This document describes a proposal preparation and project management software called EMDESK that supports the entire lifecycle of projects funded by the European Union's Framework Programme 7 (FP7). It allows researchers to efficiently plan, write, and collaborate on FP7 proposals. If funded, it then helps manage the project with features for scheduling, reporting, budgeting, and communicating between project partners. The software aims to maximize resources for scientific work while providing transparency and flexibility in project coordination according to FP7 guidelines.

1. Proposal Writing and Project Management for the European Research Framework Programme 7 (FP7)
Increase efficiency - Focus on research

2. Proposal Writing and Management
The EMDESK® Proposal Preparation Module Structure and work together on your Proposal
Benefit from an extensive support for the FP7 funding schemes (IP, STREP, NoE, CA, SA,
makes planning, structuring and writing of etc.) during the set-up of the project's work plan with milestones and deliverables. Easily
FP7 proposals efficient, fast and reliable. The structure the partner list and invite collaborators to share work on task descriptions. Edit
application offers a set of features that information, to plan resources / staff efforts and budgets including requested EC funding.
support the project consortium at the project
Work together on the descriptive Part B
idea and proposal phase. The EMDESK® ®
EMDESK enables a more efficient collaboration on Part B. The entire consortium is able
Proposal Preparation Module is free of charge to view, restructure, edit and respond to the latest version. Reviews and approvals are
for the whole consortium. steamlined for the coordinator, so efficiency increases for all project partners.
Calculations are consistent and up to date
®
With EMDESK , calculation and fine-tuning of budgets become simpler, more flexible and
scalable to any project size. In full compliance with the FP7 funding rules, budgets and EC
fundings are computed instantly for the project and each partner, activity type and cost
category on base of allocated person months and personal cost rates. The required
financial information for the FORM A are prepared for each partner - ready for transfer to
the EPSS.
Negotiation Module and Description of Work
Without further input, proposal information can be exported to the Technical Annex or
modified according to further requirements. The generic project schedule is turned into a
calendar based schedule that provides deadlines in the project management phase for
reports, deliverable submissions and review dates.

3. Project Implementation and Management
Based on the approved Description of Work, Project and Partner Controlling
®
®
the EMDESK Project Management Module EMDESK helps to control the project status, deliverable preparation, milestones
achievement, recorded resources and costs. The role-based Gantt Chart provides a total
offers an unprecedented array of support for overview of the progress, responsibilities and used resources. Best of all, the user-based
controlling, reporting and collaboration. The email reminder notifies of upcoming deadlines.
application keeps your research project on
Progress and Staff Effort Reporting
track, in particular, according to deadlines, The reporting enables collaborative preparation of interim and periodic reports. At a
costs and resources; and assists to submit glance each partner sees which staff effort declarations or progress descriptions are
reports and deliverables accurately and on required. A base plan and history of previous reports are always provided. The report
monitor assists the coordinator to control and follow up the progress.
time to the European Commission.
Financial Management and Cost Reporting
Each partner can easily record incurred expenses during a period and the requested EC
®
contribution or indirect costs are calculated instantly. EMDESK prepares the required
financial information and generates documents for the upload to FORCE.
Deliverable Management
The deliverable preparation scheduler keeps the consortium on track for meeting the
submission deadline, summarizes documents linked to the deliverable and notifies the
deliverable leader.
Maintain and redesign the Plan Basis (DoW)
The maintenance function in the Project Management Module helps to adapt the
Description of Work to changes in the consortium or work plan, and to provide contract
amendments to the Commission. The plan basis can be changed as soon the
Commission approves.

4. Export Ready-for-Submission Documents
®
EMDESK generates the required documents Export of the Proposal in the Proposal Preparation Module
At any time a complete and actual proposal can be generated. The proposal can be
based on the actual project status. All downloaded for further steamlining in all major word processing software like
documents can be downloaded to the Microsoft® Word™.
desktop and are ready for submission,
consistent and in full accordance with the FP7 Export of the Description of Work in the Negotiation Module
Without further input, the EMDESK® Negotiation Module converts the proposal to a
guidelines. Moreover, the entire project plan Description of Work document that can be downloaded for further editing in all major
®
and actual data are available in Microsoft word processing software like Microsoft® Word™.
™
Excel .
Export of Interim and Periodic Reports, Cost Claims and Financial Summary in the
Project Implementation & Management Module
At any time the required reports and financial forms are generated automatically and
can be downloaded to the desktop. EMDESK® exports ready-for-submission interim
and periodic reports, cost statements and financial reports for further streamlining in all
major word processing or calculation software like Microsoft® Word™ or Excel™.

5. ®
Benefits from EMDESK
®
EMDESK is a state-of-the-art application for From Proposal Writing to Project Management
®
Proposal Writing and Project Management EMDESK provides an integrated solution throughout the entire life cycle of FP7 projects
- from proposal preparation, project management, reporting and collaborative editing to
that provides a comprehensive set of tools communication and groupware features.
that make application, administration and
reporting easier for the whole consortium. Integrated and consistent solution
®
EMDESK uniquely keeps all information from the start until the end of a project life cycle
® without media break and the necessity to re-enter data in a later phase of the project.
EMDESK supports researchers in the
creation of project proposals, adaptation of Correct and reliable
®
the Technical Annex during the negotiation Employ Best Practice methodology and an efficient work flow - EMDESK is developed
®
phase and in the administration of the project in close cooperation with FP7 coordinators. EMDESK is in full accordance with the FP7
guidelines providing correct calculations and complete information for meeting the EC
execution. The application also provides a requirements.
Description of Work update mode to
accomodate amendments during project Secure and confidential
®
changes and the creation of reports that have EMDESK is committed to provide the highest standard of security and confidentiality.
The application is built on a secure architecture with strict physical and legal data-
to be submitted throughout a project. protection rules.
Communicate and collaborate
Designed to provide a one-tool solution, EMDESK® comes up with an extensive
document manager and facilitates collaboration, feedback and approval among project
partners.

6. www.emdesk.com Contact
EMDESK® helps to maximise resources for your core scientific and EMDESK GmbH
technological work and, at the same time, provides increased Peterstraße 5 49/51, Rue de Trèves
flexibility, precision and transparency in project coordination and D-99084 Erfurt B-1040 Brussels
management. Take advantage of unrivalled FP7 project coordination Germany Belgium
support for efficiency and workflow enhancements of your research Email: contact@emdesk.com
activities. Internet: www.emdesk.com