[2] Back up services after awards

Preparation of technical annexesReview of Consortium AgreementsProject managementDevelopment of Exploitation Plans Intellectual Asset ManagementTrouble-shooting with  project management

HELIX’s consultants run  training workshops on proposal preparation and project management. These workshops have a strong element of case studies based on successful FP6 projects. We also use unsuccessful ones to show you what not to do!!!

Helix provides direct in-depth support to researchers on project development, all aspects of EU R&D proposal writing and in the development of funding strategies that optimize the use of as many as possible elements of the EU funding system.The senior consultants in Helix have over twenty years of experience of working with universities and research institutes across Europe on preparing European R&D proposals. We also work extensively on other types of nationally funded proposals that are sent for international evaluation. We assist both first-time EU applicants and experienced coordinators, who have had many previous successes.Many of the senior researchers that we work with have long and extensive experience within previous Framework Programmes, either as partners in projects or as coordinators. They make use of our support services to save themselves time, especially on the non-scientific parts of EU proposals, but also in adapting to the new criteria and rules that are introduced at the start of each new Framework Programme.Many of the institutions that we are now working with have been using our support services for more than ten years on retaining contracts. They do this because we have a proven success rate across a wide range of disciplines and because we provide an in depth support services often at short deadlines and outside office hours.  We have assisted over 200 research groups and individual researchers to develop successful long term funding strategies using the full spectrum of European funding sources in FP6.Our consultants also work with individual researchers and groups on a project-by-project basis.  In each case, our objective is to assist the coordinators as much as possible in those ways that are most useful to them personally, so that they can focus their time and attention on the scientific core of their proposals.If our clients are involved in the proposals led by others, but will gain funding when the proposals succeed, we also are happy to work with project coordinators, who are based in other institutions, to develop EU research proposals.  There has been a steady increase in the demand for this form of indirect support during FP5 and FP6. This operational approach has worked well and has led to many additional successes. Helix Advisory Services works across all the main thematic areas of the EU Framework programme. We also have a good track record in assisting researchers with successful proposals in the Marie Curie Actions and for the funding of Research Infrastructures.In FP7 we are the most successful  consultancy in advising on the highly competitive European Research Council awards.Our international experience includes working since the early 1990’s with universities and other research institutions in Denmark [Copenhagen, KVL, DTU, and Aarhus], Sweden [Lund Goteborg, Uppsala, Stockholm, and KTH], France [TIMA Grenoble, MHN Paris], Spain [MHN Madrid, Zaragosa, and Barcelona], Belgium [Liege], Italy [Turin] and Israel [Weizmann Institute, HUJ and BGU]. Over the past four years we have begun to work with a number of Max Planck institutes on an Integrated Project, on Marie Curie Research Training Networks and on a Future and Emerging Technologies-Open Domain-STREP [see section 5 below]. Helix has also provided training seminars on how to prepare and manage FP7 Proposals. The next such seminar for MPI is due  be in Berlin in September 2008 . 

Helix can provide assistance at any point in the development of a proposal.  This ranges from being involved early in the project development right through to immediately pre-deadline “external” reviews. Whenever possible we like to be involved as early as possible in the proposal development as it is often possible for us to contribute constructive suggestions and comments which save the coordinators a great deal of time in these initial phases.  This is particularly true for the early phases of the larger proposals, such as Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence.  Most coordinators have a very clear idea of the partners, who they want to have in their consortia, but in some cases it may be necessary to find additional partners in other disciplines or with specific expertise not covered by the core group or from industry. We will assist with this process and provide advice on the balance of the consortium.Early discussions on the structure and strategy for a project can also be useful in ensuring that the proposal is directly relevant to the call for proposals.  If invited to do so, we will attend early planning meetings and advise on the detailed interpretation of the call and the way in which any additional strategic or technical issues should be handled.  Many coordinators find that it is useful to have an “independent” adviser deal with some of the operational questions raised by their prospective partners.We will then assist the coordinator with all aspects of the development of the proposal by supplying drafts of key non-scientific sections of the proposal such as those on Relevance, European Added Value, Project management, Dissemination and IPR strategy, Gender issues and ethics. These drafts are tailored directly to the specific needs of the scope and size of each individual project.The development of the research proposed rests firmly with the coordinator and the other senior scientists involved.  Helix will advise on the planning and scheduling of this work and the integration of contributions from partners. At appropriate points in the development of the work plans, we will provide “external” reviews of the proposal as a whole, so that the coordinator can anticipate possible criticisms that may be made by the real evaluators.  Coordinators often find these pre-submission evaluations very useful as they enable adjustments to be made in aspects of the presentation of the science in ways that will help the proposal optimize its scoring against the EU evaluation criteria. This is done on the basis of our long experience of the EU evaluation systems. Many proposals that we have worked on in FP6 have been amongst the highest scoring in their respective areas.The development of strong proposals is an iterative process with many informal email exchanges. We will give prompt responses to any questions that arise and offer solutions to problems as they occur.If a proposal succeeds we will provide assistance with the negotiations with the Commission and with the preparation of the Technical Annex to the contract.Helix does not normally get directly involved in Project management, but we will work with project managers to set up appropriate management systems and will assist with the annual reports submitted to the Commission. We will also assist coordinators with the quick resolution of any consortium or contractual problems that may arise.Specialist assistance can be provided by Helix consultants with the preparation and negotiation of Consortium Agreements and with the development of IPR strategies, where these are needed.  

The main Helix consultant working with Max Planck Institutes will be Gavin Thomson. He is originally an economist by training with a particular interest in the economics of change and the impacts of research and technology. He has always worked in a research and development environment initially with Imperial Chemical Industries and then with Unilever, before returning to work in research support in universities. He has over 20 years experience of working with researchers within universities. He has been an EU R&D consultant since 1987. He has worked with more than 20 UK universities. Outside the UK, he has been working on a long-term basis with the Universities of Copenhagen, Stockholm, Uppsala, Goteborg and Lund, amongst others. He has also assisted five leading Natural History Museums, those in London, Paris, Madrid, Copenhagen and Stockholm. The first work that he did with the Max Planck was assisting with preparation of the Integrated Project for the Max Planck Institute of Developmental Biology in Tübingen. He has a strong record of helping researchers submit very highly ranked projects in both basic and applied research across all the main thematic areas of the EU Framework programmes.Professor Dr Grant Reid is a plant biochemist, who has both led EU projects himself and has assisted others in the submission of successful proposals mainly in biotechnology, environment and Marie Curie programmes. He has worked with major public research institutes and large companies as well as in universities.In September 2006, we will have new member joining the team with a background in advanced materials. He is returning from the US, where he has been working on NSF and other funding proposals in nanotechnology.Gillian MacFadzen is an expert on technology transfer and IPR and advises on these aspects of proposals and then on the post award follow-up on the preparation of consortium agreements and related issues. 

Helix has an information support unit that collates the latest information on the EU programmes and provides detailed background information both formal and informal from a wide range of sources. This includes information about the way the evaluation criteria are being applied and any shift with ways that proposals are being handled. Enquiries may be sent to info.unit@helix.eu.com  

Zebrafish Models for Human Development and Disease - Integrated project Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology, Tübingen.   Contact: Dr robert.geisler@tuebingen.mpg.deFuture and Emerging Technologies STREP MOLDYNLOGIC - Molecular Logic Machines by Electronic Excitation and Inter- and Intra- Molecular Quantum Dynamics coordinated by University of Liege with the Max-Planck-Institute for Quantum Optics, Garching. Contact: Dr Francoise Remacle Signalpath - University of Córdoba, Department of Genetics coordinating the Interdisciplinary Research Training Network with the Max-Planck-Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Marburg. This proposal succeeded in the most competitive call for Interdisciplinary RTNs in FP6. Contact: Dr "Antonio Di Pietro"  

The following are illustrative of the many successful proposals and the different types of projects that we have worked on in FP6. Helix has assisted in the preparation of more than 200 successful proposals in FP6. The numbers are already growing in FP7!!European Consortium for Stem Cell Research - EuroStemCell - Integrated Project. Originally this proposal was led from the University Lund and then the co-ordinatorship of the project once approved was transferred to Edinburgh after Lund received major Swedish award. It is now being coordinated from the University of Cambridge. Contact: Professor Anders.Bjorklund@mphy.lu.seEDIT - Toward the European Distributed Institute of Taxonomy - Network of Excellence – Global Climate and Change This NoE involves 19 Natural History Museums and other research partners. It was an interesting proposal as it pushed the boundaries of NoE towards the structure of an Integrated Project with a large proportion of the funding for mainstream research rather than networking. NHM London also led the top ranked I3-Integrated Infrastructures Initiative under the Infrastructures programme and has been awarded 20 Marie Curie fellowships in FP6. Contact "Vanessa Pike" PLATO-N - A PLAtform for Topology Optimisation incorporating Novel, Large-Scale, Free Material Optimisation and Mixed Integer Programming Methods - Aeronautics – A STREP led by the Danish Technological University Contact: Dr "Martin P. Bendsoee"

CONTRAST - A multidisciplinary alliance to optimize schistosomiasis control and transmission surveillance in sub-Saharan Africa  - an INCO DEV STREP. Dr Thomas K. Kristensen, Head of the Mandahl-Barth Research Centre for Biodiversity and Health at the Danish Institute for Health Research and Development. Contact: Dr  tkkristensen@dblnet.dk

PLUREL – Peri-urban Land Use Relationships – Strategies and Sustainability Assessment Tools for urban-rural linkages. Recently awarded IP under Global  Climate and Change, which is currently negotiation. Contact "Kjell Nilsson"

References for other types of  FP7  projects and infrastructures can be given upon request. 

Apart from mainstream projects, we have had a top three ITN and 3 out of the top ten Infrastuture awards [I3] recently awarded.