2027 Call for applications to strengthen R&D activities and cooperation in wellbeing services counties

Guidelines and template for project plan

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

Read the call text carefully and familiarise yourself with the review guidelines, review form and principles of responsible evaluation before you start writing the project plan.

The maximum length of a consortium project 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 project 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 project 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 instructions in blue before attaching the project plan in the online system.

Click and write here: Title of project plan

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

Background and significance

In this section, describe the following aspects:

Objectives of project

How will the project increase collaboration between wellbeing services counties, as well as with universities, universities of applied sciences and government research institutes?

How will the project strengthen the quality of R&D activities and social and healthcare services?

How will the project’s R&D activities improve productivity and effectiveness in the social and healthcare sectors?

Significance and basis of project

How the project and the proposed methods build upon and are connected to previous international and/or national R&D activities (state of the art)

R&D rationale/premise of project, including clearly defined aims and objectives

R&D questions and/or hypotheses

Clearly formulated R&D research questions and/or hypotheses that are relevant to and aligned with the project’s objectives

Note: Impact is addressed in detail in section 2 of the project plan.

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Impact

In this section, describe the following aspects:

Outcomes and impact beyond academia

The impact of social and healthcare services refers to the effects that services have on health and/or wellbeing.

Collaboration and its contribution to impact

How collaboration with other actors within the project will enhance its impact and support impact-based R&D activities in wellbeing services counties and within the collaborative areas for healthcare and social welfare.

Expected impact and cost-effectiveness

As concretely as possible, the type of impact and/or cost-effectiveness evidence the project will produce in relation to social and/or healthcare services and the promotion of health and wellbeing.

Impact assessment and metrics

Specify and justify the metrics that will be used to monitor and assess the project’s short- and long-term impacts on the Finnish social and healthcare system.

Demonstration, validation and implementation of impact

How the evidence of the project’s impact will be demonstrated and/or validated, and how the resulting evidence-based knowledge will be translated into routine practice within social and healthcare services.

Note: Collaboration is addressed in more detail in section 3 of the project plan.

Contribution to impact-based R&D

How the project promotes impact-based R&D activities in wellbeing services counties and strengthens related collaboration within the structures of the social and healthcare service system.

Read more about the broader impact of research.

Outcomes and impacts of R&D within academia

Expected R&D results and their anticipated R&D impact

Outline the anticipated R&D results of the project and their expected impact within the academic and research community.

Project’s novelty or added value for R&D

Explain the project’s novelty and/or its added value in relation to existing R&D, including how it advances current research approaches, methods or knowledge.

Potential for scientific breakthroughs and for promoting scientific renewal, if applicable

Assess the project’s potential to generate scientific breakthroughs and to promote scientific renewal or new research directions.

Research impact within the scientific community, if applicable

Clarify the project’s expected impact within the scientific community, such as contributions to theory, methodology or future research agendas.

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Implementation

In this section, describe the following aspects:

Project plan and schedule

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

Description of R&D tasks, their implementation and interconnections.

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

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

Collaborators

The required consortium partners as stated in the call for applications, as well as their roles, and how the collaboration promotes and strengthens the R&D activities of the collaborative areas for healthcare and social welfare.

Justifications for the selected other partners and how the collaboration promotes and strengthens the R&D activities of the collaborative areas for healthcare and social welfare.

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

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

R&D data and material, methods and research environment

R&D data to be used, justifications and information on data collection or acquisition, data analyses and use of data, considering issues such as intellectual property rights.

R&D 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

Tasks and roles of principal investigators PIs in the project.

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).

Project’s links to previous R&D activity by the PIs or the R&D teams.

How researcher training will be organised and research careers promoted (if applicable).

Responsible science

This subsection is mandatory and applies to all R&D projects. All four elements marked as mandatory below must be addressed following the RCF’s guidelines. Applications missing any of these elements will not be processed.

Mandatory: State whether dimensions related to gender equality and nondiscrimination are relevant to the proposed project

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

If not relevant, justify their non-applicability.

Mandatory: Describe how equality and nondiscrimination will be promoted in the composition of the project group and collaborations.

Mandatory: Describe how good scientific practice will be followed in the R&D project.

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

Optional: If relevant, consideration of sustainable development goals in project activities.

Read more about responsible science.

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References

The list of references is included in the length of the project 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.

Please delete these instructions (in blue) when preparing your text.

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