preparing a good proposal: what evaluators want · robert goodchild . head of energy research unit...

Robert Goodchild

Head of Energy Research Unit

INEA

Preparing a good proposal: What evaluators want Horizon 2020 Energy Info Days Smart Citizen-Centred Energy Systems

5 steps of the selection process

Submission of proposals

Admissibility & eligibility check

Evaluation by external experts

Decision on funding

Signing a grant

agreement

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Call is open

Call opening*: mark in your diary!

Call identifiers Budget LC-SC3-ES-3-2018-2020 (IA) €26.3 M LC-SC3-ES-4-2018-2020 (IA) €19 M LC-SC3-ES-5-2018-2020 (IA) €30 M LC-SC3-ES-7-2018-2020 (IA) €3 M

Opening 5/12/2017

* According to the draft Work Programme which has not been adopted or endorsed by the European Commission. Publication of the final Work Programme: 27/10/2017

Smart Citizen-Centred Energy System

Closing 5/04/2018

Submitting your proposal

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Call & submission service

Admissibility & eligibility check

Are all forms submitted?

Are all call conditions met?

NO YES

YES NO

ATTENTION! Only admissible and eligible proposals will be evaluated

Evaluation by external experts

EU database of over 80,000 evaluators

1. High-level expertise

2. Independence

3. Impartiality

Balanced composition

Regular rotations & new experts

What do we ask them to do?

Evaluate individually - remotely

Meet to reach

consensus

Understand call text

Tip 1: Don't waste their time!

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2016 – LCE1

Tip 1: Don't waste their time!

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2017 – LCE 1

Tip 2: Understand call conditions and text

ES4 - Proposals must include:

1. at least one demonstration on one island;

2. at least two other follower islands with similar issues; these follower islands will develop plans to adapt similar solutions to their island in a cost-efficient way.

ES3, ES4 & ES5 => specific eligibility conditions

Tip 2: Understand call conditions and text

Must & shall = "have to"

Should = won't get good score if you don't

Address all issues in the call

Tip 2: Understand text of the call

Consult FAQ's in good time – or ask your own question!

Tip 3: Be clear on TRLs

START TRL = state-of-the-art

END TRL = concrete activities

Technological Readiness Level No room for doubt!

Tip 4: Impact

Identify and substantiate the impacts

Dissemination & exploitation plan

Impact weighting 1.5 for all calls but ES6-8

Tip 4: Impact Weighting

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2015 – SCC1

Tip 4: Impact Weighting

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2015 – SCC Importance of IMPACT 1.5 weighting

Tip 4: Impact Weighting

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2015 – SCC Importance of IMPACT 1.5 weighting

Experts score = 11 Impact score = 4 Weighted Impact Score = 6 Total Score = 13

Tip 4: Impact Weighting

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2015 – SCC Importance of IMPACT 1.5 weighting

Experts score = 11 Impact score = 4 Weighted Impact Score = 6 Total Score = 13

Experts score = 11.5 Impact score = 3 Weighted Impact Score = 4.5 Total Score = 13

Tip 4: Impact Weighting

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2015 – SCC Importance of IMPACT 1.5 weighting

Experts score = 11 Impact score = 4 Weighted Impact Score = 6 Total Score = 13

Experts score = 11.5 Impact score = 3 Weighted Impact Score = 4.5 Total Score = 13

Equal score: highest Impact

score has priority

Tip 5: Sound budget construction

REASONABLE ALLOCATION

JUSTIFIED SUFFICIENT DETAIL

Tip 6: Simple to digest

SIMPLE LANGUAGE (MAJORITY OF EXPERTS ARE NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS)

MAKE INFORMATION EASY TO FIND

RELEVANT SUMMARY TABLES, GRAPHS & IMAGES

RESPECT PAGE LIMIT

6 steps to success

Be realistic

Understand the call

Clear TRLs

Impact Sound budget

Simple text

Outcome of evaluation

Deadline to inform: 5 months

Ranked list of proposals

Main list

(top scores)

Reserve list

Rejection

(No money / < threshold)

Grant agreement

Successful proposals invited to start a

Grant Agreement Preparation

Very tight deadline: max. 8 months

No negotiation phase = no substantial changes

Good luck!

More info: EU Participant Portal http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/

Frequently Asked Questions

https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/support/faq.html

Thank you!

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