Tips for success

To receive funding there are a number of criteria a project needs to meet. Applicants will need to show that their project will have a significant impact in terms of energy saving and renewable energy production, delivering in one or more of the following fields:

• Enabling policies and strategies
• Market transformation
• Changing behaviour
• Mobilising investments
• Building skills and capacities

Drafting a winning proposal

You'll need to take on board a number of elements when applying for funding. The call documents will provide you with all the information you need. In addition, here are some useful tips for a successful application:

Do not miss the 'musts': eligibility & selection criteria

• respect the deadlines
• only on-line application by the deadline indicated in the Call
• the proposal must be complete
• minimum 3 independent partners from 3 different eligible countries
• proposers must prove their financial & technical capacity to carry out the action

The essence of a successful application

• focus on the priorities of the specific annual call
• the competition is strong: be ambitious
• start early - a proposal needs time and evolution
• project objective and target groups should be well-defined
• performance indicators must be suitable to monitor success
• allocate sufficient resources and professional skills for communicating your results
• the consortium should be fit for purpose, each partner with a clear and justified role
• the budget should be realistic and based on a bottom-up approach
• 'hardware' investments or research and technological development projects are not eligible
• co-financing should be transparent and well explained
• regarding geographical outreach, appropriate focus is the key
• transferability: demonstrate that public money is well invested in your project - show how more users can take up your results!

And remember:

• the proposal should be easy to read, clear and comprehensive
• evaluators have 2-3 hours to read your proposal

Don't let the procedure daunt you, be ambitious! Europe needs more energy efficiency, more renewables, and better transport and mobility, we need your ideas. Over 3 000 organisations have already benefitted from IEE funding, many of these are SMEs, you could be next!