Guidelines and Procedures for Research Networking Programmes submitted before 1 August 2005 - Assessment process

All proposals are peer reviewed by external referees selected by ESF. The proposals and accompanying referee comments are submitted to the relevant ESF Scientific Standing Committee which will prioritise the proposals, using first, proposal quality criteria and second, portfolio management criteria. This committee will recommend those proposals to be forwarded to Member Organisations.

All proposals will be assessed on the basis of excellence and novelty, timeliness, value to European science, value for money, programme management, plus additional specific criteria reflecting the policy of each committee.

Recommended proposals are sent to ESF Member Organisations and other national funding agencies with official Observer status, seeking funding on an à la carte basis. Programmes receiving a viable level of funds are submitted to the ESF’s Executive Board for formal approval to be launched.