The sessions are held in either Swedish or English, depending on what you prefer. Individual sessions, or combinations thereof, can be arranged at any time of the year in agreement with The Research Support and Collaboration Office.
Are you interested?
Please contact us at rso@umu.se
We will then agree with you on a suitable time and place/collaboration platform.
For example, we can help you get a better idea of different funders' calls and application processes or hone your research plan.
Photo: Malin Grönborg
Seminars for Researchers
The seminars are open to researchers in all disciplines and career stages, unless otherwise stated. They require no preparation, and are suitable for 5–50 participants.
American Federal Research Funding
There are great opportunities to receive research funding from American federal funding bodies, such as the National Institute of Health (NIH). However, it is important to be aware of the differences between funding rules in the United States and Sweden, as well as local rules at Umeå University, before an application can be submitted.
Purpose: To prepare researchers for writing grant applications to American foundations. We will guide participants in finding and understanding calls, and in handling both the application process and finances based on the rules of the funding body and Umeå University.
The European Research Council (ERC)
The ERC offers career grants for researchers divided into three grant schemes: Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grant. The idea is that researchers, regardless of career stage, should be given the chance to focus on their research idea for five years. Applications to the ERC are assessed based upon the scientific excellence of both the researcher and his or her research proposal.
Purpose: To prepare researchers for writing grant applications to the ERC. We will guide participants in finding and understanding calls, and in handling both the application process and finances based on the rules of the EU and Umeå University.
Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) Mobility Programs – IF, ITN, RISE and COFUND
MSCA supports both individual researchers and groups of researchers in all career stages, in order to promote internationalisation and collaboration. That is why MSCA is an important tool when it comes to strengthening and building networks.
Purpose: To prepare researchers for writing grant applications to MSCA. We will guide participants in finding and understanding calls, and in handling both the application process and finances based on the rules of the EU and Umeå University.
Wallenberg Foundation Projects (MMW and MAW)
The Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation (MMW) and the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation (MAW) primarily support research in the areas of social science, arts and humanities.
Purpose: To prepare researchers for writing grant applications to MMW and MAW. We will guide participants in finding and understanding calls, and in handling both the application process and finances based on the rules of Wallenberg and Umeå University.
Target audience: Primarily researchers in social sciences, arts and humanities at Umeå University.
Wallenberg Foundation Projects (KAW)
The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW) primarily supports basic research with great scientific potential in medicine, natural sciences and technology.
Purpose: To prepare researchers for grant applications from KAW. We will guide participants in finding and understanding calls, and in handling both the application process and finances based on the rules of Wallenberg and Umeå University.
Target audience: Primarily researchers in medicine, science and technology at Umeå University.
Horizon 2020 (H2020)
H2020 is the EU framework programme for research and innovation from 2014–2020. The framework programme covers career funding, mobility support and funding for extensive collaborative projects.
Purpose: To prepare researchers for writing grant applications to H2020. We will guide participants in finding and understanding calls, and in handling both the application process and finances based on the rules of EU and Umeå University.
The Swedish Research Council (VR) – Writing a Successful Application
The Swedish Research Council is the biggest national research funding body in Sweden. Each year, the council supports top-quality research in all research domains.
Purpose: To prepare researchers for writing grant applications to the Swedish Research Council. We will provide tips and suggestions to participants on how to improve their applications, as well as guidance through the application process and finances based on the rules of VR and Umeå University.
Sharpen Your Research Plan
In order to attract external research funding in high competition, a good research question and a well-written research plan are required.
Purpose: To provide guidance and useful tips on how to write a successful research plan. We will exemplify the most common pitfalls and how to avoid them, as well as highlight aspects that make an application attractive to the funding body.
PLEASE NOTE! The content of this seminar is also available as a part of the workshop: Writing a Successful Research Plan – for Early Career Researchers.
Workshops for Researchers
Our workshops are open to researchers in all disciplines and career stages, unless otherwise stated. They require no preparation and are suitable for 5–15 participants.
The Swedish Research Council (VR) – Writing a Successful Application
The Swedish Research Council is the biggest national research funding body in Sweden. Each year, the council supports top-quality research in all disciplines.
Purpose: To increase the understanding of VR's project design, highlight what characterizes granted VR applications, and inspire participants to improve their own applications.
Setup: The workshop takes approximately 2 hours. We will analyse and discuss granted project applications within the various calls of the Swedish Research Council.
Describing Collaboration and Impact
It is becoming increasingly common for funders to require collaboration with the surrounding community in research projects (in the form of authorities, organizations, companies and/or private individuals), as well a description of the impact of the research.
Purpose: To describe effective collaboration strategies with society, and provide tools to strengthen the parts of the project application that describe the social benefits and plan for communication.
Setup: The workshop takes about 2 hours and is largely based on the individual researcher's perspective and research focus. We will mix lectures with shorter discussions and reflection sessions.
Writing Effective Abstracts and Popular Science Summaries
The abstract and the popular science summary constitute important parts of an application, since they provide an overview of the research project. The difficulty lies in formulating a lay text that can be understood also by people who are not familiar with the subject field.
Purpose: To train participants in describing their research in a short, interesting and concise way.
Setup: The workshop takes approximately 2 hours. Participants will be working together, both with their own and others' texts. Prior to the workshop, each participant must deliver a text based upon the instructions provided.
Writing a Successful Research Plan – for Early Career Researchers
In order to attract external research funding in high competition, a good research question and a well-written research plan are required.
Purpose: To create an understanding of how to make applications attractive to reviewers, as well as informing about common traps when writing – and how to avoid them. Participants will gain both insight into the review process and the opportunity to develop their own research plan.
Setup: The workshop is divided into four sessions, and contains both lectures and practical exercises. We will analyse previously approved grant applications and the participants' own applications.
Target audience: The workshop is aimed primarily at doctoral students in their final stages, as well as postdocs and assistant professors/associate senior lecturers at Umeå University.
Research Funding Outside the Box – an Inspirational Workshop
Are you interested in expanding your search patterns for funding, outside the traditional funding bodies in your field?
Purpose: To increase awareness of the public research funding landscape, in order to encourage and inspire participants to new, broader search patterns.
Setup: The workshop takes about 2 hours. We will discuss and compare successful applications in your field from various funders.
Formas – Writing a Successful Application
The research council for environment, agricultural sciences and spatial planning, Formas, funds basic research and needs-driven research of the highest scientific quality. When applying for project funding from Formas, applicants need to be able to describe the social benefits of the project and have a plan for communicating the output to stakeholders and users.
Purpose: To increase the understanding of Formas project design, to make visible what characterizes granted Formas applications, and to inspire participants to improve their applications.
Setup: The workshop takes approximately 2 hours. We will analyse and discuss approved project applications in Formas' annual open calls, particularly focusing on the sections describing the social benefits of the project and its communication plan.
Writing a One-Page Proposal
Idea development is a first step to a research application. A good way to move from idea to project outline is to have the opportunity to discuss the research idea – and get constructive feedback during the process.
Purpose: To stimulate idea development and a first outline of a project design. By discussing your research idea, we can also help identify relevant funders.
Setup: The workshop takes approximately 2 hours. Participants will prepare by writing one A4 page about their research idea. During the workshop, the drafts will be discussed and participants will also receive feedback from us at The Research Support and Collaboration Office.
Kick-off meetings for new projects funded by H2020 and American foundations
When a researcher has been granted funding from H2020 or one of the American foundations, several actions are needed to start the project. At a kick-off meeting, The Research Support and Collaboration Office can help the researcher and the financial administrator to get a good start, which is positive for the rest of the process also.
Purpose: To facilitate the implementation and financial reporting of the project, and clarify the rules that apply to Umeå University and the funder.
Target audience: Financial administrators and responsible researchers with recently granted projects.
Number of participants: Minimum 2, maximum 5.
Seminars for Financial Administrators
The seminars are open to financial administrators and do not require any preparation. Each session takes about 60 minutes and are suitable for 3–10 participants.
Wallenberg Foundation Projects – Budgeting
The Marianne and Marcus Wallenberg Foundation (MMW) and the Marcus and Amalia Wallenberg Foundation (MAW) primarily support research in social sciences, the arts and humanities. The Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation (KAW) primarily supports basic research with great scientific potential within medicine, natural sciences and technology.
Purpose: To provide an understanding of how Wallenberg projects should be budgeted, based on the rules of the funder and Umeå University.
Target audience: Financial administrators whose researchers intend to apply for funding from the Wallenberg foundations (MMW, MAW and KAW).
Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA) – Budgeting and Reporting
MSCA provides grants to researchers of all career ages, in order to encourage transnational, cross-sectoral and interdisciplinary mobility. Through MSCA, institutions can also act as hosts for talented foreign researchers and create strategic partnerships with leading institutions around the world.
Purpose: To provide an understanding of how MSCA projects should be budgeted, based on the rules of the funder and Umeå University.
Target audience: Financial administrators with upcoming or ongoing MSCA projects.
Horizon 2020 (H2020) – Budgeting and Reporting
H2020 is the EU framework programme for research and innovation from 2014–2020. The framework programme covers career funding, mobility support and funding for extensive collaborative projects.
Purpose: To provide an understanding of how H2020 projects should be budgeted, based on the rules of the funder and Umeå University.
Target audience: Financial administrators with upcoming or ongoing H2020 projects.
The European Research Council (ERC)– Budgeting and Reporting
ERC is a part of H2020, and offers career grants for researchers divided into three grant schemes: Starting, Consolidator and Advanced Grant. The idea is that researchers should be given the chance to focus on their research idea for five years.
Purpose: To provide an understanding of how ERC projects should be budgeted, based on the rules of the funder and Umeå University.
Target audience: Financial administrators with upcoming or ongoing ERC projects.
Structural Funds – Budgeting and Reporting
Structural funds are EU-funded programmes, administered nationally. They support projects stimulating capacity building, for instance through investments into infrastructure, occupation and employment, regional development, or small and middle-sized companies. These funds often require co-funding from the researchers.
Purpose: To provide an understanding of how structural funds projects should be budgeted, based on the rules of the funder and Umeå University.
Target audience: Financial administrators with upcoming or ongoing structural fund projects.
Kick-off meetings for new projects funded by H2020 and American foundations
When a researcher has been granted funding from H2020 or one of the American foundations, several actions are needed to start the project. At a kick-off meeting, The Research Support and Collaboration Office can help the researcher and the financial administrator to get a good start, which is positive for the rest of the process also.
Purpose: To facilitate the implementation and financial reporting of the project, and clarify the rules that apply to Umeå University and the funder.
Target audience: Financial administrators and responsible researchers with recently granted projects.
Number of participants: Minimum 2, maximum 5.