Funding from third parties is crucial for the development of research careers because it:

• Provides greater independence
• Demonstrates competitiveness
• Represents progress in academic career development
• Encourages collaborations with the private/public sector

Which is the right instrument? Career-focused or project-focused?
Throughout their career, researchers will move from funding that only covers their personal salary to projects that fund both personnel and other expenses needed to carry out the project, with their salary eventually covered by the institution.

The funding instruments available to researchers have different objectives:

• Support mobility
  • Obtain scientific contributions
  • Expand networks
  • Immerse in a different research culture
• Establish oneself within an institution
  • First step towards scientific independence
  • Create one's first (small) research group
  • Act as a springboard to a more advanced and/or permanent research grant at the institution (or abroad)

Considerations to keep in mind:

What funding instruments can I apply for? Will I be eligible in due time? Does the instrument cover my research area?
Where am I in my career? How many years since my PhD? Am I ready to take the next step?
What is my level? How does my potential compare to my peers? Where do I want to go?
Do I want to stay in academia? Do I want to switch to the private sector or elsewhere? Will this instrument help me achieve my goals?

Focusing on opportunities within the European Framework Programme for R&D&I, the summary by career stage:

• Career funding:

  • MSCA Doctoral Fellowships
  • MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowships
  • ERC Starting Grants

• Research project funding:

  • European collaborative projects, Horizon Europe
  • ERC Consolidator and ERC Advanced Grants"**

Basic advice

• We provide general information (either generic or thematic) on funding opportunities, their optimal suitability, and how to participate in various international R&D&I programmes. Submit the information related to your proposal idea, and the relevant project manager will assist you!
• We inform you about the necessary criteria to participate in these R&D&I projects.
• We disseminate information about relevant events and international funding opportunities.
• We organise national and international workshops and internal forums to promote participation and networking between research groups and external institutions.
• We offer personalised advice to researchers: calls of interest, tips on planning, and strategy for success.

Advanced advice
The International R&D&I Section team proactively encourages research teams to participate in international research programmes while addressing the individual needs of both experienced and early-career researchers.

We provide guidance throughout the entire project lifecycle, during the preparation process:

• Review of the suitability of the idea to the funding opportunity. Successful proposals require significant preparation time.
• Creation of an optimal consortium.
• Specific aspects of the proposal: communication, dissemination, exploitation, etc.
• Assistance with budget preparation.
• (Non-scientific) review of the proposal.

As a Partner:

• During the proposal stage:
  • Completion and/or review of the UV administrative forms.
  • Advice on the preparation of UV’s budget.
  • Contributions to drafting some of the non-scientific sections requested by the coordinator.
• During the negotiation stage:
  • Advice on the Portal for the preparation of the Grant Agreement.
  • Advice on the preparation and signing of the Consortium Agreement.
• During the project:
  • Resolving any administrative, financial, legal, ethical, consortium management, or Portal-related queries.
  • Intermediation with the coordinator, consortium, and the EC.
  • Preparation and signing of financial reports.
  • Collaboration with the auditing firm or the EC itself for the preparation of audit reports.

As a Coordinator:

• During the proposal stage:
  • Registration of the proposal on the submission platform.
  • Completion and/or review of the UV administrative forms.
  • Intermediation with the consortium.
  • Advice on the preparation of UV’s budget.
  • Contributions to drafting some of the non-scientific sections requested by the coordinator.
• During the negotiation stage:
  • Advice on the Portal for the preparation of the Grant Agreement.
  • Advice on the preparation and signing of the Consortium Agreement.
• During the project:
  • Resolving any administrative, financial, legal, ethical, consortium management, or Portal-related queries.
  • Personalised attention to the project manager, who will act as an intermediary with the consortium and the EC.
  • Preparation and signing of financial reports.
  • Collaboration with the auditing firm or the EC itself for the preparation of audit reports.

We provide objective information on international R&D&I project funding programmes, including priorities, opportunities, and challenges, with links to open and upcoming calls from the European Union or other international organisations.

The International R&D&I Section sends relevant information about international R&D&I funding opportunities via email through Eurorecerca. You can manage your preferences, as well as review all previously sent information, through the following:

• Eurorecerca
• Subscribe to Eurorecerca
• Eurorecerca Archive

The University of Valencia (UV) contributes to increasing the level of information within the research community by organising information events that address any weaknesses identified among future applicants for international research proposals.

These events, whether conferences seminars, , or workshops, along with those organised by other entities, including the European Commission, can be found in:

• Sessions

Participation in technological platforms and large European initiatives, associations, workshops, forums, or events positions the UV and enhances the visibility of its research community. These institutional relationships open up numerous possibilities and funding opportunities.

• Updating European trends and strategies
• Promoting the research capabilities of the UV while fostering multidisciplinarity.
• Establishing strategic alliances with other relevant private or public entities in areas of interest.

To establish an optimal consortium, we will utilise all available tools for this purpose, such as:

• EU Funding and Tenders Portal
• Idealist Partner Search 
• Enterprise Europe Network
• Net4Society
• Fit for Health

Along with the relational repository of the UV through its alliances, participation in associations, etc.

In specific cases where the research team requests it, we will highlight the interest in participation within the framework of any published calls from members of the UV research community, as well as the suitability of their capabilities through the Funding and Tenders Portal or any other means at our disposal.

Before commencing in-depth advisory services, we will assess the project idea and its alignment with currently open or future funding opportunities. A critical review of the suitable calls will be conducted to understand all necessary criteria to ensure the proposal's eligibility and maximise the potential success rate.

The International R&D&I Section provides advisory support to researchers throughout the entire project lifecycle, from contract negotiation to financial justification and project closure.

We aim to simplify management tasks for the research community while ensuring compliance with the regulatory framework in which we operate. To achieve this, we engage in:

• Negotiation 
  • We review the agreements governing the project.
  • We ensure that budgets are appropriately structured and that all administrative aspects are in order before the project begins.
  • We familiarise new members of the research community with the rules governing the programmes in which they participate.
• Execution 
  • We advise on the eligibility of costs and resolve any issues that may arise during project execution.
  • We collaborate in managing personnel funded by international research projects.
  • We prepare the financial justification for projects and conduct mandatory project audits.
  • We continuously work to optimise management systems.
• Closure 
  • We are the point of contact for audits conducted by the European Commission.
  • We process certificates of direction and participation in international projects for the accreditation of research team members.

With the aim of fostering a culture of international research:

• Information/Training
  • Consult our offerings in the Sessions section