Research plan

To guarantee the comparability of applications, research plans should follow the below structure. A research plan must not exceed 12 pages (Times New Roman 12 pt or corresponding). The plan will be reviewed by international experts and shall include the following information:

1. Principal investigator (PI), title of research project, site of research, duration of project (months)

2. Background

  • significance of the research nationally and internationally
  • previous research pertaining to the topic (in brief) and how the research project links to it
  • how the research project links to other research by the PI or research team

3. Objectives

  • research objectives
  • hypotheses
  • justifications for how the proposed research ties in with the call and its objectives, if the call has a specific objective (e.g. research programme calls)

4. Research methods and material, ethical issues

  • research methods, described so as to explain how they will contribute to answering the research questions/confirming the hypotheses or how they will support the chosen approach
  • research material
  • materials management plan (incl. electronic material):
  1. how the research material will be obtained
  2. how it will be used
  3. how it will be stored and protected
  4. how its subsequent use will be facilitated
  5. the rights of ownership and use
  • ethical issues (e.g. ethical governance procedures, informed consent, anonymity of subjects) and research permits or information on pending permit applications
  • risk management: critical points, alternative ways to implement the project

5. Implementation: timetable, budget, distribution of work

  • timetable for the research
  • justifications for the total cost estimate specified on the application, by type of expenditure (budget table with justifications). Costs that do not pass through the books of the site of the research shall not be included in total project costs.
  • names, tasks and salary costs (with justifications) of persons working within the project. If the names are not known, enter N.N. Also include an estimate of the PI’s working hours on the project.
  • if funding (max. 12 months) is applied for to cover the salary of the principal investigator: give research-specific reasons for the funding
  • salary plan for the PI, covering the funding period, if the PI does not have a permanent employment relationship

6. Researchers, research environment and mobility

  • merits of research team members
  • site of research and any tangible support it offers the project, including available equipment
  • the research plan shall also describe the significance of the following items for project implementation (a detailed account on these items is also asked in the online application):
    • key national and international collaboration and distribution of work (“Partners” on the online application)
    • other partners (e.g. Strategic Centres for Science, Technology and Innovation), form of cooperation, description of how the project will benefit from the cooperation (“Partners” on the online application)
    • use of international and national research infrastructure, description of how the project will benefit from it (“Infrastructures” on the online application)
    • justifications for mobility: how the visits or work periods elsewhere contribute to research plan implementation.

Under “Mobility” on the online application, give a detailed description of possible mobility within the project: to and from Finland or between organisations in Finland. The description shall include information on the objectives and duration of the visits and on whether the visits have been agreed.

7. Researcher training and research careers (when the funding applied for goes to a research team)

  • researcher training, including arrangements for teaching and supervision
  • doctoral studies within the PI’s team
  • promotion of careers of researchers to be hired to the project
  • promotion of gender equality within the project

8. Expected results and possible risks

  • expected scientific and societal impact of the research
  • potential for scientific breakthroughs and for increasing the capacity for renewal of science and research, identification of risks
  • applicability and feasibility of the research results
  • publishing of results and raising awareness among potential end-users, the scientific community and the general public

9. Key literature or bibliography

The research plan is appended to the application in the online services. Name the attachment file as follows: yoursurname_research plan.

Approved 17 Jun 2011

Last changed 20/12/2012