Six researchers from Stockholm University have now completed the university alliance Stockholm trio’s first EU course for researchers with little experience of EU funding.
“Many researchers believe that applying for EU funds is complicated. EU is complicated, but we hope that this course will reduce barriers and that the participating researchers learn how to get help from us at Research Support, says Henrik Aspeborg. He is a research officer at the Office for Research, Engagement and Innovation Services (REIS) and the Stockholm University representative responsible for the course.
The EU course is a collaboration between Stockholm University, Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology. The course started with an introduction in Stockholm, and in November the participants went to Brussels to learn more on the spot as well as to the University of Ghent. During the final workshop in January, the researchers focused on how to write project proposals and on further developing their personal strategies.
“You need a plan for everything”
”I’ve learnt that you need to plan ahead. You need a plan for everything – risk management, communication with beneficiaries, and so on”, says Afzal Siddiqui, Department of Computer and Systems Sciences.
“EU funding is a long-term process. I’ve learnt not to hurry, it is a slow-moving process that can take 10 to 15 years.”
A better overview of EU collaborations
Nora Choque Olsson, Department of Psychology, says that the course has given her new insights into how to go about applying for EU funds. She has also gained a better overview of how EU collaborations with other countries are carried out.
“In Sweden, we don’t apply for a lot of European research funding, but that is something we need to do”, she says.
Informal discussions are valuable
Johan Lindquist, Department of Social Anthropology, also thinks he has gained a better overview of the “funding jungle” and the different funding opportunities available.
“It’s good to meet researchers with different backgrounds and from different universities. More informal discussions are very valuable”, he says.
The university alliance Stockholm trio
The university alliance Stockholm trio is a collaboration between Karolinska Institutet, KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Stockholm University. One aim of Stockholm trio is to strengthen the universities’ participation in the European research programme Horizon Europe.