Horizon 2020 Tips for building a winning proposal

Transcription

1 Horizon 2020 Tips for building a winning proposal Vincent Chauvet General Manager, LGI Consulting vincent.chauvet@lgi-consulting.com

2 Disclaimer This presentation is protected by a copyright and is distributed for the information of the individuals attending the presentation Please ask the author before further distribution

3 The participant portal Tip #1: explore the participant portal Information on open calls for proposals Information on latest news Information on how to prepare a proposal and apply for EU research funding Information on how to work as an expert Information and support

4 The call documents Tip #2: know the applicable documents At least one expert in the consortium should be aware of the general applicable texts & guidelines: Legal basis Framework Programme H2020 Legal basis Rules for Participation Legal basis Specific Programme H2020 Read at least once the specific texts: WP H2020 Introduction WP H2020 General Annexes Read in depth the call topic: WP H2020 Specific work programme / Topic

5 Tip #3: build a proposal strategy 1 Find an idea corresponding to the call H2020 Call Idea Project Proposal Find a call matching the idea 2 In line with the call text and EC expectations In line with your strategy / the partners strategies

6 Tip #4: match the call requirements The call s text is the guiding reference The proposal must fit with the objectives, expected impact & project characteristics Follow the formal indications from the Guidelines

7 Tip #5: anticipate as much as possible Finding the best partners and convincing them may take a long time and needs anticipation If possible, use the publication of draft work programmes months before the official call opening in order to start working on the concept and contact an initial group of core partners. At the time of the call publication, you will then have a project idea already developed Adapting or inventing something new at the last minute rarely works

8 Tip #6: Make sure your project is European Ensure that your project will add value at European scale, not just addressing specificities in your country or region Be fully aware of the EU s expectations Read the EU s recent strategic documents in the field Understand the unwritten expectations by consulting with an EU officer or with established networks such as NCPs or ETPs Your consortium will need some geographical balance but this does not mean that it will have to represent all regions of Europe!

9 Tip #7: know the state of the art in your field and demonstrate that you do Carry out a research / technology watch to be knowledgeable on the latest developments in the field your project must be breakthrough or innovative (*) -- if your proposal duplicates similar research already done or in progress in Europe, it has no chance of success Identify recent publications (peer-reviewed journals, conference proceedings) and refer to them in the proposal (in a dedicated section, such as footnotes or in appendix) Check the EC s Cordis database for past and current funded EU projects in the area: this will allow avoiding duplication and may be a source for ideas and partners It will also prove to be useful to know developments outside Europe and to be aware of the priorities given by other regions (US, Asia )

10 Tip #8: define SMART objectives Specific: your project should aim at specific results and not be too general or be dispersed in too many directions, losing consistency Measurable: expected results must be quantified, in terms of technical progress, as well as non-technological impact (economic, societal, environmental ) Attainable: the expected results, even if ambitious, can reasonably be reached in the project timeframe Relevant: the objectives are in line with the project strategy and expectations by customers (the EU, industry ) Timely: objectives are to be reached by the end of the project, not in a follow-up sequence

11 Establish a detailed retro-planning, targeting a first submission one week before the call deadline (successive versions are allowed in order to fine-tune the proposal) Define milestones in the proposal writing Identify as early as possible the key people who will be active contributors Appoint Work Package Leaders at this stage in order to delegate Make sure that key contributors commit to dedicating enough time especially in the 3 weeks prior to the deadline Organise possibly one or two physical meetings (at an early stage for strategic discussions), and regular phone / web conferences (for operational coordination) Communication with contributors is based on and templates for: Description of the Work Packages Budgets Specific guidelines for some sections of Part B (partner descriptions, use of resources, available infrastructures ) Call opening Proposal strategy / concept Tip #9: building a proposal is like a mini-project Consortium closed Budgets frozen Targeted 1 st submission Deadline LGI Consulting 2014 D-3m D-2m D-3w D-1w D

12 Follow these criteria when assessing whether to invite potential partners 1. Adequacy with the project s objectives and complementary added-value 2. Trust built on their prior collaboration with you or with other core partners 3. Experience with international research projects: in the implementation of FP7 projects (or other EU funded research) in an international environment, working in English (the language may create barriers for a fruitful cooperation a transnational partnership will have to overcome triple distance barriers: geographic, linguistic and cultural) 4. Geographic complementarity: to add balance in country representation 5. Potential for dissemination: links with established networks, influence 6. Link with national or regional authority supporting the project Do not pick friends just because they are friends! In the event you are uncertain about a possible partner, carry out a quick background check (CORDIS database to identify previous participation in FP projects; internet for general data) LGI Consulting 2014 Tip #10: pick the right partners

13 AS LARGE AS NECESSARY, AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE! The size of the partnership has to be appropriate, depending on the project s characteristics (complexity, scope, budget ) Do not include partners for wrong reasons Tip #11: know when your group is complete A typical small collaborative project can work with 5 to 10 partners, whereas the largest consortia could reach up to 50 Basically, your group is complete when you have all the required partners to address the technological objectives, and reach the expected impact, while keeping the project manageable

14 Tip #12: demonstrate you will make a difference Show the potential impact of your project, in terms of business (economics, innovation, jobs) as well as environment, society, safety Present detailed plans to reach this impact If possible, embark the users of the project results, either as partner or in advisory user groups a budget-efficient way of increasing your impact Show how you will address non-technological barriers to the market Business modelling / financial planning work can be included as a task in the proposal In some cases, one partner can act as exploitation manager, independently from the technology developers Consider all types of innovation: Technology, service, social, business model, process, marketing Disruptive or incremental

15 Tip #13: keep in mind your two audiences First audience: external experts (the evaluators) Second audience: EU project officers The evaluators will have to read through several proposals like yours; you have to raise their interest. Evaluators will typically spend a few hours on your proposal, not more! Remember also that the evaluators are not necessarily from your specific industry! You need to explain your project concept in simple, not-for-experts words. Evaluators will look at the business impact of your project!

16 3C: Write clear, concise and concrete text Keep It Short & Simple: the value of a document doesn t mean it has to be long Avoid the use of long and complicated sentences, break them down But try not to state the obvious Avoid ambiguity (don t confuse the reader) Prefer active verbs to passive ones, use positive forms rather than negative All abbreviations / acronyms must be developed / explained on the first occurrence Harmonise language and fonts Illustrate Tip #14: market your proposal Figures (graphs, schematics, tables) should be inserted as much as possible Make sure they stay understandable when printed in black & white Use standard numbering practice and include a table of figures in the document

17 Instrument for SMEs The SME Instrument is very specific in terms of objectives and applicable rules & funding Essentially designed to support innovative SMEs demonstrated business impact is the first criterion Some of the tips exposed here apply (innovation, business impact, European dimension or potential ) but not all (consortium not an obligation, specific funding rules )

18 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION How can we assist you? LGI Consulting can help with Proposal writing Collaborative project management SME Instrument Phase 1: market studies, business modelling, innovation strategy, European partnering.. Public communication Web solutions for your project or your innovation

19 BACKUP SLIDES About LGI Consulting European innovation consultancy created in 2005 Based in Paris, Brussels, Valencia, Marseille Staff of 20, network of 500 experts & partners Our involvement in EU research & innovation Track record of more than 30 funded EU projects since FP6 70% success rate in grant applications LGI in the transport & mobility sector Approx. 20% of our activity Member of Mov eo

20 Energy & Environment 34% BACKUP SLIDES Education & Social 4% Health 5% Process industry 6% Sectors of intervention ICT 12% Aeronautics, Space, Security and Defence 14% Automotive & Transport 13% Smart cities 12%

21 Air Liquide Allianz ArcelorMittal AREVA Bekaert BNP Paribas COWI DCNS EDF E.ON GDF SUEZ Geodis Motorola CEA CNRS INRIA Inserm JRC Leitat MTA-EK NRG UJV VTT Large firms Research & Technology Organisations BACKUP SLIDES Our clients Startups & SMEs Universities & Higher education Atheneum Partners Calayan Chaïkana ConceptSpine ElecBiomasa Environics Gillemot IES IUT GmbH Outreach Theïa Partners Vasseur UA Barcelona Bulgarian Academy of Science U. Cambridge UMG Catanzaro ESIEE Amiens Universiteit Gent U. Leeds U. Paris I Sorbonne U. Picardie J.Verne ADEME Etablissement Français du Sang European Commission IRSN LGI Consulting 2014 Public sector NGOs & Associations EERA FNE (France Nature Environnement) IRTS Mov eo NUGENIA