Consultative Bureau for International Projects

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Consultative Bureau for International
Projects Ministry of Science
Steve Quarrie and Jelena Kolic
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Konsultativni biro je ekstenzija rada Sektora za
medjunarodnu saradnju Ministarstva nauke koja je
proistekla iz elje da se pojaca i pospei
prisustvo srpskih naucnika u medjunarodnim
projektima, posebno u FP7.
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So, what is the bureau for?
Do you have an idea you would like to convert
into a research proposal? Do you want information
on what opportunities there may be for your
science in FP7? Do you want to know what are the
challenges of taking part in an international
research project? Do you want to know whether
your current research programme is suitable for
an international collaborative project?
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Do you want help with writing an FP7 research
proposal? Do you have an FP6 or FP7 proposal that
did not succeed that you would like us to assess
for you to advise you on how to succeed next
time? Do you want us to send you any information
on the FP7 Themes? Do you want help to find
partners for a consortium you are putting
together? Do you want us to send you our partner
profile form to fill in?
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Do you want us to add your name to our
distribution list for information? Do you have
any suggestions on how we can help you with your
research? Do you just want to chat about
improving your research skills?
To ask about any of these questions just call
Steve Quarrie (-11 3035047) or Jelena Kolic (-11
3398830) or email us at info.biro_at_mntr.sr.gov.yu.
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Now some information on what is on offer in FP7
for you at the moment and what might be of
interest to you.
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Why should you be interested in applying for an
FP7 project?

• Science is an international subject
• - think of it like out-crossing for hybrid
  vigour!

• FP7 is a huge source of money for research
• - over 32 billion just for collaborative
  projects!

• FP7 is the best opportunity for a Serbian
  scientist to develop a research career.

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So, what are the challenges like for you to take
part in a FP7 project?
If you want to write your own collaborative
research project proposal, the challenges are
very large!
However, if you are a beginner you dont start
there!
FP7 provides many much easier opportunities for
you to get onto the first step of the FP7 ladder.
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Heres the beginners Road map to FP7
You start by getting yourself known and
networking.
Visit a European Research Infrastructure.
Join an existing network such as COST.
Get a Fellowship in a Marie Curie host.
Organise an international workshop/conference
here.
Get a CSA (support - RegPot) to improve your
capacity.
Join a FP research consortium as a junior partner.
Join a FP research consortium as a WP leader.
Coordinate your own FP collaborative research
project.
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FP7 is just as important for PhD students to get
involved as it is for their supervisors!
FP7 can give them training opportunities abroad.
PhD students should be encouraged to use their
own initiative to develop ideas for a Marie Curie
Fellowship.
We can help you convert your initial ideas into a
successful proposal.
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The most important number in FP7 is 5
petica! You need to target petica for every
evaluation score.
and Collaborative project proposals
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So, not only do you need to be doing good quality
research to get a high score for the science -
You also need to have good quality project
management and know how to disseminate the
research effectively.
Scientists are used to focusing on the science
without taking into consideration sufficiently
the needs of the investor.
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The investor, in the form of FP7 of the European
Commission, needs to know it will get value for
the money it will give you.
Too often in the past FP projects have finished
with little tangible impact on any of the project
stakeholders.
The skills needed dont come naturally, so
scientists need to be educated in how to ensure
their projects have high quality implementation
and impact.
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Now a joke about the lost traveller and the Irish
cowherd.
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(No Transcript)
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As director of an office aiming to help Serbian
scientists write successful research proposals
for FP7, I have to know where your project idea
is starting from.
I need to know whether it is good enough quality
to succeed in FP7. So, I need to have the wisdom
of an Irish cowherd
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Ah, my young man, to be sure, if I were you, I
wouldnt be starting from here!
So, here is the truth about preparing a
successful research proposal.
You cant write good quality research proposals
if youre not already doing good quality research!
And thats part of the reason for our visit today
- for you to convince me that you do good quality
research.
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We shall be happy to help you at every stage of
converting your idea into a successful proposal
Is your idea good enough? Is your consortium of
partners good enough? Will it fit into the needs
of the call? Have you got a good management
plan? Will your project have an impact? Have you
got a realistic budget? Is your project going to
answer five key questions?
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You need to answer these 5 questions in your
proposal

• Why bother with this research? (what knowledge
  gap are you trying to fill?)
• Is it a European priority? (could it be funded
  nationally?)
• Is the knowledge already available?
  (state-of-the-art)
• Why is now the right time? (why wasnt it done
  before?)
• Why us? (are we the best people to do this work?)

Answers to the questions should come in the first
10 lines!
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Criteria to use to select your partners
Friends and scientific colleagues.
Reputation scientific excellence in a niche
(capability).
Resources available to deliver (capacity).
Professional and timely delivery of documents,
results.
Understanding and respect of bureaucratic rules.
Willingness to work in a team and share
information.
Industrial partners, especially SMEs.
Good personality - easy to get on with during the
project.
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How to start your international activities

• Identify who won Projects in your area in FP7
  (http//cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm?fuseacti
  onproj.advSearch)
• Identify who received contracts in your
  scientific area in FP6 (http//cordis.europa.eu/fp
  6/projects.htm)
• Join Existing Networks Search for 'Coordination
  Actions' on http//www.cordis.lu/fp6/projects.htm
• Check Conferences that have been funded in your
  area http//cordis.europa.eu/fetch?CALLEREN_NEWS
  _EVENT and http//ec.europa.eu/research/headlines/
  archives_diary_en.cfm and http//ec.europa.eu/rese
  arch/conferences/index_en.cfm

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• Join the Relevant EU Association
  www.hyperion.ie/euassociations.htm
• Join an existing COST Actions http//www.cost.esf
  .org/index.php
• Contact National Contact Point for your area
  http//cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ncp.htm
• Apply to become an Expert Evaluator
  https//cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7/index.cfm?fuseacti
  onwel.welcome

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How to start getting funding with Framework
Programmes

• Visit a European Research Infrastructure
  http//cordis.europa.eu/infrastructures/projects.h
  tm (FP6)
• Join an Existing Network Coordination
  Action(FP6) http//www.cordis.lu/fp6/projects.htm
  
• Find a Marie Curie Host Site seeking fellows on
  http//cordis.europa.eu/mc-opportunities/index.cfm
  ?fuseactiondataForm.doSearch
• Find a Marie Curie Host Site on
  http//europa.eu.int/eracareers/
• Find a Marie Curie Conference http//cordis.europ
  a.eu/mc-opportunities/index.cfm?fuseactiondataFor
  m.doSearchEvt
• Check Cordis News for Future Conferences
  http//cordis.europa.eu/news/en/home.html

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Support services available for beginners

• CORDIS Partner Search Service http//cordis.europ
  a.eu/partners-service/
• IGLO Informal group of RTD Liaison Offices
  www.iglortd.org/services/partner.html
• ICT Partner search www.ideal-ist.net
• Assistance in Joining ICT Projects
  http//www.hagridproject.net/index.php