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The Excellence section in EIC Pathfinder-Open proposals

Article · June 2022

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 The Excellence section in EIC
Pathfinder-Open proposals

The EIC Pathfinder Open (known as FET-Open until the Horizon 2020 programme)
is a highly-competitive funding scheme under Horizon Europe. It supports the
development of radically novel early-stage breakthrough technologies.
Proposals for this grant undergo a very meticulous review process, so the
proposal preparation must be handled with great attention. Most specifically, the
three sections of the core proposal – Excellence, Impact and implementation –
should be exceptional. In this article, we will focus specifically on the Excellence
section. This is the section which opens the proposal and therefore is the place to
create a great first impression. To put together a competitive EIC Pathfinder Open
Excellence section, it is vital to understand the different sub-sections which
comprise the Excellence section, as well as their respective requirements. As
such, we outline below the requirements of each sub-section and include our
experience-based tips that can assist in boosting the competitiveness of the
Excellence section of your proposal.

*This article is the property of Enspire Science Ltd. and is protected by copyright law. It should not be
copied nor distributed without prior consent.
The excellence section is composed of four sub-sections:
1. Long-term vision
2. Science-towards-technology breakthrough
3. Objectives
4. Interdisciplinarity

Let’s dive deep into each section below.

Sub-section 1.1 – Long-term vision

In this sub-section, it is required to describe the concept of a radically novel,
game-changing technology that shifts from current paradigms. At large, this
section should briefly, yet concisely, introduce the challenge, problem, or major
bottlenecks that the suggested technology will address. In other words, you
should introduce the envisioned groundbreaking technology and its novelty
compared to other currently available technologies. It is important to illustrate
the technology’s long-term positive transformative effect on society and the
economy, and, if relevant, how it will contribute to addressing global challenges
in areas such as climate change, health, cybersecurity, etc.

Sub-section 1.2 – Science-towards-technology

breakthrough
In this sub-section, you will need to describe the way(s) in which your project
targets a novel and ambitious science-towards technology breakthrough that
will contribute to achieving its long-term radical vision (in the form of the first
proof of concept). This is the place where the novelty claim of the project is

*This article is the property of Enspire Science Ltd. and is protected by copyright law. It should not be
copied nor distributed without prior consent.
presented. As part of the novelty declaration, you should follow with a supporting
discussion on the State-of-the-Art that highlights a knowledge gap in the field of
your project. This “missing brick” AKA the knowledge gap, materializes from an
informed discussion about the knowledge that already exists (the State of the
Art) which then showcases how the achievement of your offered project could
lead to significant progress in the field. The project’s goal is to minimize this gap.
As part of the discussion, describe your intent to significantly narrow or close the
gap through the scientific and technological breakthroughs achieved in the
project. It is important to explain how the scientific breakthrough(s) will
contribute to the realization of the novel technology at stake, and how answers to
the scientific questions will enable the realization of the foreseen technology.

Novelty, a key factor in this section, is not a straightforward declaration for these
types of grants. It can be elusive and affected by all sorts of factors. That being
said, it is a key factor in this grant, so we highly recommend giving it the right
attention. To do so, we also recommend reading our article about how to declare
the novelty right for your grant application.

Sub-section 1.3 – Objectives

This is the place to present the project’s objectives and approach in line with the
unique high-risk/high-gain characteristic of the EIC Pathfinder-Open. This
sub-section includes three complementary aspects: (1) objectives, (2)
methodology, and (3) the suitability of the methodology to realize the ambitious
objectives while dealing with scientific uncertainties.

*This article is the property of Enspire Science Ltd. and is protected by copyright law. It should not be
copied nor distributed without prior consent.
The first step in this section is to introduce clear, measurable, verifiable and
realistically achievable scientific and technological objectives. The next step,
based on the listed objectives, is to introduce the methodology, research
approaches, models and methods to be implemented in pursuit of these
objectives. All these elements should reflect the project’s high-risk, but also the
potential high-gain.

The third aspect of this sub-section should discuss the flexibility of the research
approach. Here, it is expected to explain the project’s risks, the ways in which the
research plan can support such risks, and the uncertainties characterizing your
project. This can be achieved by designing a flexible methodology and
discussing risk-mitigation measures that can be implemented when
encountering unforeseen challenges. Namely – this is the opportunity to discuss
the suitability of the chosen methodology to address relatively uncertain
scientific and technological research. This should demonstrate the breakthrough
nature of the project and reflect to the reviewers the high-risk embodied in the
proposal.

The hidden link between ERC and EIC Pathfinder Open

In regards to the above high-risk EIC Pathfinder Open characteristic, it can be
helpful to be aware of the ‘hidden link’ between EIC Pathfinder Open and the ERC
grant. This is because the ERC also seeks to fund projects that are high-risk and
non-incremental in nature. Therefore, if you have previously applied for funding
from the ERC, it can be of added value to make use of your ERC experience when
applying for an EIC Pathfinder Open grant. We explain this hidden link in detail in
this dedicated article.

*This article is the property of Enspire Science Ltd. and is protected by copyright law. It should not be
copied nor distributed without prior consent.
Finally, sub-section 1.3 is also the place to discuss the project’s gender dimension
or alternatively, to justify its absence. Furthermore, if relevant, a proper
explanation regarding the compliance with the ‘do no significant harm’ principle
should be included.

Sub-section 1.4 Interdisciplinarity

This sub-section needs to describe the interdisciplinary approach necessary for
achieving the targeted breakthrough of the project along with the added value
from this interdisciplinarity. Presenting a list of the various scientific and
technological fields involved is a proper way to showcase the disciplines required
for the successful execution of the project. However, a competitive proposal will
also describe how distant disciplines will come together and integrate methods,
concepts, etc., to achieve the objectives. As such, it is suggested to not only
explain the importance of an interdisciplinary approach for your project, but also
to explain the extent to which this proposed combination of disciplines supports
new scientific collaborations.

*This article is the property of Enspire Science Ltd. and is protected by copyright law. It should not be
copied nor distributed without prior consent.
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Conclusion
The above is a helpful guide as you work towards constructing a competitive
Excellence section for your EIC Pathfinder Open proposal. Needless to say, there
are additional important aspects that must be taken into account to construct
your proposal. To best understand all the unique features and characteristics of
EIC Pathfinder Open proposal – we highly advise our dedicated EIC Pathfinder
Open course, our EIC Pathfiner Open consulting services, as well as additional
articles from our Knowledge Base.

*This article is the property of Enspire Science Ltd. and is protected by copyright law. It should not be
copied nor distributed without prior consent.