Introduction
In June 2023, the European Innovation Council (EIC) implemented significant changes to its application system, particularly affecting the Evaluation Summary Report (ESR). Now, the ESR only shows the final score and comments without specifying which evaluator provided a ‘Go’ or ‘No-Go’ decision. This article explores the implications of these changes for applicants and how they can effectively navigate the revised feedback process.
Understanding the Impact of EIC’s Revised ESR Feedback
- Less Specific Feedback: The new format of the ESR, showing only the final score and generalized comments, makes it more challenging for applicants to discern specific criticisms that led to their proposal’s rejection.
- Increased Difficulty in Tailoring Resubmissions: Without clear indications of individual evaluator concerns, applicants may find it more difficult to address specific criticisms in their resubmissions, potentially affecting their chances of future success.
- Greater Emphasis on General Appeal: The change shifts the focus towards developing proposals with a more general appeal, capable of satisfying a broader range of evaluator perspectives, rather than addressing individual critiques.
Strategies for Effective ESR Feedback Analysis
- Comprehensive Review of Comments: Carefully review all comments in the ESR to identify common themes or recurring concerns. Even without individual evaluator tags, patterns in feedback can provide valuable insights.
- Consultation with Experts: Seek advice from professionals or consultants experienced in EIC applications. They can offer a more nuanced interpretation of the feedback and guide effective strategies for resubmission.
- Internal Team Discussions: Engage in thorough discussions with your team to analyze the feedback from multiple perspectives. This collaborative approach can uncover insights that might be missed by a single individual.
- Focus on Strengthening Core Areas: Concentrate on enhancing the core aspects of your proposal, such as the innovation’s impact, market potential, and implementation strategy. Strengthening these areas can address a broad range of potential concerns.
- Seek Clarification When Possible: If the ESR is particularly vague, consider reaching out to the EIC helpdesk or relevant contacts for clarification, while being mindful of their guidelines on feedback interpretation.
Adapting to the New Normal
- Developing Resilience to Ambiguity: Accepting and adapting to the level of ambiguity in the new feedback system is essential. Developing a resilient approach to feedback interpretation can be advantageous.
- Continuous Learning and Improvement: Use each application experience as a learning opportunity. Even if specific criticisms are unclear, every round of feedback contributes to a deeper understanding of what makes a successful proposal.
Conclusion
The changes to the EIC’s application system, particularly in the presentation of the ESR, present new challenges in understanding evaluator feedback. By employing comprehensive review techniques, consulting with experts, focusing on strengthening core proposal areas, and developing resilience to feedback ambiguity, applicants can effectively navigate these changes and enhance their chances of securing EIC funding.
The articles found on Rasph.com reflect the opinions of Rasph or its respective authors and in no way reflect opinions held by the European Commission (EC) or the European Innovation Council (EIC). The provided information aims to share perspectives that are valuable and can potentially inform applicants regarding grant funding schemes such as the EIC Accelerator, EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition or related programs such as Innovate UK in the United Kingdom or the Small Business Innovation and Research grant (SBIR) in the United States.
The articles can also be a useful resource for other consultancies in the grant space as well as professional grant writers who are hired as freelancers or are part of a Small and Medium-sized Enterprise (SME). The EIC Accelerator is part of Horizon Europe (2021-2027) which has recently replaced the previous framework program Horizon 2020.
This article was written by ChatEIC. ChatEIC is an EIC Accelerator assistant that can advise on the writing of proposals, discuss current trends and create insightful articles on a variety of topics. The articles written by ChatEIC can contain inaccurate or outdated information.
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