WHAT MAKES A GOOD PROPOSAL?

1. WHAT MAKES A GOOD PROPOSAL? Funded by the European Commission

2. REMEMBER • You are asking for money • The process is competitive [4 out of 5 proposals will not be funded] • Why should the Commission give the money to YOU? • The proposal is your chance to SELL your idea. Funded by the European Commission

3. Motivation and Objectives are crucial • MONEY? • Not of itself sufficient motivation • You may not be able to do exactly what you want • Cash flow can be an issue. • Commission usually pays 30% of its contribution on contract signature. • Other payments are staged and can be delayed. • Only do it IF IT IS WORTH DOING ANYWAY and • YOU CAN OVERCOME FORESEEABLE CASHFLOW PROBLEMS. Funded by the European Commission

4. MAIN PROJECT OBJECTIVES • Do your project’s objectives overlap with those of the Commission [as stated in the Workprogramme and the Call?] • If not, can you compromise and still have a project which is worth doing? Funded by the European Commission

5. COMMON SUBSIDIARY OBJECTIVES • ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE • ACCESS TO SKILLS • GREATER VISIBILITY • ESTABLISHING CROSS-BORDER NETWORKS Funded by the European Commission

6. ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS • In a project with a number of partners, you can learn from the other partners. • Try to have partners from which you can derive benefit. • You may not have the skills to do the project on your own. • Choose partners whose skills complement yours Funded by the European Commission

7. VISIBILITY/CROSS BORDER NETWORKS • Your organisation may achieve added recognition nationally or internationally as a result of the project • This can lead to other opportunities and benefits not directly related to the project • You can obtain access to “markets” and information in other countries • You will broaden your horizons and become more “Europe focused”. Funded by the European Commission

8. WINNING PROPOSALS must • Address the requirements of an Action Line in the work programme • Be written clearly and concisely. • Evaluators have about one hour read to read your proposal and formulate an opinion. Often they are working in their second or third language! • Essential facts must be easy to find and extract • Spend time on producing a clear one page summary in plain language. Funded by the European Commission

9. MANAGEMENT MATTERS • Good project management is essential for success • Show that you have a good management strategy • Demonstrate that the coordinating partner has the necessary management skills • Show clearly: • what each member will do [and why they are needed] • how the workpackages relate to each other • that each activity has a realistic budget. Funded by the European Commission

10. EXPLOITATION • You need to show that there is a wider audience for your work than just your project partners • Identify the end users • Try to include some kind of marketing plan [size of market, how it will be reached]. Funded by the European Commission

11. SIZE AND COMPOSITION OF CONSORTIA • RTD projects normally have to include at least two countries. • Networks of excellence need to be more widely based. • Check which countries are eligible [cordis] • Have enough partners to show strength in your main areas of activity • Do not make the basic consortium so big that it cannot be managed. More than 8 partners begins to be difficult to manage. Funded by the European Commission

12. CONSORTIUM MEMBERS • ISSUES INCLUDE • Can the partners trust each other [perhaps they have worked on other things together] • Is there a common language in the consortium? • Can all the partners afford financially to take part? • Is the objective of the project shared and understood by all? • Are all reliably committed to the outcome? Funded by the European Commission

13. STANDARDS AND DISSEMINATION • The Commission supports standardisation in the interests of interoperability • Successful proposals will • Develop standards or • Adhere to standards • Dissemination is important to the Commission • Make financial provision to make your project visible and to • Collaborate [concert] with relevant Commission activity Funded by the European Commission

14. COSTS AND THE CONTRACT • If your proposal is successful, the Commission will want to make a contract. • It may ask for changes to the proposal or for clarifications • It may accept the proposal but wish to reduce the budget you proposed • Calculate your costs carefully and in detail at the proposal stage - that way you know what flexibility you have at the negotiation stage • Make sure that partners understand that their budgets are not finalised until the contract itself is made [months after the proposal] Funded by the European Commission

15. DO A REALITY CHECK • Try to get someone with experience of the Programme you are targeting to read your draft proposal and give you feedback • Commission staff themselves may be willing to discuss your outline proposal with you • Their apparent approval does not guarantee success but can help avoid pitfalls. Funded by the European Commission

16. PRACTICAL TIPS • Start soon enough - getting partners to understand and agree to the proposal can take time • Write clearly and concisely • Read the information package with great attention to detail. If you do not understand something, try to clarify it. • Be aware of the processes from submitting a proposal through to the final payment. • ONLY DO THINGS YOU CONSIDER WORTH DOING. Funded by the European Commission

17. HELP • LOCAL SLIDE • INDICATE LOCAL SOURCES OF HELP, INCLUDING CULTIVATE NODE. Funded by the European Commission