The current cohort includes around 30 researchers from different universities and research organizations. This diverse group of participants brings a range of perspectives, ideas, and experiences to the program. However, they all share a common goal of increasing their competitive and absorptive capacities at securing funding for their research projects through Horizon Europe. The group is committed to learning the best practices for developing proposals.

Through this training program, participants are learning how to effectively communicate their research ideas, structure their proposals, and address the evaluation criteria required by Horizon Europe. This cohort is led by experienced professionals who have a deep understanding of the Horizon Europe framework and funding opportunities, which also features an international trainer, Ildiko Ipolyi (European Science Foundation) and the POLICY ANSWERS colleagues Muhammet Mustafa and Alban Hashani.

The participants are working in groups to identify relevant Horizon Europe funding calls and develop proposals for their own real-world research projects. This collaborative approach not only fosters a sense of community among participants, but also provides them with valuable experience working in a team to develop a competitive proposal.