#194 Proposal Writing - The Good Story or Technical Details?
Episode siteIn this episode I bring together two vantage points on EU proposal writing: exprienced grant proposal writer Diana Huber and expert evaluator Christine Cieslak. We explore the permanent tension for a proposal writer: focus on creative storytelling or technical aspects - and why the answer isn’t either/or but a disciplined both/and. Diana argues that strong proposals begin before writing with ecosystem scanning, coalition building, and policy alignment, then translate end-user needs into a narrative evaluators can actually follow. She stresses reading the EU policy backbone (from the Lisbon Treaty onwards) and co-creating with stakeholders so the story is recognisable, relevant, and implementable - rather than buzzword-heavy fiction. From the evaluator’s chair, Christine underlines how evaluators look for clarity, truthfulness, and fit: answer what is asked, avoid empty jargon, don’t “fake it”, and choose the right funding line. We discuss Erasmus+ complexity (centralised vs. decentralised lines, word-count limits), myths about “secret tricks”, and the risk of AI-generated prose that can’t be implemented or may breach GDPR. The practical bottom line: define what you will do, why it matters, how you’ll deliver it with your partners—and write so an informed non-specialist can see the logic in limited space.Time codes:00:01:50 Introduction00:05:26 Fly in00:08:30 From the proposal writer’s view00:23:26 From the evaluator’s view00:37:33 The middle ground01:16:01 Advice01:26:28 The tougest challenge
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The Grant Collaboration: #2 RM Framework Series - State-of-the-art in Research Management Trainings
Episode siteIn episode #2 of this RM Framework Series, I have Anna Royon-Weigelt (ZWM - Center for Science and Research Management in Germany) in the virtual podcast studio to outline the current state-of-the-art in research management across Europe. We exchange on how research management roles differ widely between institutions and countries - pre-award vs. post-award boundaries, “third-space” identities, and the reality of leading laterally without formal authority. We also look at the training landscape: rich but fragmented, with overlapping offers, uneven quality signals, and a lack of shared terminology that makes recognition and mobility harder than they should be. We discuss the practical anchors that help bring coherence without forcing uniformity using competence frameworks and learning outcomes to design modular, context-sensitive training; clarifying role profiles to match skills with tasks; and strengthening communities of practice so isolated research management professionals have peers to learn from. This podcast episode is focused on what already works in Europe and how institutions can use those elements now to professionalise research management in a way that fits their context.Time codes:00:02:42 Introduction00:07:07 Fly in00:14:02 Defining the profession00:19:01 Current training landscape00:29:47 Challenges and gaps - RM Framework contribution00:45:03 Towards a common framework00:51:19 Reflections
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#193 Human Skills in Research Management
Episode siteIn this episode, I sit down with Viltaré Platzner, Head of the Centre of EU Projects at the Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava, to talk about the human side of research management. We unpack the real day-to-day: reading people, building trust with PIs and partners, handling silence and conflict in consortia, and staying resilient when Horizon proposals miss by a whisker. Viltaré shares her route into RM, the reality of covering the full project life cycle in a small team, and why empathy, curiosity and boundary-setting matter as much as technical skills.We also take a frank look at professionalisation: how the European competence framework for research managers helps map skills—but can feel abstract or “de-humanised” compared with lived practice. From hiring (often juniors) and mentoring under tight resources, to retaining talent that private consultancies try to poach, Viltaré lays out the Eastern/Central European context, the role of supportive leadership, and why community (EARMA, peer networks) is a lifeline. The episode ends with practical advice: make time for reflection, keep learning, and find your peopleTime codes:00:01:41 Introduction00: 04:10 Fly in00:06:40 Personal skills in practice00:24:25 The competence framework00:43:37 Hiring and training challenges01:01:25 Reflections and advice01:06:22 The toughest challenge
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#192 Facilitating Dissemination and Exploitation - The Widening Series (3)
Episode siteIt is time for another episode in The Widening Series where I have science journalist Thomas Brent as co-host. For this one we have invited Katarzyna Walczyk-Matuszyk - coordinator of the wideraAdvance Facility and long-time advocate for widening participation in EU research - into the virtual podcast studio. Together we zoom in on what dissemination and exploitation (D&E) really look like in the context of widening countries, where visibility, reputation, and research impact are often still being established. We discuss why D&E strategies can’t be one-size-fits-all and how adapting them to the national and institutional context is vital.We also of course have a look at the wideraAdvance Facility project, which supports organisations in strengthening their proposal quality and post-grant impact activities. Thomas shares insights into storytelling and audience targeting, while Katarzyna speaks to the importance of building local ecosystems that can sustain EU-funded innovations. Whether you’re a new institution trying to get into Horizon Europe or a coordinator wondering how to bring your Widening partners into the spotlight, this episode offers concrete tools and reflections to help you get D&E right.Time codes:00:01:50 Introduction00:05:38 Fly in00:06:43 Project introduction, background and motivation00:21:53 Core activities and services00:49:53 Structural challenges in Widening countries01:01:28 Outcomes, policy impact and future potential01:13:39 Outro
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#191 Research Management Series (5): Integrating Impact Thinking
Episode siteIn this fifth episode of the Research Management Shorts Series, I continue my conversation with Stephanie Harfensteller, EU Research Coordinator at FIR an der RWTH Aachen, to explore how you embed sustainability and impact thinking in research strategy. Stephanie shares how her institute aligns all EU funding efforts with a long-term goal: enabling value-creating circular economy systems. She unpacks how impact isn’t just a requirement from the EU, but a guiding compass for institutional strategy, shaping everything from project selection to researcher engagement. We talk about how FIR an der RWTH Aachen incorporates social and environmental dimensions into seemingly technical projects - like finding gender impacts in multimodal transport - and how research managers can act as translators between policy and science. Stephanie also shares concrete strategies for research intelligence: how to identify calls with higher success rates, how to balance strategic fit with academic freedom, and how long-term impact grows from well-aligned project portfolios. It’s a must-listen for research managers aiming to move from compliance to purpose-driven impact.Time codes:00:02:00 Introduction00:04:23 Incorporating impact goals 00:13:31 Strategies for outcomes00: 25:15 Strategies for outcomes
Getting EU funding for your research project idea is great, but the process from project idea to submission of the full proposal is rough and tough. 20.000 proposals are submitted every year and every single one of these preparations goes through many challenges. Most of these challenges have the same overall characteristics, that can be minimized or eliminated by being aware of them already when starting the proposal process. This podcast is for proposals preparers looking for tips, tricks, advice or just an audible pad on the shoulder to deal with the unavoidable tough work
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