Process project funding up for grabs

Comment by Greville Warwick of MCS, a specialist adviser and facilitator for grants, funding and credits subsidy support in the UK and overseas:

It is a source of puzzlement that so few UK-based companies take advantage of the European Union Framework Programme (FP7), whick mainly covers collaborative research. Among the 27 EU member states and associates, the UK seems particularly slow at grasping the funding and networking opportunities offered by this generous programme.

It is not lack of variety of projects of research that can be selected for participation, nor that the conditions for application are that onerous or complex.  It seems to be firms cannot be bothered. By contrast, of course, companies, universities and institutions in other EU states do eagerly participate and seek to join projects as partners, associates and contractors. There is plenty to choose from. 

In one instance, MCS recently submitted a project of advanced carbon fibre research under the Marie Curie (ITN) scheme. This is 100% funded and attains its research and development objectives through co-sponsorship of PhD’s on the various detailed areas of work identified. 

I am able to write with some authority because MCS participated as a partner for the full project, which involved us proposing to sponsor a PhD candidate to undertake a placement on the recycling and reuse of carbon fibres in various applications. This formed but a smaller part of the ambitious plan that involves six partners from other EU states, each of which will sponsor PhD candidates to carry out agreed research programmes into a vital and growing area of technical, environmental and commercial advance.

The Marie Curie ITN programme is but one of very many that can be accessed and submitted. Competition for this funding is keen and increasingly sought after as a means of formalising programmes of scientific research involving private sector and research institutions. The idea of linking this so closely to PhD projects, and co-ordinating these over a wide area of endeavour is very good.

Intellectual property rights can be protected and retained by the lead partner. The opportunities for creating close networks of associated companies and cadres of research PhD students and people are vast. It is the across-borders aspects that makes this a global operation that will have lasting and far reaching effects.

Co-option of interests outside of the 27 EU member states is built into Marie Curie.  This gives ample scope to bring in Chinese, Indian, Russian or other strategic interests that help to drive, create and disseminate scientific research into commercial returns.

Finding suitable partners is a key first task and this needs to be done by casting a wide net around the sorts of technical, scientific and academic partners your project needs.  Partner search is not so difficult as there are plenty of potential candidates willing to join but, perhaps, not that willing to initiate, take a lead role and to organise to put together a detailed proposal and submit it against a firm deadline.  The prizes and kudos go to those willing to lead, innovate and achieve.

It is possible and it should be considered by companies to think about generating a series of potential outline projects aimed at improving existing products, services, markets and areas of future endeavour.  Be bold in setting your ambitions and targets very high. If this funding is on offer for advanced, collaborative work on your products, you owe it to yourselves and to your shareholders to go after it.

European calls for projects can be tracked at www.cordis.europa.eu  for regular “calls”. Your projects can be fitted into the calls and partners found. Writing the application is an art that is assisted by clear and helpful guidance notes. However, always use others skills and take advice from those who have done it before and will know the ways to get it together and in a format that will get it through the system. Regional Development Agencies now offer help through contracted agents. These are worth using as well.

We hope to see more grant application activity. It can be generated. The tactic is to get plenty of applications in the system. There is an internal (EC) assessment process that relies on elements of chance. Strategic choice of partners is vital. The selection process must be make sense as well. You can’t do it all yourself. Get assistance.  Don’t be silly or too proud about finding those who know how grant schemes work and how to exploit them for you.  Processes can be time consuming, especially if your are learning on the job.

Colleagues in Germany have indicated that legislation will shortly allow R&D Tax Credits to be offered. Up to now only Germany and Sweden have exempted R&D Tax Credits. Germany follows the established route to exploitation of this natural way to encourage and reward firms that innovate and do this in a structured and sustainable way, as do the French, then Germany will be a place to look to for investment and stability.

For further information contact Greville Warwick: tel +44 (0) 1926 512 475; email gw@mcs-net.com: website www.mcs-net.com.