13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Introduction to grant opportunities outside DG Research
• Identifying suitable grants
• Planning the proposal writing and submission process
• Writing funding proposals for the European Commission
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Examples of EC tenders and grants outside DG Research
• DG Economic and Financial Affairs http://ec.europa.eu/economy_finance/tenders/tenders_tenders_en.htm
• DG Employment and Social Affairs http://ec.europa.eu/employment_social/emplweb/tenders/index_en.cfm
• DG Competition http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/competition/proposals2/
• DG Internal Market http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/internal_market/calls_en.htm
• General website for tender opportunities with the European commission: TED (tender electronics daily) http://ted.europa.eu/
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
Examples EC grants
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• European Science Foundation http://www.esf.org/activities/funding.html
– Exploratory Workshops: • Small, interactive group sessions which are aimed at opening up new
directions in research to explore new fields with a potential impact on developments in science.
• usually last 1-3 days, have a wide participation from across Europe and involve young, independent researchers and scholars with leadership potential.
– Other grants: • Research Networking Proposals (grants for Europe-wide research networks)
• COST action (grants for European networks, funds for dissemination activities and conferences only)
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
Example ESF Exploratory Workshops
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Grants by foundations
• Volkswagen foundation (grants for research networks, conferences and summer schools, individual scholarships) http://www.volkswagenstiftung.de/index.php?id=3&L=1
• Fondation Banque de France (study grants) http://www.banque-france.fr/gb/fondatio/tenders/index.htm
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
Example Volkswagen Foundation
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Find a grant that suits your needs– Existing project/idea that needs funding – does it match the
requirements of the grant?
– Developing an idea to match the grant’s requirements
• Check the work programme/guidelines– Overall objectives, themes etc.
– Eligibility criteria (can you apply as an individual, organisation or only for universities etc.)
– Budget rules (will this grant really pay for the activities planned in your project?
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
Examples general objectives; eligibility criteria
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Plan your proposal (example = EC proposal for a multi partner project)– Find “good” project partners
– If mentioned in the work programme, also try to find partners from industry/policy – involvement of stakeholder is usually important to the EC
– 1-2 page draft to send to potential partners to win them for the project
– Make sure you agree early who will contribute what to the proposal
– Ideally, set up a timetable and have everyone agree it
– Admin – sounds boring but is important – often, signed forms need to be sent by all partners or you will have to give details about the types of organisations involved etc.
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Plan the budget– Agree a budget early on (this avoids misunderstandings later)
– Find out how flexible budget categories are, what changes can you make once the project is running etc.
– Make sure the proposal text reflects the budget and vice versa
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Writing a proposal– Make sure you respond to all objectives/themes outlined in the
work programme or call.
– Try to stay within the formats lined out in application form • Max no. of pages?
• Indication of length of sections? This could also be an indication of importance of sections for the evaluators…
• Check evaluation criteria (normally you find a grid outlining the criteria and weightings for different sections/topics)
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
Example Evaluation Criteria/Weightings
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
Example Evaluation Criteria/Weightings
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Why should your proposal be funded – Quality of the network– Explain why teams will complement each other
– Point out existing projects/collaborations between partners
– Try to achieve a good geographical distribution (North-South, East-West)
– Try to achieve a good gender balance
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Why should your proposal be funded – Added value for the EU– For EC proposals – even if not asked for specifically, it is always
good to justify why you would like “European” money for a project. Try to link your project’s objectives to EU policies:
• Lisbon agenda
• European Research Area - “Overcoming fragmentation” – your theme helps bringing researchers from all over Europe together on a topic that is so far mainly tackled nationally
• Enlargement (it is always good to have partners from the 12 new member states or acceding countries)
• Gender equality (you need to demonstrate how you will achieve a good gender balance, facilitate participation of female researchers)
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
Gender equality: examples
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
EU policies examples
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Project management– For a funder it is important to be reassured that you are going to
have a sound management structure planned for the project. Make sure you demonstrate this in your proposal
• Decision making (Steering Committee composition, rules, meetings, Advisory board etc.)
• Dissemination of results
• Financial management
• Administrative management (reporting, organisation of events etc.)
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
Management structure proposal
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Funding Proposals
Management structure after EC negotiation
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
Funding Proposals
• Submitting a proposal– Check how the proposal is supposed to be submitted early on
• Postal submission: – Date of delivery or date of postal stamp?– Marking of the envelope?
• Online submission:– Familiarise yourself with the submission software well in advance– Try to submit before the actual deadline – servers can go down, websites
can be slower towards the deadline due to high demand.
– Agree who will submit the proposal
– Make sure you have a proof for your submission