such as training & e-learning, digital tools, dissemination & exploitation, commercialisation, acceleration, fundraising and investment readiness.
Planning your next proposal?
More calls are already entering the pipeline beyond September. Secure your place in an upcoming Proposal Lab cycle or explore how OpenCosmos could contribute to your consortium.
STEP mobilises existing EU funding instruments (Cohesion Policy, InvestEU, Horizon Europe) in a more focused way for strategic technologies. Calls are either EU-wide or launched by Member States/regions.
Important EU Infoday Events you Should Attend
Infoday events are organised by the European Commission to inform potential applicants about open funding calls and to provide direct clarification through Q&A sessions.
These sessions can be attended either on-site or online, and recordings (including questions and answers) are usually made available afterwards.
If you plan to initiate a proposal or join a consortium as a partner under any of these clusters or subprogrammes, it is highly recommended to watch the relevant Infodays and apply the insights you gain through our Intelligent Networking/How to join proposals as a partner eCourse.
Cluster 1 — Health
24–25 November 2026 Brokerage event - Horizon Europe Cluster 1 'Health'
This brokerage event is designed to help participants explore Horizon Europe Cluster 1 funding opportunities, identify potential project partners and build consortia for upcoming Health calls.
24 November 2026 Delivering on the EU Safe Hearts Plan: the impact of EU-funded projects
The event focuses on the EU Safe Hearts Plan, cardiovascular health, prevention and the impact of EU-funded health projects, highlighting how research and innovation can contribute to better cardiovascular outcomes.
26 November 2026 Horizon Europe info days - Cluster 1 'Health'
The Info Day will provide information on the 2027 topics of the Horizon Europe Work Programme, covering health research, disease prevention and treatment, innovative healthcare, health technologies and digital solutions, and a competitive health-related industry.
Cluster 2 — Culture, Creativity & Inclusive Society
Cluster 4 — Digital, Industry & Space
Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Digital Matchmaking Platform(Date to be announced after the Work Programme is released)
14–15 October 2026 Horizon Europe Cluster 4: Digital, Industry and Space info days
This is explicitly the Horizon Europe Cluster 4 Info Day, covering advanced manufacturing, raw materials, digital and quantum technologies, AI and robotics, advanced materials, big data, circular/clean industries, and space. It will present funding opportunities under the 2027 Work Programme.
Cluster 5 — Climate, Energy & Mobility
Sep 28-Oct 1 2026 08:30 - 12:30 Connecting Europe Days
Join us for Connecting Europe Days 2026, Europe’s mobility flagship event, taking place from 28 September to 1 October 2026 in Brussels, Belgium.
15–17 September 2026 CIVITAS Forum 2026
The forum is focused on sustainable urban mobility, clean transport, smart mobility, transport innovation, climate-neutral cities and resilient mobility systems. The European Commission explicitly describes CIVITAS as supporting EU mobility and transport goals and the Green Deal.
29–30 September 2026 Clean energy, restored lands: The path forward for coal regions
The event focuses on the clean energy transition of coal regions, including renewable energy production, energy storage, post-mining land restoration, resource recovery and the role of research and innovation in achieving a just transition. It specifically connects EU-funded research with climate and energy policy and practical implementation.
19 November 2026 09:30 - 17:00 Horizon Europe info days—Cluster 5
The Info Day will provide information on Horizon Europe Cluster 5 funding opportunities, covering research and innovation in climate action, clean energy, energy systems, sustainable transport and mobility under the 2027 Work Programme.
Cluster 6 — Food, Bioeconomy, Natural Resources, Agriculture & Environment
24-28 August 2026 LIFE at SERE2026: European Conference on Ecological Restoration
Brest, France
15–17 September 2026 Rivers of LIFE final seminar
The seminar focuses on large-scale river restoration, biodiversity, water protection, ecosystem restoration and natural habitats. These are strongly aligned with Cluster 6's environment, biodiversity, and natural resources scope.
8–9 September 2026 LIFE RIPARIAS final conference
The event focuses on biodiversity, invasive alien species, river-basin management and environmental policy. LIFE RIPARIAS develops data-driven approaches for managing invasive species and protecting ecosystems in Belgian river basins.
21 September 2026 Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform Launch Event
The event launches the European Commission’s Water Resilience Stakeholder Platform, supporting implementation of the EU Water Resilience Strategy, with a focus on protecting water resources, addressing water scarcity, droughts, floods and pollution, and improving water management.
24–25 September 2026 The EU AgRI 2040 Conference
The conference focuses on research and innovation for sustainable and resilient agriculture, forestry, rural areas and food systems, while helping shape priorities for the next Horizon Europe framework programme.
WIDERA
29 September 2026 09:00 - 17:30 Talent Ecosystems: Building sustainable research careers
The event focuses on strengthening research careers, researcher employability, skills, training and talent ecosystems across the European Research Area (ERA). It showcases projects funded under Horizon Europe’s “Reforming and enhancing the EU research & innovation system” call and directly informs the upcoming HORIZON-WIDERA-2027-05-ERA-02 call.
EU Missions
Research Infrastructures
22 September 2026 Improving access for industrial users to research and technology infrastructures
The event focuses on improving industrial access to Europe’s research and technology infrastructures, including reducing access barriers, sharing best practices and making infrastructure services more responsive to businesses. It is part of a European Commission outreach campaign linked to the European Strategy on Research and Technology Infrastructures.
Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions
European Innovation Ecosystems
02 September 2026 10:00 - 12:00 Webinar session: Reinforcing synergies between experimentation spaces and innovation procurement
The webinar focuses on innovation procurement, experimentation spaces such as testbeds and living labs, and accelerating the uptake of innovative solutions. The topic is explicitly part of the Horizon Europe European Innovation Ecosystems (EIE) work programme, under the Interconnected Innovation Ecosystems destination.
12-16 October 2026 EIC Launches Silicon Valley Expansion Programme for European Innovators
The European Innovation Council's flagship expansion mission helps European startups and scaleups access Silicon Valley networks, investors, strategic partners, and international growth opportunities.
16–17 September 2026 EIC Tech to Market Programme at NORDEEP 2026, Espoo, Finland
The event connects deep-tech researchers, startups, investors, corporates, universities and research institutions to support technology commercialisation, matchmaking, venture development and access to the European innovation ecosystem. It is part of the EIC Tech to Market Programme, which helps researchers turn breakthrough technologies into market-ready ventures.
5–6 October 2026 EIC Multi-Corporate Day with JETRO | Tokyo, Japan
The event connects EIC-backed start-ups and scale-ups with major Japanese corporations through pitching, networking and matchmaking, to create international business partnerships and accelerate the adoption of deep-tech innovations. It is part of the EIC Corporate Partnership Programme, which explicitly aims to strengthen collaboration between innovative companies and established corporations and enhance European innovation ecosystems.
Erasmus+
Interregional Innovation Investments
1 October 2026 Annual I3 Instrument Forum 2026 - Registrations are now open!
The forum focuses on the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument, bringing together stakeholders to discuss interregional innovation cooperation, investment opportunities, innovation ecosystems and support for businesses across European regions. The I3 Instrument is specifically designed to strengthen economic cohesion by connecting businesses with innovation actors in other regions.
General Horizon Europe – Cross-cutting
12-14 October 2026 European Week of Regions and Cities
Europe's largest event on regional and urban policy, where regions, cities and stakeholders exchange ideas on cohesion, competitiveness and innovation.
12 November 2026 10:00 - 12:00 Lump Sum Funding in Horizon Europe: How does it work? How to write a proposal?
Learn everything you need to know about applying to a lump sum call for proposals in Horizon Europe.
29–30 September 2026 CERIS workshop on Innovation uptake
The workshop focuses on innovation uptake in the security sector, bringing together policymakers, security practitioners and innovators to discuss innovation procurement, intellectual asset management, SME innovation, scaling and the adoption of EU-funded security solutions. CERIS is closely connected to Horizon Europe security research and innovation
1 October 2026 13:00 (GMT+06:00) Science, research and innovation performance of the EU 2026
The event presents the EU’s latest evidence and analysis on research and innovation performance, covering Europe’s R&I strengths, challenges, investment trends, competitiveness and policy priorities. Its scope is broad and cross-cutting rather than focused on a specific Horizon Europe cluster or programme area.
Find the Right Partners for Your Next Proposal
Building a successful Horizon Europe proposal starts with the right consortium.
The OpenCosmos Matchmaking Platform, powered by Brella, helps you connect with top-tier organisations and researchers across Europe through intelligent, interest-based matching.
Unlike generic partner search tools, our platform prioritises quality, relevance, and real collaboration potential — ensuring that every connection adds value to your proposal.
