your Guide to winning Research

Transcription

1 yur Guide t winning Research Funding All yu need fr the best chance f securing funding fr yur research intrductin: what is research and hw is it funded? planning yur prpsal winning funding and supprt frm rdcs

2 01 Cntents intrductin Page 1. intrductin 3. what is research? 4. hw is research funded in the UK? and where t apply 7. prpsal Planning frm Idea t submissin 15. impact 16. winning Funding a. Award Management b. Open access c. RCUK Research utcmes system 17. research Supprt Frequently asked questins winning funding and supprt frm rdcs The cmpetitin fr securing external research funding is becming increasingly fierce. S hw d yu maximise yur chances f success? Independent vs funded research Undertaking funded research is very different frm undertaking independent research. Independent research generally allws research questins t be frmed arund the researcher s wn interests and frm the data gathered. Funded research, hwever, may be in the frm f a call fr prpsal, where the research questin is already set t meet the aims f the funder. Even in respnsive mde, funders will have strategies and bjectives that they are hping t achieve. Funded research needs t take int cnsideratin the aims f the funder, as well as yur wn. What makes a successful prpsal? Winning research funding invlves mre than just filling in an applicatin frm crrectly: althugh this is an imprtant step, best practice invlves ensuring that the fllwing pints are nt verlked. An applicatin shuld: articulate the research questin, aims and bjectives clearly, prvide apprpriate backgrund, with recent references, be manageable within time and resurces, prvide value fr mney, demnstrate excellence and impact, knw what it wants t achieve (be linked t specific utcmes), be seen t make a cntributin t the field, have a clear methdlgy, include apprpriate cllabratin where necessary, have credible academic supervisin (relevant peple/expertise fr all the required skills). Whilst these pints are all necessary, they may nt be sufficient fr success. Remember that all funders are different. Take time t read yur chsen funder s eths and funding pririties are yu and yur research a gd fit? An applicatin shuld knw what it wants t achieve and be linked t specific utcmes intrductin: what is research and hw is it funded?

3 03 what is research? There are many varied definitins f research, but fr ur purpses we use the definitin used in the Frascati Manual, which is used by the Higher Educatin Statistical Agency (HESA): Research and Experimental Develpment (R&D) cmprise creative wrk undertaken n a systematic basis in rder t increase the stck f knwledge f man, culture and sciety and the use f this stck f knwledge t devise new applicatins. R&D is a term cvering three activities: basic research, applied research and experimental develpment. It includes Basic research that is experimental r theretical wrk undertaken primarily t acquire new knwledge f the underlying fundatin r phenmena and bservable facts, withut any particular applicatin r use in view. Applied research that is als riginal investigatin undertaken in rder t acquire new knwledge. It is, hwever, directed primarily twards a specific aim r bjective. Experimental develpment that is systematic wrk, drawing n existing knwledge gained frm research and/ r practical experience that is directed t prducing new materials, prducts r devices, t installing new systems and services, r t imprving substantially thse already prduced r installed. It excludes Teaching (including supervisin/cntact time). Schlarship and Prfessinal Develpment. Cmmercial and cnsultancy. General supprt and administratin. Rutine testing and standardisatin services. Rutine sftware develpment. If yu are unsure abut hw the definitin f research may be interpreted in terms f yur wn practice r field f wrk, please discuss this with yur Head f Department/Directr, Directr f Research r a member f the RDCS Funding Team. Cnducting research helps us t discver and share imprtant knwledge and insights. Generally researchers get invlved with prjects fr bth persnal and prfessinal reasns. Fr Anglia Ruskin University, invlvement in research helps t attract further funding, bth thrugh the Research Excellence Framewrk (REF) and individual grants, and raises the prfile f ARU attracting bth staff and students. As a whle, research imprves UK ecnmic cmpetitiveness. Our visin fr research The Anglia Ruskin University Research and Schlarship Strategy utlines ur ambitius plans fr research and schlarship. One f ur aims is t fster and supprt high quality research and schlarship in rder t achieve a standard f internatinal excellence in research. Each Faculty has its wn strategy and pririties. Fr mre infrmatin n yur Faculty s Research and Schlarship Strategy and t discuss yur individual research gals, please cntact yur Directr f Research.

4 BBSRC AHRC MRC EPSRC ESRC NERC hw is STFC research funded in uk higher educatin? Awards are made n the basis f research excellence and ptential and the imprtance f the prpsed tpic 05 Research in higher educatin is primarily funded by the gvernment, with additinal supprt frm charities, the private sectr and internatinal surces. The dual supprt system In England, Gvernment research funding is allcated by HEFCE (Higher Educatin Funding Cuncil fr England) and the Research Cuncils. HEFCE is respnsible fr allcating QR (Quality Related) funding. Research Cuncils prvide funding fr specific prjects in the frm f cmpetitive grants. QR Funding QR (Quality Related) funding is mney that is distributed t Universities based n research success. Success is measured by the REF acrss a number f categries (see belw) and a frmula is then used t determine the amunt f funding t be granted. This funding is allcated t institutins, nt individuals and the internal distributin f the funding is at the discretin f Anglia Ruskin University. REF Our current QR funding levels are based n success in the RAE (Research Assessment Exercise), which tk place in The RAE prduced quality prfiles fr each submissin f research activity made by institutins. It assessed numbers f research staff, research utputs, research students, externally funded research, future strategy, research envirnment and indicatrs f esteem. Our future QR funding levels will be based n the utcme f the REF (taking place in 2014). The REF, like the RAE system it replaces, rewards excellence in research. Quality will in the main be assessed thrugh expert (peer) review, but with sme use f quantitative indicatrs, including biblimetrics, in specific areas. The REF will als recgnise and reward the excellent impact f research beynd academia, ecnmically, scially, culturally, n public plicy, health r the envirnment, r n quality f life. Fr mre infrmatin n the frthcming REF, please cntact yur Directr f Research r the REF Manager, Dr. Tim Brks (tim. brks@anglia.ac.uk). Further infrmatin is als available via ur REF web pages ( web.anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/research/ref. phtml) Research Cuncils There are seven UK Research Cuncils which prvide grants t meet the csts f specific research prjects. Arts and Humanities Research Cuncil (AHRC) AHRC funds research n a very wide range f subjects, frm traditinal humanities such as histry, English, linguistics, French and ther mdern languages; philsphy and classics; area and interdisciplinary studies; t creative and perfrming arts, such as drama, dance, music art and design. Bitechnlgy and Bilgical Sciences Research Cuncil (BBSRC) BBSRC fcuses n the bisciences and funds research in many areas f cntemprary science. Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Cuncil (EPSRC) The areas cvered range frm infrmatin technlgy t structural engineering, and mathematics t material science. Ecnmic and Scial Research Cuncil (ESRC) The ESRC is the UK s largest rganisatin fr funding research n ecnmic and scial issues. It supprts independent, high quality research which has an impact n business, the public sectr and the third sectr. Medical Research Cuncil (MRC) The MRC prmtes research int all areas f medical and related science with the aims f imprving the health and quality f the UK public and cntributing t the wealth f the natin. Natural Envirnment Research Cuncil (NERC) NERC is the UK s main agency fr funding and managing wrld-class research, training and knwledge exchange in the envirnmental sciences. It crdinates sme f the wrld s mst exciting research prjects, tackling majr issues such as climate change, envirnmental influences n human health, the genetic make-up f life n earth, and much mre. Science and Technlgy Facilities Cuncil (STFC) The STFC funds the best research within astrnmy and nuclear and particle physics; enables the research cmmunity t have access t the best facilities in the wrld; prvides leadership and leverage in the develpment and implementatin f strategies fr large facilities; and increases the UK technlgy capability, engagement with industry and knwledge transfer. Other funding surces In additin t the Research Cuncils, there are a number f ther research prject funders including: charities and Prfessinal Assciatins, e.g. British Academy, Ryal Sciety, Leverhulme Trust, Wellcme Trust, Gvernment Departments, Eurpean Cmmissin (including FP7/ Hrizn 2020), industry. Where t apply If yu are thinking abut applying fr research funding, cnsider which f the available funding surces might be the mst suitable fr yu. External surces UK Research Cuncils. UK Charities, Prfessinal Assciatins and ther funders. UK Gvernment. Eurpean Cmmissin Framewrk (FP7/Hrizn 2020) and Nn-framewrk pprtunities. Other internatinal surces. Cllabratin with Industry. Internal surces Sabbaticals. Faculty specific research funds such as travel schlarships may be available. University wide funds. Yur chice may be influenced by the size f yur research prject, yur research experience, and hw yur wrk fits with the pririties f the funder, amng ther things. Research Cuncil and Eurpean Cmmissin grants are suitable fr large-scale prjects, ften with many cllabratrs. Charities and Prfessinal Assciatins generally ffer smaller pts f mney s are mre apprpriate fr mre inexperienced bidders. Gvernment Funding is tp-dwn s is unsuitable if yu are seeking funding fr a specific prject. Cntact yur Faculty Directr f Research r Research Administratr fr mre infrmatin n Faculty funds r a member f the RDCS Funding Team fr University wide pprtunities. Mre infrmatin is available n ur website, r cntact researchgrants@anglia.ac.uk

5 07 prpsal planning in nine steps 1 Step 1: Frmulate yur idea Ask yurself: What d yu want t d? Why des it matter? Why nw? Why yu? Talking abut yur idea with clleagues may help develp a vague idea int a mre specific research prpsal. Try getting smene else t summarise the main aim f yur prject in 60 wrds. Allw yurself time Preparing a draft prpsal and cnsulting n it is a time cnsuming prcess. Factr in time fr reviewing the funder s guidelines, peer review, cmpleting a csting, input frm cllabratrs, checking, amending and checking again. Yu will then need t submit yur final applicatin, csting and risk assessment t RDCS at least 5 wrking days befre the deadline t allw time fr internal authrisatin t be granted. Yu may be advised n suggested changes t yur prpsal based n cmments f the authrisers. If yu have nt prepared the applicatin with care and attentin, the reviewers will spt this and it may raise dubts abut yur ability t deliver the prject t a high standard. Ask yurself: What d yu want t d? Why des it matter? Why nw? Why yu? 2 Step 2: Find a funder Yu may have a funder in mind already. This culd be a Research Cuncil, charity, Prfessinal Assciatin, Gvernment Department r internatinal funding surce. RDCS can prvide assistance in lcating a suitable funding surce fr yur prject. There are several ptins available: Open an accunt with Research Prfessinal at This is an nline database f hundreds f funding pprtunities, yu can set up specific search parameters fr yur area f research and the system will yu regularly with funding pprtunities. Cntact RDCS with an utline f the research prject yu wuld like t apply fr funding fr and we can cnduct a search n yur behalf. Please allw 5 wrking days fr a respnse and clearly state what the prject is, hw much mney yu need, when yu want t start and hw lng the prject lasts. Use the Research Funding Guides. Each Faculty has its wn guide listing the majr UK funders fr that Faculty, which includes sme infrmatin n their standard calls. These guides are available in a paper frmat r n the RDCS website. Please cntact RDCS fr a cpy. Sign up t the RDCS Research blg fr regular updates n funding pprtunities; yu can find the link n ur website. Jin majr funders newsletters nline; they will yu updates n their wn cmpetitins. Knw yur funder All funding agencies will have their wn strategic pririties fr deciding n the allcatin f their resurces. It is wrthwhile taking time t familiarise yurself with these and ensuring that yur applicatin clearly addresses yur targeted surce f supprt. planning yur prpsal

6 Try getting smene else t summarise the main aim f yur prject in 60 wrds 09 Make sure yu are eligible If nt, lk fr anther surce f funding yu are eligible fr. Read the rules and guidance ntes Familiarising yurself with the cntent f the prvided guidance ntes may seem tedius but will help yu t avid basic mistakes, which may adversely affect yur chances f success. Make sure yu are using the current versin f the applicatin frm and research funding guidelines (usually available n a funder s website). RDCS can help yu with any questins regarding these guidelines. Lk at hw the prpsal will be assessed Try t get a clear idea f hw the review prcess wrks fr yur funder. Will it be reviewed by a panel? If s, can yu find ut wh is n the panel (previus panels are usually available n the funder s website). What are their interests and what is their level f expertise in yur research area? Discuss yur idea Discuss yur prpsal with any c-applicants r subcntractrs n the prject, research grups, clleagues, yur Head f Department and, if yu are a relatively new researcher, with senir and mre experienced researchers. Cnsider asking them t mentr yu thrugh the prcess. If yu have nt previusly been successful in attracting research funding, try t speak t smene wh has. Even better, try t find smene wh has been successful with yur chsen funder. Ensure yu have the apprval f yur Head f Department/Directr befre prgressing t writing yur applicatin. 3 Step 3: type f applicatin Preliminary, utline r full applicatin Sme funders will ask yu t cmplete the full applicatin fr funding; sme may ask fr a preliminary r utline applicatin first. Outline applicatins usually: are 1-5 pages lng, request briefer infrmatin n the prject research questins, prject descriptin and csts, ask fr an indicative budget. Hwever, sme d ask fr the full budget at this stage and nly allw fr minr changes at full applicatin stage s d check. This prcess is used t ensure that nly the prjects that are eligible are taken thrugh t full applicatin stage. Funders will receive hundreds f applicatins fr ne call and this prcess ensures less initial wrk fr bth the applicant and the funder. Check the fllwing if yu are cmpleting an utline applicatin: Is yur start date crrect? Check when the full applicatin deadline is and ensure yur start date is after the decisins have been annunced. Are yu submitting nline? D yu need t pen an accunt? Have yu ntified RDCS? If a budget is requested, it des need t be prcessed by RDCS and apprvals need t be sught in the usual fashin. If there is n budget requested yu can submit it alne, hwever please d ensure yu have discussed it with yur Head f Department/Directr. 4 Step 4: write an applicatin Each funder will have specific guidance n hw t cnstruct yur applicatin and what headings t use. The fllwing sectins are cmmn t many funders and may be used as a guide when drafting a prpsal. Please remember t check the guidance ntes f the fund yu are applying t fr scheme specific details. Abstract/Lay summary Briefly summarise the whle research prject in a language that bth experts and nnexperts wuld understand. Be clear, cncise and d nt lift this text frm anywhere else in the applicatin Remember that if successful, this is what will prbably appear n the funder s website as a descriptin f yur prject. Backgrund and cntext Intrduce the tpic and explain its academic and industrial cntext. Demnstrate a knwledge and understanding f past and current wrk in the area bth in the UK and Internatinally (with references). Research questins/aims and bjectives Set ut the research idea r questins. What cntributin will yur wrk make t the current bdy f knwledge in yur area f study? Why is it imprtant? Why nw? Identify the verall aims f the prject and the individual measurable bjectives. Methdlgy Detail the methdlgy t be used. Why have yu chsen this methdlgy? Why is it mre apprpriate than thers? Prject management Hw will the prject be managed? What will be yur rle and the rle f ther members f the team? When planning wh will be invlved (PI, C-I, Research Assistant, Technician, etc), ensure that the cmpsitin f the team is such that all required skills and cmpetencies are cvered. What is the timetable fr the prject and is it realistic? Can yu demnstrate experience f running a research prject and bringing it t cmpletin? If yu cannt, can yur C-I? Ethics Cnsider this early, as these ideas shuld be factred int the way yu plan yur research and details shuld be included in the applicatin. Prjects will nt be allwed t cmmence until ethical apprval is gained s ensure yu knw the prcess. Waiting until yu are awarded a grant is ften t late t seek apprval and may delay the start date f yur prject. Fr mre infrmatin abut ethics at Anglia Ruskin University please cntact yur Faculty Research Ethics Panel (FREP) secretary r Beverley Pasce (beverley.pasce@anglia. ac.uk), Executive Secretary t the Research Ethics Sub Cmmittee. If yur research invlves human participants r animals yu will need t get ethical apprval Ptential difficulties Ptential prblems shuld be identified, with a statement f what actin has r will be taken t ensure success. A risk assessment is required fr internal purpses.

7 there is an increased fcus n demnstrating the ecnmic, scial and cultural benefits f research t wider sciety 11 D: p p Excite the reviewers p p p p State the idea, explain why it needs t be tackled and estimate its impact Use plain English State hw yur research fits with the funder s missin Write s the reviewer can understand it first time Cnsider a cntingency plan t manage any risks assciated with yur research D nt: Assume the reviewer will put tw and tw tgether. Tell them if yu want them t understand smething Assume the reader knws anything abut the subject. Panellists wh are nt specialists may als be invlved in the prcess Leave it untill the last minute Impact All applicatins t UK Research Cuncils, as well as many ther funders, nw require an impact plan. As part f an impact plan, yu shuld explain: wh will benefit frm the research (nt just academic think industry, general sciety, prject student r research assistant) hw they may benefit what will be dne t make sure they have the pprtunity t benefit (e.g. by giving a public lecture). Each funder will have guidelines n impact requirements, s please refer t the relevant guide. There is further guidance in sectin 8. Disseminatin Try t cnsult with and invlve peple wh culd make a valuable cntributin t the research and wh wuld prvide supprt and interest. Try t d this in the planning f the prject and build yur disseminatin activities int the structure f yur research plan, rather than give them passing reference as an afterthught. Risk assessment All applicatins fr external funding must be accmpanied by a cmpleted risk assessment. The risk assessment prcess helps t minimise the financial and reputatinal risks t the Department, the Faculty and Anglia Ruskin University. The risk assessment frm can be fund as part f the full ecnmic csting tl, available n ur website. Fr mre infrmatin n cmpleting a risk assessment, visit anglia.ac.uk/anet/rdcs/cmpliance/index.phtml r speak t a member f RDCS. CVs A CV fr each applicant and any named research staff will usually be requested. Check the specific guidance fr cntent and frmat. 5 Referees Referees are very imprtant panels will rank submitted applicatins in rder f pririty fr funding n the back f their cmments. Chse yur referees carefully, make sure they are tp in their field and that yu nly knw them in a prfessinal manner. Cntact the peple yu intend t nminate as referees and make sure they are aware f their respnsibilities and when they need t submit a reference. Be prepared fr additinal referees t be chsen by the funder. Key tips D Excite the reviewers. Yu need t cnvince the experts in yur wn and ther research fields abut the value f yur prject. As early as pssible, state the idea, explain why it needs t be tackled and estimate its impact. Cnvince them yu have a gd methdlgy and management structure. Frmulate yur case fr supprt in a cncise, lgical manner. Use plain English and avid technical jargn as much as pssible. Where pssible, state hw yur research fits with the funder s missin and bjectives. Bear in mind the time it takes t read an applicatin. If yu write s the reviewer can understand it first time, yu will be giving them mre time t cnsider yur prpsal. Cnsider a cntingency plan t manage any risks assciated with yur research and tell the reviewers what it is. Dn t Assume the reviewer will put tw and tw tgether. Tell the reviewer if yu want them t understand smething. Shw that yu have thught the prpsal thrugh and explain hw it will succeed. Assume the reader knws anything abut the subject. Subject specialists will be chsen t review yur prpsal, but ther panellists wh are nt specialists may als be invlved. Step 5 Csting yur applicatin Full Ecnmic Cst What is it? Full ecnmic csting (fec) is a methd used by Universities t determine what the actual cst f a prject will be. It includes indirect csts (the ld verheads ) and estate rates, which were ften verlked prir t the intrductin f fec. Why d we need t d it? The Gvernment s 1998 Spending Review required that Universities prvide mre infrmatin n what they were spending their mney n. The subsequent Transparency Review f 1999 demnstrated substantial lsses t the UK HE sectr fr publicly funded research. This led t the intrductin f the Transparent Apprach t Csting (TRAC) methdlgy. As part f this it was agreed that, as f September 2005, all Universities shuld begin csting research prjects n the basis f full ecnmic cst. Hw d I use it? Under fec, all csts incurred by a prject must be allcated under the fllwing headings: Directly Incurred Csts Csts spent specifically t enable the research prject t be carried ut. These include: salary csts f dedicated research staff (research assistants, technicians emplyed fr this prject nly), equipment purchased specifically fr the prject, travel and subsistence, cnsumables. Directly Allcated Csts Relate t resurces which are used by a prject but shared by ther activities. These include: Principal Investigatr time, csts f maintaining existing equipment, which will be used fr the prject, estate rates, pled administrative and technician time.

8 just as an ver-csted grant is likely t be unsuccessful, s t is an under-csted ne Please allw at least 5 wrking days fr apprvals t be sught 13 Indirect Csts Nn-specific csts which are nt directly related t any ne prject but are necessary t carry ut the prject. These include: Central administratin services. Library csts. Office furnishing. These rates are set by Anglia Ruskin University based n histrical data. Justify yur csting Cstings shuld be cnsidered with care and clse reference t the funder s guidance. Be realistic just as an ver-csted grant is likely t be unsuccessful, s t is an undercsted grant. A prpsal which prmises the earth at lw expense will be lked upn with suspicin. Funders are lking fr value fr mney. Give as detailed a breakdwn f csts as pssible s that yur applicatin can be prperly assessed with the case fr supprt. Ensure all csts are eligible. RDCS can advise yu n this. 6 Hw will fec affect my grant applicatin? Different types f funders will cntribute t the full ecnmic cst f a prject t varying degrees. The cntributin yu can expect frm the main UK funding bdies is utlined belw: Research Cuncils Research Cuncils will pay 80% twards the fec f the prject. The remaining 20% is assumed (by the Research Cuncil) t be cvered by HEFCE QR funding. In practice, this means the Faculty will be required t cver the remaining 20%.The Research Cuncils have intrduced an additinal categry called Exceptins fr csts that will be funded at 100% f csts rather than 80%. This includes large equipment csts and Prject Studentships. UK charities Usually, charities have their wn rules as t what they will fund. They will each vary s it is imprtant t read their funding guidance ntes. Generally they will nt cntribute twards 7 estates and indirect csts. The shrtfall, again, is expected t be cvered by the Faculty (by way f QR funding). Other gvernment departments Other Gvernment Departments may cmmissin research t infrm plicy making decisins. They will usually pay 100% f fec. EU funding bdies fec als wrks differently fr grants made under FP7 and this mechanism is likely t cntinue int the Hrizn 2020 Prgramme. Currently, the Eurpean Cmmissin perates a system, which allws fr either a simplified methd f verhead r a flat rate fr indirect csts which will vary between 7% and 20%, dependent n the scheme. Please cntact Aimi MacCrmac (aimi.maccrmac@anglia.ac.uk) fr specific guidance n csting Eurpean bids. step 6 Seek peer review Have yur applicatin peer reviewed by a relevant expert internally, r externally if necessary. This is an imprtant part f the prcess t imprve the quality f yur applicatin and maximise yur chances f success. Sme Faculties d expect peer review r a critical read f the applicatin t have taken place befre apprvals can be given by the Dean. Please check this with yur Directr f Research. Step 7 Check yur applicatin Nw that yu have written yur applicatin, g back ver it and ask yurself the fllwing Have I: clearly frmulated the prblem? cnsidered cntext and demnstrated the way in which my wrk will build n existing 8 research and make a cntributin t the area? established apprpriate aims and bjectives? prvided a realistic, well thught ut research design, reasned explanatin f the scale, timing and resurces necessary? given a full and detailed descriptin f the prpsed methds, including a clear and systematic apprach t the analysis and/r data cllectin? thught abut and addressed ethics? (Dn t wait until yu receive the award t cnsider this as yu may run ut f time.) identified ptential users (particularly utside the academic cmmunity) and hw t engage them? recgnised and planned fr all the skills and cmpetencies required ensuring they are reflected in the research team? anticipated ptential difficulties? Shwn that I have recgnised these and discussed hw they wuld be handled? Cmpleted a risk assessment? prvided a bibligraphy? This will be used in the selectin f referees and indicate yur familiarity with the theretical grunding and current state f yur field. Where there is genuinely little r n relevant literature, explain this fully, fully defended my chsen research design and made it clear why thers are nt apprpriate? 9 Check the details Details matter! Check page/wrd limits, fnt size and style, plain English, grammar and spelling and the presence f required attachments. Applicatins may be rejected in early stages if nt within guidelines (eg ver wrd limit). Step 8 Submit fr internal authrisatin Once yu have cmpleted all the abve steps, the final versin f yur applicatin needs t be submitted fr University authrisatin via RDCS. Yur applicatin must be frmally apprved by yur Head f Department/Directr, Dean f Faculty and RDCS n behalf f Anglia Ruskin University (including risk assessment apprval). It may als need t be apprved by a member f the Vice Chancellr s Grup (VCG), usually Tny West, Directr f RDCS. This ensures that: The incme requested is sufficient t cver the csts. Funder guidelines have been fllwed. The department is cmmitted t supprting the bid shuld it be successful, financially if necessary. That all ethical cnsideratins have been addressed. RDCS can cmpile infrmatin n bids made and successful awards. The final versin must include all cmpnents f the applicatin frm, fec and risk assessment. Please allw at least 5 wrking days fr apprvals t be sught. Step 9 Submit t funder Once yur applicatin has been apprved internally yu can submit it t the funder. If submissin is via an electrnic submissin system, RDCS is respnsible fr the final submissin nce authrisatin is granted. Please ensure yu have submitted it nline apprpriately. If submissin is via pst r , it is the respnsibility f the applicant t submit t the funder. Please ensure yu nly d this when the apprpriate apprvals have been granted. If an applicatin is submitted t a funder withut the apprpriate apprvals in place the Faculty reserves the right t refuse t allw the prject t take place if it is successful.

9 15 impact In the current climate f tighter spending reviews and cnstraints, there is an increased fcus n demnstrating the ecnmic, scial and cultural benefits f publicly funded research t wider sciety. Pathways t Impact Whilst the quality f the research remains the key fr success, all applicatins t UK research cuncils, as well as many ther funders, nw require yu t demnstrate nt nly the academic impact f yur wrk but als its ecnmic and scietal impacts. Whilst demnstrating the academic impact f yur wrk may be mre familiar using innvative methdlgies, equipment, techniques and crss-disciplinary appraches, fr example it is increasingly imprtant that yu can als demnstrate hw yur research will engage members f the public. Funders d recgnise that sme research may nt have direct public impact but yu will need t demnstrate this. Cnsider Wh might benefit frm the research? Hw they might benefit? What culd be dne t make sure they have the pprtunity t benefit? Other funders have different guidelines s please refer t the relevant guide. Ecnmic and scietal impacts might include: Imprving health and well-being. Wealth creatin, ecnmic prsperity and regeneratin. Enhancing the research capacity, knwledge and skills f public, private and third sectr rganisatins. Changing rganisatin culture and practices. Attracting R&D investment. Imprving scial welfare, scial chesin and/ r natinal security. Enhancing cultural enrichment and quality f life. Envirnmental sustainability. Prtectin and impact. Evidence based plicy-making and influencing Public plicies. Increasing public engagement with research and related scietal issues. Hints and tips Think as bradly as pssible abut yur research and wh might be interested: Culd yu speak at a schl? What abut giving a public lecture r getting invlved in a Festival, such as the Festival f Ideas in Cambridge? Yu culd als curate an exhibitin r invlve members f the public in yur research (the BBC s campaign t get members f the public t cunt the numbers and types f birds in their gardens is a great example). Pdcasts, blgs, twitter feeds and websites are great ways t engage the public but make sure yu have a slid plan f hw the public will find and engage with these resurces. If yu are wrking in an area which gives rise t strng public pinin such as climate change cnsider invlving the public at early stages f yur research and hlding discussins with the public, in rder t gauge ptential ppsitin t yur research s that yu culd alter sme aspects f yur prjects s it is mre acceptable. Cnsider lking at the Natinal C-rdinating Centre fr Public Engagement s website fr ideas n hw yu might engage the public in yur research.

10 17 winning funding research supprt Award Management If yu are successful in winning funding, cngratulatins! Yu will need t ntify RDCS as sn as pssible, and yur Faculty r Institute Administratr. RDCS is respnsible fr issuing research prject cdes fr all research funding. Hwever it is nt respnsible fr award management. Once the cde has been issued the Faculty takes full respnsibility fr the management f the prject. Please visit ur website t dwnlad the prject cde request frm, and prvide a cpy f the award letter. Other infrmatin will be requested if the applicatin did nt riginate thrugh RDCS. Open access Fllwing the Finch reprt n Open Access (2012), funders are increasingly demanding that utputs frm funded research are made freely available. The Finch reprt fcused n hw the UK culd make research papers freely available, whilst als maintaining the UK s publishing industry and excellent peer review system. Benefits f pen access include: encuraging scientific enquiry and debate, encuraging innvatin and new data users, new cllabratins between data users & data creatrs, maximising transparency and accuntancy, increasing the visibility f research, encuraging the imprvement and validatin f research methds, reducing the cst f duplicating research data, data remains accessible ver time. Ways yu can share yur data include: send t a specialist data centre, data archive r data bank, submit data t a jurnal in supprt f a paper, depsit in an Institutinal repsitry (e.g. Anglia Ruskin Research Online ARRO), pst t prject r institutinal website, share directly with ther researchers (peers). Each funder has different requirements fr Open Access. Fr instance, the Research Cuncils demand that all qualifying publicatins being submitted fr publicatin frm 1 April 2013, which result frm research that is whlly r partly funded by the Research Cuncils, must be published in jurnals which are cmpliant with Research Cuncil plicy n Open Access; and must include details f the funding that supprted the research, and a statement n hw the underlying research materials such as data, samples r mdels can be accessed. RCUK Research Outcmes System (ROS) The RCUK Research Outcmes system was launched in 2011 and is an nline data cllectin system t capture the utcmes and impacts arising frm certain Research Cuncil funded research prjects. They are the AHRC, BBSRC, EPSRC and ESRC. The system must be updated whenever new utputs r impacts arise frm Research Cuncil funded wrk (either live r finished after 1st April 2006) and if yur prject is funded by ne f the abve Research Cuncils yu will be reminded t ensure data is up t date. They are particularly keen that the Publicatins, Other Research Outputs, Impact and Key Findings sectins are cmpleted. Access t the ROS is available at A Guidance Dcument is available t dwnlad and includes: General infrmatin abut the system and key cntact pints at the University. An verview f the types f utcmes included n the system. Arrangements fr final reprting when a grant cmes t an end. Mre detailed guidance fr returning infrmatin in the IP and Explitatin Outcmes sectin f the system. If yu are thinking abut applying fr research funding, the team within Research, Develpment and Cmmercial Services IS here t help. Research Funding Team UK Funding The UK Research Funding Team prvides advice and supprt t academic staff applying fr external research funding frm UK funders, such as Research Cuncils, charities and gvernment departments. EU and Internatinal funding The EU and Internatinal Research Funding Manager prvides advice and supprt t all staff applying fr the Eurpean Cmmissin s Seventh Framewrk Prgramme (FP7), as well as its successr Hrizn 2020, and all ther EU and internatinal research funding schemes. Mre infrmatin Fr mre infrmatin n research funding, please visit the Research, Develpment and Cmmercial Services website at Our site includes funding pprtunities, details n hw t apply fr funding and useful links and infrmatin. Cntact: check the guidelines f Ruth Sandland each UK Research funder Funding Managern pen T: access when cmpleting yur applicatin, as they are subject t cnstant revisin CONTACT Ruth Sandland UK Research Funding Manager T: E: ruth.sandland@anglia.ac.uk Aimi MacCrmac EU and Internatinal Funding Manager T: E: aimi.maccrmac@anglia.ac.uk J Vine Research Applicatins Administratr T: E: janne.vine@anglia.ac.uk winning funding and supprt frm rdcs

11 19 Frequently asked questins What d I d if there are fewer than 5 wrking days t the deadline? We always ask fr 5 wrking days t prcess an applicatin fr funding t ensure there is adequate time t check it, assist with budgets, peer review it, and prduce a risk assessment, and allw adequate time fr the Dean t apprve, as they are nt always n site. Hwever in sme cases applicants leave applicatins t the last minute, r deadlines are annunced with shrt ntice. In these scenaris please cntact RCDS as sn as pssible s we can begin wrking n it straightaway. If the applicatin is submitted with less than 5 wrking days fr a ppular deadline there is a risk that RDCS will nt be able t prcess the applicatin. We will always seek apprval frm the Dean and the HOD/Directr but in this scenari we wuld nt be able t check the budget r the applicatin as a whle. If it was successful and financial, ethical r legal issues arse then the respnsibility fr thse issues wuld lie with the Faculty and the Applicant. If we cannt reach the Dean then the applicatin cannt be apprved and cannt be submitted. i have already submitted my applicatin fr funding, what shuld I d? Please cntact RDCS as sn as pssible. RDCS will wrk retrspectively with yu, checking the applicatin and budget and applying fr retrspective risk assessment apprval. If the applicatin has nt been apprved by the Dean r HOD/Directr, RDCS will apprach them and ask them t cnsider a retrspective apprval. If the Dean declines the apprval then the applicatin cannt prceed, even if successful. I cannt find anyne t peer review my applicatin Please speak with yur HOD/Directr r Directr f Research and ask them t suggest smene, r RDCS is always happy t ffer nn-expert peer review. My Head f Department/ Directr is away. d I need them t apprve my applicatin? This depends n the Faculty submissin prcess. If yu leave adequate time t prepare the applicatin and make sure t ntify the HOD/ Directr as early as pssible then they will be able t ffer a slutin if they are away near r n the deadline. If this is nt pssible then the Dean will decide whether an applicatin can prceed withut the HOD/Directr s apprval. D I need t send my applicatin frm t the Dean fr apprval? N, RDCS deals with the entire apprvals prcess. ntes A last minute applicatin will be priritised as much as pssible. Hwever it will still nt benefit frm prper scrutiny. In additin funders can ften tell if an applicatin has been written in a hurry and they are rarely successful. It is always best t ntify bth the HOD/Directr and RDCS as sn as yu becme aware that there may be an issue with a last minute submissin.

12 ntes

13 p pp p p yur applicatin shuld: Excite the reviewers Use plain English Be clear and cncise. Why yu? Why nw? Why des it matter? Demnstrate impact and value fr mney Have an interesting yet simple and sensible lay summary/ abstract Ntify yur hd/directr: Cntact RDCS as sn as yu are thinking f submitting a bid Allw 5 wrking days t be prcessed by RDCS and the Faculty Use full ecnmic csting D a risk assessment and cnsider ethical implicatins Ntify yur Head f Department WE CAN HELP Ruth Sandland UK Research Funding Manager T: E: ruth.sandland@anglia.ac.uk Aimi MacCrmac EU and Internatinal Funding Manager T: E: aimi.maccrmac@anglia.ac.uk J Vine Research Applicatins Administratr T: E: janne.vine@anglia.ac.uk Fr research enquiries: research-grants@anglia.ac.uk Fr nn-research enquiries: rdservices@anglia.ac.uk Printed n 100% recycled paper. Design by Creative Warehuse, Cambridge