StandICT.eu 2029 is based on a competent External Pool of Evaluators (EPE) to review proposals to the StandICT.eu Fellowship Programme, a cycle of 6 Open Calls running over the 36-month project lifetime, with a budget of more than 4 million Euro earmarked to support participation of European standardisation specialists in key international and global SDOs and consortia.
This new edition will also include a new typology of Open Calls, where the application and evaluation rules will change a bit from the current ones - all evaluators will be briefed accordingly as soon as they are defined.
Our EPE gathers a set of recognised experts in the topics to be covered by the Open Calls which will include the priority areas of the Digital Single Market & the MSP ICT Standardisation Rolling Plan, including emerging standards on AI, Blockchain, IoT, and convergence across these technologies.
Our members are key to ensuring an impartial, transparent and consistent review process of applications to the Open Calls.
Evaluating proposals submitted to the StandICT.eu Fellowship Programme
Upon selection for our EPE, members are engaged via a standard contract with StandICT.eu 2029 for the duration of the 6 Open Call cycles. Evaluations are carried out entirely remotely, via the StandICT.eu 2029 platform, where access is granted to the applications assigned and online evaluation forms.
Upon closure of each Open Call, three members are drawn from our pool to evaluate each eligible application. Assignment of the applications is made on the basis of expertise and with due regard to gender and geographical balance.
Prior to the review process our evaluators are briefed fully on the principles guiding the calls and the application and the selection criteria.
Please note that membership of the EPE precludes application to the Open Calls. The contract to be signed will include standard provisions to guarantee that no conflict of interest exists and complete confidentiality is ensured.
Who are we looking for? The evaluators profile
Applicants for the EPE should demonstrate experience and possess a proven track record in the ICT Standardisation domains to be covered in the Open Calls. applications to join our EPE are open to individuals from eligible countries under Horizon Europe Programme 2023-2025 from academic institutions, business associations, and industries, including SMEs.
Which services are required
Services are to be provided remotely via the StandICT.eu 2029 Grants platform and involve evaluation of the applications received in response to the StandICT.eu Fellowship Programme Open Calls. The pool will gather members with differing expertise to enable flexibility when assigning applications and to ensure that independence and fairness are upheld for each application evaluated.
To this purpose, all EPE members will be required to sign a non-conflict of interest declaration and non-disclosure agreement, before accepting to evaluate a specific application.
Remuneration
The EPE will be remunerated at a daily rate of 450€, to be paid on the basis of the number of proposals evaluated, with the time to be spent on each evaluation agreed in advance.
Selection criteria
The StandICT.eu 2029 EPE are selected on the basis of the following criteria:
- Strong expertise in the ICT Standardisation domains covered in the Open Calls - additional skills in ICT Standardisation are a plus;
- Active involvement in related efforts in priority ICT standardisation topics over the past 12-18 months, such as chair roles, rapporteurs/convenors, contributors/supporters in SSOs and SDOs and Working Groups;
- Active engagement in Standardisation events is a plus.
Who can apply? Eligibility
- In StandICT.eu 2029, evaluators cannot apply to the Fellowship Programme Open Calls - if an evaluator wants to apply for the Fellowship Programme, he/she will have to retire from the EPE list.
- Evaluators should not be part of the StandICT.eu 2029 project consortium.
- Evaluators will be asked to sign a non-conflict of interest declaration, before being accepted to perform their duties for a specific evaluation. A conflict of interest exists if an evaluator:
- is a director, trustee or partner or is in any way involved in the management of the applicant's organisation;
- has a close family or personal relationship with the applicant or the applicant's organisation;
- is employed or contracted by one of the applicant's organisation or any named subcontractors;
- has submitted a proposal for one of the StandICT.eu Fellowship Programme Open Calls. In this specific case, the evaluator in question will not be considered among the list of potential evaluators for that specific call.
- was involved in any way in the preparation of the proposal or submitted the proposal itself;
- stands to benefit directly or indirectly if the proposal is accepted.
How to apply
The Open Call to join the External Pool of Evaluators will be launched on the 3rd November 2025.