Download what makes a good proposal?

WHAT MAKES A GOOD
PROPOSAL?
Funded by the
European Commission
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
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
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
COMMON SUBSIDIARY
OBJECTIVES
•
•
•
•
ACCESS TO KNOWLEDGE
ACCESS TO SKILLS
GREATER VISIBILITY
ESTABLISHING CROSS-BORDER NETWORKS
Funded by the
European Commission
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
HELP
• LOCAL SLIDE
• INDICATE LOCAL SOURCES
OF HELP, INCLUDING
CULTIVATE NODE.
Funded by the
European Commission