FP7 Grant Preparation
Framework Research Program 7
Framework Research Program 7 (FP7) grant preparation first of all requires knowledge of the field. Excellence in the field always facilitates the preparation process. Consortia comprised of the leaders in the field seem to assemble themselves naturally. However, everyone has their own focus, and fitting the unique interests and skills of all partners into the concept of the consortium as a whole can be difficult. Being able to do so is crucially important, because a loose assembly of leaders in the field will appear to FP7 reviewers as exactly that. Usually with some research and a new perspective a connection can be made between even the most disparate lines of research. Making such connections ultimately leads to new scientific perspectives which preserve the passion of all of those involved. BioSci is well grounded in the scientific process, and can help to make the connections necessary to form a seamless FP7 consortium.
Of course, perhaps the second most important factor that has to be considered is the politics of science. This can be addressed directly by being certain that lines of communication are maintained with the relevant individuals within the FP7 as well as the scientific community as a whole. Nonetheless, politics will always be somewhat of an "X", or unknown factor influencing your chances of success. That said, a well written FP7 grant that directly addresses the call and contains all the necessary elements will stand a far better chance of weathering a political storm.
Creating a well written FP7 grant requires specialized knowledge. Two thirds of the score for an FP7 grant is implementation and impact. The temptation is to simply install the standard language that says how the consortium will work together and exchange ideas etc., but by so doing you pass up an opportunity to make your FP7 grant stand out. You can guarantee that there will also be other FP7 grants with excellent science, but implementation plans are often lacking. BioSci Consulting will work with the consortium to innovate and incorporate unique stand out aspects to your implementation plan.
Writing and submitting an FP7 grant is a complex process. It begins with having knowledge of the process of FP7 grant preparation and submission. The Community Research and Development Information Service (CORDIS) is the official portal for participating and following developments of the FP7 program. At BioSci we take the time to monitor the CORDIS website as well as to read all of the intricacies that pertain to FP7 grant preparation that appear on the CORDIS website. Through CORDIS, FP7 grants are submitted using an electronic proposal service known as EPSS. In addition to our knowledge of CORDIS we are also familiar with EPSS.
Coordinating a budget is perhaps the most daunting. Because of the complex nature of FP7 grants, assembling a budget requires multiple considerations. Examining the CORDIS website, it may appear that FP7 budgets are relatively uncomplicated. However using general estimate approach runs the risk of either under-funding or unduly limiting the scope of the proposed research. In order to avoid submitting an FP7 grant that is under-funded or over-funded BioSci Consulting develops tailored individual budgets. This requires multiple iterations to come up with a precise budget that speaks to the overall integration and level of coordination in your consortium.
BioSci Consulting’s participation as a managing partner can strengthen your FP7 grant. Having a separate partner dedicated to implementation and coordination will be seen as a strength. FP7 reviewers are individuals like yourself who realize that coordinating a multi-center consortium is a task that is time consuming and requires attention to monitoring progress of the project. We will not only incorporate our approach to scientific coordination in the implementation plan, but we will also develop a plan for the FP7 grant preparation process with a specific time line to assure a well orchestrated grant preparation effort.
