how to write a research project proposal - uni-konstanz.de

What is a research project proposalHow to prepare a research proposal

References

How to write a research project proposal

Vladimir Bondarenko

Scientific Practices Seminar

17.07.2009



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Outline

1 What is a research project proposalIndefinite definitions: what and whyFinding FundingProposal structure

2 How to prepare a research proposalBefore writing startsScientific PartProject Budget

3 References



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Indefinite definitions: what and whyFinding FundingProposal structure

Outline



3 References



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What is a Research Project

A Project

Temporary and one-time endeavor undertaken to create a uniqueproduct or service, which brings about beneficial change or addedvalue.



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What is a Project Proposal

Reseach project proposal

A written stand-alone document which deals with:

what the proposed project is about;

what it is trying to find out or achieve;

how it will go about doing that;

what we will learn from it and why it is worth learning.



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Why Write A Research Proposal?

Research proposal is:

document to convince funding sources and academic bodiesthat the project is worth their attention and money;

a study plan to be followed in the course of the research effort;

a timetable and resources organization tool;

general feasibility check;

basis for the writing of the first three chapters of the finalresearch report: Introduction, Literature Review andMethodology.



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Kinds of Proposals

Basic research proposals (unsolicited proposals):provide insights or methodologies for solving fundamentalscientific problems.

Task-oriented or program-initiated proposals:research topic is specified by an agency or a foundation.



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Databases and Search Opportunities

ELFI - www.elfi.infoServicestelle fur Electronische Forschungforder-Informationen

over 5800 Programme,about 2500 german and international sponsors.

Forderdatenbank - www.foerderdatenbank.deDatabase of the Federal Ministry of Economics andTechnology

Funding programmes of the Federal Governement,Lander,European Union.

Bundesverband Deutscher Stiftungen(Association of German Foundations)www.stiftungen.org

Service → Stiftungsuche


http://www.elfi.info

http://www.foerderdatenbank.de

http://www.stiftungen.org


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National Programmes

German Research Foundation (DFG)www.dfg.de/forschungsfoerderung/

Federal Ministry of Education and Researchwww.bmbf.den → Research → Funding.

Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt - www.dbu.de/foerderOne of Europe’s largest foundations promoting innovative andexemplary environmental projects.

German Academic Exchange Service - www.daad.de


http://www.dfg.de/forschungsfoerderung/

http://www.bmbf.de/en

http://www.dbu.de/foerder

http://www.daad.de


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EU Programmes

General InformationAlexander Krahe. “Der kleine Ratgeber zur EU-Forderung.Forderprogramme der Europaischen Union erfolgreich nutzen”.Deutscher Wissenschaftsdienst, 2003.

Gateway to the European Union - www.europa.eu

CORDIS - cordis.europa.euCommunity Research & Development Information Service.

7th Framework Programme for Research and TechnologicalDevelopment (FP7)cordis.europa.eu/fp7/Programme for funding research in Europe running from 2007 to2013.


http://www.europa.eu

http://cordis.europa.eu

http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/


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EU Programmes

European Research Council - erc.europa.euThe first European funding body set up to support

investigator-driven frontier research.

IPR Helpdesk - www.ipr-helpdesk.orgFree of charge helpdesk on Intellectual Property Rights relatedissues in EU-funded projects.

Lifelong Learning Programme (Started in 2007)

Europian Comission for Education & Trainingec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc78 en.htmNationale Agentur Bildung Fur Europa beim Bundes-Institutfur Berufsbildungwww.na-bibb.de/programm lebenslanges lernen 2.html


http://erc.europa.eu

http://www.ipr-helpdesk.org

http://ec.europa.eu/education/lifelong-learning-programme/doc78_en.htm

http://www.na-bibb.de/programm_lebenslanges_lernen_2.html


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European Years

European Year

Each year the EU chooses a theme for a campaign aimed at raisingpublic awareness of and drawing national governments’ attentionto a specific issue.

2005 Citizenship through Education

2006 Workers’ Mobility

2007 Equal Opportunities for All

2008 Intercultural Dialogue

2009 Creativity and Innovationwww.ejki2009.de


http://www.ejki2009.de


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Proposal Format

Research proposal is awritten in academic language:

dispassionatepreciseconsistent

standalone

readers/reviewers are not supposed to have any priorknowledge about the project

well-structured document

structure is usually imposed by the funding agencye.g., DFG Research Grants Guidlinesor electronic proposal submission form

about 20 pages long



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Project Structure

Which aims should be reached?

Which phases does your project have?

What kind of work will be done by whom in what time?

What kind of resources will be needed for personnel andequipment?

Which costs will arise?



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Typical Proposal Outline

1 Title

2 Project Summary

3 Table of contents

4 Project Description

5 Reference list

6 Biographical sketches of the investigator(s)

7 Budget

8 Description of the facilities, equipment, and other recourcesavailable for use



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Before writing startsScientific PartProject Budget

Outline



3 References



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Proposal Development Phases

Develop an idea

Write an abstract

Get advice from expert

Gather information on topic

Gather information on research programme

Adapt your ideas to the relevant programme

Take advice from funding institution

Look out for partners

Fix partners and their roles

Write the scientific part of your proposal

Submit proposal



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Advice from Funding Institution

1 Become familiar with guidelines

Eligibility,Deadlines,Necessary documents, their formats, etc.

2 Contact the program coordinatorFor EU programmes contact NCP (National Contact Points)

clarify unwritten requirements and restrictions (if any)ask about the review process, e.g., about scientific backgroundof expected reviewers.



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Project Partners

Define partners roles and responsibilities:

contractor and project coordinator,scientists,administration and financial officers,evaluators.

Identify each key person by name

obtain his agreement to participate

Clarify legal issues

letter of intent,nondisclosure agreement,consortium agreement,letter of mandate.



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Legal Issues: Basic Questions

Is your institution willing to sign all kind of project contractsor are there some legal implications, e.g., liability, intellectualproperty rights, etc.

Who is the authorized representative of your institution havingpower to bind your university in legal matters?

Do you have any support from your administration in legalquestions?



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Legal Issues: Letter of Intent

Letter of Intent/Memorandum of Understanding/Nondisclosureagreement

Letter of intent (LOI) is a document outlining an agreementbetween two or more parties before the grant agreement isfinalized.

Purposes of LOI:

to clarify the key points of a complex transaction for theconvenience of the parties.

to declare officially that the parties are currently negotiating.

to provide safeguards in case a proposal is given up duringnegotiation.

LOI may be binding legal documents.Consult a legal professional before signing a Letter of intent!



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Legal Issues: Consortium Agreement

Consortium Agreement

A Consortium Agreement (CA) is usually only concluded betweenthe project partners, if the funding institution explicitly asks for it.



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Legal Issues: Consortium Agreement

Possible issues clarified by CA:

Management

Coordination, reporting, advisingJoint committees

Financial provision

Financial planningPayments: exchange rates, bank transfer costs, etc.

Intellectual property rights

Ownership of foregroundTransfer and protection use (commercial use)Dissemination and publicationAccess rights (Licenses)

General issues



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Legal Issues: Grant Agreement / Contract

Grant Agreement

Grant Agreement is a non-negotiable document concluded betweenthe funding institution and the consortium that governs all rightsand duties of the project partners.

To be read carefully as it usually fixes all your duties!



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Outline



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Project Description

A. Previous results

B. Statement of the problem and significance

C. Introduction and background

Relevant literature reviewPreliminary dataConceptual or empirical modelJustification of approach or novel methods

D. Research plan

Overview of research designObjectives, hypotheses, and methodsAnalysis and expected resultsTimetable



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Project Significance

Objectives:

what will be reached?

Target group:

who will gain what from the project

Future outcomes:

for the target group,the job market,the coordinating institution,the public,Europian Citizen, etc.



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Analysis and expected Results

Project evaluation

How and by whom the effect of the project will be evaluated?To and by whom the evaluation results will be reported?Is the evaluation independent of the project coordinator?

Results dissemination

Publications in magazines or books?Conference presentation?Other documentation?



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Timetable

Describe time lines, project management and responsibilities

Gantt charts.Milestones.Flow charts.etc.

Buffer time

Vacation, sickness, business trips, lectures, etc.Holidays: national & international.Approx. 30% of your time will be spend outside your plannedschedule.



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Outline



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Budget Planning

Basic categories - usually fixed by funding agency:

Personnel costs.

Travel costs.

Subcontracts.

Consumables.

Equipment.

Other costs.

Overhead.



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Make the Budget Right!

Check for:

sponsor regulations and limitations,

clear separation of direct and indirect costs,

financial efficiency: lease-buy and other tradeoffs,

adequate accounting for cost increases and inflation.



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Used References

1 Cornelia Borek, Iris Lohrmann. ”How to write a successfulproposal”. Seminar materials. 2009.

2 A. Friedland. ”Writing successful science proposals”. 2000.

3 J. Behling. ”Guidelines for preparing the research proposal”.1984.

4 K. Punch. ”Developing effective research proposals”. 2006.


how to write a research project proposal - uni-konstanz.de

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