So you want to write an grant application? Senior Research Adviser Torben Høøck Hansen FIE – Research Support Unit, Capital Region of Denmark

Facts An application is not science in it self It never lives in a vacuum of scientific splendour It is (normally) a reply to external demands/wishes It is (almost) never judged solely on scientific merits The Receiver have an agenda of his own, and takes it seriously, and you should do likewise An application is never a demand for funds – not even an implicit one In the eyes of the Receiver, your bid is voluntarily given Your application is never the only one

Rule number 1 Read and follow the instructions ! Accept the existence of rules and do not try to bend them Match you and your proposal to the call, and if it don’t fit – reconsider the proposal A bit of perspective: On average ~10 % of all applications to EU’s 6th. framework programme was deemed inadmissible due to non-adherence to guidelines and rules for participation…… thousands of months wasted for almost nothing.

After following the rules to the letter, you might consider….. Practical advice Allocate the needed time to the application process – writing application is a job worth doing well Plan the process – from idea to submission. Saves time, and your nerves, in the end Enlist help – i.e. from your adviser, the admin. staff, friends, to give feedback on ideas and drafts, make budget calculations, correct spelling errors etc. If possible, take a course on how to communicate science and/or a course on grantsmanship

The not so practical, but by all means important things to consider When writing, try to…. Communicate your proposal to the reader – she is not inside your mind and she is in a hurry Keep in mind, an application is about the future, so don’t let background/state-of-the-art take up all space Write clearly and concisely, no points for ‘mumbling’ Show, don’t tell, and be specific Use headlines that gives the reader a résumé of what is to follow (and please, no TLA’s) To kill your hobbyhorse and don’t get lost in details

Make sure that your proposal have Clear hypnotises, clear aims and well-defined expected results and a clear statement of expected impact (for the lead user, and sometimes also for the end user) Appropriate methodology and resources (men and machines – both quality and quantity) Balance between work to be done and budget, incl. arguments for costs claimed Timeline showing the flow of the project Plans for dissemination of results (no just “we intend to publish xx articles in international journals with peer review”)

Where to find help and advise ?????? Go to Google – type “grantsmanship” and you will have around websites – some of them have useful advise to offer for free Most universities and research organisations give courses on grant writing, and some do have people supporting researchers Ask one of the “Grant Barons” if she will give some advise