RAISE DN Application Timeline & Submission Checklist

HORIZON-RAISE-2026-01-03 | Deadline: 24 November 2026, 17:00 CET

Phase 1: Pre-Call Preparation (April - May 27, 2026)

April 2026

Define network vision and acronym
Draft 1-page concept note for partner recruitment
Identify target scientific domains (aligned with SCIANCE: Physics/Astronomy, Materials, Life Science, Earth Science, Social Sciences)
Design 15 DC project outlines at AI-science intersection
Identify potential coordinator and key academic partners
Begin informal partner outreach
Review existing MSCA DN templates (2025 versions as reference)
Read official WP 2026-2027 Horizontal Activities Part 14 (pages 36-38)

May 1-27, 2026

Confirm core consortium (min 3 partners, 3 countries)
Recruit non-academic/industrial partners
Assign section writing responsibilities
Set up shared workspace (SharePoint/Google Drive)
Prepare partner commitment plan
Review MSCA DN 2025 Guide for Applicants (as reference)

Phase 2: Call Open - Content Development (May 28 - October 31, 2026)

May 28, 2026 - CALL OPENS

Download official 2026 templates from Funding & Tenders Portal
Review any changes from 2025 templates
Register consortium on F&T Portal
Create proposal online form (Part A)
Tick RAISE Doctoral Networks interest declaration checkbox

June 2026

Attend MSCA Info Days (3 June)
Attend MSCA & RAISE DN Webinar (10 June)
Finalize consortium agreements
Complete DC-supervisor matching
Finalize secondment plans
Begin Section 1 (Excellence) writing

July 2026 - EXCELLENCE SECTION

Section 1.1: Research objectives and DC projects (~10 pages)
Section 1.2: Methodology, open science, gender dimension
Section 1.3: Training programme + Table 1 (training events)
Section 1.4: Supervision arrangements
RAISE scope check: Is AI integral to every DC project?

August 2026 - IMPACT SECTION

Section 2.1: Contribution to doctoral training structure
Section 2.2: Career perspectives and employability
Section 2.3: Dissemination and exploitation plan
Section 2.4: Scientific, economic, societal impacts

September 2026 - IMPLEMENTATION SECTION

Section 3.1: Work packages (Table 3.1a)
Section 3.1: Deliverables list (Table 3.1b)
Section 3.1: Milestones (Table 3.1c)
Section 3.1: DC Table (Table 3.1d) - all 15 DCs
Section 3.1: Risk table (Table 3.1e)
Section 3.2: Consortium quality and complementarities
Create Gantt chart

October 2026 - PART B2 & INTEGRATION

Section 4: Ethics self-assessment (including AI ethics)
Section 5: Network organisation and management
Section 6: Environmental aspects (MSCA Green Charter)
Section 7: ALL participating organisations described
Section 8: Pre-agreement letters (if DN-JD)
Section 9: Additional information
Complete Part A online form (budget, person-months)
Internal review round 1 - full proposal

Phase 3: Refinement & Submission (November 1-24, 2026)

November 1-7

Send to 2-3 external reviewers (experienced MSCA evaluators)
Cross-check all tables for internal consistency
Verify DC table matches person-month budget

November 8-14

Incorporate external reviewer feedback
Focus on RAISE scope alignment throughout
Strengthen weak sections identified by reviewers
Verify all RAISE guidance notes removed from final version

November 15-20

Final proofreading by native English speaker
Page count verification (Part B1: max 34 pages)
Table numbering check (Table 1, 3.1a-e)
Cross-reference consistency check
Generate final PDF from online form
Review PDF formatting and readability

November 21-23

Upload final Part B1 and Part B2 PDFs
Complete all Part A fields
Run portal validation checks
Final review of submitted version
Obtain coordinator signature

November 24, 2026 - DEADLINE 17:00 CET

SUBMIT before 17:00 CET
Download submission confirmation receipt
Archive complete submission package

Post-Submission Timeline

Date	Event
Nov 2026 - Apr 2027	MSCA evaluation by 3+ expert evaluators
Apr 2027	Results notification
Apr-May 2027	RAISE topical relevance assessment (if shortlisted)
Jul 2027	Grant agreement signature
Aug-Sep 2027	Project start
Sep 2027+	DC recruitment (advertise on EURAXESS)

Quality Gates (Must Pass Before Submission)

Gate 1: Scope Compliance

Every DC project has AI as INTEGRAL to research (not instrumental)
All DCs receive dedicated AI-in-science training
Research results depend on AI capabilities
Publications target domain-science venues (not just CS/AI)
No Chinese entities in consortium

Gate 2: Template Compliance

Part B1 ≤ 34 pages total
Sections 1-3 ≤ 30 pages (starting page 5)
Table of Contents ≤ 1 page
Participating Organisations ≤ 2 pages
All 6 mandatory tables present (Table 1, 3.1a-e)
All required sub-headings present

Gate 3: Consortium Compliance

≥ 3 independent legal entities from ≥ 3 countries
≥ 1 entity from EU Member State
≤ 540 person-months total
≤ 15 doctoral candidates
All partners listed in Part A
Associated partners described in Part B1 and B2

Gate 4: Budget Compliance

Budget within EUR 1-5M range
Person-months match DC table
Unit costs use 2026 rates
Country correction coefficients applied correctly

Gate 5: Competitive Score Target

Excellence section targets 4.8+/5.0
Impact section targets 4.8+/5.0
Implementation section targets 4.8+/5.0
Overall target: 96.3+/100

Critical Deadlines Summary

Milestone	Date	Status
Pre-call partner recruitment	May 27, 2026	Before call opens
Call opening	May 28, 2026	Portal opens
MSCA Info Days	June 3, 2026	Attend
MSCA & RAISE Webinar	June 10, 2026	Attend
Excellence section draft	July 31, 2026	1 month into call
Impact section draft	August 31, 2026	3 months into call
Implementation section draft	September 30, 2026	4 months into call
Internal review 1 complete	October 31, 2026	5 months into call
External reviewer feedback	November 7, 2026	6 months, 1 week
External feedback incorporation	November 14, 2026	6 months, 2 weeks
Final proofreading complete	November 20, 2026	6 months, 3 weeks
Portal submission	November 24, 2026	17:00 CET deadline

Key Documents & Resources

Official Guidance

HORIZON Programme Guide (2026-2027)
Work Programme Part 14: Horizontal Activities (pages 36-38)
MSCA Doctoral Networks Guide for Applicants (2026 version)
RAISE Doctoral Networks supplementary guidance notes
MSCA template files (Part A online form, Part B Word templates)

Reference Materials

2025 MSCA DN successful proposals (up to 3 as reference)
2025 RAISE DN evaluation reports (if available)
SCIANCE domains alignment document
AI ethics in science position papers

Internal Documents

Network vision statement and acronym definition
Consortium agreement (signed)
Partner commitment letters (signed)
DC project descriptions (all 15)
Supervisor CVs (4 pages each)
Associated partner letters of intent
Gantt chart (Excel or similar)
Glossary of acronyms and terms

Role Assignments & Responsibilities

Role	Name	Key Responsibilities	Deadline
Coordinator/Contact	TBD	Overall leadership, Part A, Section 3.2, submission	Nov 24
WP1 Lead	TBD	Section 1.1-1.4 (Excellence)	July 31
WP2 Lead	TBD	Section 2.1-2.4 (Impact)	August 31
WP3 Lead	TBD	Section 3.1 (Implementation, Tables)	Sept 30
Finance Manager	TBD	Budget, Part A financial section	Oct 31
Ethics Officer	TBD	Section 4 (Ethics), AI ethics review	Oct 31
Communications Lead	TBD	Dissemination strategy, public deliverables	Aug 31
Consortium Manager	TBD	Consortium agreements, org descriptions	Oct 31

Section Writing Targets (Page Allocation)

Section	Assigned to	Max Pages	Target Completion
1.1: Research objectives & DC projects	WP1 Lead	10	July 15
1.2: Methodology & open science	WP1 Lead	3	July 20
1.3: Training programme (+ Table 1)	WP1 Lead	5	July 25
1.4: Supervision arrangements	WP1 Lead	2	July 31
2.1: Doctoral training contribution	WP2 Lead	3	Aug 15
2.2: Career perspectives	WP2 Lead	2	Aug 20
2.3: Dissemination & exploitation	WP2 Lead	3	Aug 25
2.4: Impacts	WP2 Lead	2	Aug 31
3.1: Work packages (+ Tables 3.1a-e)	WP3 Lead	10	Sept 30
3.2: Consortium quality	WP3 Lead	2	Sept 25
4: Ethics (+ AI ethics)	Ethics Officer	3	Oct 15
5: Management & governance	Coordinator	2	Oct 20
6: Environmental aspects	Coordinator	1	Oct 20
7: Org descriptions	Consortium Mgr	2	Oct 25
8: Pre-agreement letters (if DN-JD)	Coordinator	Varies	Oct 25
9: Additional information	Coordinator	1	Oct 31
Total Part B1	All	≤34	Oct 31

Internal Review Checkpoints

Review 1: Draft Completion (November 1)

Checklist before internal review:

All sections written with required subsections
All 6 tables present and populated
Page counts within limits
Citations and cross-references complete
Glossary and acronyms comprehensive
No placeholder text or TBD fields

Reviewer team: Coordinator + 2 senior consortium members

Feedback deadline: November 3

Review 2: External Expert Review (November 1-7)

Checklist before sending to external reviewers:

Internal review feedback incorporated
Coherence across sections verified
RAISE-relevant sections highlighted
Executive summary/abstract added
Competitive positioning clear

External reviewers: 2-3 experienced MSCA DN evaluators

Feedback deadline: November 7

Review 3: Final Quality Assurance (November 15-20)

Checklist before final submission:

External feedback incorporated
Native English speaker proofreading done
All tables verified for accuracy and consistency
DC table person-months match budget exactly
Page numbering and ToC updated
PDF generated from online form
No hyperlinks or track changes in final PDF
All mandatory sections present

RAISE-Specific Compliance Checklist

AI Integral to Research (CRITICAL)

For each of the 15 DC projects:

AI methods are CORE to research hypothesis (not data processing only)
DC project description explains WHY AI is needed
Research outcome depends on AI capabilities
Expected publications target DOMAIN science venues (50%+)
Domain supervisor is primary, not secondary
Training includes domain-specific + AI methodology courses

RAISE Training Curriculum

Mandatory AI in science module (all 15 DCs)
Domain-specific AI applications course (tailored to 3-4 science areas)
Responsible AI & ethics module
Hands-on AI tool/framework training (2+ weeks)
Advanced courses in specialization area
Secondment opportunities with AI industry partners
Career development and entrepreneurship module
Public engagement and science communication
Table 1 lists all training events with dates and learning outcomes

RAISE Network Structure

Network Coordinator clearly identified
Scientific Advisory Board role described
Training Committee or Working Group mentioned
DC governance and decision-making process defined
Industry/innovation partners engaged (not just academic)
Section 5 (Management) addresses RAISE-specific governance

RAISE Deliverables

D1: Inaugural AI-in-science training programme
D2: DC research publications (domain science venues)
D3: Open science/data outputs
D4: Network sustainability plan (post-project)
D5: Joint industry secondment programmes
D6: Public engagement materials
Deliverables table includes dissemination level & type

RAISE Ethics (Section 4)

AI ethics as cross-cutting theme
Domain-specific ethical implications of AI addressed
GDPR compliance for any data projects
Responsible AI principles integrated in training
Plan for DCs to address ethical aspects in research plans

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Scope & Framing Pitfalls

❌ AI treated as data processing tool only (not core research)
❌ All DCs identical with superficial AI modifications
❌ Insufficient emphasis on domain science outcomes
❌ Missing training curriculum or superficial training plan
❌ DC projects don't match stated research objectives
❌ Too few industrial/non-academic partners

Content Pitfalls

❌ Section 1.1 exceeds 10 pages (forces cutting other sections)
❌ Tables incomplete or mismatched (esp. Table 3.1d DC table)
❌ Supervision structure unclear or insufficient diversity
❌ No secondment strategy or weak secondment plans
❌ Governance section doesn't address RAISE-specific coordination
❌ Ethics section mentions AI only in passing

Formal/Compliance Pitfalls

❌ Part B1 exceeds 34 pages (automatic desk rejection)
❌ Missing mandatory table or section
❌ Consortium <3 partners or <3 countries
❌ Budget misaligned with person-months
❌ Chinese entities in consortium (non-associated only)
❌ No or weak Associate Partner engagement
❌ ToC page numbering not aligned with actual document

Competitive Quality Pitfalls

❌ Generic training programme (copy-paste from 2025 proposal)
❌ Weak dissemination strategy (no clear target audiences)
❌ Insufficient detail on DC projects (< 150 words each average)
❌ No innovation or novel training elements
❌ Weak connections to European skills agendas or policy

Submission Process Step-by-Step

Step 1: Portal Registration (by May 30)

Log into Funding & Tenders Portal (F&T)
Create new proposal (HORIZON-RAISE-2026-01-03)
Fill in basic info: Acronym, title, duration (4 years)
Select Call: RAISE Doctoral Networks
Add all consortium members as users
Tick "RAISE Doctoral Networks" interest box
Set coordinator as submitter

Step 2: Part A - Administrative (by Nov 20)

Online form completion:

Add all partners and associated partners

Designate coordinator as contact point

Upload supporting documents (CVs, org descriptions)

Step 3: Part B1 - Technical Proposal (by Nov 20)

Download Part B1 Word template from F&T
Sections 1-3 written and proofed
Number pages starting from 1
Section headings match template exactly
All tables present (Table 1, 3.1a, 3.1b, 3.1c, 3.1d, 3.1e)
Save as "Part_B1_[Acronym].pdf"
Verify page count ≤ 34

Step 4: Part B2 - Supporting Documents (by Nov 20)

Org descriptions (max 2 pages total)

Each participating org: name, role, experience
Associated partners: name and contribution

CVs (4 pages max each):

Coordinator
3-4 senior supervisors
Supervisor commitment letters (if not in CVs)
Consortium agreement
Partner letters of commitment (signed)
Associated partner letters of intent
Pre-agreement letters (if DN-JD only)
Other supporting docs (Gantt chart, org charts, etc.)

Step 5: Final Submission (Nov 24, by 17:00 CET)

Log into F&T Portal as coordinator
Complete Part A online form (all mandatory fields red)
Upload Part B1 PDF
Upload all Part B2 documents in single PDF
Run portal validation: "Check Validation"
Resolve any errors (contact support if needed)
Select "Ready to Submit"
Click "Submit"
Note submission time (must be BEFORE 17:00 CET)
Download and save confirmation receipt
Archive complete submission package locally

Post-Submission Checklist

After submission on November 24:

Confirm submission receipt obtained and saved
Create project folder for evaluation phase
Archive complete proposal (all sections, tables, CVs)
Document consortium contact list and roles
Set reminders: Apr 2027 for results notification
Prepare contingency: identify backup funding sources
If shortlisted in Apr 2027: Prepare for RAISE topical relevance assessment

Contact & Support Resources

EU Funding & Tenders Support

Portal Help Desk: https://ec.europa.eu/info/funding-tenders/contacts_en
Email: Contact through F&T Portal account

MSCA Helpdesk

MSCA Queries: Use F&T Portal ticketing system
Email: research-msca@ec.europa.eu (general queries only)

HORIZON Programme

HORIZON Info Day: https://www.horizon.ec.europa.eu
Programme Guide: Available on F&T Portal

Your Consortium Coordination

Internal Coordinator: [Name, email, phone]
Finance Manager: [Name, email, phone]
Consortium Slack/Teams: [Channel link]
Shared Drive: [SharePoint/Google Drive link]

Archive & Documentation

After submission, maintain:

Item	Location	Purpose
Final proposal PDF	Project folder	Reference & evaluation phase
Evaluation feedback (Apr 2027)	Project folder	Response preparation
Sustainability plan	Project folder	Post-project planning
DC recruitment materials	Shared drive	DC hiring (if approved)
Consortium agreements	Secure location	Governance reference

Version History & Approval

Version	Date	Author	Changes	Status
1.0	[Date]	[Coordinator]	Initial version	Draft
Final	[Date]	[Coordinator]	Approved for submission	Final

Sign-Off

Prepared by: [Name, Role]

Reviewed by: [Coordinator]

Approved by: [Coordinator & Scientific Advisory Board]

Last updated: [Date]

This timeline and checklist serves as the master project plan for RAISE Doctoral Network application submission. All team members should reference this document throughout the application cycle.