8 Top Tips for Successful FP7 EU Funding
1. Don’t spend thousands of pounds on courses
There is a vast amount of FREE information published by the Commission and other supporting agencies like the National Contact Points. So take the free information and only invest in deeper expertise from people who have been successful.
2. Treat the European Commission as you would any other investor
The EU are no different to a private investor in that they only want to invest in things that are of interest to them. They have to be convinced that you and your consortium will be able to deliver the results and they wish to see a return on investment.
3. Be clear on what your idea is and what its impact will be.
Write a short synopsis of no more than two pages. Any longer and you are probably still formulating your ideas.
4. Form an expert core group who share your concept 100%
The idea must be crisp and clear and the same goes for the consortium. The core group has to flesh out the structure of the proposal. When you have the structure you can then seek partners to fill the remaining roles and skill gaps. Don’t just allow anyone in because they ask.
5. Take advantage of the Commissions pre proposal service to ensure you are within the scope of the call
The Commission are extremely supportive in giving non binding opinion on the relevance of your proposal to the call.
6. Make it easy for the evaluator to see that your proposal is within scope and that it will be ground breaking.
Evaluators have to review several proposals in a limited amount of time so make it easy for them so that they will read on. Don’t make an evaluator have to read the whole document to piece together answers to whether the proposal is in scope and that it will have impact.
7. Make use of tables and other summary devices to assist the evaluator.
Summarise your key elements rather than rely on pages of text. Provide adequate detail but also allow the evaluator the option of an “at a glance” summary.
8. Planned resource should always be consistent with the objectives you are promising to deliver.
Evaluators are experienced individuals and will spot a mismatch between grandiose aims and inadequate resource, or alternatively a poorly constructed work balance.