Norsk »Before you start with an EU proposal!
• Your idea and application is anchored in the strategy for the institute you are working in
• You know the state-of-art (international) within the field
• You have a good international network
• You are willing to make an effort (have the resources) to make an application through
• Make of you mind early if you want to be a coordinator (will have most of the work) or a partner
If you think you fulfil this - then go for it !
Conceptual approach, partner selection:
The idea for an EU project starts with a researcher, or group of researchers, that have an excellent topic they want to elaborate within an international collaboration. The concept or idea must be innovative, have an excellence in its approach.
Choice of good partners is very important. But 30-40% of the key to success is the choice of the coordinator. Coordinator must have previous EU project management or international project leadership experience.
As a partner it is advisable to have a key role in the consortium, f.inst. a work package leader role.
Application
70-90% of the work will be done by the coordinator. Being a partner requires the same amount of work as a research council application (or even less).
Some essential elements in a proposal:
• Very good/excellent consortium
• Very good/excellent scientific content
• Very good/excellent methodology
• Very good/excellent financial plan/resources
• The proposal is not legally binding
Application forms and procedures will be available in January 2007
Evaluation
First step:
• Formal check by the commission: arrival on time, eligibility (everything formal as it should be)
Second step:
• External evaluators (3-4) with no relation to the consortium applying. The individual evaluations are discussed with a scientific officer from the commission in a consensus meeting and a final ranking is made. Threshold is defined depending on the budget within the theme applied for. Feed-back is given to the coordinator. First impression is made after 10-20 minutes of reading.
• The evaluation report will be important in the negotiation phase
Contract negotiations
Purpose is to draft a contract based on:
• Original proposal
• Evaluator’s comments
• EU policies and priorities
Some main elements:
• Consortium agreement must be made, this is only for the partnership (example of EU consortium agreement)
• Amount finally allocated often lower than originally applied
• Coordinator has the main power to re-adjust the consortium, therefore it is important to be in “good terms” with the coordinator
• Negotiations can take 3-6 months
Project management:
A project starts with a kick-off meeting.
For Universities permanent staff can be working within projects and must account for their time used within the project (timesheets must be used).
Ikke ferdig
Ending the project – audit
Final reports …
Last payment …
Projects with a budget lower than 375.000 EURO for a partner will not be audited.
