Horizon Europe Proposal Template RIA: 40-Page Section Map

By Aoba Works · Published October 26, 2026 · 16 min read

How this guide was made: drafted with AI assistance from the official sources linked below, then passed an automated editorial check before publishing. Our process

• Horizon Europe
• Ria
• Proposal Template
• Part B

For 2026-2027 calls, the Horizon Europe proposal template for a RIA is the "Standard Application Form (HE RIA, IA)". Its Part B has a hard limit of 40 pages, or 45 pages when the topic uses lump sum funding (NCP Flanders). Part B has three scored sections: 1 Excellence, 2 Impact and 3 Quality and efficiency of the implementation. The template suggests about 18 pages for Excellence, 6 for Impact and 15 for Implementation (criteri.ai summary of the template). Innovation Actions (IA) use the same file. Coordination and Support Actions (CSA) use a shorter template with a 25-page limit.

Which option is right for you?

The right starting point depends on your call type and on whether you are reusing an older proposal.

What Is the Official RIA Proposal Template?

The official RIA proposal template is the Commission's "Standard Application Form (HE RIA, IA)". You download it from your call topic on the Funding & Tenders Portal. It is set up so evaluators can score your proposal against Excellence, Impact and Implementation.

A Horizon Europe application has two parts. Part A is a set of web forms in the Submission System: participants, budget, and the ethics and security self-assessments. Part B is the technical description you write and upload as a PDF. The Commission publishes the generic RIA/IA template as a PDF in its reference documents. Inside the Submission System you get an editable RTF version that matches your call (Portal IT How To: Proposal forms).

The version matters. For the 2026-2027 Work Programme, the Commission released a revised form in December 2025 (NCP Flanders reported it on 19 December 2025). It made four changes (NCP Flanders):

• RIA/IA page limit cut from 45 to 40 pages (lump sum: from 50 to 45)
• CSA page limit cut from 30 to 25 pages (lump sum: from 33 to 28)
• Section 2.1 simplified, and the "scale and significance" guidance removed
• In Section 3.1, the "other cost categories" and "in-kind contributions" tables removed, and the purchase costs table simplified

Secondary summaries cite different version numbers and dates for this release, including "v5.0", "v5.1 (22 January 2026)" and "Version 10.0, 15 December 2025" (criteri.ai, Accelopment, Europa Media Trainings). Don't rely on any of those labels. Use the template linked from your topic's Submission System, because that is the one the page-limit check runs against.

If you want to know how each section maps to the evaluator's score sheet, see our Horizon Europe Part B scoring map.

RIA vs IA vs CSA Template: What's the Difference?

RIA and IA use the same Part B template and the same 40-page limit. The CSA template is shorter (25 pages), and its Excellence criterion asks about the quality of your coordination and support measures, not about going beyond the state of the art.

Sources for the table: page limits from NCP Flanders; IA weighting, thresholds and funding rates from the Horizon Europe 2026-2027 General Annexes8493_15/090166e526657ddd); CSA criterion wording as summarised by Proposia.

What this means in practice:

• RIA: Excellence is where most proposals win or lose. Methodology gets the biggest page budget (about 14 pages).
• IA: you write the same sections, but Impact counts 1.5× when proposals are ranked. Give Section 2.2 a credible exploitation and commercialisation route.
• CSA: there is no research methodology to defend. The space goes to how you will coordinate, network, run events or support policy. Evaluators still expect a short note on context and existing initiatives (Proposia).

For all three types, you must score at least 3 out of 5 on each criterion and at least 10 out of 15 overall, unless the work programme sets different thresholds (General Annexes8493_15/090166e526657ddd)).

How Many Pages Is the Part B Template?

A RIA Part B for 2026-2027 calls may be 40 pages at most, or 45 pages if the topic uses lump sum funding. The count includes the cover/title and participant list plus Sections 1-3, with every table, figure and reference inside them (criteri.ai, Proposia).

These are the recommended per-section allocations for a standard (non-lump-sum) RIA/IA, as of October 2026. They are guidance, not separate hard caps. Only the total is enforced.

Sources: criteri.ai and Accelopment.

Other limits you may run into:

• Two-stage calls, stage 1: 10 pages (Europa Media Trainings).
• CSA: 25 pages, or 28 with lump sum (NCP Flanders).
• Programme Co-fund: 65 pages (criteri.ai).
• EIC Pathfinder 2026: 22 pages for Open, 30 for Challenges (EU-Büro NCP).

Sections 4 and 5 (ethics and security) don't eat into the 40 pages. Those self-assessments are now completed in Part A web forms (Proposia).

The Submission System enforces the limit itself. If you upload a file that is too long, you can still submit, but the excess pages get a watermark and a warning tells you they will be dismissed in evaluation (Portal IT How To). After the deadline those pages become invisible to the experts (criteri.ai).

What Goes in Section 1 (Excellence)?

Section 1 covers objectives and ambition (1.1, about 4 pages) and methodology (1.2, about 14 pages). Together that is roughly 18 of your 40 pages.

1.1 Objectives and ambition should state measurable, achievable objectives that clearly match the topic text. It explains how you go beyond the state of the art and gives the Technology Readiness Level (TRL) at the start and end of the project where relevant. The template also asks you to name the ground-breaking element if there is one (Proposia).

1.2 Methodology covers the following (Proposia):

• concepts, models and assumptions, plus the main challenges and how you will handle them
• links to other national or EU R&I activities (around 1 page)
• why an interdisciplinary approach is needed (around half a page)
• social sciences and humanities (SSH) integration where the topic requires it
• the sex and gender dimension in the research content (mandatory unless the topic exempts it)
• open science practices and research data management under FAIR principles; open access to publications is mandatory

How to draft Section 1:

1. Copy the "Expected outcomes" and "Scope" bullets from your topic page into a scratch file.
2. Write one objective for each outcome, each with a measurable target. Example (illustrative only): "Reduce sensor drift to below 2% over 1,000 hours, validated in a relevant environment (TRL 5) by month 30."
3. State the start and end TRL for each technology strand.
4. In 1.2, follow the template's sub-headings in order so evaluators can tick off each element.
5. Write the gender and open science paragraphs about your research. Generic policy text doesn't count.
6. Check the length. If 1.2 goes past about 14 pages, the extra space has to come out of Section 3, which is already tight.

What Goes in Section 2 (Impact)?

Section 2 asks how your results lead to the topic's expected outcomes (2.1) and what you will do to make that happen: dissemination, exploitation, IP and communication (2.2). The recommended budget is about 6 pages in total.

2.1 Project's pathways towards impact (about 3 pages) links your results to the expected outcomes in the topic and to the wider impacts of the work programme destination. The 2026-27 template removed the guidance on describing the "scale and significance" of your contribution. The Commission said those measures were complex and often hard to quantify (NCP Flanders). The focus is now on who benefits, how and why (Future Needs). Also cover requirements and barriers outside your control, such as regulation or market uptake. Risks to delivering the project belong in Section 3 (Proposia).

2.2 Measures to maximise impact (shares about 3 pages with 2.3) is a first version of your plan for dissemination, exploitation and communication. It must include your IP strategy and name target groups for each measure (Proposia). This is an admissibility issue: the General Annexes require a plan for the exploitation and dissemination of results, including communication, at proposal stage unless the call says otherwise (General Annexes8493_15/090166e526657ddd)).

2.3 Summary (the "key elements of the impact section" canvas) is now optional (Accelopment). If space is tight, drop it before you cut content from 2.2.

How to draft Section 2:

1. Make a three-column list: each expected outcome from the topic, the project result that feeds it, and the group that uses that result.
2. Turn each row into a short pathway paragraph for 2.1.
3. In 2.2, give each measure a target group, a channel and a timing. Example (illustrative): "Open-source toolkit released on a public repository at M24, targeted at regional grid operators via the partner's user group."
4. For an IA, add the commercialisation route (who sells or deploys, and when). Impact is weighted 1.5 in IA ranking.

What Goes in Section 3 (Implementation)?

Section 3 contains the work plan and resources (3.1, about 12 pages including the mandatory tables, or 17 with lump sum) and the capacity of the consortium (3.2, about 3 pages).

3.1 Work plan and resources starts with a short narrative and a graphical overview of how the work packages fit together and when they run, for example a Gantt chart (RIA/IA template). Then come the tables:

Tables 3.1i (other cost categories) and 3.1j (in-kind contributions) were removed in the 2026-27 version (Accelopment). The Commission's reason was that evaluators mainly need high-level information on the work plan, and more detail can be requested after selection (NCP Flanders).

In lump sum topics, 3.1 gets 17 pages because each work package needs enough detail to justify its share of the lump sum (criteri.ai).

3.2 Capacity of participants and consortium as a whole explains why these partners, with this expertise and these facilities, can deliver. Show complementarity, a clear role for each partner, and industry involvement where exploitation depends on it. Evaluators comment negatively on unexplained imbalances in effort and on partners whose role isn't clear (Proposia).

How to draft Section 3:

1. Fix the work package list and the person-months per partner in a spreadsheet first.
2. Enter the same figures in the Part A budget and in Tables 3.1a, 3.1b and 3.1f.
3. Plan the Data Management Plan and the dissemination, exploitation and communication plan as early deliverables. Proposia notes these are expected by month 6 (Proposia).
4. Include a project management work package.
5. Write 3.2 last, once roles are final.

How to Format Tables for Work Packages and Deliverables?

Use the template's tables as they are, keep the columns in order, and make sure the numbers match Part A exactly. The fonts used in tables count toward the formatting rules too.

These are the expected columns, as summarised by Proposia from the template:

The 15% trigger for justifying purchase costs comes from the 2026-27 summaries (Accelopment, Proposia). Check the exact wording in the template version for your topic.

Pitfalls and fixes:

• Person-months don't match across 3.1a, 3.1b, 3.1f and the Part A budget. Fix: generate all four from one spreadsheet and check them again after every budget change.
• Shrinking table fonts to save space. The minimum 11-point rule also applies to text in tables, and using narrow fonts to get around the limit is treated as a breach (criteri.ai).
• Pasting tables as images. Graphics may be at most 300 dpi (Portal IT How To), and scanned tables are hard to read. Keep tables as text.
• Deliverable months outside the WP's start/end range. Fix: sort 3.1c by WP and compare each date with 3.1a.

Where Do I Download the Official RIA Template?

Download it from your call topic on the Funding & Tenders Portal. The generic PDF is there for reading, and the editable RTF is in the Submission System via "Download Part B templates".

Steps (Portal labels as of October 2026):

1. Go to the Funding & Tenders Portal and search for your topic ID (e.g. HORIZON-CL5-2027-…).
2. On the topic page, open "Topic conditions and documents" and find the application form link, "Standard application form (HE RIA, IA)". This opens the generic template (PDF). Use it to plan the structure.
3. Click "Start submission". You need an EU Login account and your organisation's PIC (Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual). If you don't have one yet, see /eu-funding-and-tenders-portal-registration-pic-in-6-steps/.
4. In the Submission System, click "Download Part B templates". You get the call-specific templates as editable RTF files (Portal IT How To).
5. Write in that file. When you're done, export to PDF and upload it under "Part B and Annexes" with "Upload". The PDF must not be locked, encrypted, password-protected or digitally signed. File names may only contain Latin letters, numbers, dots, dashes, underscores and spaces (Portal IT How To).
6. Click "Validate", fix any errors, then click "Submit". You can resubmit as often as you like before the deadline (Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual). Check the result in My Proposals.

To compare templates across action types, the CSA form is published as a separate PDF.

What Are Common Mistakes When Filling the RIA Template?

The most expensive mistakes are going over the page limit, using an outdated template, and having Part B figures that don't match Part A. All three are avoidable.

1. Writing in the 2024-25 template. An old file was built for 45 pages. Under the 2026-27 rules, anything past page 40 is watermarked and then hidden from evaluators (criteri.ai). Fix: start from the RTF in your topic's Submission System and move your text into it.
2. Ignoring the formatting floor. The template requires Times New Roman (or Times / Nimbus Roman No. 9 L) at 11 pt minimum, single line spacing, A4 pages and 15 mm margins (criteri.ai, Proposia). Fix: set up styles once and don't override them locally.
3. Leaving instruction text in place. The italic guidance in the template uses pages that count toward your limit. Fix: delete every instruction block before exporting, and keep only the headings.
4. Mismatched effort and budget. Example (illustrative): Table 3.1f shows 48 person-months for a partner, but Part A budgets 36. Evaluators read that as weak planning. Fix: use one source spreadsheet.
5. Missing the dissemination and exploitation plan. It's an admissibility requirement (General Annexes8493_15/090166e526657ddd)). Fix: write a real 2.2, even if it's short.
6. Skipping call-specific additions. Some topics add requirements, for example lump sum work package detail, blind evaluation at stage 1 (Proposia) or extra sub-sections. Fix: read the topic's "Topic conditions and documents" section before you write a single section.
7. Uploading at the last minute. Technical problems close to the deadline are hard to fix. Fix: submit a complete draft days ahead, then resubmit. If the system blocks you, open a ticket right away. See our helpdesk guide.

Next steps

You can get the template structure right today. If you want help, the free option is your National Contact Point, and paid training or consultants are available too.

Do it yourself today:

1. Open your topic page, click "Start submission", and use "Download Part B templates" to get the current RTF.
2. Paste the per-section page budget table above into the top of your draft as a working note (delete it before export). Assign an owner to each section.
3. Build one spreadsheet for WPs, person-months and deliverables, and fill Tables 3.1a–3.1f from it.

If you'd rather not do it alone:

• National Contact Points (NCPs): a free, publicly funded service in each EU Member State and Associated Country. They can review your structure and explain the call rules (Horizon Europe NCP Portal). They suit first-time applicants and small teams. They're less suited if you want someone to write the proposal: NCPs advise but don't draft.
• Paid proposal-writing courses, for example those listed by Europa Media Trainings. Prices are set per course (as of October 2026; check the official page). They suit grant officers who will write several proposals. They're less suited if you have one deadline in the next two weeks, because the course won't write your text.
• Private grant consultants: fees and models vary (fixed fee, success fee or both), so read the contract carefully. This suits SMEs with no in-house grant writer. It's not a good fit if you need to own and defend the scientific content yourself. One limitation: no consultant can change how the evaluation is done or what it decides.

Related guides on this site:

• Horizon Europe Part B: 2026 Scoring Map
• EU Funding for SMEs: 7 Open 2026 Calls
• Horizon Europe Health Calls 2027: Topics, Dates, Budgets

FAQ

Is the RIA template the same for all Horizon Europe clusters?

Yes. All clusters use the same Standard Application Form (HE RIA, IA) with the same 40-page limit (45 with lump sum) for 2026-2027 calls (NCP Flanders). Individual topics can still add conditions, such as lump sum detail or two-stage rules. Always use the version linked from your topic.

Can I add extra sections to the standard RIA template?

You shouldn't change the numbered structure, because evaluators score against those headings. You can add sub-headings, figures and tables inside the sections, but everything counts toward the page limit. Annexes are only allowed where the call asks for them.

What font and margin rules apply to the Part B template?

The minimum is Times New Roman (or an equivalent such as Times or Nimbus Roman No. 9 L) at 11 points, with single line spacing, A4 pages and 15 mm margins (criteri.ai, Proposia). The rule also applies to text inside tables. Using narrow fonts to fit more text counts as a breach.

Do Pathfinder or EIC calls use a different template?

Yes. EIC Pathfinder has its own application form. For 2026, Part B is limited to 22 pages for Pathfinder Open and 30 pages for Pathfinder Challenges (EU-Büro NCP). EIC Accelerator also uses its own process. See our EIC Accelerator deadlines guide.

Sources

• Standard Application Form (HE RIA, IA), European Commission
• Standard Application Form (HE CSA), European Commission
• NCP Flanders: Revised Standard Application Form, WP 2026-2027
• Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027, General Annexes8493_15/090166e526657ddd)
• Funding & Tenders Portal IT How To: Proposal forms
• Funding & Tenders Portal Online Manual
• Funding & Tenders Portal
• Accelopment: what changed in the 2026-2027 template
• criteri.ai: Horizon Europe page limits and Part B template
• Proposia: Horizon Europe Part B template, every section
• Future Needs: New template for 2026-2027
• Europa Media Trainings: HE RIA/IA form, what is new
• EU-Büro (German NCP): EIC Pathfinder
• Horizon Europe NCP Portal

Spotted something out of date or wrong? Tell us at shigoto.ai.note@gmail.com. Guides are re-checked against official sources on a rolling schedule.