Proposal Writing for Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge Action

1
Proposal Writing for Marie Curie Transfer of
Knowledge Action

• Estelle Kane
• UK Research Office
• mobility_at_bbsrc.ac.uk

2
Outline of session

• Introduction
• Strategic aims of Marie Curie Actions
• Outline of Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge
  Development Scheme and Transfer of Knowledge
  Industry-Academia Strategic Partnership
• Understanding the submission process
• Approaching and writing your proposal

3
UKROs sponsors
Arts and Humanities Research Council
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research
Council
Economic and Social Research Council
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
Medical Research Council
Natural Environment Research Council
Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council
4
UKROs mission

• To promote effective UK participation in
  EU-funded research programmes, higher education
  programmes and other related activities by
• supporting sponsors and subscribers through early
  insight and briefing on developments in European
  programmes and policies
• disseminating timely and targeted information on
  EU funding opportunities
• providing high quality advice, guidance and
  training on applying for and managing projects
  and
• exchanging information between the UK research
  and higher education community, the Institutions
  of the EU, and other countries participating in
  EU programmes

5
UKROs services

• Tailored information services
• Enquiry service advice, guidance and support
  for subscribers and sponsors
• UK subscriber visits briefing, training,
  consultancy
• Brussels-based meeting room
• Annual conference and training courses
• Mobility National Contact Point service
• UKRO and NCP web sites
• British Council European RTD Insight

6
What is a Framework Programme?

• Main implementation tool for European Research
  Area
• The principal EU Programme for RTD
• 4 years in duration
• FP5 1999-2002 14.96Bn
• FP6 2002-2005 19Bn
• FP7 2007 2013 73Bn?
• Contract research
• European collaboration
• User driven approach
• Prioritised research areas

7
Context - FP6 programme detail
Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for
Health
New/Emerging ST and Policy Support
Information Society Technologies
Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences,
Knowledge-Based Multifunctional Materials and
New Production Processes and Devices
SME Activities
Specific Activities Covering a Wider Field of
Research
Aeronautics and Space
Food Quality and Safety
International Co-operation
Sustainable Development, Global Change and
Ecosystems
Citizens and Governance in the Knowledge Society
Science and Society
Research and Innovation
Human Resources and Mobility
Research Infrastructures
Co-ordination of Research Activities
Development of RTD/Innovation Policies
8
What are Marie Curie Actions?

• Human Resources and Mobility Programmes aim is
• to provide broad support for the development of
  abundant and dynamic world-class human resources
  in the European research system, taking into
  account the inherent international dimension of
  research.
• by supporting a series of fellowships (Marie
  Curie Actions) to support the training and
  mobility of researchers, within the context of
  promoting excellence in European Research
• .and geared to the development and transfer of
  research competencies, the consolidation and
  widening of researchers' career prospects, and
  the promotion of excellence in European research

9
Key features

• Open to 3rd country nationals
• No age limit, but experience criterion
• Life-long learning concept
• Personal/family situation of researchers
• Bottom-up approach

10
Participation in the Framework Programme

• EU Member States Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech
  Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
  Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
  Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
  Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
  Sweden, UK
• EEA Countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
• Association Agreement Countries Israel,
  Switzerland
• Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania,Turkey,
  Croatia (as from 1.1.2006)
• Third Countries INCO (Developing, Mediterranean,
  Russia and NIS, Western Balkans), all other
  countries

11
Host driven actions

• Transfer of Knowledge is a host driven action
• Host institutions/network applies for a number of
  fellows/researchers
• Hosts proposal is evaluated
• Selected host/network advertises fellowship
  position and selects fellows/researchers
• Contract duration with host, usually 4 years
• Fellows stay depending on Action (up to 3 years)
• Contract is with the Commission

12
Last FP6 Transfer of Knowledge Deadline

• 25 January 2006
• 1700 BRUSSELS TIME
• 31 million for ToK-DEV
• 16 million for ToK-IAP

13
What can you do with the Transfer of Knowledge
Actions?

• Estelle Kane
• UK Research Office
• mobility_at_bbsrc.ac.uk

14
What can you do with a ToK project?

• With the Development Scheme you can
• develop the competency and expertise of your
  research team or department by recruiting new
  expert staff, as well as exchanging staff with
  partner institutions
• With the Industry-Academia scheme, you can
• build or strengthen existing partnerships across
  the sectors, by sending and/or receiving staff.

15
Why participate?

• Recruit staff from across Europe
• Send staff on secondment across Europe/sectors
• Participate in European-wide networks
• Consolidate collaboration across Europe
• Provide support to exploit untapped training
  opportunities within established networks
• Create the next generation of experts within area

16
Who can you recruit under a ToK?

• Experienced
• PhD or at least 4 years research experience after
  first degree
• Very experienced
• More than 10 years research experience

17
Where can your researchers come from?

• Must not have been resident in host country for
  more that 12 months in the last 3 years
  immediately before deadline (Individual actions)
• Cannot be a national of host country unless
• European researcher working outside EU for 4 in
  the last 5 years
• Dual nationality and have not resided there in
  last 5 years
• International organisation
• Return and reintegration grants
• Note that Excellence Team leaders are exempt

18
Transfer of Knowledge Development Scheme

• To develop or reinforce research potential of
  institutes in need of new competencies
• Applications by institutions in need of
  developing new competencies
• All countries, with priority to Community
  LFRs/Associate Candidate Countries
• Host selects and recruits experienced researchers
  (2-24 months)
• Possibility to send own staff (2-12 months) to
  pre-determined institutions return

19
What can you do in a ToK-DEV?

• The primary thing you can do with a ToK
• DEV is to recruit experienced staff for between
  2 months and 2 years to contribute to your
  research groups research expertise.
• In addition to recruiting staff, you can also
  arrange secondments with pre-identified partners
  across European Member or Associated States.

20
What can you do in a ToK-DEV?
21
ToK Industry/Academic Partnership

• To create or develop strategic and durable
  partnerships
• Application by Industry and academia partners
  from at least 2 different countries
• Co-ordinating host from industry or academia,
  with one or more partners from the either sector
• Funding of exchange of experienced researchers
  amongst staff members, in both directions (2-24
  months)
• Includes SMEs, spin-offs, start-ups

22
What can you do in a ToK-IAP?

• You can send staff to partner organisations in a
  different sector - from a commercial enterprise
  to a university or vice versa for between 2
  months and 2 years.
• AND/OR
• Receive staff from the partner organisations in a
  different sector for between 2 months and 2
  years.

23
What can you do in a ToK-IAP?
24
What is funded under the ToK?

• Estelle Kane
• UK Research Office
• mobility_at_bbsrc.ac.uk

25
Key MC financial principles

• Everything is a function of a researcher-month
• Institutions have responsibility to allocate,
  manage and report on all funds (but living,
  mobility, career and travel often paid straight
  to fellow)
• Researchers allowances living, mobility, career
  and travel allocated on a flat-rate basis, are
  for the fellow to spend as they wish and can not
  be top sliced by the institution
• Within general principles, host participation
  expenses and research training costs allocated on
  a fixed-rate or real cost basis depending on the
  action

26
Outline of Marie Curie funding

• Benefit of the researchers
• Living allowance (by researcher category and
  country)
• Travel costs
• Mobility allowance
• Career development allowance
• Costs of eligible researchers
• Benefit of the host organisations
• Contribution to programme expenses (organisation,
  co-ordination...)
• Overheads
• Management costs (incl. audit certificate)
• Other eligible expenses
• Not all contributions apply to all Actions

27
Researcher salaries

• Living allowance (reference, cost of living index
  100)

Mobility allowance 500 /month (no family) 800
/month (family) Correction factor for cost of
living to be applied UK is 112.5
28
Additional allowances

• Travel costs depending on distance 250 - 2500
  /year
• Career exploratory allowance 2000 /fellow (min.
  1 year stay, depending on Action) for recruited
  experienced researchers in ToK-DEV only

29
Research and transfer of knowledge costs

• ToK-DEV
• Recruited Fellows
• Option to choose by the participant
• fixed amount scheme 250 per researcher-month
  for non laboratory based research projects 500
  per researcher-month for laboratory based
  research projects
• or real expenses with a maximum of 1200 per
  researcher -month
• Seconded Fellows
• Reimbursement of specific expenses related to
  the training of researchers in the partner
  organisation (training expenses, laboratory
  expenses, etc)  if necessary and within the
  limit of real expenses of 800 /researcher-month

30
Research and transfer of knowledge costs

• ToK-IAP
• For secondment period only
• Option to be chosen by the participant
• either following a fixed amount scheme 250
  per researcher-month for non laboratory based
  research projects 500 per researcher-month for
  laboratory based research projects
• or real expenses with a maximum of 800 per
  researcher -month

31
Understanding proposal submission process for ToK
actions

• Estelle Kane
• UK Research Office
• mobility_at_bbsrc.ac.uk

32
Proposal submission

• Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS)
• User-name and password in good time
• Send in time
• One step evaluation procedure
• MEET THE DEADLINE
• 1700 BRUSSELS TIME

33
Evaluation process
Proposal
Rejection
Eligibility
Individual Evaluation
Consensus
Ethical Issues
Rejection
Thresholds
Ranking by Commission
Negotiation
Rejection
Negative Result
Commission Funding Decision
34
Outline of the process

• Published as a call
• Submit application before deadline
• Evaluation process
• Notification of results
• Contract negotiation
• Contract signature and start of project

35
Key documents

• The Call Text
• A Rough Guide to the Marie Curie Actions
• The Human Resources and Mobility Work Programme
  2004-2006
• The Handbook
• The Guide for Proposers
• Guidance Notes for Evaluators
• Sources
• UKRO NCP website http//www.ukro.ac.uk/mobility
• Commission http//fp6.cordis.lu/fp6

36
Approaching your project proposal writing

• Work with your organisations administration
• Keep Guide for Proposers and Evaluation Criteria
  in front of you
• Treat criteria as examination questions
• Think about the way you write
• Brainstorm each section
• Then focus on a section at a time
• Plan your proposal writing

37
Approaching your project proposal writing

• It will feel repetitive addressing issues from
  different angles
• Stick to the page limit
• Think about your evaluators
• Clearly address the main objectives
• Use clear and concise language
• Explain country specific jargon
• Provide them with the evidence they need
• Find colleagues to read it through

38
General points on a good proposal

• Meet the deadline
• Characteristics of success/ failure
• 90 well detailed, excellent and clear training
  programme and great science of clear EU wide
  benefit and potential in a new area
• 80-90 good project, lacking some detail on
  training, evaluating output and perhaps clashes
  with existing programmes
• 70-80 Some obvious omissions, consortium design
  needs adjusting, some science issues not
  addressed, concerns over transfer of knowledge
• 60 - 70 Serious omissions, lack of detail, poor
  management plans, no milestones, consortium
  partners too similar

39
Proposal writing for ToK actions

• Estelle Kane
• UK Research Office
• mobility_at_bbsrc.ac.uk

40
Part A General proposal structure

• Administration forms
• A1 Abstract this includes key words to aid
  expert selection
• A2 Information on participants 1 per
  participant as relevant
• A4 Information on requested fellows 1 for whole
  project

41
Part B - Proposal structure

• Free text narrative
• To address all relevant evaluation criteria
• Be aware of any page limits reserve right to
  disregard parts of a proposal that clearly exceed
  the maximum lengths specified

42
Overall points ToK DEV

• Research Project
• Relate to development of institution/research
  group, where will they be at the end of the
  contract?
• Recruitment
• Not just recruiting 2 post-docs
• Usually between 2 4 people, more than 6 outside
  budget
• Partner institutions
• If include, need justification
• Limit number
• Higher incoming than outgoing

43
Overall points ToK IAP

• General composition quite small 11 13
• Industry usually showing more partners but fewer
  research months in total
• Long term and stable integration of the
  partnership beyond the IAP contract

44
Evaluation criteria and weightings - ToK

• W T
• B1 Scientific Quality of the Project 15 3
• B2 Quality of the research training 15 3
• B3 Quality of the host 15 -
• B4 Management and Feasibility 15 3
• B5 Added value and Relevance to the
• objectives of the activity 40 -
• B6 Previous proposals and contracts - -
• B7 Other Issues - -
• Overall threshold of 70 in addition to
  specific evaluation criteria threshold

45
Scientific quality of the project

• WEIGHTING 15 THRESHOLD3
• Scientific/technological quality, timeliness and
  relevance of the project
• Research methodology of the project and
  interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary aspects
  of the proposal considered
• Originality/innovative aspects of the project

46
Scientific quality of the project

• Feasible
• Have a clear impact
• Cover ranges from basic to application
• Individual projects clear
• Original

47
Quality of the knowledge transfer

• WEIGHTING 15 THRESHOLD 4
• Quality of the transfer of knowledge project
• Relevance of the project with respect to
  achieving the declared knowledge transfer project
  
• Match of the targeted researchers profile to the
  knowledge transfer project

48
Quality of the knowledge transfer

• DEV
• Will build up world class group
• Planning on how local team will assimilate
  knowledge is well throughout
• Size and balance between incoming and outgoing is
  suitable for the project

49
Quality of the knowledge transfer

• IAP
• Whole range of research from basic research to
  applications
• Clear research strategy
• Clear project management
• Mutual balance in expertise
• Well balanced between groups towards long-term
  collaboration
• Well balanced between different R D activities

50
Quality of host

• WEIGHTING 15
• Quality of the host in its current area of
  research
• Quality and relevance of international/
  intersectoral research collaborations
• Quality and adequacy of infrastructure /
  facilities
• Match between project and host's profile
• Capacity of the hosts to receive knowledge

51
Quality of host

• Evaluators comments
• The host's capacity to receive and disseminate
  knowledge is very large.
• The educational dimension of the activities is
  important and substantial.
• The host provides accommodation, and visiting
  positions will be properly advertised
• host group has good expertise, only a summary of
  CVs of some people involved in the project and
  information on research topics of partners are
  provided.

52
ToK Management and feasibility

• WEIGHTING 15 THRESHOLD 3
• Practical arrangements for the implementation and
  management of the transfer of knowledge project
  including ability to build upon knowledge
  transferred
• Recruitment/exchange strategy, including
  timetable, equal opportunity policy, etc
• Feasibility and credibility of the project
• Quality of the collaborative partnership (where
  relevant)
• Appropriate size of requested fellowship project
  with regard to capacity of the host

53
ToK Management and feasibility

• Some evaluators comments
• The match of the targeted researchers profile to
  the knowledge transfer is not discussed.
• The recruitment processes and coordination
  between partners should be better specified.
• None of the other criteria are covered, e.g. the
  issues of recruitment, the ability of each host
  to absorb transfer, the match of the staff to be
  exchanged to the project, etc

54
ToK Management and feasibility

• Evaluators comments continued
• The management processes and plan are described
  in detail, highly professional and excellent.
• An appropriate size and experienced team is in
  place for managing this complex project (creating
  a CoE) and giving it a high probability of
  success.
• Equally important is the high level commitment
  from the host institutes and its collaborating
  partners.
• The practical arrangements for the implementation
  of the joint research programme and the
  management structure are described, including the
  sharing of intellectual property rights.

55
Specific objectives and added value

• WEIGHTING 40
• Relevance of the proposal to one or more of the
  specific objectives of the action - as specified
  in section 2.3.1.3 of the work programme
• Structuring effects at the European level and if
  relevant extent to which other European policy
  objectives are met.
• Likelihood of the transfer of knowledge project
  to enhance European scientific excellence

56
Specific objectives and added value

• For development scheme benefit to the host in
  knowledge transfer long term capacity building
  and potential to reach an international level in
  the field
• For development scheme extend to which
  knowledge is transferred to Community less
  favoured regions and associated candidate
  countries
• Industry/academia- capacity to develop new
  intersectoral collaborations and to achieve
  lasting collaborations
• For the industry/academia scheme - extend to
  which SMEs contribute to the project

57
Spotlight on added value what does it mean?

• Related to
• European research policy both HRM and in general
• Relevance to the objectives of the activity see
  work programme text
• E.g. ERA Towards a European Research Area COM
  (2000) 6, 18.1.00
• European policy your research
• Does proposal align with any of the thematic
  priorities of FP6 e.g. Global Change
  Ecosystems?
• Other EU policies e.g. Water Framework
  Directive (europa.eu.int/comm/index_en.htm)

58
An introduction to European research policy

• European Research Area
• Mobility Strategy
• Human Resources and Mobility Work Programme

59
European Research Area (ERA) rationale

• Need to bring national initiatives closer
  together, and help them achieve greater coherence
• This is the aim of the ERA project, the reference
  framework for European research since the Lisbon
  European Council in March 2000

60
Key political objectives

• Lisbon Objectives
• to become the most dynamic and most competitive
  knowledge-based economy
• Barcelona Objectives
• education and training, innovation, 3 GDP
• Gothenburg Objectives
• sustainable development (environment, economy,
  employment)
• Stockholm Objectives
• fostering entrepreneurship and harnessing new
  technologies
• All underpinned by the ERA Objectives

61
Framework Programme 6
Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for
Health
New/Emerging ST and Policy Support
Information Society Technologies
Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences,
Knowledge-Based Multifunctional Materials
and New Production Processes and Devices
SME Activities
Specific Activities Covering a Wider Field of
Research
Thematic
Aeronautics and Space
Food Quality and Safety
International Co-operation
Sustainable Development, Global Change and
Ecosystems
Citizens and Governance in the Knowledge Society
Science and Society
Innovation and SMEs
Human Resources and Mobility
Research Infrastructures
Horizontal
Co-ordination of Research Activities
Development of RTD/Innovation Policies
Underpinning
62
European researcher policy

• Mobility Strategy 2001
• ..present a strategy to create a favourable
  environment for the mobility of researchers in
  the ERA, in order to develop, attract and retain
  human resources in research and promote
  innovation
• --- FP6 Marie Curie Actions
• Researchers in the ERA One Profession, Multiple
  Careers July 2003
• ...defines the various factors which condition
  the development of researchers careers at
  European level, namely the role and nature of
  research training, the differences in recruitment
  methods, the contractual and budgetary dimension,
  and, finally, the evaluation mechanisms and the
  progress perspectives within the career
• ---European Charter for Researchers and Code of
  Conduct

63
Further information

• UKRO
• http//www.ukro.ac.uk/mobility
• European Commission
• http//www.europa.eu.int/index_en.htm
• European Commission Marie Curie Actions
• http//www.cordis.lu/mariecurie-actions/

64
Further reference the Individual and Excellence
Actions

• Estelle Kane
• UK Research Office
• mobility_at_bbsrc.ac.uk

65
Last FP6 individual and excellence deadlines

• Individual Fellowship
• Intra-European 19.01.06
• Incoming International 18.01.06
• Outgoing International 18.01.06
• Excellence Actions
• Excellence Chairs 25.01.06
• Excellence Teams 25.01.06
• Excellence Awards 15.02.06
• European and International Re-integration Grants
• 19.01.06, 19.4.06 and 19.7.06

66
Indicative budget distribution 2006
67
Individual fellowships

• To respond to the individual advanced training
  needs of the most promising experienced
  researchers to give them the necessary boost to
  become fully independent in their field
• Fellowships for experienced researchers(gt4 years
  experience or PhD or PhD within 8 months)
• Training through research, incl. life-long
  training or for resuming career
• Application by fellow in liaison with host

68
Individual fellowships

• 3 Action Types
• Intra-European (EIF) 1 to 2 years
• From and to EU and Associated States
• Outgoing (OIF) up to 2 1 years
• EU and Ass. States fellows to 3rd country
• mandatory return element
• Incoming (IIF) 1 to 2 years
• promising researchers from 3rd country
• possibility of return support for emerging
  economies

69
Capacity building

• To promote excellence in European research
• Marie Curie Excellence Grants (EXT) up to 4
  years
• To set up or extend teams of the highest level
• Leading edge or interdisciplinary research
• Marie Curie Chairs (EXC) up to 3 years
• Top level teaching appointments
• Particularly for researchers who wish to resume
  their career in Europe
• Marie Curie Prizes (EXA)
• Prizes for excellent researchers who have
  benefited from Marie Curie Actions

70
Re-Integration Grants

• To support integration of a stable research
  career following a period of mobility
• Following a 2-year Marie Curie fellowship (ERG)
• EU and Associate States fellows
• Reintegration of country of origin or elsewhere
• Obligation for host to offer minimum 2-year work
  contract and research project
• Following a stay outside Europe (IRG)
• European researchers who have been outside Europe
  for 5 years