How to Write Successful Marie Curie Proposals

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How to write successful Marie Curie Proposals Dr
Conor OCarroll

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Presentation Content

• Overview of the Marie Curie Schemes
• Dos and Donts
• Eligibility (Research experience nationality)
• Evaluation of Proposals
• Writing the Proposal
• Roadmap

Why bother!
Steps to success!
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Framework Programme the budget over time
183m
44m
88m
Ireland
125m
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Framework Programme 2002-2006

• EC 16 270
• INTEGRATING EUROPEAN RESEARCH 13 345
• STRUCTURING THE ERA 2 605
• Research and innovation 290
• Human resources 1 580
• Research infrastructures 655
• Science and society 80
• STRENGTHENING THE FOUNDATIONS OF ERA
  320
• EURATOM 1 230
• TOTAL FP6 BUDGET 17 500

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Why bother!

• Marie Curie is a major source of framework
  funding for Ireland
• Marie Curie represents 9 of Total FP6 budget
  however
• FP6 is 17 increase over FP5 Marie Curie is 60
  increase of FP5
• Irelands total in FP5120m, Marie
  Curie23m19
• This means that Marie Curie generates research
  funding equal to that of the big Thematic
  Programmes with double the budget!!!!
• No partners
• Easy contract negotiation and management

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History of Fellowships
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Human Resources and Mobility in FP6

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Marie Curie - Major Features

• Continuity and Evolution
• Lifelong research training
• Bottom Up programme
• All of the Sciences, Economic Human Social
  Sciences (Research Management Ethics for Host
  Driven Schemes)
• Marie Curie label generalised
• Opening of schemes to 3rd country nationals
• No age limit, but experience criterion
• Reintegration measure(including incentives to
  return to Europe)
• Excellence promotion

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FP6 the competition!

• EU Member States
• Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France,
  Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
  Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, UK
• EEA Countries
• Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein
• Association Agreement Countries
• Israel (pending)
• Candidate Countries
• Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia,
  Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Malta, Poland,
  Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Turkey
• Third Countries
• all other countries (inc Switzerland), almost!

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Marie Curie

• Dos and Donts
• Read the Guide for Proposers (application form!)
• http//fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/calls.cfm
• Note that there have been updates!
• Follow the instructions to the letter!
• Use common sense!
• IEFs do include confidential referees
  assessment!!
• Electronic submission dont!!!!

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Eligibility - Research Experience

• Early Stage
• Starting a research career, i.e. postgrad
• No PhD or lt4 years research after B.Sc.
• Experienced
• PhD or 4 years research experience after primary
  degree
• Do not have to have PhD at deadline!
• Must have at latest 8 months after

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Eligibility - Nationality

• 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
• Must not have been resident in host country for
  more that 12 months in the last 3 years
  immediately before application (Individual
  actions) or start of work (Host actions)
• Note that Excellence Team leaders are exempt!

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Marie Curie - Morning

• Schemes Covered this morning
• Intra European Fellowships
• Outgoing International Fellowships
• Incoming International Fellowships
• Reintegration Grants
• Excellence Teams
• Excellence promotion
• Other opportunities (Conferences, Host
  Fellowships, Prizes, Infrastructure)

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Marie Curie Evaluation of Proposals

• Evaluation by competent experts in the field
• Need to address all of the issues to maximise
  scores
• Total score for a proposal is 100
• Some areas require a minimum score (threshold)
• In many cases the science scores less than 50!
• You must focus on the objectives of the activity
  to be successful
• Look carefully at the score matrix

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Evaluation Weightings and Thresholds

• W Weighting expressed as a percentage, T
  Threshold score out of 5
• Researchers applying for a European Return and
  Re-integration fellowship will be awarded the
  maximum mark for Added Value to the Community if
  returning to the country of their nationality
• This weighting will be split, when appropriate,
  between the 3rd country institution and the
  European host.

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Individual Fellowships

• Intra-European Fellowship
• Training through research at a European host
• Post Doctoral level fellowship (gt4yr
  experience/PhD)
• European Union or Associated Country fellows
• Joint application fellow and host
• 1 to 2 Year duration
• Possibility of a re-integration grant at the end

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Individual Fellowships

• Incoming and Outgoing Third Country Fellowships
• Outgoing - up to 2 1 years (gt4yrs exper.or
  PhD)
• EU and Ass. Country fellows to 3rd country
• mandatory return element
• Incoming - 1 to 2 years (gt4yrs experience or
  PhD)
• Promising researchers from 3rd Country
• possibility of return grant for emerging
  economies

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Marie Curie Re-integration Grants

• European Incoming
• European researchers who have been outside Europe
  for 5 years
• Up to 2 years in duration
• Following a 2 year fellowship
• EU and Ass. Country fellows following a 2 year
  fellowship
• Grant - back to country of origin or elsewhere

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Proposal Structure

• IEF, OIF and IIF
• B1 Scientific Quality of the Project
• B1.1. Research topic
• B1.2. Project objectives
• B1.3. Scientific originality and Innovation
• B1.4. Research method
• B2 Quality of the research training
• B3 Quality of the host
• B2.1. Scientific and training expertise of the
  host
• B2.2. Quality of infrastructures
• B4 Quality of the Researcher
• B5 Management and Feasibility
• B6 Relevance to the objectives of the activity
• B7 Added Value to the Community
• B8 Previous proposals and contracts
• B9 Other Issues

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IEF - Evaluation Weightings and Thresholds
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IEF - Evaluation
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Marie Curie Excellence Grants

• Marie Curie Excellence Grants up to 4 years for
  individual researchers
• To set up or extend teams of the highest level
• Leading edge or interdisciplinary research
• Applicants can remain in own country
• Applicants must be in current institution for lt1
  year at deadline or move to new institution
• Costs can cover applicants team salaries,
  equipment, consumables, travel, overheads
  (800k-1.6m).

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Excellence Grants - Proposal Structure

• B1. SCIENTIFIC QUALITY OF THE PROJECT
• B1.1 Importance and relevance of the research
  topic
• B1.2 Research topic /Quality of the research
• B1.3 Potential for promoting innovation
• B2. QUALITY OF THE HOST
• B3. QUALITY OF THE TEAM LEADER
• B4. MANAGEMENT AND FEASIBILITY
• B4.1 Organisational Management
• B4.2 Selection and Management of Team
• B4.3 Dissemination
• B4.4 Financial Management
• B5. RELEVANCE TO THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION
• B6. ADDED VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY
• B7. PREVIOUS PROPOSALS AND CONTRACTS
• B8. OTHER ISSUES

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Marie Curie Chairs

• Marie Curie Chairs up to 3 years
• Top level teaching/research appointments
• In particular for researchers who wish to resume
  their career in Europe
• Researchers of any nationality may apply
• Grant can be used to pay salary, build team etc..
  (450-750k)

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Marie Curie Chairs - Proposal Structure

• B1. SCIENTIFIC QUALITY OF THE PROJECT
• B1.1 Importance and relevance of the research
  topic
• B1.2 Research topic /Quality of the research
• B2. QUALITY OF THE RESEARCH TRAINING
• B3. QUALITY OF THE HOST
• B4. QUALITY OF THE CHAIR HOLDER
• B5. MANAGEMENT AND FEASIBILITY
• B5.1 Organisational Management
• B5.2 Dissemination
• B5.3 Financial Management
• B6. RELEVANCE TO THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION
• B7. ADDED VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY
• B8. PREVIOUS PROPOSALS AND CONTRACTS
• B9. OTHER ISSUES

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Teams and Chairs - Evaluation

• W Weighting expressed as a percentage, T
  Threshold score out of 5

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Marie Curie Afternoon

• Schemes Covered this afternoon
• Early Stage Research Training Fellowships
• Research Training Networks
• Transfer of Knowledge Fellowships
• Conferences and Training Courses
• Excellence Teams
• Marie Curie Chairs

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Marie Curie Evaluation of Proposals

• Evaluation by competent experts in the field
• Need to address all of the issues to maximise
  scores
• Total score for a proposal is 100
• Some areas require a minimum score (threshold)
• In many cases the science scores less than 50!
• You must focus on the objectives of the activity
  to be successful
• Look carefully at the score matrix

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ESTF, RTN and ToK
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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Early Stage Research Training

• Higher Education, Research Centers, Enterprises
• Early stages of their career (lt4 years, i.e.
  predoc)
• Structured training in research, competencies and
  complimentary skills
• 3 Year fellowships, including short stays
• Single Group or Multi-partner
• Including those involved in International
  Doctoral Studies

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ESTF - Proposal Structure

• B1 Scientific Quality of the Project or Research
  Training Area
• B2 Quality of Training Activities
• B3 Quality / Capacity of the Host(s)
• B4 Management and Feasibility
• B5 Relevance to the objectives of the activity
• B6 Added Value to the Community
• B7 Previous proposals and contracts
• B8 Other Issues

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ESTF Evaluation
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ESTF Evaluation
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Marie Curie Research Training Networks

• Well defined collaborative research projects of
  recognized international stature
• Minimum 3 partners in 3 Countries
• 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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Marie Curie Conferences and Training Courses

• Encourage junior researchers to benefit from the
  experience of leading researchers
• Variety of actions (including virtual ones)
• series of conferences, summer schools, lab
  courses etc. on a theme or linked themes
• support for junior researchers in larger
  conferences selected for their training interest
• Duration from several days to four weeks

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Marie Curie Transfer of Knowledge Schemes

• Host Fellowships
• Higher Education, Research Centers, Enterprises
• Experienced Researchers (gt4 yrs)
• Develop new areas of competence
• Develop capabilities in LFRs and Assoc. Countries
• Industry /Academia exchange possibilities (SMEs)
• Up to 2 years

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Marie Curie Excellence Grants

• Marie Curie Excellence Grants up to 4 years for
  individual researchers
• To set up or extend teams of the highest level
• Leading edge or interdisciplinary research
• Applicants can remain in own country
• Applicants must be in current institution for lt1
  year at deadline or move to new institution
• Costs can cover applicants team salaries,
  equipment, consumables, travel, overheads
  (800k-1.6m).

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Excellence Grants - Proposal Structure

• B1. SCIENTIFIC QUALITY OF THE PROJECT
• B1.1 Importance and relevance of the research
  topic
• B1.2 Research topic /Quality of the research
• B1.3 Potential for promoting innovation
• B2. QUALITY OF THE HOST
• B3. QUALITY OF THE TEAM LEADER
• B4. MANAGEMENT AND FEASIBILITY
• B4.1 Organisational Management
• B4.2 Selection and Management of Team
• B4.3 Dissemination
• B4.4 Financial Management
• B5. RELEVANCE TO THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION
• B6. ADDED VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY
• B7. PREVIOUS PROPOSALS AND CONTRACTS
• B8. OTHER ISSUES

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Marie Curie Chairs

• Marie Curie Chairs up to 3 years
• Top level teaching/research appointments
• In particular for researchers who wish to resume
  their career in Europe
• Researchers of any nationality may apply
• Grant can be used to pay salary, build team etc..
  (450-750k)

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Marie Curie Chairs - Proposal Structure

• B1. SCIENTIFIC QUALITY OF THE PROJECT
• B1.1 Importance and relevance of the research
  topic
• B1.2 Research topic /Quality of the research
• B2. QUALITY OF THE RESEARCH TRAINING
• B3. QUALITY OF THE HOST
• B4. QUALITY OF THE CHAIR HOLDER
• B5. MANAGEMENT AND FEASIBILITY
• B5.1 Organisational Management
• B5.2 Dissemination
• B5.3 Financial Management
• B6. RELEVANCE TO THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ACTION
• B7. ADDED VALUE TO THE COMMUNITY
• B8. PREVIOUS PROPOSALS AND CONTRACTS
• B9. OTHER ISSUES

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Teams and Chairs - Evaluation

• W Weighting expressed as a percentage, T
  Threshold score out of 5

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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
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
• Target the scheme that best suits your
  requirements
• Follow the guidelines
• Remember that science doesnt always matter!!
• Ensure you send the proposal so that it will
  arrive by the deadline