1. Marie Curie Career Integration Grants
How to write a successful proposal
Chantal Huts
27 – 28/09/2012

2. How to write a successful proposal

3. Tip 1: Always consult your NCP
Mobility NCP:
Mr. Dalibor Drljača
NCP network web page:

4. Tip 2: Read carefully Guide for applicants on call page on CORDIS
Read the Guide for applicants several times - especially part related to the objective of the action, eligibility and expected impact.
Read also:
Work Programme – specific section related to your action
Call fiche
Other relevant documents (if any on CORDIS, Participant portal)
General Call page:

5. Tip 3: Before start… Have very good research project
Search for an excellent host institution and scientific supervisor
Get into contact with successful fellows and ask them if you can read their proposal and ESR

6. Tip 4: How to write… Structure and organize the information
Clear and understandable information
Easy English is OK !!!
Underline important information, use tables, bullet points, etc.
Be precise, less is sometimes more…
Demonstrate your skills, use examples of running projects

7. Tip 5: Impartial view…
Ask your colleagues, friends to read it before submission and to give you comments…

8. Tip 6: When to start…
Start with preparation of your project even before the call is launched (establish collaboration, define your plan, objectives, work programme…)
Start with EPSS at least 2 months before the deadline (administrative data, 1st draft of B part to be uploaded)

9. Tip 7: Follow the page limit!!!
21 pages (A maximum length is specified for B.2 – B.5 sections of Part B, the rest is out of the page limit).
Experts will disregard any excess pages !
B1 - S&T Quality - 7 pages
B2 – Quality of the Researcher - 5 pages
B3 - Implementation - 4 pages
B4 - Impact - 5 pages

10. Tip 8: Don’t underestimate…
Don’t underestimate any criterion !

11. Tip 9: Read evaluation criteria……
Read all evaluation criteria and think what you as an evaluator would look for
Project is evaluated per each criterion and as overall
Resubmissions are OK, improve your proposal !
BUT
Each Marie Curie Action has a different objective, don’t automatically resubmit proposals from one action to another one

12. Career Integration Grants (CIG): 2012 evaluation criteria

13. Key aspects in your proposal
Scientific Quality: 30% (max 7 pages)
Research objectives
Inter/Multidisciplinarity
Methodological approach: Novel methods?
Originality and innovative nature of the project
Timeliness and relevance of the project

14. Key aspects in your proposal
Drafting « S&T»
Describe your project clearly and show evaluators:
That you want to advance the state of the art in your research area
That you will open new research fields/methods
That you can improve/diversify your science career with this project

15. Key aspects in your proposal
Drafting « S&T»
That your host is perfectly matching with your project
That your supervisor is the expert in your proposed research field
That your project is relevant (economically,socially,technologically) for Europe

16. Key aspects in your proposal
Researcher : 30 % (max 5 pages)
Research Career potential
Results: publications, patents, studies, conferences
Independent thinking/leadership
Potential: professional maturity and new knowledge
Match with the project

17. Drafting «Researcher»
Inform the evaluator about your career path and your career potential and indicate:
The potential of your research career
Your best publications (+ in review)
That you have teaching/industry experience/managing competences
That Europe has an added value to fund and promote you (do not understate or exagerate, but show self-esteem)

18. Key aspects in your proposal
Implementation: 15% (max 4 pages)
Infrastructure, facilities at host organisation
Management of the project
Work plan, feasability and credibility of the project

19. Drafting «Implementation»
Describe for evaluators that:
The host infrastructure is perfect for your project (labs, computers, softwares, library,…)
You have a clear understanding about milestones and deliverables in your project plan
Your host helps you to solve your practical problems (registration, taxation, children support, housing,…)

20. Key aspects in your proposal
Impact: 25% (max 5 pages)
European excellence and competitiveness
Potential and quality of long term professional integration in Europe (impact on the career, lenght of the employment contract, remuneration package)
Potential of transferring knowledge to host
Co-operation and collaborations with other countries
Exploitation of results, outreach activities

21. Drafting «Impact» Your project has a strong impact on:
Reaching a position of scientific independence (e.g. group leader)
Longer term perspective in science or in the private sector
The European economy, society, R&D, technology, political debate

22. Main Mistakes
Fellow’s skills to carry out the project are not convincing
Publication record is low, no peer reviewed journals
Poor explanation and justification of the state-of-the-art
The project is too ambitious time frame of the project)
Practical arrangements for the fellow are not mentioned

23. More Information Marie Curie website FP7 information and all calls
FP7 information and all calls
FP7 Participant Portal