Excellence in EU Project Proposal Writing

Introduction

• Focus on the process of writing the words for a project proposal.
• Importance of developing skills to write a successful proposal for Framework Programs (FP7/FP8).

Strategic Development and Opportunities

• Identify where you want to go and what opportunities you want to develop.
• Start with strategic development of your company.
• SWAT analysis to establish current position and future goals.
• Importance of networking and registering on platforms like Cordis.

Opportunities for Practice

• Small-scale projects from ministries or other sources to practice proposal writing.
• Increasing opportunities from EPA funds for regional and rural development.
• Long-term process (5-10 years) to reach the ability to write a collaborative project.

Philosophy for Success

• Objective: Convince evaluators to give money, not just describe a good idea.
• Be competitive to stand out among other proposals.
• Make your proposal the best reviewed by evaluators.

Key Aspects of Successful Proposals

Impact

• Important to define starting and ending points, and the steps in between.
• Impact should contribute to the funding program's impact.
• Clear definition of activities and progress.

Cost and Value

• Ensure your proposal offers good value for money.
• Compare impact to cost ratio with other proposals.

Common Problems in Proposals

1. Failure to read and implement instructions.
2. Making statements without supporting evidence.
3. Lack of detailed activity descriptions.
4. Inconsistent text across the proposal.

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

• Follow instructions strictly, provide evidence, detail activities, and ensure consistency.

Examples and Advice

• Importance of providing evidence for statements.
• Describe activities with sufficient detail.
• Consistency in objectives and activities.

Impact Description Techniques

• Clearly define starting point, activities, and sustainability post-project.

Role of Evaluators

• Make your proposal easy to read and understand.
• Use formatting tools to emphasize key points.

Conclusion

• Ensure evaluators find your proposal good quality, justified, and valuable.
• Focus on the four key points to enhance proposal quality.

Final Thoughts

• Follow the guidelines and principles discussed to increase the chance of receiving funding.