Research Proposal & Project Development Support
- Proposal development
- Scientific & methodological review
- Evaluation-informed feedback
Build a convincing proposal around a coherent research plan
A strong research idea needs a clear case for funding and a credible plan for delivery. We help researchers, teams and consortia develop that case, connect the scientific and practical elements of their project, and identify weaknesses before submission.
Work with us from the initial concept stage, bring us a draft for critical review, or get focused support with a challenging section.
A coherent argument across the proposal
Call priorities & evaluation criteria
Research gap
What gap will the project address, and why does it matter?
Objectives & methods
What will you establish, and how?
Work plan & resources
Who will do what, and is it feasible?
Results & impact
What will change, who will benefit, and how?
Consistency, evidence and feasibility across every section
Support at the stage you need it
From a focused review to sustained input across successive drafts, we tailor our support to your project, timetable and priorities.
Develop the project
Turn an initial concept into a structured proposal. Clarify the research gap, define objectives, develop the methodological approach and build a workable plan.
Strengthen a draft
Get an independent assessment of the scientific reasoning, methodological justification, feasibility and alignment with the call, together with clear recommendations for revision.
Revise after feedback
Interpret internal review comments or external evaluation feedback, identify the underlying concerns and address them consistently throughout the proposal.
Some of our clients
What we help you develop and review
We examine individual sections and the connections between them. An ambitious objective is only persuasive if the methods, work plan and expected results support it.
Proposal strategy & scientific ambition
We help you build a clear argument linking the state of the art, the unresolved problem, the proposed advance and the project objectives. We clarify what is novel, substantiate key claims and align the argument with the purpose of the call.
- Links between the state of the art, research gap and ambition
- Proposal structure and emphasis
- Clearly defined objectives and criteria for achievement
Methodology & statistical reasoning
We assess whether the design and analytical approach can answer the research questions. Our review identifies assumptions, limitations and aspects that need further justification before they weaken the scientific case.
- Study design, sampling and comparators
- Sample-size or power justification, where relevant
- Analysis plans, uncertainty and validation
Work packages, tasks & dependencies
We help translate the scientific approach into a coherent programme of work, defining task boundaries, responsibilities and dependencies so that the sequence of activities supports the objectives.
- Alignment of objectives, tasks and work packages
- Roles, resources and realistic scheduling
- Integration of contributions across partners or disciplines
Milestones, deliverables & risks
We help distinguish outputs from progress checks and define how achievement will be assessed. We also identify risks to the scientific approach and project delivery, and help develop practical mitigation and contingency measures.
- Verifiable deliverables and milestones
- Decision points and success criteria
- Risk likelihood, consequences and responses
Impact, dissemination & exploitation
We help build a credible pathway from project results to their use and wider benefits, connecting intended users and beneficiaries to concrete engagement, dissemination and exploitation activities.
- Outputs, outcomes and longer-term impact
- Audiences, uptake pathways and barriers
- Proportionate activities and indicators
Feasibility & call-specific evaluation
We review the proposal as a whole against the supplied call documents and evaluation criteria. We check whether claims are supported, commitments are realistic and the project is described consistently throughout.
- Coverage of criteria and required content
- Consistency of objectives, timing and resources
- Critical review of near-final proposals
A critical review you can act on
The aim is to give you a clear basis for revision: what needs attention, why it matters and how to address it. We agree the depth of the review and the deliverables before work begins.
An annotated proposal
Comments linked to the relevant passages, highlighting unclear reasoning, unsupported claims, inconsistencies and opportunities to strengthen the argument.
A structured review report
An assessment organised by proposal section or evaluation criterion, separating major weaknesses from points that need clarification or refinement.
A prioritised revision plan
Recommended actions in order of importance, helping you focus the time available on the changes that matter most to the quality of the proposal.
Targeted development support
Where agreed, revised outlines, objective-to-task mappings, work-package structures, risk tables or detailed suggestions for sections that need further development.
How we work with you
Share the context
Send the call documents, your current draft or concept outline, and any feedback already received, and let us know the submission deadline. Tell us which aspects concern you most.
Agree the scope
We identify the support required and agree the deliverables, fee and schedule, including any follow-up review.
Develop or review
We examine the scientific argument and project plan, raise questions and provide detailed, practical input within the agreed scope.
Refine the proposal
You revise the proposal with a clear set of priorities. If a follow-up review is included, we assess the changes and check for consistency across sections.
Practical questions
Can you help before there is a full draft?
Yes. We can work from a concept note, outline or initial work plan to help define the objectives, structure the project and identify methodological or feasibility questions that need to be resolved before drafting.
Can you review only part of a proposal?
Yes. Support can focus on methodology, statistics, work packages, impact or another defined area. We may also need the objectives and relevant surrounding sections to assess whether the proposed changes fit the project as a whole.
How do you assess a proposal against a particular call?
We use the call documents, proposal template and evaluation criteria you provide to structure the review. The assessment highlights gaps, weaknesses and aspects that need clearer justification. It is an independent advisory review and cannot predict a funding decision.
Does this include English language editing?
Scientific consulting focuses on the argument, methods and project plan. Full English language editing can be arranged alongside this support as a separate service. Our scientific editing is performed entirely by human editors.
How are timing, fees and confidentiality handled?
The quote depends on the length and stage of development of the proposal, the depth of input required, the deadline and the number of review rounds. We agree the schedule and confidentiality arrangements before work begins. For proposal review, we also check for relevant conflicts of interest before accepting the assignment.
Tell us about your proposal
Send us the call documents or details of the funding scheme, your submission deadline and a current draft or brief outline. Let us know what support you need. We will assess the scope and provide a tailored quote.
Not ready to request a quote? Contact us to discuss your project and the support you may need.
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