How to write a proposal for Marie Curie

How to write a proposal for Marie Curie 8.11.2007 Jatta Väisänen, adviser, EU R&D Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö Timetable of Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development, EIF Publication of call Deadline Evaluation Evaluation Summary Report Invitation letter Signature of first contracts 19.5.2008 19.8.2008 at 17:00 Brussel’ time s September/October 2008 November 2008 November 2008 End of 2008 - Meet the deadline! - All the submissions are done online Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö Calls in 2008 (from a draft WP, changes possible) Call FP7-PEOPLE-ITN-2008, €188 million FP7-PEOPLE-IEF-2008, €75 million FP7-PEOPLE-ERG-2008, €7 million Publication 4 April 2008 19 May 2008 3 January 2008 Deadline 2 September 2008 19 August 2008 Continuous, cut-off dates: 3 April 2008 / 8 October 2008 20 February 2008 19 August 2008 19 August 2008 Continuous, cut-off dates: 3 April 2008 / 8 October 2008 5 March 2008 FP7-PEOPLE-IAPP-2008, €45 million FP7-PEOPLE-IOF-2008, €25 million FP7-PEOPLE-IIF-2008, €25 million FP7-PEOPLE-IRG-2008, €17 million 20 November 2007 19 May 2008 19 May 2008 3 January 2008 PEOPLE-IRSES-2008, €25 million 5 December 2007 Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö Outline of the Process Call fiche Published Contract signature Proposal submitted Contract negotiation Project Start Evaluation Process Notification Of results Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö The EU project’ procedure s IDEA Search for partners / hosts Find a funding source (Fellowship or ITN/IAPP etc?) Scientific content/ adequate budget Feasibility and commitment of partners Appr. 6-18 months SEND APPLICATION IN TIME ! NO Approval? OK! Other financing sources? Analysis: why not? Negoatitions with COM, Grant Agreement Project starts !!! Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö How to prepare a successful proposal Step 1: l Read the relevant documents in order to understand the objectives of the Marie Curie activities >> Evaluation criteria, thresholds and weightings for each Marie Curie action can be found from the Work Programme (from the last pages) l download the documents on the specific call page: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/ l Important documents: - PEOPLE 'Work Programme' - 'Guide for Applicants' (check you have the final version!) Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö Calls for People specific program - download other essential material (Work Programme, Guide for Applicants etc) (http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/) Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö How to prepare a successful proposal Step 2: l Find your project partners/host organisations l Search for already funded projects to get an overview on funded research topics: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp6/projects.htm http://cordis.europa.eu/mcopportunities/ l Partner search facilities will be provided by: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/partners_en.html http://www.tekes.fi/eu/fin/partnerinhaku/people_partnerit.html Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö How to prepare a successful proposal Step 3: l Is your research collaboration reliable and sustainable? l Do all partners have the capacity to carry out their duties in the project? l Do all partners provide the relevant infrastructure for staff secondment and training, as well as for recruitment of researchers? l Does the project raise sensitive ethical issues? l Is there any agreement for the protection of intellectual property rights? l Who are the researchers (ESR/ER) supposed to be seconded? l Which training activities should be provided (conferences, summer schools, workshops, ...)? Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö Proposal Submission Forms Part A l Set of forms on administrative information about the proposal and the participants Part B (coordinator submits) l Free-text description of the research project; l Series of headings and explanatory notes based on the evaluations criteria; l Limits on font size, size of PDF file Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö Approaching your project proposal writing l Work with your supervisor l Keep the Guide for Applicants in front of you l Treat the criteria as examination questions l Think about the way your write l Brainstorm each section l Then focus on a section at a time l Plan your proposal writing Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö Tips l Pay attention to the "Guide for Applicants", especially to the proposal structure (Template of part B available on CORDIS) l Give a short overview on your project right at the beginning of the proposal l Surprise the evaluators with innovative ideas –in all parts of the proposal! l Try to explain the impact of your project for Europe l Pay attention to the "Charter for Researchers" l Use the terms which appear in the evaluation criteria (e.g. transfer of knowledge) l The proposal will be a part of the contract so do not promise too much. Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö Technical tips l Keep the maximum length of 30 pages l If possible use the quatitative and qualitative measures and references l Use tables, figures and subtitles l Do not attach annexes and do not submit additional material such as brochures, pictures, videos… l Submit the draft version of the proposal via EPSS several days before the deadline l Summarise! Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö Evaluation of proposals l Evaluation by competent experts in the field l Need to address all of the issues to maximise scores l Total score is 100% / Overall threshold (70%) l Some criteria have a threshold l Each area is weighted l Science counts for 25% l You must focus on the objectives of the activity to be successful Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö Thresholds - individual Fellowships –Part B (check emphasis from the GA!) S & T Quality 25% 3/5 3/5 Other issues Training & knowledge transfer 15% Researcher Implementation Impact Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö No thresholds for IIF 25% 15% 20% 3/5 No threshold No threshold Overall threshold 70% Why follow the guidelines? l The experts/evaluators are very pressed of time – kinds all of help in their work are positive to the evaluation. l It should not be needed to search the purpose of the research l Additional value to EU: It shall be made very clear which use/benefit the EU citizens have of supporting this proposal. Look at it from a private economic point of view – is this a good thing to invest in?? l Why to go to Europe –would the goals be achiaved as a national project/with national support? GOOD LUCK!! Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö The Finnish Secretariat for EU R&D Suomen EU T&K-sihteeristö l www.tekes.fi/eu l newsletter (in Finnish): eurooppauutiset@tekes.fi l Phone 010 605 5055 l Project consulting l Euroopan tiede ja teknologia -journal l Guides, brochures, other publications l Seminar’ trainings and workshops s, Suomen EU-T&Ksihteeristö