Hints and Tips forWriting Successful Proposals

Anthony WalkerRTC North Ltd

• Read the guidelines• GOAL – not necessarily research but EXPLOITATION

• Who needs this work done? Market?• Can you (and your partners) do the research?• Do you have an exploitation plan?• Can you commercialise this?

• TALK TO THE PROGRAM MANAGER ........ (and read the guidelines)

Planning winning proposals

Proposal Structure (EoI)

Section Marks

Abstract n/a

Scope Yes / No

Business Proposition 40

Project Details40

Partner / Collaborator Details

Funding and Added Value 20

Finance Summary Table n/a

• KEY QUESTION to get through in the competition

• Match what YOU want & what TSB want

• Keep simple:− “We want to.....”− “This will address....”

Scope

• Divide your effort over the evaluation criteria– Many proposers concentrate on the scientific element, but lose marks on project

planning or impact description

• Think of the finishing touches which signal quality work to a busy evaluator:– Clear language and no assumptions– Well-organised contents, following the Guide for Applicants structure– No typos, no inconsistencies and obvious paste-ins, no numbers which don’t add up,

no missing parts …

When writing your proposal....

• Make it easy for the evaluators to give you high marks. Don’t make it hard for them!– Make sure you submit the complete version of your proposal– Don’t write too little; cover what is requested– Don’t write too much– Don’t leave them to figure out why it’s good, tell them why it’s good– Leave nothing to the imagination

When writing your proposal....

• Convince the evaluator that this is the best proposal...

• Convey key messages early on– “We are going to do these things for these reasons....”

• Explain why this consortium is the one to support• Is the solution already available (product, service, transfer)?• Why now? What would happen if we don’t act?• Build the proposal around core activities (not irrelevancies)• Sell the proposal – be EXPLICIT

This is THE proposal

• Explain your funding model– How will the money be spent?

• If you span basic and applied research – justify rates (why?)• Demonstrate RoI

– Increase in R&D spend (how?)– “50% funding means £100k will be invested....”

• Why aren’t you funding this yourself?– “With this funding we will be quicker to market....”– “With the consortium of partners we have the critical mass to exploit this technology faster....”– “Without this funding, the project would not be able to go ahead….”

Funding and Added Value

• No relevance towards scope or priorities– “....I just want some money for my projects as my organisation does

not support them....”

• Missed deadlines• Unclear and irrelevant narrative

– Poorly written and inadequate details– Too many assumptions

Common Pitfalls (1)

• Competition – Standing out from the crowd!– No evidence or uniqueness, innovation or insufficient details

• Failure to demonstrate exploitation– Proposing just a research project with no practical results– “Wordsmithing” a standard commercial strategy

• Work cannot be done in timescales (unrealistic)• Unclear about feasibility, risks or solutions

Common Pitfalls (2)

• The obvious……– Answer the question fully and use all the space available– Use spell checker– Reviewers don’t like excessive use of capital letters for emphasis

• Be clear about what you want to do, the benefits, the target audience• Be specific when quantifying the opportunity & avoid clichés• Make sure it fits into the scope of the call• It’s what you actually write that counts• Consider the added value dimension carefully

Golden Rules

Example of clear objectives

• The present situation with the widely used biocides not only affects the quality of nature but also impacts on the food chain. Many biocides currently used in anti-fouling coatings remain highly toxic in the marine environment. Enzymes are biological molecules that can act as anti-fouling agents in marine paints. These enzymes offer an excellent environmentally friendly technology for anti-fouling coatings. This project will aim to replace the toxic biocides in existing marine coatings.

• Enzymes will be selected by laboratory testing to screen candidate compounds for most effective enzymes on adhesion of target organisms. The selected enzymes will then be tested with different binders in order to develop stable enzyme-binder composites. The compounds will then be tested again against target organisms. Immobilisation techniques will also be included in the selection work. Research is required to develop technologies that will make enzymes work in marine paints for a longer period of time than has so far been achieved. This project will develop methods to stabilise and maintain the activity of enzymes as active anti-fouling agents in paint for 3 years. An extensive survey of the state of the art will be carried out with respect to the potential interactions of enzymes and binder molecules that can be used in anti-fouling paints. The focus will be on physical interactions including hydrogen bonds or ionic interactions to determine the optimum combination of active compounds in binders. Newly formulated coatings and coatings subjected to accelerated ageing using advanced rotor test equipment will be evaluated to identify the best combinations of enzymes with paint binders to develop a cost-effective non-toxic prototype coating.

Example of clear objectives

• The present situation with the widely used biocides not only affects the quality of nature but also impacts on the food chain. Many biocides currently used in anti-fouling coatings remain highly toxic in the marine environment. Enzymes are biological molecules that can act as anti-fouling agents in marine paints. These enzymes offer an excellent environmentally friendly technology for anti-fouling coatings. This project will aim to replace the toxic biocides in existing marine coatings.

• Enzymes will be selected by laboratory testing to screen candidate compounds for most effective enzymes on adhesion of target organisms. The selected enzymes will then be tested with different binders in order to develop stable enzyme-binder composites. The compounds will then be tested again against target organisms. Immobilisation techniques will also be included in the selection work. Research is required to develop technologies that will make enzymes work in marine paints for a longer period of time than has so far been achieved. This project will develop methods to stabilise and maintain the activity of enzymes as active anti-fouling agents in paint for 3 years. An extensive survey of the state of the art will be carried out with respect to the potential interactions of enzymes and binder molecules that can be used in anti-fouling paints. The focus will be on physical interactions including hydrogen bonds or ionic interactions to determine the optimum combination of active compounds in binders. Newly formulated coatings and coatings subjected to accelerated ageing using advanced rotor test equipment will be evaluated to identify the best combinations of enzymes with paint binders to develop a cost-effective non-toxic prototype coating.

• Replace toxic biocides in marine coatings• Screen candidate compound for most effective enzymes• Determine the optimum combination of active compounds in

binders• Stabilise active compounds in coatings for 3 years• Develop a cost-effective non-toxic prototype coating

Clear objectives

• Get your key message across early• Answer what the guide asks – make objectives verifiable and

measurable, focusing on their expected impacts• Make the document easy to read

– Use numbering system from guide for applicants in your proposal

• Make realistic claims and justify them• Plan dissemination and exploitation to make the required impact

Getting that extra point....

• Begin early (if possible)• Read carefully the scope of the call and

the guide for applicants• Talk to sources of help (TSB, KTN, other

sources….)• Submit a draft to the TSB for early

feedback• Do not leave until the last minute to

submit!

Final Comments

Anthony Walker

RTC North Ltd

Stanley Grange, Ormskirk Road,

Knowsley L34 4AR UK

T: +44 (0)151 632 8888

F: +44 (0)151 632 8889

E: anthony.walker@rtcnorth.co.uk

W: www.rtcnorth.co.uk

Anthony Walker

RTC North Ltd

Stanley Grange, Ormskirk Road,

Knowsley L34 4AR UK

T: +44 (0)151 632 8888

F: +44 (0)151 632 8889

E: anthony.walker@rtcnorth.co.uk

W: www.rtcnorth.co.uk