EU Funding Advisory Service

EU Project Office

EU Funding Advisory Service

Get in Touch

For all general questions and information:eu-proposals(at)desy.de

For personalized support, feel free to contact our expert team members directly:
Annika Thies annika.thies(at)desy.de
Susanne Hummel susanne.hummel(at)desy.de
Petra Ullmann petra.ullmann(at)desy.de

We offer comprehensive advisory services before and during the application process, providing tailored support to researchers at every stage – from planning to submission.

How We Support You

We guide you through the entire proposal preparation process, ensuring a consistent and professional application. Our services include:

Strategic advice to identify the most suitable funding programme
Up-to-date information material on EU funding opportunities
Dedicated events on key funding lines (ERC, MSCA, RI and EIC) and tailored writing workshops
Expert guidance on application requirements and grant-specific formalities, including structured guidelines
One-on-one consultations for personalized support
Proposal read-through and editing service to identify weaknesses or gaps and to ensure clarity, coherence and persuasive – covering budget calculations, financial planning, and resource allocation
Assistance with required commitment and support letters, including legal checks and obtaining signatures from directors
Final review of EU portal entries (A-Forms) to ensure accuracy before submission
Setting-up the Grant (preparations of contracts in close collaboaration with the legal department, so-called GAP-Phase).

Collaboration & Confidentiality

We work closely with key DESY departments – including legal, human resources, finance, procurement, and technology transfer – to ensure compliance with DESY policies and both German and EU regulations.

Please be assured that all proposal information, data, and ideas are treated with strict confidentiality and will not be shared without your explicit consent.

Next Steps – Get in Touch Early!

Horizon Europe proposals must be submitted on the EU Funding and Tenders Portal. To provide the best support, we ask you to grant us access to your proposal (see Giving the EU Office access to your proposal). This allows us to review your Part A data, track the submission process, and assist with the Grant Agreement Preparation (GAP) phase, if your proposal is successful.

Experience has shown that developing a competitive proposal typically takes at least 4 to 6 months – regardless of the funding line.

If you are preparing or considering an EU proposal, please contact us as early as possible.

We recommend:

At least three weeks before submission – for guidance and budget planning
A minimum of four weeks lead time – if your proposal includes equipment, prototypes, access to infrastructure (including Virtual Access), NDAs, or Letters of Intent.

For maximum support and the strongest proposal possible, reach out to us at the earliest opportunity!