The mirage of research and research expertise: Reflections on leading Horizon Europe bids

Abstract This article offers critical reflections on the process of leading Horizon Europe research bids, drawing from the authors’ experiences with two funded projects: GRASS CEILING and SafeHabitus. It highlights the challenges and opportunities presented by multi‐actor research, which brings together researchers, policymakers, stakeholders and end users. We discuss strategies for developing and managing these partnerships, including approaches to participant compensation and engagement. We address the complexities of fitting research into the EU framework, noting how prescriptive call texts can sometimes limit innovative approaches. It raises questions about the role of academics in these projects, highlighting concerns about the potential for an instrumental approach to research that prioritises funding acquisition over intellectual curiosity. The authors provide recommendations for future co‐ordinators, emphasising the importance of clear communication, early deliverables to build team cohesion and showcasing participants from living labs or communities of practice. The article concludes with a call for honest debate about the significance of research within multi‐actor projects and suggests the development of mentoring systems for co‐ordinators.