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This review simulates how evaluators will look at your idea at concept stage.
How the Concept Review works
The Concept Review provides early feedback on your MSCA research idea before you start writing the proposal.
Step 1 - Submit your concept
Answer 60+ strategic questions about your project concept and key information about your profile, host institution and research context.
Step 2 - Expert evaluation
An evaluator reviews the concept using MSCA evaluation logic, focusing on novelty, scientific clarity, host fit and feasibility.
Step 3 - Receive your review report
You receive a structured report highlighting strengths, weaknesses, risks and strategic actions to improve competitiveness.
The review also highlights potential panel fit issues, host-concept alignment problems and positioning risks that may affect evaluation.
What you need to submit
You'll complete a structured questionnaire covering:
Your research objective and hypothesis
Host institution fit and resources
Training plan and career development
Your profile and supervisor context
No need to write a long document — the form guides you through specific questions.
Example structure of the Concept Review report
Executive verdict: Go / Rework / No-go recommendation
Concept evaluation: assessment of scientific ambition, novelty and hypothesis clarity
Impact: evaluation of applicant profile and career fit with MSCA expectations
Implementation feasibility: host environment, supervisor credibility and concept feasibility
Fit checks: panel choice, host–concept alignment and expected competitiveness
Main risks: key weaknesses that may affect the evaluation outcome
Strategic recommendations: priority actions to improve the concept before writing the proposal
Readiness assessment: indication of whether the concept is ready to move to proposal writing
The Concept Review report highlights the main strengths and weaknesses of your project idea and identifies potential risks early in the proposal preparation process.
The goal is to help you refine the concept before investing significant time writing the proposal.
Who performs the evaluation
Concept reviews are carried out by experts with experience evaluating proposals in European research funding programmes such as Horizon Europe and the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions.
This evaluation perspective helps identify weaknesses that are often difficult to correct later in the proposal writing process.
When this service is most useful
You have an initial research idea but are unsure about competitiveness
You want to validate panel choice and positioning
You want early feedback before starting proposal writing
You want to identify structural risks early
What this service does not include
proposal writing
proposal editing
formatting or proofreading
guarantee of funding
The goal of this service is to provide early strategic feedback on the project concept.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What if my concept isn't ready?
A: We tell you exactly what to fix before writing. Better to know now than after 200 hours of drafting. Many clients use the feedback to strengthen their concept in 2-4 weeks, then proceed with confidence.
Q: Can I ask follow-up questions?
A: Yes, one round of clarification questions via email is included.
Q: Who reviews my concept?
A: You're matched with an active MSCA evaluator from your scientific panel (CHE, ENG, ENV, LIF, etc.) with experience evaluating 20+ proposals. All reviewers are vetted for conflict of interest.
Q: What format is the feedback?
A: You receive a structured PDF report (4-6 pages) organized by MSCA evaluation criteria, plus overall readiness assessment.
Q: How long does it take?
A: 7-10 business days from when you complete the submission form.