Blogger: Boukje Ehlen 
Working as an EU-advisor for the Faculty of Medicine at NTNU, I read this article in Universitetsavisa with great interest.
(…) last week The Faculty of Medicine submitted a record-breaking 14 EU-proposals, so it can’t be all bad.
Unfortunately, this article builds on the negative experience of researchers with the previous (seventh) framework programme. Though it provides valuable input on how these were perceived, I think it is also important to broadcast that the system is now easier to access:
- budgeting and reporting of projects has been simplified
- information on research topics, which documents are needed etc., has become better to find and read
- it is easy to scan if your topic fits, by applying with a first stage proposal that is only six pages on goals, ambition and impact
Within the Faculty of Medicine, we have put in collaborative effort to explain researchers that Horizon 2020 is different, easier and participating has more value than just money.
I met a researcher that said he once tried to apply for a project back in 1995, and was not keen on applying again. I tried to encourage him by telling him that much has changed since 1995. And not just my looks, but the European project and proposal organisation has changed as well!
Within the Faculty of Medicine, we have put in collaborative effort to explain researchers that Horizon 2020 is different, easier and participating has more value than just money. It can give you (global) visibility, collaboration with different fields, influence on European policy and contacts that last forever.
I meet researcher who express that applying for a EU-projects is a learning process: They learn much more about their research topic, how to phrase it, and to place their research in a European context.
In order to address the perceived challenges with EU-proposals and project, the Faculty of Medicine provides a hands-on, customized and service-oriented support in all stages of the process. We give tailored advice to researchers, which topics and programmes might be relevant, and whether or not to apply.
We give tailored advice to researchers, which topics and programmes might be relevant, and whether or not to apply.
And we explain to researchers, that experiences with EU-proposals of the past can be quite out-dated: the evaluation process has changed, reporting schemes have changed and funding rates have changed.
I hope that with our faculty’s encouragement and support, many researchers will feel confident to embark on a very special journey, that’s called EU-projects!
In the article in Universitetsavisa almost four out of five researchers who did get funding from EU would try again. And last week The Faculty of Medicine submitted a record-breaking 14 EU-proposals, so it can’t be all bad.