From Horizon Europe theory to practice: Inside our recent training

From theory to practice

We are excited to announce the launch of our Horizon Europe training formats, designed to help organisations move from funding strategy to real proposal practice. 

At NETO Innovation, we believe that mastering Horizon Europe is not only about understanding the rules, it is about learning how to translate strategy into impactful projects. 

Recently, our team had the pleasure of delivering a dedicated Horizon Europe training designed to help participants navigate the complexity of European funding while building real proposal-writing skills. Over two intensive days, the training combined structured learning, collaborative workshops, and practical exercises to transform theory into actionable know-how. 

Based on our experience supporting numerous European Research and Innovation projects, this programme was designed to be practical, interactive, and adaptable to the specific needs of the organisation. 

This first session is part of a wider training offer we are rolling out, combining “open-to-all” sessions with fully customised formats for organisations and teams. 

A training built around real project challenges

 

Throughout the training, participants went through the full lifecycle of Horizon Europe projects, from identifying the right call to structuring a credible proposal. 

Participants explored key topics such as: 

• Understanding the Horizon Europe landscape and its pillars 

• Identifying relevant calls and analysing expected outcomes 

• Structuring Excellence, Impact, and Implementation sections 

• Building strong consortia aligned with the value chain 

• Budgeting and financial structuring 

As highlighted throughout the training material, Horizon Europe projects require more than good ideas, they require alignment with scope, expected outcomes, and EU strategic priorities. 

Rather than presenting static theory, we focused on how evaluators actually assess proposals, helping participants understand how to move from innovation concepts to fundable projects. 

Learning by doing: Workshops and interactive exercises 

One of the core strengths of this training was its hands-on approach. Participants worked through real-life scenarios during dedicated workshops, including: 

• Identifying relevant topics and structuring consortia 

• Designing project objectives aligned with expected outcomes 

• Building credible impact pathways 

• Analysing evaluation summary reports to understand reviewers’ expectations 

These exercises allowed teams to test methodologies in a safe environment while strengthening collaboration and strategic thinking. Workshops also created valuable exchanges between participants, encouraging cross-functional perspectives. 

We also analysed previous EU proposals through their Evaluation Summary Reports (ESRs) to identify recurring strengths, common shortcomings, and concrete lessons on what typically makes a proposal succeed or fall short. 

A tailored approach to each organisation 

At NETO Innovation, we know that no two organisations approach European funding in the same way. That is why our training programmes are fully adaptable: 

• Tailored to specific sectors or innovation domains 

• Adjusted to participants’ level of maturity in Horizon Europe 

• Designed as standalone sessions or multi-day workshops 

• Available as in-person or remote formats 

Whether the goal is to build internal capabilities, prepare upcoming proposals, or align teams around EU funding strategy, our approach ensures that training becomes a real operational tool, not just an information session. 

Beyond training: Building long-term capability 

European projects are complex, collaborative, and highly competitive. Developing internal skills is often the first step toward long-term success. 

Through this training, participants gained a deeper understanding of how to structure impactful projects, anticipate evaluation criteria, and align innovation strategies with European priorities. 

And if impact still feels difficult to translate into proposals,  that’s exactly where NETO Innovation steps in. 

Interested in a tailored Horizon Europe training? 

NETO Innovation offers customised training sessions designed to help organisations strengthen their European R&I positioning and build stronger proposals. 

If you would like to organise a workshop or explore how a tailored training could support your teams, feel free to reach out, we would be happy to discuss your needs. 

And stay tuned, we will be sharing our upcoming “open-to-all” Horizon Europe training dates soon.