How to succeed with EU funding? Two researchers share their best advice

How to succeed with EU funding? Two researchers share their best advice

EU funding helps finance both fundamental and strategic research, strengthens international collaboration and gives researchers access to some of the world's leading research environments. At the same time, it serves as a mark of quality, demonstrating that research can compete at the highest international level.

• EU funding provides excellent coverage of our actual costs, including the salaries of associate professors, professors and other permanent staff. It also gives us access to valuable international networks that not only strengthen research collaboration but also enhance our recruitment efforts and our international reputation. This, in turn, creates further opportunities, including attracting the very best international students, says Henrik Bindslev, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering.

But what does it actually take to secure European research funding?
According to Professor Morten Birkved and Professor Emad Samuel Malki Ebeid, there is no secret formula. However, their experience points to four recurring ingredients: strong ideas, patience, hard work and solid networks.

Start small

For Emad Samuel Malki Ebeid, the path to EU funding is about developing ideas step by step.

• It is not a one-shot process. I begin by testing my ideas through local funding opportunities. If they receive support, it gives me the confidence to invest more time in developing them. From there, they can mature through national funding programmes before they are ready for European applications, he explains.

According to Emad Samuel Malki Ebeid, believing in your own idea is essential.

If the idea is good, it is also much easier to communicate. That makes it easier to bring collaborators on board because they can also see its potential, he says.

It’s not about luck

The legendary Swedish tennis player Björn Borg once said, "People say I am lucky. It's funny – the more I practise, the luckier I get."

Emad Samuel Malki Ebeid could not agree more. He emphasises that successful applications are not the result of chance, but of thorough preparation and hard work.

"There is no luck involved. You have to be ready and able to demonstrate that others have already believed in your idea by securing local and national funding for it. That puts you in a much stronger position when applying for European grants," he says.

Be ready when opportunity knocks

The conclusion is simple: as every Scout knows, you need to be prepared. According to Morten Birkved, many EU projects begin with an unexpected email from an international consortium.

• Suddenly, someone is looking for a partner, and there may only be a few days until the application deadline. You have to be willing to put in the extra hours when that happens, he says, adding that securing the first grant is often the biggest hurdle.
• Once you are part of the system and you deliver high-quality work, you become part of a network. People get to know your expertise, and they begin inviting you to participate in new projects, he explains.

The rewards are well worth the effort.

• You get the opportunity to work with some of the world's leading researchers. At the same time, you can recruit PhD students and postdoctoral researchers and build an even stronger research environment. What's not to like?, says Morten Birkved.

Four pieces of advice from two experienced researchers

Based on their experience, the two researchers offer four key recommendations:

• Develop your ideas through local and national funding before applying for EU grants.
• Believe in your idea – and be able to communicate its value to others.
• Be prepared to go the extra mile when opportunities arise.
• Be a reliable collaborative partner – strong networks create new opportunities.