Supporting Applied Research at Coventry University

Kevin Vincent – Business Development Manager CSADMark Rushforth – Programmes Manager BDSO

Plan

• BDG overview• Lay Summary• Assess the suitability of the call• Proposal headings• Project A-Z

• Applied Research is work undertaken primarily to acquire new knowledge with a specific application in view

• In Coventry University it is shorthand for most activities delivered by academics other than mainstream teaching

• http://www.coventry.ac.uk/researchnet/appliedresearch

Blue sky Applied Research

Consultancy

Applied Research Activities

Basic and Strategic Applied Research Consultancy Training Continuing Professional Development (CPD) Studies Evaluations Business Support

Applied Research – Why do it

• AR targets• 'Authority’ to teach• Focus funding into sustainable units (ARGs and

ARCs)• Pay and reward strategy• Development Performance Review (DPR)

Technology park activities

• Incubation support

• Exploitation of IP

• International Business

• Hot-desking

• Conference facilities

Business Development Group

Institutes

Applied Research Groups

Applied Research Centres

Trading subsidiaries

Coventry University Applied Research

The Business Development Team“Secure external income and partners for applied research”

The Business Development Support Office“Develop, secure and deliver funded projects”

The Corporate Partnership Unit“Engage, co-ordinate and develop external relationships “

The Continuing Professional Development Unit“Support academic staff in the development and delivery of new CPD programmes”

Professional Services

Applied Research Grand Challenge Initiatives

Sustainable Agriculture

Integrated Transport & Logistics

Low Impact Buildings

Ageing Society

Digital Media

Low Carbon Vehicles

Metrology: the science of measurement

Environmental Technology

Low Carbon/Low Oil Future Global Ageing Digital TechnologyGlobal and National Priorities

Coventry UniFocal Points

The Grand Challenge Initiatives

Applied Research Targets 

2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 

Schools/Faculties      

Art & Design 2,349 2,887 3,412

Business, Environmental & Society 4,594 6,672 7,137

Engineering and Computing 5,631 7,170 8,159

Health & Life Sciences 5,183 5,981 6,277

Institutes      

Health Design and Technology Institute 2,430 2,510 2,762

Institute for Creative Enterprise 910 1,040 1,335

Institute of Applied Entrepreneurship 670 750 800

Serious Games Institute 1,845 2,120 2,625

Services Departments

All 4,939 4,309 4,582

Grand Total (University Group*)(*inc CUE, ACUA, CPD)

43,438 48,499 52,991

Successful projectsProject Project Faculty Total Income

EPELEMYWV International 845,176.00

E-learning for children and young people's palliative care HLS 517,517.02

Supporting new children and young people’s palliative care projects in 2010 - 11 - Evaluation HLS 297,531.34

Policies and Penalties for Plagiarism in Higher Education across Europe E&C 229,839.65

Intratrade Year 7 CUE 129,000.00

Digi BIC CUE 118,000.00

Association for Children's Palliative Care (ACT) BIG Study for Life-limited Children and their Families HLS 114,160.00

EIM - E learning Innovation Management Course for Vocational Training CUE 74,429.01

E-learning Module for Complex Child Palliative Care Needs HLS 71,800.00

School based sex and relationships game HLS 70,000.00

Disparities In Student Attainment HLS 67,187.00

Jaguar Cars Ltd - EPRSC Ind Case E&C 66,838.00

Healthy Children in Healthy Families HLS 63,803.00

CPD for Salahaddin University, Knowledge Transfer Enterprise 59,730.00

simAULA - LLP Multilateral project SGI 58,131.25

Successful projects

Rackety's Index voucher A&D 3,000.00

COMAH Masterclass BES 2,925.00

A framework for understanding local authority responses to the recession BES 2,400.00

Economic Opportunities in the Medical Technologises BES 2,000.00

Erasmus Student Mobility for Placements - Consortium A&D 1,680.00

Professional Development Support HLS 1,500.00

CLT Immigration and Asylum Accreditation Workshops BES 1,344.68

Evaluating the Stepping Up Programme HLS 981.45

Neuroplasticity CPD Course HLS 510.64

#05 Normal Control of Movement and its Recovery after CNS Damage HLS 510.64

EU Connects Project Development Grant Application E&C 500

Catering event 28/9/10 Catering 353.15

International Agri-Technology Centre Travel Grant BES 250

Catering event 7/9/10 Catering 196.65

Catering event 13/9/10 Catering 32.05

Lay Summary

• 1 – 2 paragraphs (no more than 1 page)• Presents the big picture and road map for the rest of

the proposal• Purpose of research• Background/significance• Proposed methodology• Who, what, when, where, why and how• Plain English

Assess the suitability of the call

• Deadline (when?)• £££ (how much?)• Eligibility• Funder (who?)• Aims of the call (what and why ?)• Is your experience/expertise relevant?• Realistic timetable for delivery?• £££ is it enough?• £££ what will they fund?• Has the idea been funded before? (previous awards)• Likelihood of success?

Proposal headings• Headings

– Title– Summary (background, context, why us?)– Aims and objectives (principles of approach)– Methodology (what are you going to do?)– Project plan/work programme– Resources needed (including project team)– Outcomes/outputs– Dissemination– Project and risk management

Proposal writing tips• Answer the question !• Always assume the reader knows very little• Use the appraisal scoring form to check you have answered all sections

fully• Accurate information. Read again and ask have you explained statements

clearly• Adapt content and style to the funding programme• The right font – follow the guidance• Presentation:- Keep language simple and avoid jargon- Layout is key. Reviewers will have tired eyes so make it easier for them !

Proposal writing tipsFRONTLOADING• Upfront state what the benefits are and how you will meet the

funders/clients needs and how you can solve their problems.

FOCUSSED ANSWERS NOT STORY TELLING• Answer each question and cover all areas usually specified in the funders

scoring criteria and focus on these points• If the client is looking for a very specific service respond only with

information about that service. STOP yourself from story telling• SMART objectives and clear timescale/milestones/outcomes.

Proposal writing tipsCLEAR STYLE• Short sentences, short paragraphs, no negative words or uncertainty, if

there is a gap in your provision draw attention away, use of diagrams and images.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE• Provide case studies/previous experience that are relevant eg sector

match, company/organisation size (SME, large, public, charity) match• Ensure you have the right team for the right job. Tailor CVs if necessary.

Proposal writing tipsMANAGEMENT• show you have the resources and experience to do the work in a cost-

effective way to meet the client's needs, hit deadlines and respond flexibly to changing situations (risks are there to be managed not avoided), and able to evaluate/monitor performance.

VALUE FOR MONEY• Emphasise business benefits, end-user benefits, service improvements,

risk reduction, low maintenance, quality, reliability, previous satisfied customers, cost benefits, innovative aspects of your delivery etc.

Next session

• Business Development Support Office - Project A-Z

Project A - Z

• Handout• Use of Funding Pages on Research Portal• Further detail on these pages please read-through

and pass onto colleagues• 1-2-1 meetings with pre-award if required• AR support sessions run by BDG

Applied Research Sessions

• BDSO run AR Sessions– Publication to Proposal Workshop– CPD Development– BIDS database training

• Invited Speakers This Year– Higher Education Academy– The Leverhulme Trust– UKRO– Royal Society (October 2012)– Joseph Rowntree Trust (October 2012)

Project A-Z

• HANDOUT: Pre-Award in blue, Post-Award maroon1. Opportunity identified2. Proposal Development Pre-Award/BDO/BDM3. Application/budget/quote drafted4. Institutional approval of submission5. Submission6. Confirmation of award7. Institutional approval of contract

Project A-Z

8. Handover to post award9. Contract Review10. Contract Dissemination11. Project monitoring12. Project Closure

Project A-Z

KEY PRE-AWARD SERVICES

Proposal Development Funding Opportunities Funder RoadmapsCommercial Quotations

Funding Alerts Proposal Review Bid Writing Support Workshops

Proposal Submission Project Budgeting Partnering Funder Briefings

Funding Criteria Advice

Funding Body Liaison Tender Development Learning Materials

Institutional Approval Process

CPD SupportPersonalised Email

AlertsAR Events

Project A-Z

1. Opportunity identified– Where/how – New to Research Page;

Funding Opportunities page; Funders page; own contact; link to businesses; own searches

– Research or consultancy? - FAQ and dedicated page

2. Discussion with pre-award/BDO/BDM– Who? – Contact Us page– Costing Pricing how? – Costing and Pricing; VAT;

Full Economic Costing

Project A-Z

3. Application/quote drafted– Bid Development pages (hints, tips, facts and figures);

Document library (templates, policies, useful info)

4. Institutional approval of submission- Approval Process; EFAAF (External Funded Activity Approval

Form)

5. Submission– Who/how? – PI or BDG; email; paper copies; certain

funders see Electronic Grant Submission page

Project A-Z

6. Confirmation of award– always require an update; confirmation of award

(confirmation of award has to come from funder in written form - email, contract, agreement to quote ); BIDS database; Case Studies; Home Page - SHARE YOUR SUCCESS WITH US please

7. Institutional approval of contract– EFAAF Contract Stage; Negotiating a contract; handover

to post award

Project A-Z8. Handover to post award – further info can be found

on Contract Awards pages9. Contract Review10. Contract Dissemination11. Facilitation of Project Start Up (minimum and

maximum support)• Recruitment support• Procurement support• Set up project monitoring systems if required• Project start up meeting

Project A-Z

12. Project Monitoring

• Use of BIDS to monitor deadlines• Financial/Budget Information and Management• Procurement• Audits and Claims• Contract variations• Project Management “rechargeable”

Project A-Z

• 13. Project Closure

• Dissemination• Support in obtaining continuation funding• Ensuring contractual expectations are met• Confirming project deliverables and financial spend

Further resources

Vitae – researcher’s portalhttp://www.vitae.ac.uk/1288/Developing-as-a-researcher.htmlhttp://www.vitae.ac.uk/CMS/files/Vitae-Balanced-Researcher-June-2008.pdfhttp://www.vitae.ac.uk/1603/Skills-audit.htmlNEW – Leadership development for principal investigatorshttp://www.vitae.ac.uk/policy-practice/263521/Leadership-development-for-principal-investigators.html

Further resources

Research methods guidancehttp://www.rddirect.org.uk/queries/Website.asp#Top

Research process flowcharthttp://www.rdinfo.org.uk/flowchart/Flowchart.html

Info and Contact Us

• Research Portal– CU website/Staff Portal/Community/Research Portal

• Funding – Research Portal/Funding tab

• Bidzone- Bid examples (CPD)

• Contact Us– Per faculty/institute/service area

Info and Contact Us

• Kevin Vincent– Tel: 07974 984581– Email: k.vincent@coventry.ac.uk

• Mark Rushforth– Tel: 07974 984487– Email: m.rushforth@coventry.ac.uk