NCP_WIDE.NET Workshop on

Proposals Pre-check / Pre-screening

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Constantina Makri |Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation

Structure of the Presentation

Cyprus and Widening in Numbers

Collaboration with applicants

Best Practices on Proposal Pre-screening

Hints and Tips for each Part of the Proposal Template

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Cyprus and Widening in Numbers

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

PROJECTS COORDINATED BY CY

12 Teaming Phase 1

6 Teaming Centres of Excellence

5 ERA Chairs

12 Twinning Projects

Cyprus and Widening in Numbers – Success Rates

33% in Teaming

23% in ERA Chairs

16% in Twinning

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Collaboration with Applicants

Create an ‘email list’ with potential/interestedapplicants who have already contacted you – youcan send here info to issues of common interest andany other updates needed

Keep applicants in the loop – follow-up regularly onhow they are with their proposal preparation

Support in all stages of the Proposal Preparation – from Project Idea to the Pre-screening of the Proposal

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Plan well in advance the Workload – ask Proposers tosubmit draft versions (early/brief drafts) for reviewand feedback / save time and efforts when closer tothe deadline

Liaise, continuously and well-in-advance betweenProposer and Stakeholders – especially for theTeaming for Excellence Call

Bring them together – successful applicants to sharetheir experience and best practices with potentialapplicants

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Train them on specific matters needed to be tackled– i.e Business Plan, IPR issues

Several face-to-face meetings with the ProjectConsortiums as well as their Advisory Groups, so as toprovide a hands-on guidance on the proposaldevelopment.

MOCK HEARINGS – to be prepared for the panelHearings

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Best Practices on Proposal Pre-screening

Confirm that all the Call of Proposals aspects for eachCall are reflected in the Proposal – do not assumethat the Proposer has reflected on every issue – SENDTHEM A CHECKLIST

Look into the list of already funded Projects of therespective Call for Proposals – inform the Proposer(s)and also ensure that they will deviate from what hasalready been funded by EC and/or other sources

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Encouragement of SME Involvement

Liaise between other Programmes/Initiatives

Consider both local and international

Consideration of cross-cutting issues (SSH, Genderaspects)

Any gaps on to be filled-in? Need for additionalpartners?

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Think out of the box vs Evaluation Criteria

For Teaming Call: Think at least regionally

Advise were possible to include Tables and/ordiagrams – they must be clear and readable

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Hints and Tips for each Part of Proposal

Excellence

Ensure that applicants will reflect on the current-state-of the art of the proposal idea but also willcorelate with relevant National, EU andInternational Strategies, and how their proposedProject will contribute to these strategies.

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Impact

Advise to include extended list of KPIs – important:only FEASIBLE AND ACHIEVABLE targets that they canbe implemented

SWOT Analysis – advise to include also any ‘greyareas’ that they believe won’t add on the proposal

Relate expected impacts with objectives alreadymentioned under Excellence part

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Implementation

Dissemination & Communication Section

Ensure applicants compiled a clear and realisticdissemination plan (including target audience,methods, timing)

try to ask them to include all the relevant audience.Very common error of not including outreachactivities or activities addressed for audience out ofthe scientific area (i.e. students, broader public)

Exchange of Best Practices and Collaboration with Applicants – The Case of Cyprus

Ensure consistency in writing style/flow between WPdescriptions (esp. if written by different people)

Applicants to be consistent between tasks and PMs –Evaluators often mention overestimations

Contingency planning – give emphasis – advise toinclude level of risks

Thank you!

Constantina Makri

National Contact Point for Horizon 2020:

• ‘Spreading Excellence and Widening Participation’

• ‘Research Infrastructures’

• ‘Inclusive, Innovative and Reflective Societies’

Cyprus Research and Innovation Foundation

Τel.: +35722205054

E-mail: cmakri@research.org.cy