Funded by the European Commission 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.