Toolkit for developing major research bids

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Dr Kirsty Collinge, Strategic Research Executive at Edinburgh Research Office (ERO), is the lead author of a new mini-series on the ERO blog looking into developing major research bids. Here Bulletin shares her first post.

A number of bottles filled with clear liquid.

Developing a competitive major research bid is a considerable undertaking, requiring investigators to finely balance competing priorities of time, people and resources. The content and quality of your proposal will ultimately determine whether your research idea is funded, so it’s important that you have a comprehensive understanding of what is required from the outset.

Toolkit

ERO has developed a toolkit for developing major research bids, packed full of materials, resources, and tools to help embed and extend your knowledge and learning. Make sure to follow or bookmark the SharePoint site for easy access to the toolkit, and to stay up to date with the latest content.

Major Research Bids Toolkit | Homepage

Blog series

There is also a ten-part blog series which ran alongside the launch of the toolkit.  This aimed to maximise your chances of developing a winning proposal by setting out the key components of major research bids, including common pitfalls and challenges, as well as characteristics of success.

Each week we explored a new topic or area of importance, covering a range of practical and strategic issues, as well as best practice and lessons learned. We heard from a range of subject matter experts on themes such as research culture, and impact and innovation, as well as from principal investigators and research support professionals who have lived to tell the tale.

You can visit the mini-series spotlight on the ERO blog to read all posts published in this series.

ERO Blog | Major Research Bids Mini-Series 

Who is it for?

These resources are aimed at:

  • Experienced investigators starting out on their journey toward submitting a winning major research bid,
  • Research leaders with prior experience of crafting major research bids, but who wish to strengthen their knowledge in one or more areas of competence, and
  • Research development professionals involved in supporting major research bids.

What are major research bids?

Major research bids submitted by University of Edinburgh researchers are typically:

  • High-value – upwards of £3 million, with £5 to 10 million being the norm for those with a STEM focus.
  • Long-term – ranging from four to five years in duration.
  • Collaborative – more than 75 per cent of proposals involve at least two external partners.
  • Interdisciplinary – two thirds include researchers from more than one School or College.

Hear directly from those who lived to tell the tale

On the toolkit you will also find recently published case studies focusing on lived experiences from those who have gone through the process of developing a major research bid.  Researchers, research professionals and funders share their tips for crafting a winning bid, offer advice for those starting out on their major funding journey, and highlight the pitfalls you should avoid.

Major Research Bids | Case Studies

Photography: Sam Sills