How Your Proposal Will Be Evaluated

Overview

Each proposal is assessed by independent experts against three weighted criteria. Threshold = 4/5 on every criterion and overall ≥ 12/15. Scores are given to one decimal place.

1. Excellence (Weight 1) – Threshold 4

* Clarity of objectives: Are the ≥ 4 transnational calls clearly defined, measurable, time-bound and aligned with Mission on Cancer & Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan?

* Credibility of methodology: Robust SRIA co-creation, transparent peer-review workflow, FAIR data policy, gender & diversity integration.

* Ambition & innovation: Novel funding schemes, integration of digital platforms (UNCAN.eu, ELIXIR, EOSC) and patient-centred evaluation models.

🔍 Tip: Include a logic model (problem → activity → output → outcome → impact) showing how coordination actions cascade to improved cancer control.

2. Impact (Weight 1) – Threshold 4

* Contribution to expected outcomes: Demonstrate how you will deliver exactly the two expected outcomes listed in the Work Programme.

* Scale & significance of impacts: Leverage factor, number of funded research teams, geographical spread; policy alignment with national cancer plans.

* Credibility of pathways: Detailed KPI table, risk analysis & mitigation, exploitation/sustainability roadmap.

* Measures to maximise impact: Communication, dissemination, exploitation and citizen engagement plans—must be concrete (channels, frequency, audience KPIs).

🔍 Tip: Quantify everything—funds mobilised, #datasets made FAIR, #patients engaged, %call budget targeting widening countries.

3. Quality & Efficiency of Implementation (Weight 1) – Threshold 4

* Work Plan coherence: Clear WPs, deliverables, milestones; realistic timing & interdependencies (Gantt, PERT).

* Consortium capability & resources: Coverage of all EU macro-regions; track record in ERA-NET/TRANSCAN; dedicated call secretariat; in-kind staff ≥ 30 FTEs.

* Allocation of budget & resources: Justified lump-sum distribution; national co-funding letters annexed; cost-efficient management (< 10 % overhead).

* Risk management: Political commitment risk, currency fluctuation for co-funding, data protection, conflict of interest in peer review—each with contingency action.

🔍 Tip: Provide a table mapping partner expertise to tasks and another table detailing decision-making bodies with voting rules.

Excellence Tie-Breakers

If proposals are tied after scoring, the evaluators will rank them by: 1) magnitude of outside funds leveraged; 2) geographical inclusiveness; 3) gender balance in leadership.

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By tailoring your narrative and evidence to these specific assessment lenses, you maximise the probability of passing the 4-4-4 thresholds and achieving a fundable ranking position.

Strategic Application Guide for HORIZON-MISS-2025-02-CANCER-01

1. Build a Mission-Fit Consortium

* Mandatory profile mix: Bring together national AND regional public cancer research funders from all EU macro-regions (North, South, East, West, Central) plus philanthropic/charity funders where possible.

* Critical mass: Minimum 15–20 funding agencies to credibly finance ≥ 4 transnational calls (target overall cash commitment ≥ €120 m to demonstrate leverage > 3× EU lump-sum).

* Gap coverage: Map current TRANSCAN & Horizon Europe projects to avoid duplication and to justify added value.

* Letters of commitment: Signed by top management of each funding body, specifying earmarked budget, in-kind staff time and agreement to make data FAIR.

2. Shape the Joint Strategic Research & Innovation Agenda (SRIA)

* Co-creation process: Run a Delphi survey with funders, clinicians, patient groups and industry to prioritise translational gaps aligned with the four Cancer Mission objectives.

* SRIA chapters: 1) Scientific priorities; 2) Novel funding instruments (e.g. rapid seed grants, patient-led calls); 3) FAIR/open science policy complying with UNCAN.eu; 4) Equality & geographical balance metrics.

* Integration evidence: Cross-reference national cancer plans, Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan actions and Smart Specialisation (S3) strategies of participating regions.

3. Design at Least Four High-Impact Transnational Calls

* Call timeline: Y1 (launch Call 1), Y2 (Call 2), Y3 (Call 3), Y4 (Call 4). Each call evaluated and awarded within 10 months.

* Scientific focus (examples):

1. Treatment resistance mechanisms in poorly-understood cancers.

2. AI-enabled early detection tools deployable in low-resource settings.

3. Quality-of-life interventions for survivors ≥ 65 years.

4. Data integration studies exploiting European research infrastructures.

* Novel schemes: blended grants (discovery + validation), sandboxes for SMEs, patient-review panels.

4. Governance & Management Model

* Steering Board: one voting seat per funder + EC observer.

* Call Secretariat: lead partner experienced in ERA-NET Cofund/TRANSCAN, in charge of ONE common proposal portal, peer review coordination & reporting.

* Thematic Programme Committees: align scientific scope with Mission priorities, propose evaluators, monitor impact.

* Independent Ethics & Data Board: ensures open science, GDPR, UNCAN.eu alignment.

5. Financial Plan (Lump-Sum Logic)

* EU lump-sum €31 m split by work packages: WP1 Coordination (15 %), WP2 SRIA & Networking (10 %), WP3-6 Calls 1-4 (60 %), WP7 Impact & Sustainability (10 %), WP8 Communication, citizen engagement & gender-equality mainstreaming (5 %).

* Co-funding ratio: show ≥ 70 % of total initiative budget from national/regional sources.

6. Implementation Timeline

| Semester | Milestone |

|---|---|

| S1 2026 | SRIA adopted; Call 1 published |

| S2 2026 | Call 1 projects start |

| S1 2027 | Call 2 published; first KPI report to EC |

| … | … |

| S2 2030 | Call 4 projects end; sustainability roadmap delivered |

7. Impact & KPI Framework

* Scientific: ≥ 80 collaborative publications, 10 patent applications, 6 clinical trial authorisations.

* Economic: leverage factor ≥ 3, 20 spin-off collaborations, regional smart specialisation synergies.

* Societal: patient co-design in 100 % calls, ≥ 40 % coordinator roles in widening countries, gender parity in project leadership.

8. Dissemination, Exploitation & Communication

* FAIR data deposited in ELIXIR repositories & connected to UNCAN.eu platform within 6 months of project end.

* Annual open science hackathons & citizen assemblies (live-streamed).

* Tailored policy briefs for National Cancer Mission Hubs & Ministries of Health/Research.

9. Sustainability Plan

* Prepare legal entity under Article 185 / EJP-COFUND type structure by Y4.

* Negotiate MoUs with EU4Health, Digital Europe (Cancer Image Europe) and private foundations to continue joint calls post-2030.

10. Application Dos & Don’ts

* DO: Quantify every commitment; embed patient organisations as beneficiaries (not only advisers); provide evaluator-ready Gantt & PERT charts.

* DON’T: Propose research activities for the consortium itself (CSA cannot fund own R&I); rely on future political approvals for cash commitments; overlook lump-sum payment triggers.