Senior MediaLab members Evaluate Horizon Europe project proposals

Senior members of the MediaLab Research Group, Professors Daniel Catalan Matamoros and Jorge Tuñón Navarro recently served as expert evaluators for the European Research Executive Agency (REA) of the European Commission under the Horizon Europe funding programme. Their participation reflects international recognition of their expertise and their standing within the European research community, as well as a commitment to contributing to the governance of publicly funded research and innovation.

Since November, Professors Danel and Jorge have been contributing as independent experts to the evaluation of project proposals submitted under the Horizon Europe call. In this role, they have provided impartial, evidence-based assessments of proposals, focusing on scientific excellence, methodological soundness, feasibility, and potential societal impact. Participation as expert evaluators is a significant responsibility, as it directly supports the European Commission’s commitment to transparency, quality, and impact in research funding decisions.

During the week of 8–12 December, both professors travelled to Brussels to take part in the consensus meetings, a key stage of the evaluation process where experts collectively deliberate and agree on funding recommendations. These meetings play a decisive role in identifying the projects that will ultimately receive Horizon Europe funding, ensuring that public investment is directed toward initiatives with the greatest potential benefit for Europe.

Beyond individual recognition, this engagement also brings tangible benefits to the MediaLab. Direct involvement in Horizon Europe evaluations provides valuable insight into current funding priorities, evaluation standards, and emerging research directions at the European level. This experience strengthens the group’s capacity to design competitive, high-impact research proposals and reinforces its position within European research networks, contributing to the long-term development and international visibility of the MediaLab research group.