2. Elaborate a project concept
Once you have put an order to your ideas and constructed a logical framework, you’ll find yourself at the crucial juncture of Phase 2 in your project development journey: the design of a project concept. In this phase, you will be tasked with defining an outline of the project planthat includes various key elements. Let’s take a closer look at what this entails:
Project Description
Begin by crafting a clear and concise title that effectively encapsulates the essence of your project, best similar to the project purpose in a nutshell. A well-chosen title can be a powerful tool for attracting attention and conveying the project’s purpose.
Identify an individual or organization that will take on the role of project coordinator. This individual or entity will play a central role in managing and overseeing project activities.
Establish a list of key contacts of who will be operative during various project phases, including team leaders, internal team members and external stakeholders.
Determine which European Union funding programme and specific call for proposals aligns best with your project’s objectives. This step is pivotal in securing the necessary financial support. Add also EU co-financing rates and maximum limits.
Formulate a total cost hypothesis for all project partners, in line with the funding rules.
Define the anticipated duration of your project, with a start and an end in line with the call for proposals. Understanding the timeline is essential for planning and coordinating activities effectively.
Communicate immediately the deadline for the submission of the project proposal. This makes clear to all partners the need to act soon and engage.
Identify and assess potential partners who can contribute with expertise, resources, and active support to your project. Collaborative efforts can enhance the project’s overall impact. Don’t choose partners just to raise the number of partners. The consortium should be a good mix between stakeholders for the topic, expert partners as well as impact and communication partners. Don’t involve partners only for single actions, but only those able to act within many actions of the project, having a clear interest in the project’s purpose to be achieved.
Firstly, the priorities of the chosen EU funding programme must be identified and understood. Once these have been identified, highlight how your project addresses specific program goals and objectives, by setting out different points that explain what the priorities of the project are and how these meet the priorities of the call.
Provide a concise but comprehensive overview of your project idea. This should include the project’s goals, objectives, and the problem it aims to address. You could start by giving an essential explanation of the project objectives, which are the phases of the project implementation and work plan, specifying the period of implementation.
Project Concept Model
Project title | (official name of the initiative) |
| Acronym | (A shortened version of the project title, often composed of the initial letters of the main words in the title. It’s used for brevity and quick reference.) |
| Lead beneficiary | (The organization or entity responsible for coordinating and managing the project. It often takes on a central role in project execution.) |
| Contacts | (This includes the relevant individuals or departments to reach out to for inquiries, collaboration, or information regarding the project. It is good to specify Name, Surname, e-mail address and telephone number) |
| Funding programme | (The specific program or scheme that is providing financial support for the project. It indicates the broader initiative or strategy that the project aligns with.) |
| Total Call Budget | (The overall budget allocated for this particular call for project submissions within the funding program) |
| Deadline for project submission | (The last date by which project proposals must be submitted to be considered for funding) |
| Project duration | (The anticipated or approved length of time the project is expected to be active, from its start to its completion or conclusion.) |
| Background, Objectives and Results |
Background: The Background section provides the context and foundation for the project. It explains the current situation, challenges, or trends that the project aims to address. This helps the reader understand why the project is necessary and what issues it seeks to tackle. It establishes a framework for the reader to grasp the project’s relevance and importance. Objectives: The Objectives section outlines the specific goals and intentions of the project. It answers the question: “What does the project aim to achieve?” These objectives are often specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). This section helps stakeholders understand the purpose and scope of the project and what it seeks to accomplish. Results: The Results section outlines the anticipated or desired outcomes of the project. It lists the tangible products, deliverables, or benefits that will be generated as a result of successfully achieving the objectives. This section helps stakeholders understand the concrete value the project will bring and what they can expect to see at the end of the project. |
| Structure of the Consortium |
| (Explain the roles of the partners during the implementation of the project i.e. who will coordinate the research and the development activities, who among the partners will hold the role of project management, and communication and so on.) |
| Procedure, responsibilities and tasks |
| Describe the phases of the project implementation. Give a clear and concise description of the work packages and related responsibilities of the participating associations involved in the project. Name each work package and for each of them, provide a description of the aim and their relevance for the successful implementation of the project. |