Subsidy Applications: What Well-funded Research Groups Are Doing to Stay Competitive

This post is from Ming Wang, Ph.D. at the science and business consulting company ttopstart

Consider two academic research groups, Research Group A and Research Group B. In many ways these two groups are similar: they are both headed by well-established professors, they are both operating from recognized educational institutes and most importantly, they are both working on cutting-edge research and are publishing at comparable rates.

Why is it then that Research Group A seems to be more successful in obtaining research funding?

Research funding challenges

To begin with, research funding has become more competitive in recent years. Funding success rates across all Horizon 2020 calls in 2016 were calculated to be around 12%, a drop from rates of 20% from the previous FP7 funding framework.

As a result, it is estimated that researchers are spending over 18,000 inefficient hours on preparing and writing funding proposals.

The consulting company ttopstart has analyzed over 250 cases of application proposals and have realized that what really gives groups like Research Group A an advantage in achieving funding success is their preparedness prior to the proposal application.

What is meant by preparedness, in this case, is the group’s conscientious consideration of 9 specific factors , factors that ttopstart has recognized as crucial for research groups to differentiate themselves from the competition.

9 factors and the Funding Model Canvas

In detail, these 9 specific factors are collaborations , scientific excellence , infrastructure , research focus , marketing and communication , valorization , impact , subsidy culture and scientific output. ttopstart has organized these 9 factors into a funding model canvas , a template tool that will help you visualize each of the aspects and assist you in identifying the assets you have and the challenges you need to address.

To use the canvas, draw the template out on a whiteboard and go through the 9 features one-by-one.

Indeed scientific output, in the form of high impact publications, patent flow, and prizes, will always be integral to your funding success, however, you will note that aspects including your network, internal practices, research focus, marketing, funding and valorization strategies, as well as your societal impact, are important to achieving competitiveness.

Tailor-made training program

To support your research group towards realizing your competitiveness, ttopstart provides a service known as the PRO-ACTIV training program, a modular curriculum that is customized with your needs in mind. ttopstart’s consultants will identify these needs by analyzing your group’s position in relation to the 9 factors and will guide you through modules that can be in the form of individual coaching, workshops or services (for example partner landscape analysis).

As part of the program, ttopstart’s consultants will design for you a research funding strategy, one that encompasses a personalized funding roadmap, a list of identified strategic collaboration partners and advice on the development of an effective internal subsidy culture.

Ultimately, the expected outcome of such a training program is for your group to be like Research Group A, a research group that is effective in raising funding, one that has access to a vast network of industrial partners, and one that clearly recognizes its unique assets, its challenges, and its opportunities.

About ttopstart: ttopstart is a science and business consulting company that serves leading researchers and innovative companies in the fields of life sciences, medical technology, and health. ttopstart is specialized in the markets life sciences, medical technology, and healthcare considering that these markets are highly interconnected. ttopstart support clients in 19 EU countries and the US.