introduction to grant opportunities outside dg research identifying suitable grants
DESCRIPTION
Introduction to grant opportunities outside DG Research Identifying suitable grants Planning the proposal writing and submission process Writing funding proposals for the European Commission. Examples of EC tenders and grants outside DG Research - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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
13.10.2007 Inga Benner - CEPR
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