Proposal writing for EU funding is certainly high-profile job. But, at the same time it can be very demanding. . The majority of submitted do not usually manage to get funding. The odds are usually against it. There are so many important details to be taken into account that even if the proposal is close to perfect there is still the possibility of getting rejected.
Intense competition is one of the main reasons. There are so many proposals submitted every year and as a result, few of them will get the required funding. Depending on the programme, there are diverse criteria, and strict specifications for every call to action. That can make it even more difficult for a proposal writer to write and submit an EU Funding worthy project proposal.
However, all the above do not necessarily mean that writing a successful project proposal is a mission impossible. The proposal writer needs to be able to meet the specific EU criteria in order to write a successful proposal. There are professionals out there that can help the researchers and writers to significantly improve their chances of getting EU funding for their proposal.
According to some of the best professionals in the field of EU Funding and EU grants, there are several things you can do to improve your success rate, when it comes to getting the funding you need to implement your proposal.
Step 1
The first step that needs to be taken is to find the right research source. A quick search will show you that there are many different EU Programmes that fund a great number of projects. Which is the best programme for submitting your idea? That needs to be your top priority. If for example, you are focusing on a scientific project based on research, the Horizon 2020 or the ERC Grants might be your best option. If you want your project to focus on SMEs and the labor market you might want to consider Erasmus Plus, and so on. Make sure that you will find the right programme for your proposal.
Step 2
Find the right call for proposal. Now, every project answers to one particular call. The calls are basically the different categories of each programme. Depending on the area you want to focus on, you may choose the appropriate call. Every call has its very own specifications and therefore the proposal must be planned and written accordingly.
Step 3
Focus on being member of a highly experienced consortium. Your proposal should include anything you might deem worthy. You should have great documentation and arguments to support your ideas. Needless to say that If the consortium of partners is not able to support the project’s activities, the project is most likely to fail. You cannot add special activities towards entrepreneurship in a project and not have an entrepreneurship expert as part of your consortium.
Step 4
Keep writing until you succeed. There is no doubt that the most important part when it comes to writing a successful project proposal, is experience. You cannot make an omelet if you do not break a few eggs. You must write many proposals, and experiment with different ideas to actually see what works for you and what your strengths and weaknesses are.
Step 5
Revision is the key. There is no such thing as enough revision. You need to make sure that you will know everything there is to know about your proposal. Keep editing your proposal over and over again. Every time you will be able to improve something you may have missed before. There is no guarantee that you will be 100% satisfied with your result at the end but revision will certainly improve your proposal.
Step 6
Evaluation could save your proposal. A different set of eyes is always much more helpful than what you may think. Make sure that you will have enough time before submitting your proposal, and have it evaluated by another professional. The evaluation of your proposal by an expert on the field of EU funding could be the reason why your proposal succeeded in getting the funding you are looking for.
There are various services that you can get, in order to be certain, your proposal will be approved for a grant before you actually submit it. There are professionals in the field of proposal writing and EU funding that can help you evaluate your proposal.
Organizations like the Institute of Entrepreneurship Development, are able to provide you with review and evaluation services. We have gained valuable experience afte many years of implementing EU Projects. Our research experts can provide you with accurate results that will guarantee the success of your proposal. We will be clear about the changes that will need to be made, to make the project appealing and, at the end, worthy of the funding
If you are in need of evaluation or project management services, or if you are just looking for consultancy on EU funding proposal, feel free to contact us here in the IED today. We can talk about your proposal and make sure that the funding you are asking for, will be yours!
