Success factors in grant applications and research projects

Success factors in Success factors in grant applications and grant applications and research projectsresearch projects

Keith Horner

University of Manchester

1824 “Mechanics Institute”

1851 Owens College

1880 Victoria University of Manchester

2004 Merged with UMIST to form “The University of Manchester”

John Dalton

RutherfordBragg

UK largest single-site University

34,000 students

1. High International Standing2. World Class Research3. Exemplary Knowledge and Technology Transfer4. Excellent Teaching and Learning5. Widening Participation6. Empowering Collegiality7. Efficient, Effective Management8. Internationally Competitive Resources9. More Effective Community Service

Nine goals for 2015

2. World Class ResearchTo establish the University of Manchester by 2015 among the 25 strongest research universities in the world on commonly accepted criteria of research excellence and performance.

“Headhunting”

Nobel Prize winners

Key Performance Indicators of Research

Increase in research publications in high impact factor journals

Increase in external grant income

Increase in expenditure of institution on research

Increase in research postgraduate students successfully completing their studies

Success in grant applications and Success in grant applications and research projects: aims of lectureresearch projects: aims of lecture

To identify the essential preparations in grant applications

To show how the institution (the University) can promote research success

To illustrate the pitfalls and errors that can lead to failure

To show that good grant application planning should ensure success over the duration of the project

““perfect planning aids perfect performance”perfect planning aids perfect performance”

Success in grant applications and research projects

The institutionThe team

The research idea The funder

The applicationThe execution

The academic staff

The academic staff

“I don’t know how to find a grant funder”

“I don’t know how to do a good

application” “I haven’t got the time to write

applications”

“I made an application once

and was rejected”

“There is nothing in it for me”

The institution

Promote a “research culture”

Set clear goals

Encourage collaboration

Strategy

Recognition and reward