Scepticism over EU use of blind grant evaluations

Many evaluators will identify people behind proposals they are assessing, policy adviser warns

Research representatives have expressed doubts over the usefulness of blind evaluation of grant proposals, after the EU unveiled plans for a huge trial of the method.

Research Professional News reported this week that the European Commission intends to use the method in all but one of the 2023-24 two-stage calls in the EU’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme. Those assessing grant applications at the first stage will no longer know whose proposal they are considering.