A Horizon Europe proposal is assessed against three criteria, and Part B mirrors them: Excellence – how ambitious the objectives and how convincing the methodology; Impact – what change it brings and how that is measured; Implementation – whether the work plan, roles and budget are realistic. What an evaluator looks for matters more than length.
- Sections
- 3, one per criterion
- Length
- 40 pages
- Impact canvas
- Not mandatory
- Topic drift
- Cannot be compensated
The structure of Part B is not arbitrary: its three sections mirror the three award criteria. The evaluator reads a section and scores the corresponding criterion, so anything written in the wrong place is not credited.
1. Excellence
Two subsections: objectives and ambition – how clear and pertinent the objectives are, how the work goes beyond the state of the art; and methodology – soundness of the approach, the gender dimension and open science practices.
This is the largest block after the work plan.
2. Impact
Pathways towards impact – how credibly your results lead to the changes the topic expects. Measures to maximise impact – the plan for dissemination and exploitation together with communication.
There is also a subsection summarising impact through a canvas – it is not mandatory: a proposal is admissible and complete without it. But the evaluator reads it, so "not mandatory" does not mean "not worth doing".
3. Quality and efficiency of the implementation
Work plan and resources – work packages, effort allocation, risk assessment, budget. Capacity of participants – why this consortium and what each partner's role is.
Three things that decide it
Fit with the topic. A proposal drifting from the scope earns an out-of-scope finding, and quality does not compensate.
Internal consistency. The work plan must match the narrative, the budget the team, the deliverables the packages.
Length. Forty pages for a research or innovation action; whatever does not fit becomes invisible to the evaluator.
Frequently asked questions
Is a section with an impact canvas required?
Formally no: the proposal counts as admissible and complete without it. But the evaluator does read it, and a concise account of the expected impact works in your favour.
How many pages should each section have?
The template gives a guide: about 4 pages on objectives, 14 on methodology, 3 on each impact subsection, about 12 on the work plan and resources, and 3 on the capacity of the participants. This is a recommendation rather than a fixed allocation; only the overall limit is fixed.
Official materials
Read on GetGrant
Sources
- Application form HE RIA/IA V5.1 ec.europa.eu · checked 27.07.2026
Data current as of 27.07.2026. Verify the terms with the donor’s official portal before applying.
Updated 27.07.2026 · Reviewed by: GetGrant editorial team
