innovsup_KSE_Evaluation_selection_support_services

Evaluation & selection of FP7 projects

TitleFriday, 9 October 2009 Katrien Selderslaghs

Sub-title PLACE PARTNER’S LOGO HERE

European Commission Enterprise and Industry

Overview

1. Project submission 2. Evaluation & selection procedure 3. Tips & tricks 4. Your support structures

1. Project submission

Submission of proposals • Fixed structure and rules for proposals: see Guide for Applicants • Online submission: Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPSS), via CORDIS Some parts reserved for coordinator, others need to be completed by partners Æ communication!

Modifications possible until “Submission”

Eligibility checks Checked by the Commission: Receipt before deadline • Firm deadlines

Minimum number of partners • As set out in work programme and the call

Completeness of proposal • Presence of all requested forms

“Out of scope” • A proposal will only be deemed ineligible in clear cut cases

Other criteria may apply on a call-by-call basis • Eg. budget limits

2. Evaluation & selection process

Overview of the evaluation process

Submission

Individual reading

Consensus

Panel

Proposal

Evaluators

Evaluators

Evaluators

Final ranking list

Criteria

Rejection list

Eligibility check

Criteria

Criteria

Finalisation

Proposals in suggested priority order COMMISSION

COMMISSION

External Experts

External experts • Expert evaluators are at the heart of the FP system • They provide independent, impartial and objective advice to the Commission Æ they represent neither their employer, nor their country

• They can also add value to projects through your comments and suggestions • The integrity of the process is crucial (Code of Conduct with principles of confidentiality, absence of conflict of interest...)

Expert evaluation

IER

Proposal X copy 1

expert 1

Proposal X copy 2

Proposal X copy 3

IER

Consensus meeting

expert 2

IER expert 3

IER: Individual assessment report CR: Consensus Report

CR 3 experts

The criteria • Criteria adapted to each funding scheme and each thematic area Æ specified in the work programme

• Three main criteria: S&T Quality (relevant to the topic of the call) • Concept, objective, work-plan Implementation NB: Applicants are not required to provide detailed breakdown • Management of costs • Individual participants and consortium as a whole • Allocation and justification of resources Impact • Contribution to expected impacts listed in work programme Refer • Plans for dissemination/exploitation to WP!

Scoring • Each criterion is scored 0-5 half-scores are used Scores must pass thresholds if a proposal is to be considered for funding

• Thresholds apply to individual criteria…

Default threshold is 3

• …and to the total score: higher than the sum of the individual thresholds Default threshold is 10

• Can vary from call-to-call!

Interpretation of scores 0 The proposal fails to address the criterion under examination or cannot be judged due to missing or incomplete information

1 - Poor The criterion is addressed in an inadequate manner, or there are serious inherent weaknesses.

2 - Fair While the proposal broadly addresses the criterion, there are significant weaknesses.

3 - Good The proposal addresses the criterion well, although improvements would be necessary.

4 - Very Good The proposal addresses the criterion very well, although certain improvements are still possible.

5 - Excellent The proposal successfully addresses all relevant aspects of the criterion in question. Any shortcomings are minor.

Consensus • •

•

Built on the basis of the individual evaluations The aim is agreement on scores and comments: involves a discussion and is not just a simple average Moderated by a commission staff-member • • •

•

helps the group to reach a conclusion provides information if necessary does not contribute with opinions!

Assessment of the proposal and feedback on weaknesses & strengths

The Final Panel • To ensure overall consistency • Produces final marks and comments for each proposal Evaluation Summary Reports (ESR)

• Suggests ranking: list of proposals, with recommendations for priority order (prioritisation of proposals with identical consensus scores) • Clear guidance for contract negotiation

Negotiation • The Commission will: Send invitation to negotiate to the coordinator, or Send rejection letter with feedback

• Indicative timing of your project: T T+4 months T+9 months T+15 months T+18 months

Call publication Call closure Start of Evaluation process End of Evaluation Start of Negociations Start of first projects Start of last projects

3. Tips & Tricks

Tips & tricks (1) • Respect eligibility criteria Deadline (Electronic Proposal Submission System!)

Format requirements Funding tresholds

• Evaluators have limited time : be straight to the point, clear and consistent (measurable deliverables and milestones) and think about the presentation!

• Be clear: write for a non-specialist

Tips & tricks (2) • Analyse what the Commission wants : see work programme and related policies (EU interest!)

• Offer good value for money (budget) • You must score on all criteria, as there is fierce competition • Importance of impact & dissemination

Connect to the process!

• List of evaluators 2007 – 2008, per programme and per theme: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/experts_en.html • Always shortage of evaluators: become 1 yourself! Æ Good way to: • get to know the system • network • learn from other projects

• Registration as an evaluator: https://cordis.europa.eu/emmfp7

4. Your support structures

Your FP7 support structures ÆYou need information about FP7 ? ÆYou need assistance with your FP7 project ? ÆYou want to be part of an FP7 project ? ÆYou are looking for partners for your FP7 project ?

Your support structures: CORDIS National Contact Points Enterprise Europe Network

CORDIS: dedicated FP7 website

CORDIS contents http://cordis.europa.eu • General news & information • Calls & supporting documents • Legal documents • Guidance documents • Partner search • EPSS (Electronic Proposal Submission System) • National contact points (NCP’s)...

NCP’s: FP7-specific support structure • Inform & assist people free of charge with FP7 • “Intermediary” between EC & FP7 participants • Thematic responsibility • In every member state, all associated states and in some third countries • List of NCP’s: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ncp_en.html

Tools of the NCP • Experience • Priviliged relationship with Commission • Member of international networks: Harmonised quality of services Transnational networking Æ NCP Energy: C-Energy project Æ NCP Environment: Together project

What a NCP can do for you Assistance with: • • • • • • •

Project idea validation Proposal preparation Consortium building Legal, financial & IPR issues Proposal submission Project negotiation Project implementation

...but what about valorisation of your R&D results?

NCP’s in Belgium Flanders IWT http://www.europrogs.be

Wallonia UWE http://www.ncpwallonie.be

Brussels Brussels Enterprise Agency http://www.abe-bao.be Federal STIS (Scientific and Technical Information Service) http://www.stis.fgov.be

French Community FNRS (Fonds de la Recherche Scientifique) http://www1.frs-fnrs.be

Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) • Network funded by the European Commission • Local implantation • Specific support structure for CIP, but also... …free information and support services for other European programmes, EU-legislation, partnering, innovation etc.

• Focus on SMEs, but also open to other businesses, universities, associations, etc.

EEN in Belgium Enterprise Europe Vlaanderen http://ae.vlaanderen.be/html_afdelingen/enterprise.html

Wallonie Europe http://www.wallonieeurope.be

Enterprise Europe Brussels http://www.brusselsnetwork.be

Brussels Enterprise Agency Tour & Taxis Havenlaan 86C, b. 211 1000 Brussels Website: http://www.bea.irisnet.be http://www.brusselsnetwork.be Katrien Selderslaghs FP7 National Contact Point EEN Advisor kse@bea.irisnet.be Tel: 02/800 00 60