Research Methodology'

1
Research Methodology.

• Writing bids for funding.

2
Outline

• Introduction
• Rational underpinning a bid
• Success
• Failure
• Details for the proposal
• Plan
• Management
• Structure
• Evaluation

3
Bidding for funds.

• Are we asking for an organisation to support our
  work?
• Are we submitting a tender to solve an
  organisations problems?
• We need to express our ideas
• accurately and
• fully.

4
Secrets of success.

• Industrial potential.
• Viable exploitation plans.
• Eligibility for funding.
• Technical merit.
• Soundness of approach.
• Economic and social impact.
• Sound organisation and management plus
  a spark!

5
Reasons for failure.

• Not conforming to the Call for Bids.
• No market analysis.
• Unaware of the work of others.
• Failure to adhere to standards.
• Weak exploitation plans
  e.g. no dates for launch

6
Identify and analyse the risks.

• What is their nature - technical, social..?
• What is the probability of occurrence?
• What would the consequences be?
• What assumptions are we making?
• How can the risks be avoided?
• How can the consequences be mitigated?

7
The economic and social impact.

• What are the implications for human and
  organisational factors?
• Will the results change the way that people work?
• Who gains and who loses?

8
Project plan.

• Initial project review decide the research
  question and the approach.
• Phase 1 literature survey.
• Interim review alter aims in the light of new
  information.
• Phase 2 implement project.
• Phase 3 write report.
• Final review report.

9
Management of the project.

• Management Boards.
• Steering Committees.
• Advisory Groups.
• Agree division of IPR - before money is made!
• What if the collaborators disagree?
• Provide a mechanism for arbitration.

10
The importance of users.

• Many projects are user-oriented, user-led, user
  driven
• Technical excellence is worthless if the product
  is not usable.
• Market analysis must be done.

11
Conformance with the Call for bids.

• Read the Information Package carefully.
• Identify all the targets.
• Ensure that each collaborator has a clear and
  genuine role.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the problem.

12
Style of the Proposal.

• Do not waffle - be concise and clear about
• objectives
• approach
• contribution of partners
• exploitation
• contribution to the objectives of the Calling
  Body.

13
Structure of the Proposal.

• Define the problem and its general class.
• Describe the difficulties and the shortcomings of
  previous approaches.
• Describe the hopes for your approach.
• Suggest wider applicability for the solution.
• Plan the dissemination of the results.
• Plan the exploitation of the product.

14
Application form for an outline or draft project
proposal FIT (EPSRC)

• OUTLINE CASE FOR SUPPORT 
• Please attach a brief description (not exceeding
  two sides of A4) of the project under the
  following headings-
• Objectives
• Methodology (describing which partners will
  undertake each stage of work)
• Contribution to the Future Integrated Transport
  programme
• Scientific contribution
• Commercial benefits (identifying which partner(s)
  will commercially exploit the work, and how)
•  
• Before completing this form, please read the
  Future Integrated Transport programme
  Information for applicants document.
•