Finding the right (i.e. winning) consortium partners: Useful tips from GREENET

As NCPs, we often get questions about how to build, or join, a winning consortium.

GREENET, the network for Horizon Europe Cluster 5 NCPs, has recently published a useful guide for applicants on how to find partners for their next EU project, written by Louise Mothersole at Innovate UK.

A few key takeaways:

• Treat joining a consortium as a project in its own right: Make a plan and allocate time and resources to connect with experienced project partners.
• Networking is by far the most useful way to find consortium partners: Be visible and form connections with experts in your field by joining relevant organizations, attending conferences and workshops and writing posts/blogs on LinkedIn. When in online meetings, make sure to engage and keep your camera on!
• Find potential partners that have a strong track record of previously successful proposals: Use resources such as CORDIS and LIFE Public Database to look up people who have had successful projects, and therefore know how to write a winning proposal.
• Make use of existing partner search tools: There are several tools acailable, including the NCP4Missions Brokerage Platform which currently includes hundreds of individuals looking for partners for the 2025 calls and will remain open until September 30. You can also find partners through the EU Funding & Tenders Portal Partner Search tab.

Ultimately, "being in the right consortium is almost as important as writing a good proposal". The author quotes The European Commission which recently said at a Cluster 5: Climate, Energy and Mobility Programme Committee meeting: “Never in the history of Horizon Europe has a consortium of just newcomers to the programme been successful”. Therefore, the author concludes, "your challenge is to find people who have a strong track record of past success and demonstrate to them that they need you in their team if they are going to continue to be successful".

Read the full article here:

• GREENET: Finding the right (i.e. winning) consortium partners