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.
With applications on the rise, success rates are expected to decline significantly. Currently, the overall Horizon Europe success rate for 2025 stands at just 12%. However, it is important to note that this data is incomplete, covering only about one-third of all the 2025 Horizon Europe calls so far.
The reason for this partial dataset is that the European Commission reports only on calls that have been fully evaluated. Despite this limitation, a clear trend is emerging. Even calls not yet included in the dataset are showing success rates as low as 2%.
A prime example is the European Innovation Council (EIC), which has consistently been popular and highly competitive. In 2025 alone, the EIC received 2,087 applications for its Pathfinder grants, which support breakthrough innovation. Given this high volume of submissions, the competition is fiercer than ever.
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/horizon-europe/data-corner-horizon-success-rates-are-dropping
