Researchers working across all disciplines can appeal for funding from the Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) Program by submitting an European Training Networks (ETN) grant proposal.
Due to its bottom-up and scientific excellence-driven approach, the MSCA Program is immensely popular but also extremely competitive. More than a thousand proposals were submitted for the 2017 MSCA – ITN (Innovating Training Networks) call, with an ultimate success rate of approximately 8%
At Evers + Manders we have developed a step-by-step protocol to support our clients in their decision making process while writing a Marie Curie grant proposal. Using our protocol you can easily and quickly determine whether your ideas fit the program and which of the sub-programs fit you best. Once you have decided to start writing an application, our protocol will guide you towards developing and writing a proposal that will fit all MSCA-ITN criteria.
Currently, the most recent MSCA – ITN has been published with a deadline in January 2018. The main aim of the MSCA – ITN program is to provide talented researchers with job opportunities in Europe. But also to train and equip them with the necessary skills and international experience for a successful career, either in the public or the private sector. This should be done by:
- joint research training/doctoral programs implemented by partnerships of universities, research institutions, business, SME´s and other socio-economic actors from across Europe
- focusing on scientific / technological knowledge through research on individual / personalized projects
- training of transferable skills e.g. communication, research management, IP, ethics, entrepreneurship, societal outreach
- exposing early stage researchers (ESRs) to the non-academic sector
A critical analysis of the summary reports is part of the support
Evers + Manders has successfully supported a number of MSCA – ITN applications. We performed a critical analysis of the accompanying evaluation summary reports. This to ensure that the reports fit the most important evaluation criteria which the EU reviewers practice.
This analysis showed that successful proposals:
- Tackle a clearly defined challenge in their field of research and produce result that will contribute to solving a larger societal problem.
- Have a truly multidisciplinary and complementary consortium with well-defined and well-described objectives and underlying research methodology. The consortium should represent all necessary research disciplines.
- Contain a well-timed and well-organized training program that corresponds with the program objectives and clearly involves the non-academic sector.
- Have a clearly outlined dissemination strategy, based on a well-performed stakeholder analysis, that covers the entire lifespan of the program
- Have clearly defined the added value of the program for the career perspectives of the ESRs
- Clearly describe how the proposed cross-border training of ESRs contributes to strengthening the European innovation capacity
- Are realistic in their proposed timing, planning and allocation of resources
- Have clearly defined work packages that correspond with the demarcated challenges and program objectives
- Have clearly defined deliverables and milestones that are linked to a progress evaluation strategy and accompanying contingency plans
- Clearly outline the added value of the presented consortium and the interactions between all program partners throughout the program lifespan
Evers + Manders developed a protocol to support their clients
Writing a competitive and successful proposal requires a considerable effort. We at Evers + Manders know this and have years of experience in supporting researchers with this endeavor. We have developed a step-by-step protocol that will support our clients in taking the necessary steps to develop a unique training program and write the best possible proposal. Are you interested in how we can help you?