Bridges

The Bridges programme is an initiative under the EIT Cross-KIC Strategic Outreach, primarily focused on enhancing EU-Israel collaboration in the fields of Aquaculture and Civil Security within the Horizon Europe framework. The program is designed for experienced consortium coordinators and partners from Europe and Israel, aiming to boost the number of submissions and successful consortia for Horizon Europe proposals.

Eligible applicants include startups, SMEs, universities, research institutions, and KIC partners from Europe and Israel, with a priority given to those from Regional Innovation Schemes (RIS) countries. The program offers non-monetary support, including training, networking, and consultancy services. It does not provide direct financial grants to participants, but rather facilitates consortia formation to enhance proposals for Horizon Europe.

The target sectors for this programme are Aquaculture and Civil Security, aiming to improve the quality and success rates of proposals in these areas. While the program's geographic eligibility encompasses Europe and Israel, it specifically targets EU member states and associated RIS countries.

The Bridges programme operates through a two-day in-person event, supplemented by online training, and caters to experienced individuals preparing proposals for Horizon Europe calls set for 2026. The expected funding for the program itself totals 12,000 EUR, which goes towards covering training and consultancy services rather than direct project funding.

Applications will be accepted through an open call process with competitive selection, evaluated based on a range of criteria, including prior experience and thematic relevance. A two-stage application process involves submitting a written application, with the possibility of an optional interview for further evaluation. The program emphasizes a commitment to diversity and gives priority to applicants from RIS countries and KIC partner organizations.

Overall, the Bridges programme aims to strengthen collaboration between Europe and Israel, improve participant readiness for Horizon Europe proposals, and ultimately increase the number of joint projects awarded under this funding scheme. The event will provide hands-on workshops, strategic training, and opportunities for matchmaking to form effective cross-border consortia. The program is set to open for applications on June 26, 2025, with a deadline of September 4, 2025.

The Bridges programme is an intensive two-day event designed for 35-40 experienced Horizon Europe consortium coordinators and partners from Europe and Israel. The programme focuses on Aquaculture and Civil Security open calls. It aims to provide participants with strategic insights, practical tools, and connections to build competitive proposals and lead successful projects.

The opening date for applications is 26 June 2025, and the deadline for submission is 04 September 2025 at 23:59 (Brussels time). The expected duration of participation is 3 days, including 1 day online for preparation and 2 days in person. The total funding available is 12,000.00 €. The project acronym is XKIC SO, and the full name of the EU-funded project is Cross-KIC Global Outreach. The grant agreement number is 101113201. The topic is HORIZON-EIT-2023-25-Cross-KIC-Strategic-Outreach - EIT Cross-KIC Strategic Outreach.

All applicants will be evaluated by EIT Hub Israel and steering committee members. Each application will be reviewed and ranked based on the information provided in the application form, using the following criteria:

Winning consortium participation (15% of the score): Participation in Horizon Europe/EU project winning consortia.
Winning Aquaculture/Civil Security consortium participation (10% of the score): Participation in Horizon Europe/EU projects around Aquaculture/Civil Security winning consortia.
Experience as a coordinator (20% of the score): Previous experience leading Horizon Europe or other EU-funded projects as a coordinator.
Track record (15% of the score): Number of Horizon Europe/EU projects coordinated.
Thematic relevance (10% of the score): Relevance of the organization’s work to Aquaculture and/or Civil Security funding opportunities.
Coordination in 2026 open calls (10% of the score): Intention to coordinate consortia around Aquaculture and/or Civil Security topics for the 2026 open calls.
RIS countries (5% of the score): Priority for participants from RIS (Regional Innovation Schemes) countries.
KIC partners (10% of the score): Priority for KIC partners participants, relevant for European applicants.
Diversity & inclusion (5% of the score): Gender diversity among applicants.

An individual online interview may be scheduled as an additional evaluation criterion. The selection process is competitive and based on excellence and the above criteria.

Participants will gain a deep understanding of selected Horizon Europe open calls, explore best practices in consortium leadership and project design, and take part in hands-on workshops to refine proposals. Facilitated matchmaking and thematic roundtables will support the formation of high-impact, cross-border consortia between leading European and Israeli stakeholders. Each consortium formed during the programme will also have access to tailored post-programme support, including the Booster Package, a pre-paid consultancy service aimed at enhancing proposal quality and increasing success rates.

The Bridges programme aims to increase EU-Israel collaboration and the number of EU-Israel submissions and winning consortia. This edition will focus on high-impact open calls in Aquaculture and Civil Security. The main objectives are:

Strengthen collaboration between the EU and Israel and increase the number of EU-Israeli submissions and winning consortia under the Horizon Europe funding programme.
Deepen understanding of Horizon Europe’s open calls in Aquaculture and Civil Security thematic areas, including strategic priorities, eligibility, and evaluation insights.
Enhance the capacity of experienced participants by strengthening the skills, confidence, and proposal-readiness of coordinators and expert partners.
Sharpen project and consortium management skills by learning practical tools on budgeting, deliverables, timelines, and risk management from experts.
Engage in structured matchmaking and in-person networking to build strong, cross-border partnerships, both during and following the event.

Registration and more information will be published soon. Further information can be obtained via email from Maayan Sharon at maayan.sharon@eithubisrael.eu.

In summary, the Bridges programme is a targeted initiative under the Cross-KIC Global Outreach project, funded by the EU's Horizon Europe programme. It's designed to foster collaboration between European and Israeli entities in the specific areas of Aquaculture and Civil Security. The program offers experienced project coordinators and partners a chance to enhance their skills, gain insights into Horizon Europe funding opportunities, and build strong consortia through matchmaking and networking. Participants will receive training on proposal writing, project management, and consortium leadership, with the ultimate goal of increasing the number of successful EU-Israel joint projects in the targeted sectors. The selection process is competitive, prioritizing applicants with a proven track record in EU projects, relevant thematic expertise, and a commitment to coordinating future proposals. The program also emphasizes diversity and inclusion, and gives priority to participants from RIS countries and KIC partner organizations.

Eligible Applicant Types: Experienced Horizon Europe consortium coordinators and partners from Europe and Israel are eligible. Priority is given to participants from RIS (Regional Innovation Schemes) countries and KIC partners. The program targets individuals with experience in leading or participating in Horizon Europe projects, particularly those related to Aquaculture and Civil Security.

Funding Type: The primary financial mechanism is a grant, as indicated by the "Cascade funding" label and the "Total funding available" amount. However, the program also provides non-monetary services in the form of training, workshops, matchmaking, and post-programme support (Booster Package).

Consortium Requirement: While the program aims to facilitate the formation of consortia, the initial application is likely from individual coordinators or partners. The program then supports the creation of new consortia or the strengthening of existing ones. Therefore, it is not a strict consortium requirement at the application stage, but the ultimate goal is to foster collaborative projects.

Beneficiary Scope (Geographic Eligibility): The program is specifically targeted at participants from Europe and Israel. Priority is given to participants from RIS (Regional Innovation Schemes) countries, which are typically EU member states with lower research and innovation performance.

Target Sector: The program targets the Aquaculture and Civil Security sectors. It aims to improve the quality and success rate of Horizon Europe proposals in these areas.

Mentioned Countries: Israel, EU member states (especially RIS countries).

Project Stage: The program targets individuals and organizations with experience in Horizon Europe projects. The focus is on enhancing existing project ideas and improving proposal quality, suggesting a project stage of development and validation. The program also aims to prepare participants for future (2026) open calls, indicating a forward-looking approach.

Funding Amount: The total funding available is 12,000.00 €. This amount likely covers the costs of running the program itself (training, workshops, consultancy) rather than direct funding to participants' projects.

Application Type: The application type is an open call, as indicated by the "Opening date" and "Deadline date." The deadline model is single-stage.

Nature of Support: Beneficiaries receive both money and non-monetary services. The 12,000 EUR is for the program itself, but participants benefit from training, workshops, matchmaking, and the "Booster Package" (pre-paid consultancy service).

Application Stages: The application process appears to be single-stage, with applicants evaluated based on the criteria listed in the "Submission & evaluation process" section. An individual online interview may be scheduled as an additional evaluation criterion.

Success Rates: The success rates for obtaining funding are not explicitly mentioned. However, the program aims to increase success rates in Horizon Europe open calls, suggesting that the current success rates may be relatively low.

Co-funding Requirement: Co-funding is not explicitly mentioned.

Summary:

The "Bridges" program is an initiative designed to strengthen collaboration between Europe and Israel in the Aquaculture and Civil Security sectors within the Horizon Europe framework. The program is funded under the Cross-KIC Global Outreach project. It is a 3-day program, with 1 day online and 2 days in person. It targets experienced Horizon Europe consortium coordinators and partners from Europe and Israel, aiming to enhance their skills, knowledge, and networks to improve the quality and success rates of their proposals. The program includes workshops, matchmaking events, and post-program support in the form of a "Booster Package" (consultancy services). The application process is a single-stage open call, with applicants evaluated based on their experience, track record, thematic relevance, and other criteria. Priority is given to participants from RIS countries and KIC partners. The program's objectives are to increase the number of EU-Israel submissions and winning consortia in Horizon Europe, deepen understanding of relevant open calls, enhance participants' capacity, sharpen project management skills, and facilitate the building of strong, cross-border partnerships. The total funding available is 12,000 EUR, which is used to cover the costs of the program itself, while participants benefit from training, networking, and consultancy services. The opening date for applications is June 26, 2025, and the deadline is September 4, 2025.