Science is not the whole story!

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Science is not the whole story! (How to write a
successful Marie Curie RTN Proposal) Siobhan
Harkin

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History of Fellowships
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Human Resources and Mobility in FP6

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Marie Curie

• Dos and Donts
• Read the Guide for Proposers (application form!)
• http//fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/calls.cfm
• Follow the instructions to the letter!
• Use the Handbooks
• Use common sense!
• Electronic submission dont!!!!

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What is a Research Training Network (RTN)?

• A Research Training Network consists of a
  consortium of research teams located in different
  countries that propose a common research project
  to serve as a vehicle for providing training and,
  where necessary, transfer-of-knowledge.

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Marie Curie Research Training Networks

• Well-defined collaborative research projects of
  recognised international stature
• Minimum 3 partners in 3 Countries (expected to be
  more)
• Flexible framework for the Training and
  Development of Researchers
• Appropriate mix of Early Stage and Experienced
  researchers
• Promotion of multidisciplinary research
• Up to 3 year fellowships, including short stays

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RTN - Proposal Structure

• B1 SCIENTIFIC QUALITY OF THE PROJECT
• B1.1. Research topic (one A4 page)
• B1.2. Project objectives (three A4 pages)
• B1.3. Scientific originality of the project (two
  A4 pages)
• B1.4. Research method (two A4 pages)
• B1.5. Work plan (two A4 pages, plus tables and
  charts)
• B2 TRAINING AND/OR TRANSFER OF KNOWLEDGE
  ACTIVITIES
• B2.1. Content and quality of the training and
  transfer of knowledge programme (three A4 pages)
• B2.2 Impact of the training and/or transfer of
  knowledge programme (two A4 pages)
• B2.3. Planned recruitment of early-stage and
  experienced researchers (one A4 page table)
• B3 QUALITY/CAPACITY OF THE NETWORK PARTNERSHIP
• B3.1. Collective expertise of the network teams
  (one A4 page per network team)
• B3.2. Intensity and quality of networking (one A4
  page)
• B3.3. Relevance of Partnership Composition (one
  A4 page)
• B4. MANAGEMENT AND FEASIBILITY
• B4.1. Proposed management and organisational
  structure (two A4 pages)
• B4.2. Management know-how and experience of
  network co-ordinator (one A4 page)

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Marie Curie Evaluation of Proposals

• Individual evaluation of proposals
• Each proposal is evaluated against the applicable
  criteria independently by at least four experts
  who filled in individual evaluation forms giving
  marks and providing comments.
• Consensus
• For each proposal a consensus report is prepared.
  The report faithfully reflects the views of the
  independent experts.
• Panel evaluation
• A panel discussion is convened to examine and
  compare the consensus reports and marks in a
  given area, to review the proposals with respect
  to each other and, in specific cases (e.g. equal
  scores) to make recommendations on a priority
  order and/or on possible clustering or merging of
  proposals.

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Marie Curie Evaluation of Proposals

• Scoring
• There is a total of six sections (B1-B6) that are
  each scored 0-5
• A weighting factor is then applied
• Total score for a proposal is 100
• For RTNs the science score represents only 30
  of total!!!!
• 15 for the WHAT?
• 15 for the WHO?
• Sections (B1, B2, B4) require a minimum score
  (threshold)
• There is a total minimum threshold of 70
• Need to address all of the issues to maximise
  scores
• You must focus on the objectives of the activity
  to be successful
• Look carefully at the score matrix

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RTN
Activity Research Training Networks Research Training Networks
WWeighting(1) T Threshold W () T (/5)
Scientific Quality of the Proposal / Project 15 3
Training Activities / Transfer of Knowledge 20 4
Quality of the Host/ network partnership 15 -
Management and Feasibility 15 3
Relevance to the objectives of the specific activity 20 -
Added value to the Community 15 -
Notes All activities will be subject to a
threshold in the total score of 70 (1) W
Weighting expressed as a percentage, T
Threshold score out of 5
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RTN
Activity Research Training Networks Research Training Networks
WWeighting(1) T Threshold W Content
Content of the Proposal / Project 15
Training Activities / Transfer of Knowledge 20
Quality of the Host 15
Management and Feasibility 15
Relevance to the objectives of the specific activity 20 Describe the extent to which the overall capacity to train / achieve transfer of knowledge will be increased by the network. If relevant, describe the potential for the project to overcome fragmentation in the particular area of the networks research
Added value to the Community 15 Co-ordination or synergy with regional, national or international activities or programmes in research, training or areas such as higher education should be presented
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RTN First Round Results

• Total of 326 proposals evaluated by 344 experts
• 109 were below threshold 33!
• Almost all of these missed the training threshold
  (4/5)
• 50 of those under Training threshold had total
  gt70
• 41 on the funded list 13 success (compared to
  36 in FP)!
• Irish success rate the highest at 16 (8 funded)
• Average size of funded RTN 11 partners with
  budget of 3.3m and about 450 researcher months

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RTN First Round Results
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Type of actions covered by the call Dead-line for reception of proposals
Research Training Networks 3 April 03
Research Training Networks 19 November 03
Early Stage Training Fellowships 2 April 03
Early Stage Training Fellowships 11 February 04
Conferences and Training Courses 1 April 03
Conferences and Training Courses 20 April 04
Transfer of Knowledge fellowships 22 May 03
Transfer of Knowledge fellowships 19 May 04
Intra-European Fellowships 12 March 03
Intra-European Fellowships 18 February 04
International Incoming Fellowships 21 May 03
International Incoming Fellowships 12 February 04
International Outgoing Fellowships 21 May 03
International Outgoing Fellowships 12 February 04
Excellence Grants (Teams) 20 May 03
Excellence Grants (Teams) 18 May 04
Chairs 20 May 03
Chairs 21 January 04
Excellence Awards 20 May 03
Excellence Awards 18 May 04
European Re-Integration Grants from 15 April 03 to October 04
International Re-integration Grants from 15 April 03 to October 04
FP6 Roadmap
Single call published on 17 December 2002. This
roadmap and indeed the schemes and budgets covers
first 2 years of FP6. The period 2004-2006 will
be reviewed by the Commission in 2004
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FP6 Budget
Type of actions covered by the call Budget (2002-2004) m of Total
Research Training Networks 115 (April Dec) 18
Early Stage Training Fellowships 130 20
Conferences and Training Courses 20 3
Transfer of Knowledge fellowships 85 13
Intra-European Fellowships 110 17
International Incoming Fellowships 20 3
International Outgoing Fellowships 28 4
Excellence Grants (Teams) 55 9
Chairs 10 2
Excellence Awards 0.5 0
European Re-Integration Grants 39 6
International Re-integration Grants 17 3
Budget breakdown for 2002-2004. There is a total
of 636m over the first two years (includes 6.5
for coordination actions). This will be reviewed
in 2003 and revised depending on take up in the
various elements of the programme
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Steps to success!

• Read the documents carefully
• Follow the guidelines
• Remember that science is not the whole story
• Ensure the training programme is the best
• Ensure you send the proposal so that it will
  arrive by the deadline
• Dont trust the couriers!