Horizon Europe calls this year have received an unprecedented number of proposals, with some seeing increases of as much as 80%. Let’s take a closer look at the figures.
First of all, with applications on the rise, success rates are expected to plummet. The overall Horizon Europe success rate for 2025 currently stands at 12%. However, this data is incomplete, covering only about a third of all 2025 Horizon Europe calls so far this year. This is because the European Commission reports only on calls that have been fully evaluated.
Despite this, a clear trend seems to be emerging. Even calls not yet included in the dataset are showing success rates as low as 2%.
For example, the European Innovation Council (EIC) has always been popular and fiercely competitive. In 2025, out of 2,087 applications for its Pathfinder grants aimed at breakthrough innovation, the acceptance rate has dropped significantly.
https://sciencebusiness.net/news/r-d-funding/horizon-europe/data-corner-horizon-success-rates-are-dropping
