2025.07.23. – 4 min read
In the fiercely competitive landscape of Horizon Europe (HEU) proposals, technical excellence alone is no longer enough. Evaluators increasingly prioritize a compelling exploitation strategy—one that clearly articulates the business case behind your innovation. Whether you’re an SME, a research institute, or part of a digital innovation hub (DIH), showcasing a credible path to impact is crucial to securing funding.
Why Exploitation Strategies Matter
Horizon Europe emphasises that funded research and innovation must deliver societal and economic value. According to the European Commission’s official guidelines, exploitation is “the use of results in further research and innovation activities… or in developing, creating and marketing a product or process” (European Commission, 2021). A strong exploitation section demonstrates not just what your innovation does, but how it will create real-world impact—through commercialization, policy change, or open science.
Start with the Business Case
To write a robust strategy, begin by answering these key questions:
- Who are the end-users and buyers? Describe their needs and how your innovation meets them.
- What is your value proposition? Detail the benefits (e.g., cost savings, emissions reductions) and competitive advantages.
- How will you reach the market? Outline commercialization paths, including IP, licensing, or startup routes.
Digital Innovation Hubs like Innomine DIH play a key role here, bridging industry and R&D and helping partners co-design viable go-to-market strategies from the start.
Final Thoughts
The best exploitation strategies are not written at the end of the project—they’re embedded from the beginning. Build a clear, evidence-based business case early, and you’ll improve your HEU proposal’s chances of funding—and more importantly, long-term impact.
Innomine DIH has years of proven experience in designing and implementing successful exploitation strategies. Beyond leading impactful Horizon Europe projects, Innomine plays a key role in generating new project concepts and forming high-potential consortia—advancing Europe’s goals in digitalisation and the green transition.
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