Presentation on Reflections on Coordinating a Successful H2020 Application, Prof. Kevin McGuigan, RCSI, given at Session 2 at EPA H2020 SC5 Info Day 7.10.16

1. RCSI Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Coláiste Ríoga na Máinleá in Éirinn
Reflections on Coordinating a
Successful H2020 Application
Prof. Kevin McGuigan, RCSI, Ireland
Email: kmcguigan@rcsi.ie

3. June 2014 WATER-5-2015 (c)
“Strengthening international R&I cooperation in the field of water /
Development of water supplies and sanitation technology, systems and
tools, and/or methodologies”
c) [2015] Development of water supply and sanitation technology,
systems and tools, and/or methodologies to manage risks associated
with water supply and sanitation and/or cross-boundary water
management issues, or integrated water resources management systems
for sustainable agriculture and food security, sustainable environment
protection and economic growth, focused on the non-EU Mediterranean
countries and/or Africa. Proposals should connect to local knowledge,
socio-economic development cultures, policy institutions and implementing
bodies, and take into account the gender dimension where relevant. ….
international cooperation is encouraged, in particular with non-EU
Mediterranean countries and/or Africa. …..proposals requesting a
contribution from the EU of between EUR 2 and 3 million would allow this
specific challenge to be addressed appropriately.

4. Step 1. Concept: 3 New SODIS Technologies
Transparent
Jerrycan
Combined SODIS
& Ceramic Filter
SODIS Harvested
Rainwater Reactor

5. Step 2. Research Partners
• Select trusted Work-Package
Leaders with whom you have
already worked.
• If no prev. collaboration, make
sure one of your trusted
collaborators has.
• Keep an eye on gender balance
at every stage.
• No passengers. Each role must
be obvious.

6. Step 3. Get expert help writing the proposal
1. Talk to your institutional Research Office.
(templates available from previously successful
submissions, assist with grant prep.)
2. Talk to relevant NCP.
(bring a 2-page summary document)
3. Some SMEs specialise in preparing
submissions (& administrating projects).
4. Attend course on “How to Write a Competitive
Proposal for Horizon 2020”.
(Regularly organised by NCPs.
e.g. Sean McCarthy, www.Hyperion.ie )

7. Step 4. Apply for Coordination Support
• Coordination Support available from Enterprise Ireland.
– Pay Grant €4,630
– Travel* (Overseas) €2,000
– Sub-Contract Grant €4,200
– Total €10,830
• H2020 Participant travel grants available for non-
coordinators.
* Coordinator travel - can’t be used for partner travel to coordinator

8. Step 5. Physically meet with WP Leaders
• Use your coordination funds and partner participation
funds so that you all meet in one place long before the
writing starts.
• Talk through each aspect of the proposed WPs so
everyone understands
– What they will be doing.
– When they will be doing it.
– Who will be relying on whom.
– Who is paying for what.
• You cannot (& should not) write it all, so DELEGATE:
– Get each WP Leader to be responsible for every written
aspect relating to their section.

9. Step 6. Ensure realistic expectations
regarding the budget
• Don’t be too confined by the suggested budget request
in the call (± 10% - 20%)
• All partners should have a strong indication of their likely
budget allocation right from the start.
• Early on, request a solid estimate of:
– Staff numbers (RAs, PhDs, postdocs?)
– The number of person-months per person and per task.
• Be brutally honest (but respectful) right from the start, to
avoid misunderstandings at a later stage.
• Indicate that budget requests will be circulated among all
partners (no secrets and no secret deals).

10. Timeline (streamlined process)
• 01/06/14. EU H2020 Call issued. (Stage 1 Deadline: 21/05/15)
• 15/07/14: Initial meeting with conspirators (Madrid).
• 15/08/14: Meet with NCP (Alice W.)
• 08/09/14: Applied for EI Coordinator Funds. (approved 30/10/14)
• 25/10/14: H2020 proposed partner meeting (Dublin)
• 27/10/14: Start writing
• 19/04/15: Stage 1 (15-page) Submission.
• 06/06/15: Invited to submit Stage 2 (Stage 2 Deadline: 08/09/15)
• 05/09/15: Stage 2 (75-page) Submission.
• 15/12/15: Invited to “Grant Preparation”
• 22/04/16: Grant Agreement signed
• 24/05/16: Prefinancing “processed”.
• 01/06/16: WATERSPOUTT Project started.

11. Stage 1 (15 pages):
130 applicants.
Stage 2 (75 pages)
32 invited.
5 successful applicants.
WATERSPOUTT was
ranked 2nd.
Allow > 4-6 months to prepare submission

12. Acknowledgement
• This presentation was funded in part by
EU H2020-WATERSPOUTT RIA project (GA 688928)