Horizon Europe calls this year have received an unprecedented number of proposals, with some experiencing increases of up to 80%. We take a closer look at the figures behind this surge.
First of all, with applications on the rise, success rates are expected to decline significantly. Currently, the overall Horizon Europe success rate for 2025 stands at 12%. However, this data is incomplete, covering only about one-third of all Horizon Europe calls for 2025 so far. This limitation exists because the European Commission reports only on calls that have been fully evaluated.
Despite this, a clear trend is emerging. Even calls not yet included in the dataset show success rates as low as 2%.
For example, the European Innovation Council (EIC) has always been a popular and highly competitive funding source. In 2025, out of 2,087 applications for its Pathfinder grants—aimed at breakthrough innovations—the competition has been exceptionally intense.
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/horizon-europe/data-corner-horizon-success-rates-are-dropping
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