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How to participate in the 6th EU Framework Programme

Manfred HorvatBIT - Bureau for International Research and Technology Cooperation, AT An initiative of the Austrian Government and the Economic Chamber Austria

New opportunities for academic institutions andenterprises to participate in EU RTD programmes

TU Kosice, 12-13 December 2002

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Source of information 1Decision of the Framework ProgrammeDecision of the Specific ProgrammesWork ProgrammesCall for ProposalsInformation Packages

Guide for Proposers for the instrument choosenthe proposal submission forms for the instrument choosenEvaluation Manual

the Model Contractthe rules for participationbackground documents on FP6 instruments

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Source of information 2

National Contact Points, regional contact points, university contact points, etc.practical information & advice on modalities and rules

National delegates in Programme Committeebackground information on EU policies

experienced (critical) colleaguesthe project coordinator and partnershttp://www.cordis.lu/

Calls for Proposalsall documents for FP6results of Call for Expressions of interestprojects data base

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Short vs. full proposal

One stage submission of proposalsfull proposal with all detailsevaluation criteria defined in the work programme

Two-stage submission of proposalsfirst stage:

short (outline) proposal (15-20 pages)use of limited set of criteriasuccessful proposers invited to submit full proposal

second stage:like one-stage proposal

to be defined in the work programme:first call(s) mostly one-stage submission

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Integrated projects (IP)Networks of excellence (NoE)“Article 169”

Specific targeted research projects (STREPs)Specific Coordination Actions (CA)Specific Support Actions (SSA)Human resources and mobility actions

Horizontal measures for SMEsCRAFTCollective Research

Specific information material will be available for each area of FP6 (thematic priorites, etc.) and for each instrument!

Choice of modality for participationThere is a spectrum of instruments!

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Parts/content of a proposal

Part A: FORMS A1: General info on proposal

(Title, abstract, keywords, etc.) A2: Info on the coordinator

and the other partners(one form per partner)

A3: Cost breakdown(one sheet for the whole consortium; one line per partner with information on costs and funding requests per activity *)

* e.g. for IPs and STREPs: RTD and innovation related activities, demonstration activities, training activities, consortium management

Part B: CONTENT (e.g. IP) Objectives and expected impact Implementation plan and associated

budget consortium and the project

resources project management exploitation and dissemination plans ethics, safety, and other issues

(where relevant)

There may be recommendations as to the lengths of certain parts!

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Fundamental issues for IPs and NoEs

Integrated projectsIntegration of disciplines, activities, actors,

sectors and financescale of ambition

Networks of Excellencebring about structural change, mutual specialisiationmore than just coordinationtop management (and budgetary authorities) must be

involvedunified management structure

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Some recommendations 1Check priorities and objectives of the Work

Programme and the Call for Proposals(objectives, contents and instrument!)

ensure completeness of proposal: Part A and Buse correct forms and instrumentseligibility of partnership!a convincing consortium assembling the critical

mass of expertise and resourceswell designed management structures & procedures!address all evaluation criteria (Guide for Proposers!)address ethical issues

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Some recommendations 2

Choose a strong expressive title & a good acronymprepare an interesting project summaryconvincing technical (and political) backgoundHow will your projects contribute to integrating

and/or structuring European research (ERA!)present clear objectives and results, methodsHow will results be exploited and disseminated?edit your proposal carefully before submission

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Some recommendations 3

Use concise standard Englishdon’t address the ultimate expert - he/she may not be

around...make the text well structured, precise, clear,

understandable, easy to read, not “wordy”add a Table of Contentchoose a type face that is attractive & easy to readuse short paragraphsuse bullet points to break up listshighlight key points in italics

make your proposal visually attractive and inviting, using graphic devices

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Some recommendations 4

Get early advice by your National Contact Point and the EC help desk

submit your complete proposal before the deadline

inform National Contact Point and national delegates about your submitted proposal

don’t contact Commission services in the first two weeks after submission!

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Proposal submission

On-line preparation and submission using the Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS)Preparation off-line using the same tool as EPSS, followed by on-line submission via EPSS Off-line preparation using the same tool as EPSS followed by submission on CD or diskette On paper

http://www.cordis.lu/fp6/subprop.htm

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Experiences from previous FPs Why proposals failed!

Too ambitious, too complex to be believableunclear, chaoticnot relevant for the Call and the Work Programmenot innovative, going beyond the state of the artobjectives, methods, approach unclearresults neither clear nor quantified, no exploitationall results at project end, no intermediate resultsunrealistic cost estimatesunbalanced project consortium, “alibi” partnersmanagement structure & processes not appropriate

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Thank you for your attention!

Prof. Manfred HorvatDirector

Tel +43 1 581 16 16-114 (-109)

Fax +43 1 581 16 16-16 (-18)

horvat@bit.ac.at

http://www.bit.ac.at