How to submit a strong proposal

a) Alignment with the objectives and activities as described in the call document:

• Proposal to match described objectives and activities
• Project objectives to be clear, justified, aligned and KPIS to be measurable with target values

b) Contribution to long-term policy objectives, relevant policies and strategies, and synergies with activities at European and national level:

• Explain how project supports relevant EU policies
• Reference specific EU or national initiatives

c) Extent to which the project would reinforce and secure the digital technology supply chain in the EU:

• Demonstrate how the project supports EU cybersecurity supply chains.
• Use trusted EU providers, open‑source solutions, or standards‑based approaches.
• Show how dependence on non‑EU technologies is reduced.
• This requirement does not apply to every topic; this shall be clarified in the call documentation.

d) Extent to which the project can overcome financial obstacles such as the lack of market finance:

• This requirement does not apply to every topic; this shall be clarified in the call documentation.

a) Maturity of the project:

• Ensure that the project matches the maturity expectations of the Call
• Demonstrate that tools, technologies, services, and approaches are sufficiently advanced.
• Show partners’ experience, previous testing, pilots, or trials that validate your solution.
• Explain the advancement compared to the state of the art and why your approach adds value.

b) Soundness of the implementation plan and efficient use of resources:

• Provide a coherent, realistic, and detailed implementation plan.
• Clearly define tasks, deliverables, milestones, and partner roles.
• Explain how each Work Package contributes to the proposed objectives.
• Present a justified and proportional budget, with realistic workload allocation.
• Include a detailed risk assessment (technical, legal, organisational) with mitigation.

c)  Capacity of the applicants, and when applicable the consortium as a whole, to carry out the proposed work:

• Describe consortium members and their specific expertise.
• Show background, experience, and previous relevant projects.
• Ensure all participants are fully operational at the time of submission.
• Mitigation strategies (as part of the risk management) not containing sufficient detail or justification

a) Extent to which the project will achieve the expected outcomes and deliverables referred to in the call for proposals and, where relevant, the plans to disseminate and communicate project achievements

• Explain the scale and significance of the expected outcomes.
• Show how the project will improve against current baselines.
• KPIs must be well defined, with clear baselines, aligned to goals, and ambitious.
• Define the target audience, key messages, and communication channels.
• Present a credible and ambitious dissemination strategy, tailored to reach wider audiences.

b) Extent to which the project will strengthen competitiveness and bring important benefits for society

• Explain how the project strengthens EU cybersecurity competitiveness.
• Show how the action supports EU based technologies.
• Describe the societal benefits, such as improved resilience, higher digital trust, or better services for public bodies.
• Highlight long term impacts example workforce skills, SME readiness, or broader uptake of secure technologies.

a) Clarity and pertinence of the project’s objectives, and the extent to which the proposed work is ambitious and goes beyond the state of the art.

• Describe the extent to which the proposed work demonstrates ambition.
• Describe the extent to which the proposed work goes beyond state of the art

b)  Soundness of the proposed methodology such as underlying concepts, models and assumptions, interdisciplinary approaches where appropriate, consideration of the gender dimension in Research and innovation content

• Explain the key ideas and theories the project is based on
• Describe the appropriate models that shall be used
• Define and justify assumptions made
• If relevant, show how different disciplines work together meaningfully
• Assess and explain how gender differences are relevant to the research

d)  The quality of open science practices including sharing and management of research outputs and engagement of citizens, civil society and end users where appropriate.

• Explain how the results will be made openly available
• Show a clear plan for organising, storing, and protecting your data.
• Describe how you will involve people outside academia

a)  Credibility of the pathways to achieve the expected outcomes and impacts specified in the work programme.

• Show how the project is to achieve the expected outcomes
• Explain the expected impacts specified in the work programme

b)  Suitability and quality of the measures to maximise expected outcomes and impacts, as set out in the dissemination, exploitation and communication plan

• Justify the suitability and quality of measures to show that they shall ensure results are attained

a)  Quality and effectiveness of the work plan, including risk assessment and the appropriateness of resources and effort allocated

• Ensure that the work plan is clear, logical and workable
• Ensure that risks are identified, including their likelihood and potential impact, together with appropriate and credible mitigation measures
• The allocation of effort and resources is proportionate and well aligned with the planned work, tasks, and responsibilities

b)  Capacity and role of each participant, and the extent to which the consortium as a whole brings together the necessary expertise

• Ensure that participant roles are clear and well defined
• Clearly show how the consortium will cover all requirements to achieve project objectives