How to obtain support for research and innovation projects? Which are the most important steps to follow during the proposal that can lead to a successful application? These are only a few questions that might arise when facing the intimidating process of drafting a project proposal. And more questions may arrive as the project shifts towards the implementation phase. The following text will explain briefly several key points to consider when embarking on an EU-funded project.
Invited to the panel discussion “From innovation to deployment – which is the role of EU funding?” hosted within the first day of the Raw Materials Week, Nader Akil (PNO Innovation Belgium) identified the main criteria that can turn a project proposal into a success story. From his position as Senior Innovation Consultant and Operations Manager within the company, Nader can rely on his extensive experience in building strategic and large collaborative projects in different fields, and in developing strategic research and innovation agendas for sectorial organisations.
Asked about the criteria that turns a project idea into a success story, Nader identified three key elements that need to be considered throughout the preparation phase, but also during the project execution stage:
This short guideline can ensure the success of a new project proposal, provided these three cornerstones are clarified from the inception idea, when the consortium is built.
RIA and IA projects are significantly different in the maturity level of the technologies they are developing. RIA mainly focus on activities aiming to establish new knowledge, but they can equally assess the feasibility of a new technological solution, a product or even a service. Targeting primarily the development of plans and designs for new, altered or improved products, IA activities may include prototyping, testing, demonstrating, piloting, large-scale product validation and market replication.
When referring to exploitation roadmaps, both RIA and IA need to include a coherent and motivated approach, involving different actors. However, there is a fundamental difference between the RIA and the IA projects:
As a consultancy company specialised in EU funding, PNO Innovation can provide very concrete hands-on support and contribute with ideas and concept development from day one in order to prepare your application. Our portfolio of EU-funded projects covers sectors such as CHEMISTRY & CIRCULAR ECONOMY, CLIMATE & ENERGY, and BIO, FOOD & AGRO.
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