So, you want to get money from EU (European Commission) by applying for one of the Marie Curie (People) schemes but you need expert advice. I have been working as an independent expert evaluating these schemes for over 4 years, so I should be able to help you.

All the three schemes (IEF, IOF, IIF) have similar criteria, which are given at the end of this hub along with my explanations as to what you have to write in these criteria. I also explained some of the important, mostly misunderstood sub-criteria to help you understand exactly what the Commission wants. But first, what's different about the three schemes is their objectives. If you want to write a successful proposal, you have to write it according to these objectives, and modify it to fit these objectives exactly.

The objectives of the IEF scheme require that these Fellowships will allow the most promising researchers from EU and Associated Countries to undertake training through research in the European organizations most appropriate to their individual needs. The researchers may freely choose the topic in collaboration with the host, with a view to completing or diversifying his/her expertise. The IEF action is aimed at experienced researchers to respond to their particular needs with a view to adding different/complementary scientific competencies in the process of reaching and/or reinforcing a position of professional maturity and independence (e.g. advanced training in multi-disciplinary fields, advanced training related to an interdisciplinary transfer, intersectoral experiences at senior level, ) or

to permit them to resume their career.

This means that if the researcher was pregnant, or had to leave science for a career in industry, but wants to come back to science, thats a priority researcher according to the objectives. The action permits the researchers to undertake transnational mobility in the European organisations most appropriate to their individual needs, directed towards competence diversification, without providing merely a subsequent step to continue their work in the same research field. In other words, the proposed project should be something diversifying the career of the researcher.

The IOF scheme Fellowships are awarded to researchers from EU and Associated Countries to work in established third country research centers, thereby widening their international experience in research. This scheme requires the submission of a coherent individual training program, involving a first phase abroad, followed by a mandatory second phase in Europe. This action, open towards the rest of the world, aims to respond to the needs for reinforcing the international dimension of the career of European researchers by giving them the opportunity to be trained and acquire new knowledge in a world level third country research organization, and then to apply the experience gained in an organization in a Member State or Associated States.

And finally, the IIF scheme Fellowships aims at attracting top-class researchers from third countries to work and undertake research training in Europe, with the view to developing mutually-beneficial research co-operation between Europe and third countries. In the case of emerging and transition economies and developing countries, the scheme may include provision to assist fellows to return to their country of origin. This action reinforces the scientific excellence of the Member States and the Associated States thanks to the application of the knowledge thus transferred during this period of mobility and will also constitute a springboard for the future development of relations between the Member States or Associated States and the third countries.

All of the schemes have to be relevant to one or more of the specific objectives of the action. Potential of acquiring competencies during the fellowship to improve the prospects of reaching and/or reinforcing a position of professional maturity, diversity and independence, in particular through exposure to complementary skills training is important. The proposal should emphasize contribution to career development or re-establishment where relevant.

For international fellowships, potential for creating long term collaborations and mutually beneficial co-operation between Europe and the third country should be emphasized.
For incoming fellowships, contribution to the socio-economic development of the Developing Countries or emerging and transition economies by transfer of knowledge and human capacity building (where appropriate) should be written in detail.
Extent to which the research contributes to the objectives of the European Research Area or other European policy objectives are very important as this section has high percentage in the total score.

Here are the criteria I mentioned at the top of the hub:

Criteria Weighting Threshold

In all the criteria, telling a story will help you succeed. Stating facts can easily be accomplished by using tables. One other thing is that you need to answer these sub-criteria with project specific answers, as opposed to using generic sentences.

1. Scientific quality of the project 25% (Threshold 3)

In this criterion, it is important to mention interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary aspects of the proposal and emphasize how it is multidisciplinary with convincing arguments. The proposer should explain why the proposed research is timely, in other words, why it must be done now. This section needs to explain how the host has sufficient scientific expertise in this specific field and should prove that the host is very high quality. This can be done by mentioning publications, patents etc. Publications in journals like Science and Nature is a major boost. This section has high percentage, so it is important to work on this section.

2. Quality of research training 15% (Threshold 3)

This section should convince the expert reviewer that the fellow knows what he is going to learn and is aware of the learning objectives. Complementary skills must be mentioned here. These are things like grant writing, paper writing, presentation skills etc. You have to show that the host scientists have plenty of experience in training graduate students including post docs. Percentage of this section is low, but a score lower than the threshold will fail your proposal, so be sure to address all the subcriteria here carefully.

3. Quality of the researcher 25% (Threshold 4)

The fellow must convince the experts that he/she has sufficient experience in the subject. This can be accomplished by mentioning his/her accomplishments up to this point in his/her career. This is followed by the most important sub-criterion in this section, research results including publications, teaching, patents. I am not going to sugar coat it, it is a major boost to your proposal if you have high number of publications in high quality journals. This depends on your level of experience, so if you have been in science for 10 years, then you must have more publications compared to someone who has been in science for 2 years. This is quite important and may increase or decrease your points.

You have to write something specific to yourself that indicates that you have independent thinking and leadership qualities. This can be accomplished by telling a story on how you did something by yourself or lead students or some other group. In short, anything that will convince the experts that you have independent thinking and leadership qualities will do.

Your profile needs to match the project, but this does not mean that you should do the exact same thing as your masters or Ph.D. You need to diversify your subject, yet it should fit your profile. If the project is a subsequent step in your career, thats bad.

The project should provide you with the potential to reach a position of professional maturity. In other words, if you are one step away from professional maturity and this project will provide you with that ability, thats great. This could be by providing you with something that will complement your knowledge so that you will gain independence etc. You also have to write something regarding your potential to acquire new knowledge, to illustrate that you will learn and gain new knowledge by completing this project.

4. Implementation 15%

This section has to illustrate the hosts infrastructure and international collaborations. You have to write how you can accomplish the proposed research using the host's facilities and if they are enough. It is usually a bad idea to write that you will do this part of research in the host and have to go somewhere else to perform some other part of the research.

What will the host do to make you feel at home? Will you have visa or other legal problems or will they take care of that? What are other practical arrangements?

MUST INCLUDE A GANTT CHART here. Very important a lot of people leave out in their work plan.

5. Impact 20%

This section used to have the highest percentage in earlier years, and it is still high with 20 per cent. You must include COMPLEMENTARY SKILLS here as well as the training section. You have to illustrate your potential for reaching a position of professional maturity, diversity and independence. How will you be trained in complementary skills and how will it help you in maturity and independence?

Writing about contribution to career development is required and it is very important, as I mentioned at the top of the hub. If you left science and want to come back, the European Commission wants you back! This aspect should increase your chances significantly. If this project will make a significant contribution to your career, thats great also.

Contribution to European excellence and European competitiveness must be convincingly illustrated and must be specific to your project. In other words, don't fill it out with generic sentences.