Science & Innovation needs Funding!

How to write a winning proposal?

The research proposal differs significantly from the scientific paper or a business plan. Scientific papers describe what was the PAST state-of-knowledge and what was PRESENTLY observed. With a research proposal, on the other hand, we suggest FUTURE experimental work. The experts (donors) must come to the conclusion that they rather fund your project and not that of other competitors. This is why you need to present your research in the most exemplary light or selling your project. The marketing of research never deviates from what is theoretically feasible. This would be counterproductive. But at the beginning of any good proposal stands the discourse of an extremely ambitious goal.

Good science creates new knowledge, the more the better! The methodology or the special approach of how this knowledge - your invention - can become reality with the greatest possible probability, must be adequately described and at the same time novel, special and original. How you plan, organize and monitor your research must be described in detail in the application. Our project management courses are focused on research and work with examples from successful R&D projects. Our trainers are IPMA certified and collaborate with the Swiss Association for Project Management. Project management knowledge makes you and your projects more successful.

Please consider further training in this area. And give us a call: +41 44 271 33 33.

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Research generates new knowledge with the means of the public or industry. Therefore, the researcher is accountable to the sponsor, the knowledge community or the industry partner. The reporting or publication of results must be included in the planning and formulated during the application phase. Research is naturally full of surprises. You must have concrete ideas on how to deal with unforeseen results or circumstances (=risk scenarios). If several research partners are involved in the project, they will be adequately involved, confidentiality and obligations will be settled, and the application letter will be coordinated by you. Check the quality of the project partners - also with regard to their personality profile. Project partners must be willing to cooperate, discuss differences and write successes as a group. Ideally, the competences complement each other. If cooperation has proven its worth over many years, this will be well formulated in the proposal. By naming previous achievements (previous publications relevant to the topic) and preliminary studies, you show that you and your partners have the competence to bring the research to success. Your institute profile indicates the qualitative and quantitative equipment and infrastructure of your working environment. 

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Who evaluates 

research proposals?

You write research proposals in order to convince the experts of your project and thereby receive funding. Experts are usually scientists who are 180% involved in science, politics, as reviewers of journals and many other expert committees. Expert of a funding organisation is a part-time job. They are selected by administrators of the funding institutions who are responsible full-time for the smooth processing of calls for proposals and the evaluation of applications. They are instructed to allocate the money strictly in accordance with the mandate and objectives of the funding organisation. You are associated with your research topic, but not necessarily the best in the field. As an applicant, you may be much more knowledgeable about your own field of knowledge. This should be taken into account when writing your application. You must not assume that the experts are absolutely in the picture, e.g. as far as "the state-of-art" is concerned.  Also, experts will not search the Internet for publications that you have misappropriated or read between the lines, which is literally not to the point. It cannot be ruled out that experts will let their own interests flow into the assessment. It is therefore also permissible for you to declare to the research funding agency who you wanted to exclude as an expert.

Experts often receive several dozen applications for evaluation. It is therefore advisable to work with attractive overview graphics and to submit short, concise proposals of no more than 20-60 pages. Please also take into account the page or sign restrictions of the respective research funding organisations.  

Why proposals fail?

1. Conflict of objectives between the content of the research / interest of the researcher and the mission of the funding organisation.

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2. Insufficient relevance:

• ​Not recognized as important

• Does not provide new insights

• Too little original / ambitious

• Unrealistically ambitious

• Too broadly diversified

• Database research incomplete

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3. Organisation and implementation:

• Objectives of the project unclear

• Project plan missing or not convincing

• Organizational structure not in relation to project size

• Responsibilities not regulated

• Measure budget entitlement

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4. Curriculum of the researcher:

• Own commitment too low (limited to organisation / < 30%)

• Lack of group support

• Infrastructure inadequate

• First application > 40 years 

• Missing data

• Lack of competences (education / publications in               relation to age / experience abroad)

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5. Formal errors:

• Submission deadline not met

• Application guidelines not followed

• Missing data / empty fields

• Too extensive

• Ethical aspects not considered

• Missing patent search

Procedure in case of rejection of a proposal:​

​¨Do not give up after the first rejected application!  A rejection rate of 50%-80% is quite normal depending on the funding instrument. Study the evaluation comments carefully. Take the criticism seriously and improve the application and submit it again to the same institution or possibly to others. You may be allowed to get in personal contact with the responsible body or an expert and to learn further details about the assessment in the expert committee. A request for reconsideration or an appeal is only worthwhile if formal errors can be proven in the evaluation. Stay persistent and learn from setbacks how to spell correctly and acquire additional skills to write even more successful applications in the future. Or attend one of our motivating courses in places that inspire, e.g. in the Swiss Alps. The current training programme or on request by telephone +41 44 271 33 33