Commission will test lotteries to award funds when proposal quality scores are equal. Other trials may follow
Photo credits: Alejandro Garay / Unsplash
The research community is in favour of introducing lottery funding to Horizon Europe, as long as the European Commission ensures that the “best” proposals still have the highest chance of winning funds.
“The idea of introducing an element of randomisation in the allocation of research funding is worth exploring, as it has shown positive results in reducing bias and easing selection bottlenecks in some national systems,” said Kamila Kozirog, deputy director for research and innovation at the European University Association.
“However, this should take the form of tie-breaker lotteries, used only when equally excellent proposals receive the same evaluation at the funding threshold,” she added.
Lotteries for breaking ties are the first approach the Commission plans to test, but it “is also considering other use cases that have been trialled by other funders,"…
Discover the latest in research funding every Tuesday with Funding Newswire. Dive into detailed articles with our monthly or yearly subscriptions or start with a free trial
NOTE: if you're a part of one of our Network member organisations, you get free access by signing up with your institutional email. Verify your eligibility here.
Receive the Funding Newswire [full access requires a subscription] each Tuesday, our Policy Bulletin each Thursday, and news about bridging Europe’s east-west innovation gap twice a month in The Widening. 
A unique international forum for public research organisations and companies to connect their external engagement with strategic interests around their R&D system.