🎯 1. Purpose
To help doctoral researchers and early career researchers (ECRs) understand how international research funders shape project implementation. This activity highlights how policy priorities — such as interdisciplinarity, intercultural inclusion, and global collaboration — translate into everyday project-management practices within funded projects. 

 

🗂️ 2. Format
Short reading (table + concept notes) with reflection prompts — designed for Word (.docx) or Google Docs to allow annotation and note-taking. 

 

🧭 3. Key Content and Definitions 

Term	Definition / Explanation
Funding Landscape	The ecosystem of research funders (EU, national, philanthropic) supporting projects that address complex, global challenges.
Policy-Connected Practice	The way funding priorities (e.g., sustainability, inclusion, impact) are implemented in daily project management.
Interdisciplinary & Intercultural Collaboration	Joint work across fields and cultures to integrate diverse expertise and perspectives for stronger, more relevant outcomes.
Implementation Alignment	Ensuring that what was promised in the proposal is delivered consistently through coordination, reporting, and communication.
Diversity as Operational Strength	Viewing disciplinary and cultural variety not as complexity to manage but as a key resource for innovation and problem-solving.

 

🌍 4. Funding Landscape Map – “Who Funds What and What They Expect in Delivery” 

Funder / Programme	What they aim to achieve	What project managers must ensure in delivery
Horizon Europe	Solutions to global challenges and EU policy goals	Structured coordination across countries and sectors; clear, measurable impact pathways
ERC – European Research Council	Scientific breakthroughs	Strong governance enabling frontier research; minimal admin burden for researchers
MSCA – Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions	Mobility, training, skills	Intercultural integration, mentoring systems, equitable participation
National Agencies	Strengthening national priorities	International cooperation justified and well-managed
Foundations	Specific missions and societal change	Strong stakeholder engagement, inclusive and responsible dissemination

📌 Insight: Different funders emphasise different outcomes — but all expect well-coordinated, inclusive implementation across disciplines, institutions, and cultures. 

  

 

🧠 5. Learning Activity: What Do Funders Expect You to Deliver?                                                                                                                    

Select one major funding programme from the table above.
Complete the table using the implementation expectations listed for that funder. 

Prompt	Your Notes (2–4 bullets)
Which funding programme are you analysing?	…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
What outcomes does this funder want (big picture)?	…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
What collaboration requirements do they set? (international / interdisciplinary / intercultural)	…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
What must a project manager put in place to ensure delivery?

💡 Tip: Use the funder table above to support your answers. 

 

🔎 Reflection Questions 

1️⃣ How do funders’ expectations shape the day-to-day management of collaborative research?
2️⃣ In what ways can diversity in disciplines and cultures enhance project performance?
3️⃣ What governance or communication practices could you apply to support inclusive implementation in your own context?
4️⃣ How can project managers turn policy priorities (e.g., inclusion, sustainability, open science) into concrete project actions?