Strengthen each section of your grant application

Place the project in a broader context and set out the problem in the introduction.

Begin your project plan with a brief, descriptive introduction to the purpose and objectives (maximum half a page) that places your project and your objectives in a broader context. The introduction should help the reviewer understand why the project is needed.

Introduce the problem and the knowledge gap.

• What problem are you addressing?
• What do we know about the problem (in brief)?
• What knowledge gaps exist?
• Why is it important to fill these gaps?

Assume that the reviewer is not an expert in your specific field. You therefore need to familiarise the reviewer with the subject without going into detail at this stage. You will elaborate on the details later in the project plan.

After reading the introduction, it should be clear to the reader why the project is needed.

Writing an engaging first page for your project plan

Formulate clear aims and objectives that fill knowledge gaps and solve problems.

Formulate clear aims and objectives. The introduction should lead logically to your aim and objectives. Your aim and objectives should fill knowledge gaps and provide the logical solution – in the short or long term – to the problem you have presented in the introduction.

How to strengthen this section:

• Limit the number of objectives to around 3–4
• Present the objectives in bullet points
• Show how the objectives are linked
• Link each objective to the knowledge gap

Particularly effective:

• A simple overview diagram can help the reviewer quickly understand the project’s structure and logic.

The purpose and objectives, together with the introduction to the purpose and objectives, form the crucial first page of the project plan.

Writing an engaging first page for the project plan

Position your project in relation to the current and relevant state of the art.

Describe the current state of research. Select previous research that is directly relevant to your aim and objectives. This is not a comprehensive literature review — but rather an argument for why your project is needed.

Focus on:

• Research that is directly relevant to your aim and objectives
• What is known today
• What is still missing
• How your project contributes something new

Be clear about:

• what constitutes your own research
• what constitutes the findings of others

The purpose of the ‘current state of research’ section is to show what we know so far in a way that highlights the gaps in our knowledge. Much of the focus in this section should therefore be on what we do not know.

Make sure you include references that support the claims you make in the introduction to your purpose and objectives.

Demonstrate the project’s scientific and societal significance.

Explain why the project is important for research and society:

• what difference the project can make
• what new opportunities the results will open up
• what makes the project innovative
• why your particular approach is likely to succeed

Why is your project important? What new avenues will your results open up for the research community?

Clearly describe what is expected to emerge from a successful project. Significance may include new knowledge, a new method, new guidelines, or a new product or service.

Highlight the innovative aspects of your research. What makes your project stand out – and be superior – compared to previous work?

Why will you succeed if similar attempts have been made before? Describe which piece(s) of the jigsaw within the wider field of research your project will fill.

Bear in mind:

• The focus should be on the development of research and society — not on your own career.

Strengthen the credibility of the project with preliminary results or relevant background data.

Preliminary results or background data (published or unpublished) that support your new research idea demonstrate that the project is feasible and that the predictions are well-founded. They also show that you, as Principal Investigator (PI), have the experience required to carry out the proposed project.

Preliminary data can demonstrate:

• that the method works
• that the hypothesis is plausible
• that you have the right expertise and resources

Good to include:

• clear figures and illustrations
• pilot data
• unpublished results that strengthen the project’s credibility

In some cases, it may even be worth postponing your grant application to allow time to gather more data supporting your idea and the feasibility of the project. High-quality illustrations (figures, images, etc.) are often important for conveying unpublished data.

Demonstrate that the project is feasible by providing a clear project description.

The project description should convince the reviewer that the plan is well thought out and feasible. The project description often forms a large part of the project plan. This is where you should describe what you will actually be doing in the project.

Structure it according to the project objectives

For each objective:

• what needs to be done
• how it will be done
• what resources will be used
• what results are expected

It is important to show:

• what has already been prepared
• what remains to be done
• that the timetable is realistic

Maintain the right level of detail:

• Too much detail risks causing confusion
• Too little detail can create uncertainty

Also, use the same (or very similar) wording as you use in the ‘Purpose and Objectives’ section. It is a good idea to conclude each objective with a brief description of the result or outcome you expect. This is particularly important if an objective builds on the results of a previous one.

Explain clearly how you plan to achieve your objectives, including what resources (collaborators, laboratory, equipment, etc.) you have at your disposal to succeed. Be clear in distinguishing between what has already been done to prepare for the project and what is yet to be done. You also need to convince the assessor that your plan is feasible within the specified timeframe.

Do not be too specific or too broad in your description of what you plan to do. Too many details may simply confuse the assessor, who is unlikely to be an expert in your particular field.

The important thing is to convey that you know what you are talking about and that you have the knowledge and resources to lead this project.

Remember the risk analysis

Describe:

• possible obstacles
• alternative strategies (plan B)

What is your plan B? Analyse the risks and describe what you will do if something does not go as planned.

A clear project description helps the reader

A clear and credible project description helps the reviewer to quickly understand:

• why the project is needed
• why it is important
• why you, in particular, are capable of carrying it out

Prioritise clarity, structure and logic throughout the description.