Horizon Europe grant call wasted more time and money than it awarded

One grant call cost more time than it gave in money

A single Horizon Europe funding call wasted more time and money than the total amount it awarded, according to a new analysis. In a Nature Career column, researcher Gerald Schweiger argues the process was a net drain on the scientific ecosystem.

Schweiger calculated that the combined time spent by applicants and funders on the call exceeded the value of the grants it distributed. The call was part of the Horizon Europe Widening Participation and Spreading Excellence programme.

The high administrative cost of research grants

The analysis highlights a chronic problem in research funding: high administrative burdens. Schweiger suggests that overly complex application processes consume resources that could be better spent on actual science.

This is not an isolated issue. Researchers globally report spending excessive time on grant applications with low success rates. The system can prioritize paperwork over productivity.

• Applicants spend weeks crafting elaborate proposals.
• Review panels dedicate days to evaluating submissions.
• The entire administrative machinery has significant overhead costs.

Broader crisis in science funding

This case study arrives amid wider turmoil in research funding. Recent headlines point to systemic stress across the global scientific landscape.

In the UK, major funding reforms have created chaos and anxiety among researchers. Meanwhile, science journalism is facing severe cuts, particularly from reductions in US aid, threatening public understanding of research.

Leadership changes are also causing concern. The appointment of a biotech investor to lead the US National Science Foundation has sparked debate about the direction of fundamental research.

Calls for a more efficient system

Schweiger's column adds to a growing chorus calling for grant reform. The core argument is that funding systems must minimize waste to maximize scientific output.

Proposals for improvement often include simplifying applications, using lotteries for borderline proposals, and providing more unrestricted funding to trusted institutions. The goal is to shift effort from begging for money to doing research.

As one related commentary pleads, we must not deprioritize curiosity-driven research in the quest for efficiency. The challenge is to build a system that supports science without suffocating it.