Funding Programmes Portal

Info – Day

FILOXENIA – 21 May 2014

Pierantonios PapazoglouBSc, MEng, 6-sigma, NEBOSH, ΕΤΕΚ, PhD Cand.

National Contact Point

«Marie Skłodowska-Curie», «ENVIRONMENT», «SPACE», EURAXESS

Research Promotion Foundation

Hints-&-Tipsfor Competitive

Proposals in Research and Innovation

• The Research Promotion Foundation in brief…

• European Programmes within RPF responsibilities… Links to Official Websites and (open) Calls Contact Details of responsible RPF Officers

• Proposal Writing “Hints - & - Tips”:Realizing what it’s about… SMART…“Criteria” and things to consider“Prescreening” with the “Eyes” Evaluators…

Presentation “Intro”…

• The Research Promotion Foundation – RPF – is a non-profit private foundation with public mandate.

•It was founded in 1996 by the Government of the Republic of Cyprus, to serve as the national agency for the promotion of scientific and technological research.

• Activities of RPF fall into two broad categories: (a) the design, launching, funding and monitoring of national research programmes, and (b) the promotion of the participation of Cypriot researchers in European research programmes and international organisations (EU Framework Programmes, European Cooperation in Science and Research (COST), Joint Research Centre (JRC), European Science Foundation (ESF), EUREKA). It is also responsible for the implementation of bilateral agreements on R&D.

•The RPF has also been actively involved in a number of EC funded projects. The RPF acts as the Cypriot EURAXESS Bridgehead Organisation and hosts Cyprus’ EURAXESS Services Centre, a member of the European EURAXESS Network. It is also member of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN).

RPF, In brief:

Coordinates / supports CY-participations in

the Programmes (since the 5th FP...)

Hosts ALL National Contact Points (NCPs) for

Cyprus, actively supporting Cypriot

organisations and researchers through Info-

Days, Training Workshops, customized/

personalized meetings and assistance,

partner-search, etc.

Collects and processes data regarding the

participation of Cypriot organisations in the

Research-&-Innovation Programmes.

RPF, In brief:

Information and Guidance

More by the next Speaker...!

Networking – Partner Search

More by the next Speaker...!

Proposal Preparation & Writing Support

RPF, In brief:

Research-&-Innovation Framework Programme 2014-2020 «HORIZON

2020»http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/index.html http://horizon2020cyprus.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_1380.html also: see the details for the National Contact Points in the last slides

COST – European Cooperation in Science and Technology Actionshttp://www.cost.eu/participate/open_call and cmakri@research.org.cy

JPI – Joint Programming Initiatives http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/joint-programming-initiatives_en.html Agriculture, Food Security & Climate Change:

http://www.faccejpi.com/ and rchrysafi@research.org.cy Cultural Heritage: http://www.jpi-culturalheritage.eu/ and

ahadjikyriacou@research.org.cy Urban Europe: http://www.jpi-urbaneurope.eu/ and kkarakasidou@research.org.cy Water Challenges: http://www.waterjpi.eu/water-jpi and amchristoforou@research.org.cy

Programmes RPF deals with:

JRC – Joint Research Center Initiativeshttp://ec.europa.eu/dgs/jrc and kalypso@research.org.cy

EUREKA Programmes and EUROSTARS Initiativewww.eurostars-eureka.eu and mportokallides@research.org.cy

ERA-NET Actions for Collaboration between European Research

Organisations Materials Science and Engineering:

https://www.m-era.net/ and mandreou@research.org.cy Solar Electricity Technologies:

http://www.solar-era.net/ and iloizou@research.org.cy

AAL – Ambient Assisted Living Programme

www.aal-europe.eu and iloucaidou@research.org.cy

Programmes RPF deals with:

Writing with the «Eyes» of the Evaluators...

Information may be valid for other

Programmes!

The «game» is European and Competitive… We must «convince» about the value of our research and innovation, as well as of our Collaborations… on pan-European level

The Commission has already implemented several FPs and Programmes… There are specific policies and priorities… particular «language»/ jargon, structure, processes…

Cypriot Participations are … «Ambassadors» of our knowledge and professionalism…!

Some...“Truths” to realize…!

In your... ABSTRACT (...and Summary)

It should be easy for the reader to clearly

see in-a-nutshell:

•Why bother? (what problem are you trying to solve?)

•Is it a European priority? Could it be solved at National level?

•Is the solution already available (product, service, transfer)?

•Why now? ( What would happen if we did not do this now?)

•Why you? (Are you the best people to do this work?)

“Hints”… “Tips”…

2000 characters…!

Successful Proposals are…

SMART

SpecificSpecific

Measurable, verifiableMeasurable, verifiable

AchieveableAchieveable

RelevantRelevant

TimelyTimely

“Hints”… “Tips”…

SMART Proposals pay attention to…“Hints”… “Tips”…

• Πολύ με συγκινεί μια…

λεπτομέρεια «Από Υαλί Χρωματιστό», Ποιήματα 1897-1933

...the DETAILS…!

• Know the Evaluation Criteria – their Weightings – and their ExAequo Priority

• Remember... we have: “Excellence – Impact – Implementation”

• However, MUST consider also:- Gender Balance in the Research Teams- International Cooperation- Widening Participation- Innovation Aspects- Social Dimension and Impact- Inclusion / Involvement of Private Sector, particularly SMEs

• Address the Objective – the Scope – and the Expected Impact !!!

• Try to present your proposal against the background of the relevant Policy Context (Strategies, Initiatives, Directives, Communications, White/Green Papers, etc, etc...)

“Hints”… “Tips”…

Common Errors• Proposal written as Scientific

Paper• Not addressing Scope and

Expected Impact of Call• Concept and “state-of-the-

art” as well as the outline of the Network are elaborate and in-depth, but Implementation/ Methodology, “beyond-the-state-of-the-art” and Impact are under-developed

• Unclear Aims and Objectives• Over-ambitious• Off page limits...!• Template and its structure

not followed• Essential parts disregarded

What Evaluators expect• Well-organised, “flowing” text,

addressing clearly Call’s Scope/ Objectives.

• Proposal should make the Evaluator’s “life” easier: consistent, well-written, following guidelines/templates

• Proposal should help the Evaluators score it more easily: “built” around the the eval. Scoring scheme

• Proposal has to convince that it will add value and Innovation in the specific field, for the Consortium and the EU at large.

• Clear description of Consortium and synergies/ compementarity within

• Clear Work Plan with Contingency Planning and fair budget distribution

“Hints”… “Tips”…

General “Good Practice”

• Evaluators don’t have too much time... Keep it simple and concise• Clear language and organised contents• Explain abbreviations / Use Glossary• Use tables and diagrams (relevant and easily understandable)• Use Structure and Table-of-Contents from GfA...Use Headings and

subheadings from GfA... • Use Margins and Font Size set in GfA...Use Page-Numbering set in

GfA... Keep Page Limits set in GfA...!• Accurate, Verifiable and Professional content (refer. where needed)• No “emphatic” statements and claims that are unsubstantiated• Be consistent in UK/US English throughout the document. NO

jargon or slang.• Write for the “non-specialist”: if they can understand what you want

to do and why it’s worth the funding... The specialist will, too!• No typos, no inconsistencies, no obvious paste-ins, no numbers

which don’t add up, no missing pages…• Proof – Read at the end...

“Hints”… “Tips”…

Start early… Get Guidance and Info from NCP…! (documents, links, etc)Create/Join Consortia on time, based on whomyou know/ have worked with or valid suggestionsGet your “Policy Background” together Impact…Write with the “Eyes of Evaluators” and make it easyfor them to give you high marks…Follow the Template-GfA cover all requestedDivide effort over the Evaluation Criteria!When you write...KISS (keep it simple & short)

When you image/table...KILL (keep it large & legible)

Details! Details! Get your Proposal PRESCREENED…(NCP) and PROOF-READ…!Make sure you submit the latest, complete version in the system...!

Proposal – Writing “General Advice” by NCP…!

“Hints”… “Tips”…

• The NCP at RPF offers free and confidential pre-screening of the proposal:

proof-reading (“commas” and “fullstops”)

Addressing of Template’s Questions

Strategy and Text Suggestions

NCP Services and Guidance…!

SMART Proposals are…“Prescreened”...!!!

Of course: RPF and the Cypriot NCPs…!

www.research.org.cy

http://horizon2020cyprus.blogspot.com

www.facebook.com/horizon2020cyprus

Direct RPF-H2020 Tel-line: 22 20 5050

Information:

Pierantonios Papazoglou Research Promotion FoundationPCM / NCP FP7 & H2020MSCA, SC5, SPACETel.: 22 20 50 48Email: ppapazoglou@research.org.cy

Libens, Volens, Potens… (Έτοιμος, Πρόθυμος, Ικανός)