Unofficial; not affiliated with the European Commission. Source: European Commission, EU Funding & Tenders Portal. Reused under the Commission's reuse policy (Decision 2011/833/EU, CC BY 4.0); we reorganise the facts and add counts.
How to Apply for EU Funding: 6 Steps for First-Time Applicants
To apply for an EU grant you pick an open topic on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal, read its conditions, register your organisation for a free PIC, build a consortium if the topic needs one, and submit your proposal in the portal before the deadline.
1. Find a call that fits
Each call is split into topics, and each topic has its own identifier, budget, type of action and deadline. Browse calls closing soon, calls by programme or calls for SMEs, then open the official topic page.
2. Read the topic and call documents
The topic page links to the call document or work programme section, the eligibility conditions, the evaluation criteria and the proposal template. Check who can apply, whether you need partners, the expected outcomes and the type of action (for example a research and innovation action or a lump sum grant).
3. Create an EU Login and register your organisation
To apply you need a free EU Login account. Your organisation registers once in the Participant Register and receives a 9-digit Participant Identification Code (PIC), which is used in every proposal.
4. Build your consortium if one is required
Many collaborative actions require partners from several countries. The topic conditions say how many. The portal has a free partner search, and topic pages often list organisations looking for partners.
5. Write the proposal in the submission system
Start a draft from the topic page's submission service. Proposals usually have administrative forms (Part A) and a technical description (Part B) written in the official template. Follow the page limits and answer each evaluation criterion.
6. Submit before the deadline
Submit electronically before the deadline shown on the topic page; check the exact time there (many calls close at 17:00 Brussels time). Late proposals are not accepted. Two-stage topics have a short first-stage proposal and a full second-stage proposal with separate deadlines.
Applying is free
EU Login, the Participant Register and proposal submission on the portal are free. Call Window does not charge for anything and never asks for personal or bank information.
Cascade funding: smaller grants run by EU projects
Some calls are run by EU-funded projects that pass on part of their grant to third parties (often SMEs, startups or researchers). These cascade funding calls are usually simpler and smaller, and you apply on the project's own website, which the portal page links to. Browse them under cascade funding.