»Writing a successful proposal«
Lessons learned and strategies for FP7
Uwe David, KoWi
ud@kowi.de
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Contents of the Presentation
• What is KoWi?
• Marie Curie Proposals in Framework Programme 6
• Young Scientists in Framework Programme 7
• Strategy for the new Framework Programme
• The Charter for Researchers
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
What is KoWi?
• European Liaison Office of the German Research
Organisations
• information and Counselling Office for the German
scientific community
• carried by a non-profit association which is financed by
the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG)
• offices in Bonn and Brussels
• founding member of the 'Informal Group of R&D Liaison
Offices' (IGLO) in Brussels
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
KoWi's activities
Information
• Active Information Service (AiD) via email
• Quarterly newsletter on EU-Research-Funding
Advice/Guidance
• EU-Research-Funding – from basic idea via application to project
management
• Funding programmes for Young Scientists (Marie Curie Programme,
European and national programmes)
Training courses and events
• Training courses on EU-Research-Funding
• KoWi-Information Days on FP7
• Young Scientist´s Events in Germany + CEE ('Research in Europe')
• Yearly Conference on EU-Research-Funding
• Marie Curie Programme – information and training workshops
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
My activities
• Marie Curie Programme – information and advice
• Young Scientist Programmes – national and international
• Young Scientist Events in Germany – "Research in
Europe" in cooperation with the large German funding
and research organisations
• Thematic Priority 3 of FP6: Nanotechnologies, Materials,
Production Processes
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Marie Curie Proposals in
Framework Programme 6
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Structure of a Marie Curie Proposal in FP6
1. Scientific Quality of the
Project
 the Project
2. Quality of the Researcher
 the Person
3. Quality of the Research
Training
 the Training
4. Quality of the Host
 the Professor (host)
5. Management and
Feasibility
 the Performance
6. European Added Value
 the Policy
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Content of a Marie Curie Proposal
• Main mistakes:
• project not really 'excellent' or 'innovative'
• 'state-of-the-art' in the field is not described
• research methodology is archaic
• project objectives remain fuzzy
• the approach to reach the project aim is not clear
• high risky project with uncertain outcome
• no provisions for the acquisition of new knowledge
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Content of a Marie Curie Proposal
• Main mistakes:
• no diversification of competences
• parts of the suggested proposal were addressed
during the Ph.D. project of the applicant
• a second stay at the same institution is (in many
cases) not reasonable
• bad match between profile and project
• though applicant has numerous publications, most of
them are not in peer-reviewed/refereed journals
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Content of a Marie Curie Proposal
• Main mistakes:
• future career perspectives are lacking
• not a leading host-institution in the specific field of
research
• dedication of the host institution seems limited
• management (structure) of the project is not clear
• European added value – what's that?
• referee's assessment not positive for applicant
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Content of a Marie Curie Proposal
• Good points:
• important field of research for Europe
• high practical value of the project
• integration of multidisciplinary aspects
• comparison with the experience in the respective field
in the USA and Japan/China
• project is timely and relevant
• results can be applied to a larger class of problems
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Content of a Marie Curie Proposal
• Good points:
• good match between the fellow's profile and the
project
• good and clear structure in the CV with precise dates
for the awarding of degrees/PhD
• focussed publication lists and list of conference
participations
• all infrastructure needed for the completion of the
project is available for the applicant
• the supervisor has wide experience in the field and
on different methodologies
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Content of a Marie Curie Proposal
• Good points:
• a well elaborated and feasible work plan
• researcher has produced a detailed work plan of the
project with appropriate milestones
• project will promote European research excellence
and European competitiveness
• increase the number of female researchers in the
field (physics!)
• project shows potential for the creation of new jobs
in Europe
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Young Scientists in
Framework Programme 7
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Young Scientists in FP7
European Research
Council
Source: European Commission (April 2005)
Marie Curie
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
People – Human Potential
Initial training of researchers
Marie Curie Networks
Life-long training and career development
Individual Fellowships
Co-financing of regional/national/international programmes
Industry-academia pathways and partnerships
Industry-Academia Scheme
International dimension
Outgoing International Fellowships; Incoming International Fellowships
International Cooperation Scheme; Reintegration grants
Specific actions
Excellence awards
Source: European Commission
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Marie Curie in Framework Programme 7 (FP7)
• Overall scope:
• human resources development in R&D in Europe
• attract researchers to Europe
• attract students to research careers
• numerous, well-trained, motivated researchers
• skills and sustainable career development
• continuity to previous Framework Programme
• but: 'simplification' of the whole Marie Curie
Programme and of single schemes
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Young Scientists in Marie Curie in FP7
• 'Marie Curie Networks' (MCN):
• institutions will offer fellowships for early stage
researchers
• there won't be any fellowships for experienced
researchers in MCN
• individuals cannot submit a proposal to Commission
• 'Life-long training and career development'
• Individual Fellowships for Postdocs (Intra-European!)
• reintegration funding may be included in the proposal
• individual researcher applies together with the host
institution (mobility!)
• 2 implementation modes: classic vs. co-funding
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Young Scientists in Marie Curie in FP7
• 'International dimension':
• Outgoing and Incoming International Fellowships
• individuals can submit a proposal to the Commission
together with host institution
• 'Industry-Academia partnerships':
• institutions will offer fellowships for experienced
researchers
• Specific Actions: 'Excellence Awards'
• open to all researchers who have been funded in the
Marie Curie Programme for at least 12 months
• researchers can apply themselves or be proposed by
a third party
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Marie Curie Award 2005 – (one) winner is ...
Arno Rauschenbeutel (34) –
Germany/France/Germany
• One of the five winners of the Excellence Award 2005, endowed with €50.000
• He decided to do his doctorate at the
Ecole Nationale Supérieur, Paris, in Quantum Physics
• his task: developing an extremely fast quantum computer
• "The Marie Curie programme gave me the ideal opportunity to
spend three years working with one of the leading research
teams in the field of quantum computing."
• Now back in Germany, Arno is currently at Bonn University as
an active member of the Laser Physics Group
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
How to write a proposal? - Marie Curie
• submission of proposals to fixed deadlines
• evaluation criteria not decided yet, but will include:
• qualitative aspects of the proposers (individual
researcher and institution)
• the institutions's implementing capacity
• quality of the scientific training
• contribution to the objectives of the Marie Curie Work
Programme
• Community added value
• exact evaluation criteria, weightings and thresholds will
be specified in the Work Programme Marie Curie
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Young Scientists - European Research Council
• the ERC will be established by the
Commission as a means for implementing the Specific Programme "Ideas"
• it will consist of an independent Scientific
Council and operate on the principles of
scientific excellence, autonomy, transparency
and accountability
• the main aim is to reinforce excellence and creativity in
European research and improve the attractiveness of
Europe for the best researchers
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
European Research Council (ERC)
• ERC will support investigator-driven projects in 'frontier
research' = new understanding of 'basic research'
• between 'basic' and 'applied' research
• 'frontier research' progresses on new and most challenging research areas, beyond the frontiers of current
knowledge
• projects are carried out by individual teams, which are in a
Europe-wide competition for funding
• teams can be composed transnationally or nationally
• there will be a funding scheme for young researcher
teams!
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
European Research Council (ERC)
• the programme will support projects in any field of
research, including engineering, socio-economic
sciences and the humanities
• special attention will be paid to emerging areas of
knowledge and the interface between disciplines
• specific research topics or target groups like young/
emerging teams will be taken into account
• proposals will be evaluated on the sole criterion of
excellence, paying particular attention to proposals
which are highly pioneering and scientifically risky
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
How to write a proposal? - ERC
• ERC-Scientific Council is in the process of drafting the
conditions for submitting proposals and the evaluation
procedures
• submission of proposals to fixed deadlines
• dedicated calls for young researchers and topics
• proposals may be submitted by individual teams
• sole evaluation criterion: "EXCELLENCE"
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Strategy for the new Framework
Programme
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Strategy for FP7 - Preparation
• please keep in mind: FP7 is not adopted yet! There
might be changes to what I told you today!
• therefore: follow the adoption process and new
developments in FP7 closely
• make your profile and scientific potential visible and
accessible (e.g. via the internet, on conferences, etc.)
• develop contacts with European research institutes
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Strategy for FP7 – Project preparation
• develop an excellent idea for an excellent project
• get into contact with an excellent host institution
• keep in mind the criteria of transnational mobility –
search for a leading partner abroad!
• make yourself familiar with the EU-policy in your specific
field ("European Added Value") – especially when
applying to Marie Curie
• keep also in mind: Marie Curie proposals in FP7 will be
more seen as policy means due to the establishment of
a science-driven funding scheme in the ERC
• pay attention to the deadlines communicated in the
Work Programme
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Strategy for FP7 - When the Call is published
• download and read the Handbook and the Guide for
Proposers before you start writing ...
• ... and follow the guidelines (chapter structure,
contents, requested tables, formats, etc.)
• learn what evaluators liked (or hated) in FP6 – this will
be useful also in FP7
• allow extra time for writing the proposal - unforeseen
problems might turn up
• make use of the help you're being offered (local/national/international), like NCPs and service like KoWi
• finish your proposal early to submit it on time
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Marie Curie in FP 6/FP7 - ERC
Important information sources:
http://europa.eu.int/mariecurie-actions
http://www.cordis.lu/fp7/people.htm
http://mc-opportunities.cordis.lu
http://www.kowi.de/en/youngscientists/marie-curie
http://cordis.europa.eu.int/fp7/ideas.htm
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
The Charter for Researchers
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Charter for Researchers - What is it?
• in March 2005, the European
Commission adopted the
European Charter for Researchers
and a Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of
Researchers
• addressed to researchers as well as to employers and
funding bodies as a set of general principles which
specify their roles (legal status: recommendation)
• political aim: development of an attractive, open and
durable European labour market for scientists
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Charter for Researchers – Basic Principles
• Research freedom
research for expanding the frontiers of scientific knowledge with freedom of thought and expression
• Professional responsibility
research should be relevant to society, not duplicate
research previously carried out elsewhere and avoid
plagiarism
• Public Engagement
improving the public´s understanding of science:
research acitvities should be divulged in the public in a
way that they can be understood by non-specialists
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Charter for Researchers – Basic Principles
• Continuing professional development
Researchers should seek for continual improvement of
their skills and competencies
• Funding and salaries
employers/funders of researchers should ensure that
researchers enjoy fair conditions of funding/salaries with
adequate social security provisions
• Supervision
employers should deploy a person to whom researchers
can refer for the performance of their professional
duties
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
The Code of Conduct – Basic Principles
• Recruitment
recruitment procedures should be open, efficient, transparent and internationally comparable
• Judging merit
merit should be judged qualitatively as well as quantitatively, considerating the whole range of experience of
the candidates
• Recognition of mobility experience
any mobility experience should be considered as a
valuable contribution to the professionel development of
a researcher
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
The Pan European Researcher‘s Mobility Portal
http://europa.eu.int/eracareers
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
http://www.eracareers-germany.de
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Thank you very much for your attention
and
good luck for your proposals!
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006
Marie Curie Actions · Contact
Brussels Office: Victoria Reichl
Tel.: +32-2-54802-20
vr@kowi.de
Bonn Office: Uwe David
Tel.: +49-228-95997-14
ud@kowi.de
KoWi-Homepage: http://www.kowi.de/en
Marie Curie Conference, Manchester, April 2006