2026 call: Call for clinical research

Guidelines and template for research plan

The research plan is submitted as a PDF appendix on the tab ‘Research plan’ in the online services. Remember to convert the Word file into PDF (Save as -> .pdf) before attaching it to the application form. Name the attachment file as follows: research_plan_yoursurname.pdf.

Read the call text carefully and familiarise yourself with the review guidelines, review form and principle of responsible evaluation (PDF) before you start writing the plan.

The maximum length of the consortium research plan is 15 pages.

The paper size is A4.

The font is Calibri/Carlito 12 pt.

The line spacing is 1.

The margins are 20 mm.

The text is left-aligned.

Do not use paragraph indents.

The font size in tables and figures must be at least 10 pt.

Use a single-column layout when writing the text.

The list of references is included in the length of the research plan. The font size in the list is 10 pt.

All references must be added directly into the text, for example as follows: (author(s), year) or [number]. You must not use footnotes.

The maximum size of the PDF appendix is 50 MB.

The instructions, structure and layout provided must be followed to ensure the equal treatment of applicants. Use the headings provided. The application cannot be submitted if the system detects a deviation in the headings, page configuration or structure.

Write the research plan on this template.

Fill in the sections according to the practices of your own discipline.

You cannot edit or delete the headings in the template. If necessary, you may add subheadings.

See the How-to guides for the online services on our website for the technical instructions.

Please delete the instructions in blue before attaching the research plan in the online services.

Click and write here: Title of research plan

Click and write here: Applicant’s name (and abbreviation of consortium)

Background and significance

In this section, describe the following aspects:

Significance of research project in relation to current knowledge, research-based starting points

How the project and the methods used are linked to previous international and/or national research (state of the art)

Research premise, aims and objectives

Research questions and/or hypotheses

Special objectives of clinical research call

Justifications for how the project will address the call objectives and questions as described in the call text:

strengthening clinical research

increasing collaboration between wellbeing services counties and other organisations

generating new research knowledge to support social welfare and healthcare, disease treatment, diagnostics, prevention, or business activity

promoting part-time clinical researcher careers to enable broad coverage of speciality expertise within clinical research

NB! Impact is addressed in detail in section 2 of the research plan.

Insert your text here...

Impact

In this section, describe the following aspects:

Outcomes and impacts of research within academia

Expected research results and their anticipated scientific impact

Project’s novelty or added value for science

Potential for scientific breakthroughs and for promoting scientific renewal

Research impact within the scientific community

Expected added value of consortium and impact on collaboration between consortium partners

Potential to advance current knowledge of clinical research

Effects, impact and interaction beyond academia

Brief description of appeal, utilisation potential and application areas of the research results beyond the scientific community

Brief description of impact on social welfare and healthcare, including disease treatment, diagnostics, prevention or business activity

Brief description of relevance of interaction with key actors in using research findings at different stages of research project lifecycle

Provide a self-assessment of the expected societal impact of the research in the long or short term. One of the key objectives of this funding is to strengthen collaboration between wellbeing services counties and other organisations. Beyond this, the research may also contribute to e.g. better practices, informed decision-making and overall societal advancement.

Read more about the broader impact of research.

Insert your text here...

Implementation

In this section, describe the following aspects:

Work plan and schedule

Detailed description of the research to be performed, starting from objectives, scientific references and preliminary data (if available)

Description of research tasks, their implementation and interconnections

If necessary, description of responsibilities and management related to these tasks

Schedule for project implementation, incl. research tasks and work packages, distribution of personnel resources, and project milestones and deliverables

Research data and material, methods and research environment

Research data to be used, justifications and information on data collection or acquisition, data analyses and use of data, taking into account issues such as intellectual property rights

Research methods and how they will contribute to answering the research questions or confirming the hypotheses, or how they will support the chosen approach

Description of local, national and/or international research environment including research infrastructures. Enter the infrastructures to be used also on the tab ‘Affiliations’ in the online services.

Risk assessment and alternative implementation strategies

Critical points for success, probability of risks, means by which risks can be managed, and alternative implementation strategies

Project personnel and their project-relevant key merits

Task and role of principal investigators PIs (applicants) in the project, especially the role of part-time clinical researcher and potential for advancement of their clinical research career (may also be early-career clinical researcher) to enable broad coverage of speciality expertise within clinical research

Tasks and roles of persons working on the project and their key merits

Names and/or level of education of the project’s researchers (if known)

Scientific added value of consortium for attainment of research objectives compared to traditional forms of research collaboration. Read more in the consortium application guidelines.

Project’s links to previous research by the PIs or the research teams

How researcher training will be organised and research careers promoted

Collaborators

National and international collaborators of key significance to project implementation as well as their roles

Justifications for collaborators, description of what is achieved through the collaboration, especially in relation to call’s objectives to encourage collaboration between wellbeing services counties and other organisations

Description of planned interaction with end-users and beneficiaries at various stages of project (key actors, means, channels and optimal timing)

Responsible science

This subsection is a mandatory part of the plan. All listed points must be fully addressed, as each constitutes a factor in the review and decision-making process. Furthermore, please note that applications will not be processed if any one of the following four elements is missing: (1) a description of dimensions related to gender equality and nondiscrimination in the research, or a justification if not relevant; (2) a description of how equality and nondiscrimination will be promoted in the composition of the research group and collaborations; (3) a description of how research ethics will be addressed in the project; or (4) a description of how open access to research publications and research data will be ensured. Read more about responsible science.

State whether dimensions related to gender equality and nondiscrimination are relevant to the proposed research

If relevant, explain how these aspects are integrated into the research plan (e.g. concerning project’s objectives, methodology, analysis and dissemination).

If not relevant, justify their non-applicability.

Describe how equality and nondiscrimination will be promoted in the composition of the research group and collaborations.

Describe how research ethics will be addressed in the project.

Explain how open access to research publications and research data will be ensured.

Consideration of sustainable development goals in project activities

Insert your text here...

References

The list of references is included in the length of the research plan. The font size in the list is 10 pt. All references must be added directly into the text, for example as follows: (author(s), year) or [number]. You must not use footnotes.

List the references here...