Direct comparison
Twinning vs ERA Chairs vs Teaming Compared
Compare Horizon Europe's Widening Participation instruments -- Twinning, ERA Chairs, and Teaming for Excellence -- by goal, eligibility, and funding.
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How do Twinning, Teaming for Excellence, ERA Chairs compare side by side?
The table below compares Twinning, Teaming for Excellence, ERA Chairs across 8 procurement-relevant dimensions, from primary goal through best fit for.
Side-by-side comparison
| Dimension | Twinning | Teaming for Excellence | ERA Chairs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Primary goal | Networking and knowledge transfer between institutions | Build or upgrade a Centre of Excellence | Attract and embed one outstanding researcher and their team |
| Core mechanism | Staff exchange, joint activities, best-practice transfer | Structured institutional partnership with an advanced partner institution | Recruitment of a named ERA Chair holder plus team-building funding |
| Minimum consortium | At least 3 institutions (Widening coordinator + 2 in different Member/Associated States) | Widening coordinator + at least 1 advanced partner institution | Single Widening host institution (no multi-country consortium required) |
| What it funds | Networking activities -- not a large research project | New/upgraded infrastructure, management restructuring, a durable centre | Researcher salary/relocation, team recruitment, research costs |
| Indicative funding per project | ~EUR 800,000-1.5 million | Multi-million euro, varies by strand and call (e.g. Teaming Synergies ~EUR 7 million) | ~EUR 1.5-2.5 million |
| Typical duration | Shorter, networking-scale project | Longer, multi-year institution-building horizon | Up to 5 years |
| Application process | Standard single-stage Horizon Europe application | Historically staged (first-stage proposal, then invited full application) -- confirm current call structure | Single-stage submission with a distinctive written rebuttal step |
| Best fit for | Institutions building a first relationship with a stronger partner abroad | Institutions aiming to stand up a whole new or upgraded research centre | Institutions whose main gap is a missing senior research leader in one field |
Common questions
Common questions about Twinning vs Teaming for Excellence vs ERA Chairs
What does 'Widening Participation' mean in Horizon Europe?
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It is the part of Horizon Europe dedicated to closing the gap in research-and-innovation performance and EU funding success between Widening countries and the rest of the European Research Area. Twinning, Teaming for Excellence, and ERA Chairs are its three flagship capacity-building instruments.
Which countries count as Widening countries?
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A defined list including most lower-performing EU member states, certain outermost regions, and a subset of associated countries below a GDP-per-capita threshold. The exact list changes between Work Programmes, so confirm current status on the EU Funding & Tenders Portal.
Can one institution apply to Twinning, Teaming, and ERA Chairs at the same time?
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Yes. The three instruments are not mutually exclusive, and institutions often use a successful Twinning partnership as a foundation for a later Teaming or ERA Chairs application.
Do Widening Participation grants use the same 25% flat indirect-cost rate as the rest of Horizon Europe?
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Yes. All three instruments follow the standard Horizon Europe cost model of eligible direct costs plus a flat 25% indirect-cost contribution.
What is the difference between Teaming for Excellence and an Excellence Hub?
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Teaming for Excellence builds a single Centre of Excellence through a partnership with one advanced partner institution; Excellence Hubs fund broader regional collaboration among academic, business, government, and civil-society actors. They are separate call topics within the same Widening strand.
Going deeper
