This document summarizes tips for avoiding common pitfalls when writing grant applications for Innovate UK funding. It introduces the speaker as an experienced chemical engineer and grant writer. The speaker outlines key parts of the application form and process, emphasizing the importance of structuring answers to directly address the specific questions, using space efficiently, ensuring consistency, and following all formatting guidelines. Successful applications typically score over 75 out of 100 total points from multiple assessors. The speaker advises discussing projects with advisors early, leaving time to prepare thorough applications, getting reviews from others, and answering every part of the questions to maximize scoring.

1. BBSRC Bioscience
for Industry
Meeting
Nick Bassett
Lead
Technologist,
Biosciences
September 2014
Writing grant applications
-Avoiding common pitfalls
Belfast Kris Wadrop, Director,
KREW Environmental Ltd
December 2014

2. The aim is to:
•Qualify myself
•Introduce the grant form
•Highlight some pitfalls
•Feedback

3. InvestNIand Innovate UK –Working Together
Belfast 2ndDecember 2014
Qualified?
•Chemical Engineer –Fellow of IChemE
•Blue Chip background with ICI
•Worked in SME’s since 2006
•Written >12 grants applications to Innovate UK from £5k to £1m
–Thematic calls
–Smart Awards
–Innovation Vouchers
•Success rate ~30%
•Innovate UK Assessor since 2010
–Assessed 10 competitions
–Sat on 4 Assessment Panels

4. Application Form
•10 marked questions;
•Up to 10 points per question;
•Fixed format form;
•Size of form usually dictated by competition (1 paragraph or 1 page per question)

5. •A brief summary of the project, the market and what you hope to achieve;
•How your project fits within the competition scope –if in doubt check with your KTN/InvestNIor Innovate UK

6. •Loads of white space – premium real estate!
•Structuring your answers;
•Read the Guidance for Applicants;
•Fixed format:
–Fixed font, text size, no special functions, no tables, bullets etc

7. Structuring your answers
•Each question is described in the GFA;
•Treat the application as an exam paper:
–Answer the questions asked
–Additional info, whilst interesting may not score points whilst taking up precious real estate

8. Nuts and Bolts
•Ensure figures match up throughout the form;
•Transparency = credibility;
•Overheads, labour, depreciation, consumables, expenses, etc

9. Appendices
•Free form word or pdf documents;
•Answer the question in the application, the Appendices are for additional info/pictures etc;
•Use formatting rules given in the GFA.
•Stick to page limits;
•The bigger the project the more back-up info will likely be required;
•Everything must be legible at 100% zoom

10. Assessments
•Every application is assessed by 3-5 assessors;
•Some assessors are technical experts, some are generalists, some academics and some from industry;
•All have opinions and a wealth of experience;
•Assessors are human;
•Not Innovate UK employees;
•Making their life easier is likely to result in higher scores;
•Plain English with minimum abbrev’s and TLA’s.

11. Feedback and Scores
•Successful grants typically score >75/100

12. Preparing and Submitting a grant application
•Outline a project/budget/partners and discuss with KTN/InvestNI to confirm it meets call requirements;
•Leave time to prepare the application (typically 4-6 weeks elapsed time);
•Compiled by one person, but ensure it represents the full consortium;
•Get it reviewed by someone that didn’t write it;
•Follow the naming structures and formats dictated in the GFA;
•Stick to the question asked;
•Respect the space in the form and use it evenly between the questions;
•Don't make unqualified statements;
•The scoring is defined in a matrix, if you don’t answer all the parts of the question, you can’t score all of the points.
•Check the GFA (_CONNECT)

13. Thank youwww.innovateuk.org
Krew.environmental@gmail.com
07870 802492