Dr Richard Guest |
Marie
Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training
Networks (ITNs)
are one of the most popular schemes within Horizon 2020, and it’s easy to see why: they
offer an opportunity for the recruitment of talented early career researchers
to be trained in any discipline, whilst also enabling them to flex their wings
across national and sectoral boundaries.
However,
this popularity comes at a cost, and the success rates for them can make bleak
reading. A perfect opportunity, then, to hear from a successful applicant about
what’s involved and how best to prepare for the ‘trial by resubmission.’
Dr Richard Guest, from the School of Engineering and Digital Arts, has just received funding for AMBER (enhAnced Mobile BiomEtRics), an ITN
that addresses a range of current issues around biometrics on mobiles, and
stretches across five universities and seven industrial partners.
He began
by saying that, in reality, ‘ITN’s are actually three schemes in one:
● European Training Network (ETN)
● European Joint Doctorates (EJD)
● European Industrial Doctorates
(EID)
Broadly,
ETNs are longer and involve more institutions, generally 6-10 members; EIDs are
intended to encourage engagement with industry, and EJDs are a more formal
agreement to provide doctoral training between institutions.
Structuring an ETN
For Richard, a successful ETN needs to both understand key
definitions, but also demonstrate a range of core qualities:
●
Understand the
definitions:
○
‘Beneficiary’ and
‘partner’. Essentially a beneficiary receives funding from the EC; a
partner does not. Beneficiaries tend to be universities or other
degree-awarding bodies; partners tend to be commercial or non-HE bodies.
However, there are exceptions to these broad categories, and all of those
involved in an ETN need to be clear about what they will contribute to the
Network, but also what they will get out of it.
○
‘Early stage
researcher’ (ESR). These are researchers recruited onto the network and
become Marie Skłodowska-Curie
Fellows.
■
Experience: the
EC is very strict on this: at the time of recruitment, the ESR must be in the
first 4 years (full time research experience) of their research careers and
have not been awarded a doctoral degree. However, they must be in a
position/have qualification ready for PhD. That’s not always easy, particularly
if an ESR has taken a sidestep into industry and the length of their research
experience is not clear.
■
Residency: The
ESRs can’t be taken on in a country where they’ve been resident for 12 months in the last three
years. The scheme is all about mobility, but it does make it complicated.
●
Demonstrate:
○
Real integration
and mobility. Whilst each doctoral project within the ETN is independent,
they all contribute to an overall aim, and there should be a clear
interrelation between them. For Richard, he took this further and ‘paired’ the
projects in different themes (or ‘work programmes’) and across national borders
to get a sense of integration and engagement between them, of a community being
built. Doing so also encouraged mobility, which is fundamental to the scheme.
Up to 30% of the ESRs time can be spent on secondment.
○
Development of
the next generation: A strong, comprehensive training programme is crucial.
Once again, there needs to be clear integration between the different sites,
and the EC particularly welcomes innovative programmes and events.
○
Public
engagement. You can’t just talk to other academics. The EC expects and demands a strong programme of public
engagement, including such events as the European Researchers’ Night.
○
Interdisciplinarity.
This isn’t always possible, but is a clear benefit for any project.
However, it should ‘make sense’, and not just be a bolt on of contrasting
disciplines.
Understanding the
Assessment
The importance of these is clear when it comes to the
assessment of proposals. Whilst the quality of the proposed research is
important, it’s not everything.
●
Excellence
(50%). This goes beyond you and your track record, and includes the
quality, innovation and credibility of the research and /training programmes,
such as the quality of the supervision, and the interaction between the
participating organisations. There doesn’t necessarily need to be a history of
interaction, but mechanisms need to be in place to encourage interaction
●
Impact (30%)
on next generation of researchers. You need to show that the ETN will enhance
career prospects and employability or researchers, and their ability to
communicate with different audiences. Moreover, you need to show that your
focus will be relevant for some time to come, and that you are developing a
growth area.
●
Quality and
Efficiency of Implementation (20%). This repeats some of the points made in
the first two criteria, but demonstrates the importance the EC places on having
a coherent and effective work plan and appropriate support structures.
Success Rates and
Resubmissions
Richard shared a chart which showed scores and funding cut
offs in the last round.
It was a stark demonstration of how tough it is to get
funding: those in green got funded. In some disciplines you need to score 97.5%
or above. However, the EC does allow resubmissions, and Richard’s story was
salutary: he submitted a previous version of his ETN three times between
2011-2013, then redrafting it, before finally crossing the funding threshold in
2015. Even then he was put on a ‘reserve list’ for 15 months before final
confirmation came through. ‘A good proposal and a slice of fortune is
required,’ he commented wryly.
Final Thoughts
Richard finished with some final reflections and advice
following his experience:
●
Give yourself a lot of time to bring this together
●
Know your consortium
●
Project management is significant
●
Balance the projects and experience for ESR
●
Implementation (management, structures, conflict,
resolution, risk) is important
●
Training excellence is just as important as the
research excellence
'It's very much worth the effort,' he concluded. For others wishing to find out more, 'the next deadline is due in early January 2018. Contact us
if you are planning to apply, and start to think about your network now.
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