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This handbook is written for junior and senior RSM researchers who wish to apply for research funding. It is applicable to a wide range of funding schemes, national and international, but because of its general nature, this handbook does not provide detailed information about specific funding schemes. If you have questions about any particular scheme, please look at the ERIM webpage Funding Opportunities, or contact Veerle van Laere vlaere@rsm.nl, +31 (0) 10 4082596. If you have questions about on-going projects or contract research, please have a look on the Project Desk webpage or contact Claudia Rutten, Marlijn de Lange or Bep Klop at Project Desk projectdesk@rsm.nl, tel. +31 (0) 10 40882329. For questions about financial matters, such as the project budget and eligible costs, please contact Amanda Wong or Nihat Ulusoy at Projectcontrol projectcontrol@rsm.nl , tel. +31 (0) 10 4089061.

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The amount of time and effort needed to prepare a funding application depend largely on the scope and ambition of the project. If you wish to initiate a European co-operation project for a large number of partners with you as the co-ordinator, then the application process will, of course, require a lot more effort than a small-scale project in which you are a project partner. When deciding on the scope and ambition of your project, take into account to what extent the project reflects your personal ambitions. Are you the most experienced and most obvious expert in the field?

If your application for funding is successful, the grant provider will confirm this in a grant agreement. It is important to read the grant agreement carefully; it contains certain requirements and obligations that you must fulfil. You may have to establish a consortium agreement that stipulates the rights and obligations of the project partners, and to fulfil some financial matters such as calculating an internal budget, creating an internal budget number, and time registration.

Writing a well-structured, understandable and attractive competitive proposal is probably the most important task in the entire funding process. The world of research funding is highly competitive and success rates are low. A clear proposal that stands out from others has a better chance of receiving funding, so it is important to devote proper time and effort to prepare something that is top-quality and competitive. Start your preparation in good time. A research idea must have time to grow; you also need to allow time to change focus, add activities or redirect priorities. Feedback from colleagues in your department and from outside the organisation may lead to radical alterations, so you need plenty of time to process such feedback and suggestions for improvement during the writing phase.

ERIM has two guides that may help you; please contact Veerle van Laere for digital copies.

Do's and Don’ts of writing a proposal

Practical suggestions for what to do – and what to avoid doing – when writing your draft application.

How to make an attractive abstractThe abstract or summary can be the most important part of the application because it’s the first – and sometimes only – part of the application read by evaluators. This guide focuses on its composition.

It’s also important to bear in mind at this stage:

• Write down the broad outline of your proposal.
• Formulate a clear definition of the problem.
• Use examples to clarify your problem and its context.
• Explain complex concepts or terminology.
• Formulate a clear research question or questions.
• Clarify your chosen research method.
• Refer to the newest knowledge in the field and explain how your research will add to it.
• Ask colleagues inside and outside of your department for feedback.
• Ask Veerle van Laere to give you feedback on your first draft.

Funding Advisory Board

ERIM has established a Funding Advisory Board (FAB) to increase the quality of funding proposals and thereby increase the success rate of funding applications. The FAB will improve the structure and quality of proposals through giving constructive feedback, asking questions about parts which may be unclear, and giving suggestions for improving its attractiveness.

Members of ERIM’s FAB are senior researchers with experience of successfully applying for research funding, or with experience as peer reviewers or evaluators for EC and NWO funding schemes. Members are listed on the FAB webpage.

The FAB primarily looks at draft proposals for NWO VENI, NWO VIDI, NWO Research Talent, ERC Starting Grant and ERC Consolidator Grant funding schemes. FAB meetings take place about a month before each scheme’s deadline. Draft proposals must be sent to the FAB secretary (vlaere@rsm.nl) by email one week before the scheduled FAB meeting.

Two FAB members are appointed as key advisors for each proposal and are responsible for reading through the entire proposal and questioning the applicant at the FAB meeting. One key advisor comes from the applicant’s research group; the other comes from a completely different research group.

The applicant is invited to attend part of the FAB meeting; your attendance will be organised by the FAB secretary.

Each applicant has 10 minutes to briefly explain the objective and outline of their proposal, and answer questions from the FAB members appointed as key advisors. You will start by giving a three-minute pitch about your proposal. You are not expected to prepare a PowerPoint presentation.

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As mentioned in the Foreword, research funding is becoming increasingly important so that universities and research institutes to have the financial means to carry out research. There are numerous funding schemes – each with different target groups and objectives, and sometimes even different geographical priorities. To find the right funding scheme and to prepare an application that is competitive and stands out is therefore an intricate process that requires careful planning, reading, writing, and expert consultation.

Not all researchers are familiar with the various funding schemes and their respective procedures. They may therefore not make optimal use of the funding opportunities that are available. This is understandable because submitting a successful application requires effort and dedication. But researchers should not be frightened by such procedures, and they should not get cold feet when it comes to an actual application!

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