Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Recommendations for building successful proposals in FP7* Dipl.-Ing. Pierre T. Kirisci University of Bremen (BIBA) Tel.: Some of the contents are based upon the presentation:“Building Successful Consortium and Proposals for EU RTD“ by Maurice Mulvena from University of Ulster, Northern Ireland

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 General tips before starting Be prepared for failure! The competition in EU-funded research programmes is tough. On average about 20% of the submitted proposals are finally funded Much of your groundwork can be focused on adjusting that percentage

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Requirements and Possible Approach 1. Ideas generation (top down and bottom up approach) and initial evaluation 2. Selecting and clarifying an RTD idea 3. Feasibility of the idea 4. Identifying funding opportunities/identify an appropriate call 5. Consortium building 6. Proposal writing 7. Proposal submission and evaluation 8. Proposal Evaluation

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Brainstorming Workshops Ideas matching Key interests of organization Ideas generation and initial evaluation Key interests of organization Ideas

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Selecting and clarifying an RTD idea Iterative phase Market testing Take advantage of Peers (peer reviews) Consult the Commission Submit Papers/Discuss on Conferences

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Identifying funding opportunities Identify appropriate ICT Calls: ú Analyse the Workprogramme Choose the Instruments: ú Collaborative project: CP (IP, STREP) ú Supportive Actions: SA ú Coordinated Actions: CA ú Networks of Excellence: NoE ú Future and Emerging Technologies: FET

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Funding Schemes: Collaborative Projects (CP) Support to research projects carried out by consortia with participants from different countries, aiming at developing new knowledge, new technology, products, demonstration activities or common resources for research The Funding Scheme allows for two types of projects to be financed: Small or medium-scale focused research actions (STREP) Large-scale integrating projects (IP)

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 IP vs. STREPs

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Feasibility of the idea At this stage, it pays to validate your idea along several different dimensions: ú Check again the technical aspects of the concept ú Is it technically feasible to develop within the proposed timescale, and with the proposed budget? ú If funded: Critically evaluate the idea against the technical, financial and time constraints of the project

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 B.1 Scientific and technological objectives of the project and state of the art Objectives Current State of the Art and Related Work Advances on the State of the Art S&T Approach References B.2 Relevance to the Objectives Problem Statement B.3 Potential impact B.3.1 Contributions to standards B.4 The consortium and project resources B.5 Project management and exploitation/dissemination plans B.6 Project work plan B.7 Other issues B.7.1 Ethical and gender issues B.7.2 Other EC-policy related issues Proposal Structure (FP6) - PREVIOUS

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Proposal Structure (FP7) 1. Scientific and/or technical quality, relevant to the topics addressed by the call (20 pages, excluding tables) ú Concept and objectives ú Progress beyond the state­of­the­art ú Advances on the State of the Art ú S/T methodology and associated work plan i) Describe the overall strategy of the work plan. ii) Show the timing of the different WPs and their components (Gantt chart or similar). iii) Provide a detailed work description broken down into work packages (tables, etc.)

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Proposal Structure (FP7) cont. 2. Implementation ú Management structure and procedures ú Individual participants ú Consortium as a whole ú Resources to be committed 3. Impact (10 pages) ú Expected impacts listed in the work programme ú Dissemination and/or exploitation of project results, and management of intellectual property 4. Ethical Issues

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Proposal writing What makes a good proposal? ú Develop and Communicate the ‘Idea’ early Starting with the proposal summary and core partners ú Quality of the Content ú Research Methodology & Project Management ú Resources, Budget & Timetable ú clear methodology for proposal writing

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Methodologies for Proposal Preparation Single author vs. multiple authors teams Internet based vs. physical meetings Just in time vs. long lead time

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Consortium building What makes a good partner? ú Reliability and Commitment ú Expertise in EU projects ú Role, task allocation and budget of each partner

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Check list for evaluating and selecting a potential partner Experience and expertise (recent relevant projects they have participated in, the role they had/have, recent publications, awards) Type of organization (SME, large private, public organisation, non profit, association, authority) Core activities and geographical coverage Size of the organization, available resources and financial viability Reputation and level of networking with other organisations and the EC

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Before Proposal Submission Critically important to have time to have one last edit cycle involving: ú External Partner who will assess the proposal at different levels ú Internal Champion who will ‘finesse’ the proposal after external review cycle

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Proposal Marking / Evaluation (FP6) To be successful a proposal must pass all the thresholds (per criterion and overall threshold). To be successful a proposal must pass all the thresholds (per criterion and overall threshold).

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Evaluation Criteria (FP7) MATCHES 3 MAIN AREAS OF PROPOSAL

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Evaluation changes Evaluation scores will be awarded for each of the three criteria ú not for the sub­criteria (bullet points). Sub­criteria are issues which the expert should consider in the assessment of that criterion. ú Reminders of issues to raise later during the discussion of the proposal Each criterion will be scored out of 5. Half marks can be given No weightings will be applied Thresholds will be applied to the scores. ú The threshold for individual criteria will be 3. ú The overall threshold, applying to the sum of the three individual scores, will be 10.

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Evaluation Process IAR CR ESR

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Evaluation Process Individual Evaluation of Proposals (IAR) Consensus (CR) ú Consensus meeting ú Consensus meeting minute Panel Meeting ú Review of the Consensus group results and preparation of ESRs ú Below-threshold proposals ú Final discussion for proposals: prioritisation of above-threshold proposals Evaluation Summary Reports (ESR) Reporting ú The Panel Report ú The Strategic Objective Report Finalisation of the evaluation and project selection

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Recommendations for ICT proposals Look for calls that match your idea/look for ideas that match the call Idea has to be fully in line with the objectives of the call Instruments for vision adherence Be innovative, but be accurate! Develop ambitious solutions/-products High degree and early realisation of demonstration activities High commitment of industry and SMEs Build on existing partnerships Clearly defined roles of the participants Use the strengths of the consortium Fine planned exploitation strategy Innovative business models

Training Event, Sofia – Feb 22 nd, 23 rd 2007 Thank you for your time and attention! Dipl.-Ing. Pierre T. Kirisci University of Bremen (BIBA) Tel.: