📄 Steps for Submitting a Research Proposal

1. Proposal Initiation

   • A call for proposals is either published by the RDA in the Weekly Newsletter (contact us to sign up) or initiated through direct contact between the researcher and the funding agency

2. Initial Review

   • The researcher reviews the information and requirements on the funding agency’s website.

3. Consultation with the Research Liaison Section

   • The researcher contacts the coordinator to get help with:

     • Filling out application forms

     • Editing and proofreading

     • Reviewing winning examples

     • Requesting internal scientific peer review

4. Internal Approvals

   • The proposal is reviewed and approved by:

     • budget officer (to verify financial aspects)

     • coordinator (to verify technical/formal requirements

   • The researcher submits the full proposal to the RDA 4 days prior to the foundation deadline, unless otherwise specified.

   • The Head of the Research Liaison Section signs and authorizes the submission.

   • The proposal is entered into the university's internal database for tracking

5. Submission to RDA

   • The proposal is then submitted to the funding agency (if not done directly by the researcher)

When applying to programs like GIF, BSF, or Horizon Europe, the first step is simple: take initiative. Start by identifying potential collaborators through:

• Academic journals and editorial boards

• Conference participant lists

• Recommendations from senior colleagues

Some funders offer support for partner matching or grants for early-stage collaboration.

💡 ISERD is Israel’s National Contact Point for Horizon Europe and a key resource for identifying partners and navigating EU programs.

Congratulations! First, notify the RDA Desk Officer and share the official award letter or contract; fill out the grant registration forms; send details of the partner institution, coordinate with your Budget Officer.

Then we will get starting on reviewing and signing the award contract so you can begin the project.

Upon starting to work at the University, new researchers may receive an integration package for the purpose of setting up a laboratory or for meeting other needs. This funding may later be regarded as the 'matching' component of grants received from funding bodies. Details may be obtained from the Office of the Vice-President and Dean for R&D.

The overhead taken by the University is 20% of total direct expenses of the research. In cases where the regulations of the funding body determine otherwise, the University acts according to the regulations of the funding body. Before preparing a budget for a particular funding body, you must consult with the relevant Research Budget Management Section and then obtain authorization to submit the budget to the funding body.

Budgets are monitored through TAFNIT, the University's financial data program. TAFNIT may be used for reserving amounts for salaries, authorization of payments, internal transfers, budgetary purchases, and foreign travel. The system can also be used for monitoring research balances, monitoring salaries, and other follow-ups. To open an account in TAFNIT and to obtain a password for accessing the system, you should contact the Financial and Budgetary Unit of the Information Systems Department, internal phone 72101. This unit will also provide you with personal instruction in the use of TAFNIT.

The research management program functions in many currencies and enables a research budget to be opened in any of these currencies. The correct and definitive balance after conducting research program activities is the balance in the currency of the grant. The research management program operates in shekels and does not update values continuously. In those cases where the research budget is not in shekels and a balance is shown in the currency of the grant, the currency of the grant is definitive. If it is not possible to reserve the costs of a particular operation, such as a purchase order in shekels, contact the Research Budget Management Section to enable the required purchase.

For budgets that require financial reporting, the meaning of non-utilization of the full budget is that money may have to be returned to the funding agency. In addition it may be problematic to show the link between the scientific part and the financial part of the research study. Significant non-utilization of the budget could also lead the Vice President and Dean for R&D to decide that the incentive sum paid in the salary in relation to that research study will have to be repaid to the University and will be deducted from the Researcher's salary. Every quarter a report is e-mailed reminding the Researcher about possible non-utilization of his/her budget(s) proportionately to the time of the study that has elapsed. Underutilization of the budget should be discussed with the budget office.