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Shaping a project idea into a project sketch

Shaping a project idea into a project sketch. St. Petersburg, May 18, 2011 Dr. Andrey Girenko www.giraf-pm.com. Why do we start from this?. Project idea, project formula – the first thing evaluators want to understand and the first thing they read

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Shaping a project idea into a project sketch

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  1. Shaping a project idea into a project sketch St. Petersburg, May 18, 2011 Dr. Andrey Girenko www.giraf-pm.com

  2. Why do we start from this? • Project idea, project formula – the first thing evaluators want to understand and the first thing they read • Basic project idea shapes the attitude of evaluators • Relevance of the idea underpins relevance of the whole proposal (“do not what you want to do, but what is fundable”)

  3. Why is this skill so important? • Competitive funding – basic principle of modern research, • Trend to large and international project initiatives • Every project is unique – standardized schemes do not exist • Competition of project proposals, • Quality of proposals – one of the key elements of overall success of research organization, • There is a need to support scientists in proposal writing

  4. The plan First steps: • strategic planning, • searching for partners, • calls and deadlines

  5. Let’s imagine that… • You work in the Research Institute of Nutrition of the RAS, Laboratory of metabolism and energy • The Unit has specific expertise/capacity in • Interconnections between nutrition and human health • Liquide and gas chomatography • Statistical research on nutrition • You have been approached by the director of the Unit and given with the task to get the institute involved into a European research project… • Today is a bad day somewhere in the beginning of August 2010…

  6. Strategic planning • Identification of funding opportunities • Identification of “windows of opportunities” • Prioritizing • Resource planning

  7. Identification of funding opportunities • Work programme – major source of information on thematic priorities • Work programme – science-specific document, requires scientific expertise to be fully understood • Work programme – alive document, undergoes regular updates • There are supporting information sources helping to understand “what the EC wants to get”

  8. Identification of funding opportunities • The first place to visit: FP7 Theme most relevant to your interests (FP7 FOOD) • Is this an only place to go? –NO! • Where to look for the WPs? CORDIS (http://cordis.europa.eu/)

  9. DEMO cordis->call page->WP http://cordis.europa.eu/ -> language -> calls of FP7 -> Cooperation -> Food -> FP7-KBBE-2011-5 (the 5th major Call) -> Information package -> Work Programme 2011 – Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology (KBBE)

  10. Identification of funding opportunities • Outlines general principles and major priorities, context and political background • Research priorities • Roadmaps • Core of participation modalities

  11. Identification of funding opportunities Reading the KBBE Work Programme (see hand-out Objective KBBE.2011.2.2-03: Long-term influence of early nutrition on health)

  12. Identification of funding opportunities Hints: • First read: try to get the overall impression and sideline irrelevant topics • Use additional reading to understand the background and hidden meaning (e.g. Infodays ) • Pay attention to “Expected Impacts” • Consult more experienced colleagues – Professional Networking is a key

  13. Identification of funding opportunities Results of the Work programme analysis: • KBBE.2011.2.2-03: Long-term influence of early nutrition on health (very relevant) • KBBE.2011.2.4-02: Pan-European Total Diet Study, building on available statistics, access to data, expertise in statistical research • KBBE.2011.2.5-02: Reducing post-harvest losses for increased food security - SICA building on existing links with food processing industry in Russia, focusing on food security issues

  14. Identification of funding opportunities Is this the end? NO! Let’s go to the Health Programme HEALTH.2011.2.4.3-3: Molecular and physiological effects of lifestyle factors on diabetes/obesity. Research should aim at multi-disciplinary approaches that capitalise on genetic, epigenetic, proteomic, metabolomic, physiological, and clinical disciplines to gain insight into factors behind the divergent effects of life-style factors on metabolism. Conclusion: We can try it out…

  15. Identification of funding opportunities Is this, FINALLY, the end? NO! Let’s go to the Security Programme SEC-2012.1.5-5 Securing the food chains from primary production and animal feeds to consumer ready food against deliberate, accidental or natural CBRN contamination Conclusion: We can try it out as well…

  16. Identification of “windows of opportunites” • WP gives not only a thematic focus, but also – timing • Check the Calls • Write your own roadmap incl. time, open thematic priorities, available instruments…

  17. Identification of “windows of opportunites” Example of your roadmap • August 18, 2010. Marie Curie IIF proposal • November 10, 2010. HEALTH.2011.2.4.3-3 (1st stage) • November 22, 2010. SEC-2012.1.5-5 • January 25, 2011. KBBE.2011.2.2-03 • January 25, 2011. KBBE.2011.2.4-02 Include opportunities available outside FP7! Remember, FP7 is just one of the funding schemes

  18. Prioritizing…. Factors to be taken into consideration • Relevance • Size of a proposal (degree of complexity) • Time to go (feasibility) • Other factors

  19. Prioritizing…. Factors to be taken into consideration Example of the decision: • Priority 1. Get on board of KBBE IP (KBBE.2011.2.2-03) . Real research, available capacity, attractive funding, still feasible… • Priority 2. Health STREP (HEALTH.2011.2.4.3-3 deadline Nov. 10). Enables research, very good financial conditions, available capacity, partnership, easy to write (1st stage) • Priority 3. SICA CP January (KBBE.2011.2.5-02). You can recycle materials, international cooperation, easy timing, etc. What you should try (if there will be a capacity): • To get on board of proposal(s) addressing KBBE.2011.2.4-02 • To trigger a STREP in Security

  20. Picking the focal point… • READ CAREFULLY the chosen key line! • Read supporting background materials, look what has been already funded… • Try to get the essence, the main point • Try to understand what is expected by the EC in this area Try to come up with the relevant project idea…

  21. Picking the focal point… • Consider: • relevance to the Key Line • importance in the local & European context • potentially interesting to the European partners, try to involve potential collaborators Potential project title/idea/formula Early nutrition factors and their influence on trends towards metabolic diseases (????)

  22. Picking the focal point… • Why is that: • relevance to the Key Line (read the hand-out nr. 1) • Addresses a really hot topic in Europe: nutrition and lifestyle • Visible innovations • Multidisciplinary approach • Within you area of competence • Connections to European partners

  23. Go further: what are the challenges? • What should be done in order to achieve the main objective (scientifically, technologically)? • List the main RTD and non-RTD tasks • Examples of non-RTD tasks: • Dissemination • Take-up • Socio-economic analysis, ethic issues, … • Logical consequence of steps

  24. Expertise analysis: pre-phase for partner search Principles of choosing the partners: • Integration of best available expertise • Complementarity • Reliability • Cost-efficiency • Other factors • “Partners, not friends”

  25. Requirements analysis: pre-phase for partner search • For a STREP: 3 European partners from 3 different MS (AS) – minimum • Average size of an IP – 10-15 partners • Average size of a STREPs – 7-12 partners • Average size of an ITN – 5-7 partners • Participation of SMEs – welcomed, often – a must • In general, involvement of industry is positive • “Geographic diversity” – myth (unless required by the Call)

  26. Profiling: pre-phase for partner search Start from identifying profiles of the partners: (examples) • RTD partner with expertise in system biology, preferably with strong experiences (reputation) in EU projects • RTD partner with expertise in organic chemistry with applications in food processing • RTD partner with expertise in health (pregnancy, early development) • Uptaker/multiplier • Management, dissemination/exploitation partner

  27. Partner search • Traditional partners () • Relevant running and completed European projects • CORDIS DB • NCPs….

  28. DEMO: cordis database of projects http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm?fuseaction=proj.advSearch

  29. Partner search • Identify the champions (ideally 2-3 per profile) • Approach them with the outline of the project, role in the project, information on the Call • When the partners are selected, distribute responsibilities, establish a workflow inside the team and a schedule for proposal writing

  30. Conclusions • Delineate your thematic area and match it with the FP7 priorities • Get yourself networked and informed • Make yourself known in your organization (visibility via info events) • Establish personal contacts with all principle investigators in your organization • Be pro-active

  31. Practical task Pre-proposal check form (hand out 4) Writing the summary: • 1-2 sentences on the background (highlight the gaps) • Overall objective (1 sentence) • List of major outcomes (be specific, use technical language) • List of major sectors/target groups benefiting from the project • 1 sentence on prospects for exploitation

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