Research Executive Agency David Wizel REA P3 Marie Curie Integration Grants and Researchers Night Marie Curie Career Integration Grants HOW TO WRITE A SUCCESSFUL PROPOSAL Prague, 22 September 2011
How to write a successful proposal
Tip 1: Always consult your NCP Mobility NCP: Ms Petra Perutková perutkova@tc.cz NCP network web page: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ncp_en.html
Tip 2: Read carefully Guide for applicants on call page on CORDIS Read the Guide for applicants several times - especially part related to the objective of the action, eligibility and expected impact. Read also: Work Programme specific section related to your action Call fiche Other relevant documents (if any on CORDIS, Participant portal) General Call page: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/people
Tip 3: Before start Have very good research project Search for an excellent host institution and scientific supervisor Get into contact with successful fellows and ask them if you can read their proposal and ESR Tip 4: How to write Structure and organize the information Clear and understandable information Easy English is OK!!! Underline important information, use tables, bullet points, etc. Be precise, less is sometimes more Demonstrate your skills, use examples of running projects
Tip 5: Impartial view Ask your colleagues, friends to read it before submission and to give you comments Tip 6: When to start Start with preparation of your project even before the call is launched (establish collaboration, define your plan, objectives, work programme ) Start with EPSS at least 2 months before the deadline (administrative data, 1st draft of B part to be uploaded)
Tip 7: Follow the page limit!!! 21 pages (A maximum length is specified for B.2 B.5 sections of Part B, the rest is out of the page limit). Experts will disregard any excess pages! B1 - S&T Quality - 7 pages B2 Quality of the Researcher - 5 pages B3 - Implementation - 4 pages B4 - Impact - 5 pages
Tip 8: Don t underestimate Don t underestimate any criterion! Tip 9: Read evaluation criteria - Read all evaluation criteria and think what you as an evaluator would look for - Project is evaluated per each criterion and as overall - Resubmissions are OK, improve your proposal! BUT - Each Marie Curie Action has a different objective, don t automatically resubmit proposals from one action to another one
Career Integration Grants (CIG): 2012 evaluation criteria
Key aspects in your proposal Scientific Quality: 30 % ( max 7 pages) Research objectives Inter/Multidisciplinarity Methodological approach: Novel methods? Originality and innovative nature of the project Timeliness and relevance of the project
Drafting «S&T» Describe your project clearly and show evaluators: That you want to advance the state of the art in your research area That you will open new research fields/methods That you can improve/diversify your science career with this project
Drafting «S&T» That your host is perfectly matching with your project That your supervisor is the expert in your proposed research field That your project is relevant (economically,socially,technologically) for Europe
Key aspects in your proposal Researcher : 30 % ( max 5 pages) Research Career potential Results: publications, patents, studies, conferences Independent thinking/leadership Potential: professional maturity and new knowledge Match with the project
Drafting «Researcher» Inform the evaluator about your career path and your career potential and indicate: The potential of your research career Your best publications (+ in review) That you have teaching/industry experience/managing competences That Europe has an added value to fund and promote you (do not understate or exagerate, but show self-esteem)
Key aspects in your proposal Implementation : 15 % ( max 4 pages) Infrastructure, facilities at host organisation Management of the project Work plan, feasability and credibility of the project
Drafting «Implementation» Describe for evaluators that: The host infrastructure is perfect for your project (labs, computers, softwares, library, ) You have a clear understanding about milestones and deliverables in your project plan Your host helps you to solve your practical problems (registration, taxation, children support, housing, )
Key aspects in your proposal Impact : 25 % ( max 5 pages) European excellence and competitiveness Potential and quality of long term professional integration in Europe (impact on the career, lenght of the employment contract, remuneration package) Potential of transferring knowledge to host Co-operation and collaborations with other countries Exploitation of results, outreach activities
Drafting «Impact» Your project has a strong impact on: Reaching a position of scientific independence (e.g. group leader) Longer term perspective in science or in the private sector The European economy, society, R&D, technology, political debate
Main Mistakes Fellow s skills to carry out the project are not convincing Publication record is low, no peer reviewed journals Poor explanation and justification of the state-of-the-art The project is too ambitious time frame of the project) Practical arrangements for the fellow are not mentioned
More information Marie Curie website http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/index.htm FP7 information and all calls http://cordis.europa.eu/home_en.html FP7 Participant Portal http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/appmanager/participants/portal