Building a consortium: minimum rules, partner search and the consortium agreement in Horizon Europe
Editorial team artemis-ju.eu · Updated 27 October 2026
A standard Horizon Europe collaborative project needs at least three independent legal entities from three different EU Member States or associated countries, with at least one established in a Member State. A strong consortium goes beyond this minimum: every partner covers a task the topic actually requires. You find partners through the Funding & Tenders Portal partner search, the National Contact Points and your own network. A consortium agreement, often based on the DESCA model, governs how the partners work together.
Minimum conditions
| Condition | Standard rule |
|---|---|
| Number of partners | at least 3 legal entities |
| Independence | partners must not be affiliated with each other |
| Countries | 3 different Member States or associated countries |
| EU link | at least 1 partner from an EU Member State |
Topics can require more, such as a minimum number of partners or the involvement of end users or public authorities. Single-applicant schemes such as the EIC Accelerator and the ERC are exceptions. All conditions are on the topic page; see reading funding calls.
Roles
- Coordinator: the single contact for the Commission; submits the proposal, distributes payments and coordinates reporting.
- Beneficiaries: sign the grant agreement, receive funding and are responsible for their work.
- Affiliated entities: linked to a beneficiary and able to declare costs in the project.
- Associated partners: contribute without EU funding, for example organisations from non-eligible third countries.
- Subcontractors: deliver clearly defined services against invoice and are not project partners.
Six ways to find partners
- Funding & Tenders Portal partner search: many topics list partner search announcements, and you can publish your own profile.
- National Contact Points: the German NKS know the players in their fields and connect with contact points in other countries.
- Enterprise Europe Network: the EU’s SME network supports international partner search.
- Brokerage events and info days: run by the Commission, contact points and European partnerships, often online and in English.
- CORDIS: the Commission’s project database shows who has worked on your topic before.
- Existing relationships: customers, suppliers and university partners. Trust is a major advantage.
Companies in electronics and semiconductors should also look at the joint undertaking calls covered in our guide on EU funding for electronics and chips. A good partner search entry is short and specific: name the topic, your role, your strengths, the skills you need and a contact person. Newcomers often find it easier to join an experienced consortium as a partner before coordinating one themselves.
What makes a strong consortium
- Complementary expertise mapped to every task in the scope.
- Users or customers on board for Innovation Actions, so results are actually deployed.
- Budgets that follow the tasks rather than politics.
- Partners with the financial and staff capacity to deliver.
- A coordinator with EU project experience.
Consortium quality is assessed under “Quality and efficiency of implementation”; see writing a grant proposal.
The consortium agreement
The consortium agreement (Konsortialvertrag) is a private contract among the partners. The Commission is not a party and does not review it. In Horizon Europe it is generally mandatory unless the work programme waives it, and Austria’s FFG recommends signing it before the grant agreement.
| Area | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Governance | bodies such as a general assembly and steering committee, voting, decisions |
| Finance | distribution of payments, budget transfers |
| Intellectual property | background, results, access rights, exploitation |
| Liability | limits of liability between partners |
| Changes | partners leaving or joining, defaults |
| Disputes | applicable law, courts or arbitration |
The DESCA model (Development of a Simplified Consortium Agreement) is widely used. DESCA Horizon Europe version 2.1 was released in March 2026, and a separate version covers associated partners. Have the intellectual property clauses reviewed by a lawyer before signing.
Timing
Allow several months for a collaborative proposal. Start looking for partners as soon as a suitable topic is announced. A non-disclosure agreement or letter of intent covers the proposal phase; the full consortium agreement follows after a positive evaluation. Experienced grant consultants can help with partner search and negotiations; see choosing a grant consultant.
Sources
- EU Funding & Tenders Portal
- European IP Helpdesk: DESCA Horizon Europe
- BayFOR: DESCA 2.1 released
- FFG: Consortium Agreement in Horizon Europe
- German National Contact Points
As of October 2026. This guide does not replace tax or legal advice; the work programme, call conditions and grant agreement, or the funding body’s guideline and decision, are binding.
Sources and further reading
Frequently asked questions
Do two subsidiaries of the same group count as two partners?
Only independent entities count towards the minimum. Affiliated companies cannot meet the condition together, even if they are in different countries.
When must the consortium agreement be signed?
The obligation comes from the grant agreement. National Contact Points such as Austria's FFG recommend signing it before the grant agreement. During proposal preparation, a non-disclosure agreement or letter of intent is usually enough.
Can an organisation take part without EU funding?
Yes. Organisations from non-eligible third countries, or partners who do not request funding, can join as associated partners and cover their own costs.
How can a company new to Germany find German partners?
The German National Contact Points (Nationale Kontaktstellen) and the Enterprise Europe Network can introduce you to universities, institutes and companies, and many brokerage events are held in English.