Develop your proposal
When you have found your funder you are ready to start developing your proposal. This can be a challenging process, and involves the description of many other things beyond the actual research idea, such as budget, collaborations, impact, and data management. Make sure you start in time! Here we have gathered information relevant to achieving a comprehensive proposal. You are always welcome to contact Research Support for advice and support when developing your proposal.
ADVICE ON HOW TO SUCCEED WITH YOUR GRANT APPLICATION How do you capture the reviewer's interest? What is important to include on the first page of the proposal? How do you make sure that the text is understandable and that the messages are strong? Find answers to these and more questions. This page is only available in English. | |
SUPPORT IN THE WRITING PROCESS For some types of applications, you can get administrative help (for example support letters) and feedback on your proposal from Research Support. Mainly, this regard applications to the Wallenberg Foundations, EU-funders, federal American funders and other funders that require endorsement from the faculty, dean or vice-rector. If you need help with this, make sure to contact us well in advance of the application deadline. The University also has procured consultants that can help you with organizing and writing your application for several large Swedish and European funders. |
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GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT OF YOUR COLLABORATIONS A clear management plan for your project is essential, especially when you have a consortium of collaborators. It is important to ensure that roles, responsibilities, and decision-making are well defined and that aspects like ownership of – and the use of – the project’s results are clear to everyone.
| The management plan describes how the collaboration will be structured and managed to ensure that all partners are engaged and committed to the project’s goals. UU Innovation Partnership Office can help you set up a management plan for your collaboration project. Even for projects where you and your group is the sole applicant, a good project management plan will strengthen your application. Contact the Research Support for advice. |
IMPACT PLANNING A well-presented account of the potential impact of your research results on society is often crucial to a successful application. Research Support, UU Innovation Partnership Office, and UU Innovation can assist you in identifying results from your project that could have an ‘impact’, as well as in describing this in your proposal, showing how the project’s research outcomes will generate value and societal benefit. |
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There are many kinds of intellectual property. UU Innovation can help you to identify your intellectual assets and give guidance on how and what to protect, and what not to disclose in your grant proposal. Managing intellectual property is a crucial part of many project applications. | For projects where it would be beneficial to have a legal entity responsible for the IP (instead of you as an individual researcher), Research Intellectual Property AB (RIPAB) – a subsidiary of the University’s holding company – can be included in the application. UU Innovation Partnership Office can support you in developing a legal framework around your project and provide you with a range of practical tools that can be used to manage your intellectual properties and support your collaborations. |
EVENTS Research Support arranges events that could be helpful in the process of composing an application. |
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| In addition to the obvious costs linked to performing the project, you also need to consider expenses related to salaries (lönebikostnader, LBK), salary increase, indirect costs and premises (overhead) when constructing your budget. Observe that specific budget rules need to be followed in federal American funded projects. |
WHO SUBMITS AND APPROVES THE APPLICATION? In most cases, it is the Head of Department who approves the application and you, as a researcher, who submit it. Check the call text and the funder's application portal well before the deadline, and make sure that you are authorized to submit the application and whether any additional documents need to be signed by the Head of Department.
Some particular funders and calls require the application to be submitted centrally by the University. This applies for example to so-called organizational applications to the Swedish Research Council (e.g., graduate schools, visiting professorships and research infrastructure) and applications to federal American funders. | Others require that the application or a letter of support is signed by the vice-rector or the Vice-Chancellor before the researcher can submit (e.g., Vinnova's Competence Center and the majority of Wallenberg calls). Contact Research Support well before the deadline to get help with this. |
Planning to apply to the Wallenberg Foundations, the EU or American funding agencies?
These funders have particular regulations that you and the university must follow when you apply for and/or receive grants from them. Read more below about what applies to each funder, and make sure to contact Research Support. Research Support also offers extra help in the application process for these funders.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
– other matters that are important to consider
Research data management
Many funders have specific requirements regarding data management. For example, it is common that funders require that a data management plan should be submitted with the application, or should be on file before the project is started (for example the Swedish Research Council). As a researcher at Uppsala University, you have access to support for a range of data management issues. This includes support in constructing data management plans as well as resources for storing, analysing, sharing and publishing research data.
Research conduct and research ethics
When developing your proposal, it is important to consider good research practice and ethics. For example, this means that the research should be designed, carried out, analysed and documented in a careful and well-considered manner and that all partners in research collaborations take responsibility for the integrity of the research. Further, in studies including humans or animals, an ethics account often has to be included in the proposal. Also, make sure to consider whether your human- or animal studies require ethical approval by relevant authorities.
Here you can also find information about handling genetic resources and traditional knowledge (the Nagoya protocol), personal data (GDPR), as well as permits for clinical trials and for research that includes animal experiments, radiation protection, and biobanks. Read more about what applies in research funded by federal American funders here.
National and international research infrastructure
Here you can find information about available university infrastructures that could be beneficial for your research project.
Sex- and Gender Dimensions in Research
Including sex- and gender dimensions in research often improve the quality of research, and several large funding agencies now require inclusion of these dimensions when relevant. We have here compiled important information that will help you decide whether it is relevant and beneficial to include these dimensions in your research.
Export control in research
Uppsala University is obliged to have the requested permits in place if the University exports, transfers, or mediates controlled items with dual-use. Dual-use items include “items, including software and technology, produced for civil use that may also be used in the production of weapons of mass destruction or military equipment.” To export (physically or electronically) a dual-use items out of the EU, you will need export authorization.