Writing international research proposals and securing research funding

Professor Steven MithenPro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Reading UK

Who am I?Steven Mithen, BA, MSc, PhD, FBA

• Pro-Vice Chancellor for International and External Engagement since 2010

• Dean of the Faculty of Science 2008-2010• Head of the School of Human & Environmental

Sciences, 2003-2008• Professor of Archaeology• PI on major research grants from AHRC, NERC,

Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, EU• Been assessor for many grant awarding bodies

and schemes

University of Reading• UK university in world top 200 University in THE

rankings• Annual income of £225 million• 20th in UK for research council grants awarded• One third of research income from industry• Research excellence in Humanities, Social

Science, Life Sciences and Science• Particular strengths in climate change,

agriculture, construction, environmental science, business, biodiversity

• Teaching and research partnerships throughout the world

University of Reading• Wishes to expand its teaching partnerships and

research collaborations throughout SE Asia• Establishing a campus in Malaysia, to initially

teach Business, Law, Construction, English Language and Pharmacy and related subjects

• A delegation visiting Vietnam in February 2012• Has appropriate subject mix to develop

research collaborations with Indonesian Universities and to support capacity building in research

My presentation

1.Sources of funding in the UK that might support research collaborations with Indonesian Universities

2.Comments on how to prepare successful proposals

3.University of Reading case studies

1. Sources of research funding

UK Research Councils• 7 UK Research Councils spanning all disciplines• Economic and Social Science Research Council

(ESRC) allows international co-investigators on all schemes

• For other RCs, Indonesian Universities can be collaborators, partners, sub-contractors

• MRC allow co-investigators with specific approval

• All RCs now have more schemes with international focus and participation. Recent examples - BBSRC/DFID; EPSRC/Brazil; NERC/ESPA; ESRC/Hong Kong Bilateral

• Most RCs have international exchange schemes to make and establish new contacts e.g. BBSRC international scientific interchange scheme

UK Charities• Leverhulme Trust

– International networks – for a PI based in the UK to lead a research project where its successful completion is dependant on the participation of relevant overseas institutions

– Study Abroad fellowships and studentships - designed to support a period overseas in a stimulating academic environment

• Wellcome Trust– Public health and tropical medicine fellowships -

support specifically for researchers in low- and middle-income countries. Schemes ranging from Master’s to Senior

– Global health trials scheme - funding late-stage trials of interventions that will help improve health in low- and middle- income countries

UK academic societies and other• Royal Society

– International Exchanges Scheme - for scientists in the UK who want to undertake a collaboration with scientists overseas through either a one-off visit or bilateral travel. Can use to build up a relationship. Up to £12,000 for 2 year project.

• British Academy– Small grants – can apply for up to £6000 to support

visits by overseas scholars to the UK to undertake a programme of work

– International Partnership Scheme – can apply for up to £10,000 p.a. for 3 years, to involve capacity building and exchange of expertise

• British Council– UK India Education and Research initiative

(UKIERI) – supports joint projects between UK and India

UK Government• Department for International Development

(DFID)– Funds research into international development which

directly improves people’s lives– Research in the following areas:

• Agriculture• Climate and Environment• Human Development, including Health and

Education• Growth• Governance, Conflict and Social Development

– Main programme focus is on Africa, India and Afghanistan but DFID do fund work in Asia – and have funded various projects in Indonesia

UK Government• Department for Environment and Rural Affairs

(Defra)– Darwin Initiative – Assists countries that are rich in biodiversity but poor

in financial resources to meet their objectives under one or more of the three major biodiversity conventions through the funding of collaborative projects which draw on UK biodiversity expertise

– Provides funding for UK and overseas partners to undertake joint research projects for up to 3 years.

European Framework Programme• EU framework programme – FP7 – funding

research across the EU and beyond from 2007 to 2013

• Funds available during FP7 are over €50 Billion• Any country in the world can participate (but

generally have to be led by Member State or Associated Countries)– Many can receive funding apart from highly

industrialised countries– Low to middle income countries are international co-

operation partners countries (ICPCs) and can receive funding in the same way as MS or AC

FP7 Specific Programmes

Co-operation – Collaborative Research €32bn

Ideas - European Research Council €7.5bn

People - Marie Curie Actions €4.7bn

Capacities – Research Capacity €4bn

FP7 schemes• Co-operation programme

– For collaborative research– grants support teams of researchers

– Have to have min. of 3 partners from MS or AC – EU issues annual calls for proposals for specific topics

within 10 thematic areas– Many topics have international dimension, not just EU

focussed– Grants from €1.5M to €9M

• European Research Council (ERC)– Schemes designed to support excellent individual

researchers– Topic of applicants choosing– Starting grants (2-12 years post PhD) and advanced

grants– Any nationality can apply but grants to be hosted in a

MS or AC

FP7 schemes• Marie Curie

– Key feature of the programme is mobility - all fellows funded under the programme will be expected to undertake mobility from one country to another

– Number of fellowship and other schemes to support individuals moving across the EU (and beyond) for training

– International incoming fellowships schemes to bring researchers from third country to a MS or AC. Can have return phase to some countries to bring back knowledge to originating country

– Other schemes such as Initial Training Networks (ITNs) and IRSES (international research staff exchange scheme) for training of researchers in consortia of research organisations

International charities and other

• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation – 2 main international programmes -

• Global Development • Global Health

– Make awards (often very large) to any tax-exempt organisations in response to applications for funding

• Human Frontier Science Programme (HFSP)– Funds novel and interdisciplinary basic research

focused on the complex mechanisms of living organisms

– Grant schemes for collaborative teams of researchers from anywhere in the world (led by HFSP country e.g UK)

– Also fund fellowships – fellows can come from any country but has to work in HFSP country

2. Preparing proposals

Have a good idea!

Address the key global challenges:

• Climate Change• Biodiversity• Food Security• Health• Energy• Poverty alleviation

Have the right partners• World class research projects extend beyond

the limits of single institutions• Select partners that provide the required

expertise and have track record of funding – both individual academics and institutions

• Research collaborations require nurturing to build understanding and confidence

• Agree about outcomes, such as co-authorship of key publications, in advance

Identify the most appropriate funding body

• Attend to the mission statement of the funding body

• Identify the most appropriate scheme within the funding body

• Explore the types of projects that have recently been funded

• Informally discuss your project with the funding body prior to preparing an application

• Pay meticulous attention to the requirements of the funding scheme

Get the inside track• Read the sponsors strategy• Speak to members of staff at funding agencies• Make use of staff at your university who have

worked with the sponsor• Network with peer group at conferences• Attend sponsor meetings – network with those

with influence

Be honest and realistic• Do not exaggerate what can be achieved within

the requested resource and time period• Ensure you have the appropriate level of

expertise, technical support and all facilities• Be meticulous about the costing – justify every

cost• Do not be too ambitious too early in your

career: building a track record of successful project completion is essential

Take your time• Research applications need to be meticulously

prepared and carefully written• Allow sufficient time to consult with your

partners• Allow sufficient time for the administration of

your applications within partner institutions• Draw on the support from your institution:

finance, HR, senior academics• Undertake your own internal peer review of

applications

Measurable outcomes• Who will benefit from the research?• Contributions to knowledge

o Networkso Publication

• Impacto Economico Societalo Policyo Public engagement

If funded, then keep to the plan• Undertake the research• Inform the funding body should you need to

make amendments to your project plan• Deliver the outputs• Publish• Building a track record is essential

3. University of Reading case studies

University of Reading case Study : Legume PLUS

• FP7 Marie Curie Initial training network, UoR is lead.

• 4 year project entitled “Optimising plant polyphenols in legumes for ruminant nutrition plus health plus environmental sustainability”

• Aim is to enable integrated multidisciplinary and intersectoral research training to address the topic

• Will train 14 PhD students and 2 fellows• 10 partners – 8 Universities/Research orgs and 2

companies from across Europe (inc. UK, France, Switzerland, Denmark)

• Value of grant is 4.1Million Euros

University of Reading case study: EATWELL• FP7 Co-operation programme, UoR is lead• 4 year grant entitled “Interventions to promote

healthy eating habits: evaluation and recommendations”

• Aims to gather data on healthy eating interventions, research which are most acceptable and to recommend most appropriate interventions for the EU

• 9 EU organisations involved – 5 Universities/research orgs, 1 multinational company, 2 policy and communication bodies

• Value of grant is 2.51 Millions Euros

University of Reading case study: ETIS• Defra Darwin initiative grant• 3 year project entitled “Enhancing the Elephant

Trade Information System to guide CITES policy”

• Aim is the enhancement of a global monitoring system which records the illicit trade in ivory

• UoR is the lead organisation and project partner is an NGO in East/Southern Africa

• UoR provided specific expertise in statistics and programming for the database, partner provided in country training and implementation

University of Reading case study: UKIERI• UoR is lead organisation with 4 Indian

organisations and 3 UK meteorological organisation (inc Met Office)

• 4 year collaborative research programme entitled “Science of regional climate change, variability and impacts”

• Aims is to accelerate the development in India of a world class capability in predicting regional climate variability and change via a joint programme of research

• Involves many visits between all of the partners to work on the research and aid knowledge exchange

Finally …• There are many opportunities and enormous

willingness from the UK to build research links with Indonesia

• Find the right partner – institution and academic• University of Reading is keen to engage in

research collaboration with universities in Indonesia

• University of Reading research packs available

Contacts: s.j.mithen@reading.ac.uk