1 Click to edit Master text styles Second level Third level Fourth level Fifth level Administrative Support for Large- Scale Funding Applications – Session 2: Communicating Project Goals and Objectives Office of the Vice-President Research & Innovation and the Office of Research Services Sarah Whitaker, Sr. Research Officer Steven Mataija, Manager Government Research Initiatives Programs June 12, 2012

2 Goals To offer professional development for research administrative staff, enabling continuous improvement in the quality of support for research funding applications. To increase the number of research support personnel on campus who have the skills and knowledge needed to support the development of large-scale research applications. To increase the University’s overall capacity to support a growing number of large-scale applications for external research funding.

3 Session 2 – Communicating Project Goals and Objectives Topics to be addressed include: Project Summary writing for large scale applications KMb strategies and writing formats Writing about outcomes/outputs/deliverables Balancing partner/stakeholder interests Effective communication of feedback to researchers Common challenges and strategies for success

4 Project Summary Writing The quality of research – by far the overriding concern in granting council applications – is extremely important, but is not the only consideration. For example, programs like CFI sponsor research with tangible, demonstrable benefits to Canada, particularly economically. How will the research effect the private sector and larger community? Innovative research alone is not enough; the research must create or increase “capacity for innovation” in Canada as a whole and increase the capability of the university to carry out world- class research and technology development. Description of the objective and key elements of the proposal – a strong, overarching vision and emphasis of the concrete outcomes and benefits that can be foreseen for the project.

5 Project Summary Writing con’t Description of research plan and scientific methodology – what is new, what is different, what is better, and what is significant about your proposed research. Explain how the project compares with the state of the art research in your field. Why is it critically important to pursue the opportunity at this time? Who is your audience? Are proposals reviewed by peers who have expertise pertinent to the field of the proposal, and/or by multi-disciplinary experts outside the area of study? The transfer of research knowledge for wider purposes is an increasingly important determinant of whether your project will receive funding. What are the expected benefits to Canadians (e.g. new products, services, practices and public policies, and job creation)?

6 Project Summary Writing con’t Why is the project important to the fulfillment of the institution’s strategic research priorities and how the proposal aligns with both federal and provincial research strategies? The Government of Canada’s Science & Technology Strategy identifies four priority areas for enhanced investment and activity: environmental science and technologies; natural resources and energy; health and related life sciences and technologies; and information and communications technologies. The Ontario Innovation Agenda’s focus areas include: bio-economy and clean technologies; advanced health technologies; digital media and information & communications technologies; and pharmaceutical research and manufacturing

7 Project Summary Writing con’t Demonstrate how, compared to researchers at the same stage of their career in Canada and internationally, the past contributions and current plans of the researcher(s)/research team: Demonstrate excellence, creativity, and leadership in the proposed research field(s), OR Demonstrate potential for excellence, creativity and leadership in the proposed research field(s).

8 Project Summary Writing con’t Sustainability – Be clear about what is required in order to sustain your project. What types of assistance and equipment is required? How much will it cost? How adaptable is your support system and what plans will be put into place to ensure that the project can continue to move forward if plans change? Be specific about services at York as well as within your department, faculty and research group. Utilization – explain how the project will address issues of access and utilization, taking into account scientific and user priorities.

9 KMb Strategies & Writing Formats York University is a recognized leader in Knowledge Mobilization (KM) in Canada and internationally. KM is a suite of activities that enhances the two-way connection between researchers and research users. KM provides services to maximize the impact of research and employs dedicated knowledge brokers to support: Researchers in all disciplines by matching them with an organization to enable the impact of their work on policy or professional practice External organizations in seeking research expertise and collaboration from York

10 KMb Plan ActivityTargeted Audiences RationaleKey Outcomes Outcome Indicators Desired Impacts ForumsMunicipal Leaders Political Engagement Generate Awareness, Behaviour Change # Meetings # People Satisfaction Awareness of importance of evidence (1yr) Informed decisions (5yr) Social Media Project Team Members Tools for Collaboration and Communication Generate Behaviour Change # Blogs, Comments Klout Score Build a research culture amongst project team (1 yr)

11 Writing about outcomes/outputs/deliverables Value – why you are undertaking the research, including what the problem is that you are addressing, and the anticipated value of the research. How the research will provide value in terms of new knowledge, industrial application or potential for economic benefit, how the research will impact society, health, the environment, quality of life of public policy; how its results will strengthen nation’s/province’s economy and/or enhance the province’s profile in the global scientific community.

12 Outcomes How will the research program lead to tangible benefits for society, health, the economy and/or the environment? Appropriate measures are in place to transfer the research results and outputs to potential end users in a timely manner.

13 Outputs Publications HQP Development Plan (outline plan for the development of highly qualified personnel (HQP) and the total number of HQP to be trained) Identify anticipated commercialization or technology/knowledge transfer, patents, spin-off companies, where appropriate

14 Outputs con’t Identify contributions to policies or practices – i.e. better/more complete information for policy decision-making – where appropriate. Identify potential users of research results – Industry, Health Providers, Government Agencies, Academia. Sustainability Utilization

15 Milestones and Deliverables Milestones and deliverables related to project management, capacity building, research and other activities – i.e. external levered funding, sustainability, etc. Project Management Milestones (e.g. hire manager, director, etc.; appoint advisory body) Research Capacity Building Milestones (e.g. hire research staff) Research Milestone: The research activity that may potentially yield a milestone should be simply and concisely described.

16 Milestones and Deliverables con’t Commercialization Milestones: What is the commercialization potential of your research and when do you expect it to be achieved? Identify the financial, social, environmental and/or ethical goals. Outline your commercialization path, including strategy for achieving your project’s short and/or long-term commercialization potential and practical application to industry. Address potential for knowledge transfer to the industry. Other Milestones: workshops, conferences, visiting facility, youth outreach, etc.

17 Balancing Stakeholder Interests Managing partner/research team member expectations Activism vs. Scholarship Asked by funders to articulate research aims and goals in different ways than partners/stakeholders

18 Effective Communication of Feedback to Researchers Challenge – How to go about providing to researchers Provide examples from both successful and unsuccessful applications. Refer to objectives and established assessment criteria for the program – does application contain key information on how the proposal meets the objectives and established review criteria. Refer to specific instructions. Has the researcher addressed the question directly? Have they answered all parts of the question? Project Charter (roles and responsibilities, timetable)

19 Common Challenges and Strategies for Success Strive for a balance of technical and non-technical language. A proposal that consists entirely of technical detail may not hold the interest of even a specialist reviewer for long. However, using only non-specialist language may result in a lack of credibility. Use language of the funders/funding agency Concentrate on the key objectives of your research program, not on the details of its execution. Emphasize the innovative and unusual aspects of your research.

20 Common Challenges and Strategies for Success con’t Try to demonstrate the originality and innovative nature of your work. At all costs, avoid the impression that you plan to simply carry on with business as usual – why, then, would you require special funding? Try to contextualize your work nationally and globally. Are other scholars or teams working in your field? If so, how can you set your work apart from theirs?

21 Common Challenges and Strategies for Success con’t Be specific about plans for training HQP. If possible, give figures: Approximately how many of each do you plan to train per year, or over the next five years? What are the major skills that they will learn from your program? Will there be a need for these newly-trained scholars in the job market? If you can, state an approximate timeline within which the benefits of the research will be realized. Make project management plan as simple and clear as possible. Show a clear management structure.

22 Common Challenges and Strategies for Success con’t Be quantitative and qualitative where possible. Provide benchmarks and examples. Explanations and justifications should complement and reinforce other sections of the application. Use positively oriented language. For example, use “will” instead of “would”, or “expect” instead of “hope”. Write confident prose.

23 Feedback Please complete the feedback form in your kit as your recommendations will help us improve subsequent sessions. Thank you!

24 Up Next… Session 3 – Budgeting for Large-scale Projects June 21,2012 from 10am – 12pm, 519, YRT Session 4 – Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) June 26, 2012 from 10am – 12pm, 280A YL Session 5 – SSHRC Partnership Grants (PG) June 28,2012 from 10am – 12pm, 519, YRT