Writing research proposals

1. Writing research proposals Vladan Devedžić

2. A possible agenda • General info about research programs • Partner hunting • Inter-institutional and international cooperation • Application procedures • Implementing projects in specific research programs • Q & A

3. What are we going to do / talk about today? • The approach • some of the things not included in the Program Guide(s) • lessons learned • workshop • interactive approach

4. What are we going to do / talk about today? • Some of the things not included in the Program Guide(s) and lessons learned • Why do I want to submit a research proposal? • What should I do when contemplating writing a proposal? • What is the first thing to do when I decide to submit a proposal? • What is the first thing to look for in the call for proposals? • How to write a proposal? • Who writes the proposal? • How not to write the proposal? • How the proposal should be written? • What does proposal writing really look like in practice?

5. What are we going to do / talk about today? • Some of the things not included in the Program Guide(s) and lessons learned • relevant Websites, links and resources • eForm (pdf) for proposal writing • partner hunting - partner search vs. selecting partners

6. Why do I want to submit a research proposal? • Your reasons/rationale - please specify max 3 reasons • Comments • Your observations and information you have so far

7. What should I do when contemplatingwriting a proposal? • Horizon 2020 • Erasmus+ • Other EU funding opportunities

8. What is the first thing to do … ? • … when I decide to submit a proposal • to clarify (for myself) why I want it • to find out a specific funding scheme that best fits my needs, ideas,... • there can be many schemes, some may not be appropriate, more than one may be appropriate,... • that part of the Program Guides should be studied carefully(and not just rely on what other people say!) • to find out if a similar project has been already funded • project databases • information from NCPs, offices, etc. • information from International Relations offices at different universities

9. What is the first thing to do … ? • … when I decide to submit a proposal • to thinktwice about who should be the project coordinator • an important fact: UB usually accepts only 3 coordinations per call • the interest is huge • maybe someone from another university or from another institution can be the coordinator • to find out when the next call will be announced/published • to assemble the consortium before the call is published

10. What is the first thing to look for in the CFP? • Priorities (challenges, subtopics,...) • they are specified in each Program Guide (in a general way), as well as on program Websites • e.g., Erasmus+ > Funding > Guidelines, H2020 example, another H2020 example (TEL) • how to find priorities - an example • Horizon 2020 > Find your area > ICT Research & Innovation > Information and Communication Technologies > Work Programme 2016-2017 • it is necessary to look at the last version of the Program Guide

11. What is the first thing to look for in the CFP? • Does my idea fit better with priorities of another program/action/call? • that's quite possible and happens very often • unfortunately, it usually requires changes in the proposal writing approach, different partners,... • check this out

12. How to write a proposal? • Who writes the proposal? • one person • yes, chances are that the person will "die"... • … but it doesn't have to be so • it is not necessarily the coordinator • that person must elaborate the proposal idea in his/her head in detail • others (if anyone) should only comment, not write

13. How to write a proposal? • How not to write the proposal? • without a complete understanding of the funding scheme / type of proposal (action) • without complying with the rules of the game (from the Program Guide / Work program) • without a clear and already largely elaborated idea • without a crystal-clear picture about the project results and outcomes (and how to measure them) • in the last minute • with taking all conflicting opinions/ideas into account

14. How to write a proposal? • How the proposal should be written? • before the call is published (at least 50%!) • with all partners' full understanding of what they can get if the proposal is accepted for funding • with all partners' full understanding of what they are expected to do and how to really participate if the proposal is accepted for funding • with complete commitment and belief that the proposal will be accepted for funding

15. How to write a proposal? • What does proposal writing really look like in practice? • easy, if everything from the previous slides is followed • the proposal writer should get familiarized with all the relevant Websites beforehand • recommendation: bookmarking (because of potentially different navigation logic) • unfortunately, deviations from the previous three slides are quite common in practice… • lack of compliance with the rules of the call • lack of compliance with the rules of the applicant institution • "too many cooks spoil the broth" • "cacophony" due to the last-minute panic or to the lack of a coherently elaborated idea

16. How to write a proposal? • What does proposal writing really look like in practice? • new partners can appear in the last minute (and it is usually a bad sign, or at least a trouble) • important information often arrives late • 2-stage proposal approval at the applicant institution • following important Websites until the very deadline • transparency of information?