Europe does not lack research excellence. It lacks scalable market translation.
Recent discussions around the EU Competitiveness Compass, the Automotive Action Plan, and the upcoming European Competitiveness Fund underline a structural challenge: European R&D investment is strong, yet global scale-up and commercial dominance remain limited.
1. Policy Context and Strategic Relevance
Under Horizon Europe, proposals are evaluated under Excellence, Impact, and Implementation. Increasingly, evaluators expect credible industrial uptake and scale-up readiness.
The strategic direction is visible in the EU Competitiveness framework and policy initiatives aiming to connect research, manufacturing, and deployment.
2. Structural Reasons for the Innovation Gap
Repeated evaluator feedback highlights recurring weaknesses:
• TRL progression without validated business case
• Pilots without post-project financing logic
• Over-complex consortia diluting technical focus
• Regulatory fragmentation across Member States
• Lack of quantified impact KPIs
Projects often demonstrate technical excellence but insufficient technology commercialisation planning.
3. Horizon Europe Evaluation Expectations
To achieve high scores, proposals must demonstrate:
Excellence:
• Clear technological differentiation
• Methodological robustness
• Feasible TRL progression
Impact:
• Quantified KPIs (e.g., 20% cost reduction, 15% time-to-market improvement)
• Exploitation ownership per partner
• Industrial scale-up roadmap
• Standardisation and regulatory alignment
Implementation:
• Lean governance structure
• Clear work package ownership
• Risk mitigation aligned with commercial risks
4. Practical Action Checklist for Coordinators
Before submission ensure:
1. Identify the paying customer
2. Validate CAPEX/OPEX logic
3. Define post-project investment pathway
4. Align with EU industrial strategy
5. Stress-test concept from investor perspective
6. Include regulatory and certification roadmap
7. Quantify impact beyond generic statements
5. How Nexuswelt Supports Research-to-Market Positioning
Nexuswelt supports consortia in structuring evaluator-oriented and policy-aligned proposals.
Our expertise covers Research to Market strategy, exploitation architecture, impact KPIs, and industrial positioning.
We also advise on Innovation Policy alignment and scalable industrial deployment models.
Authoritative References
• European Commission – Horizon Europe
• European Competitiveness Policy Overview
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