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The project process at EPT

This page is meant to help and guide you as an employee with the research project process at the Department of Energy and Process Engineering (EPT). Please make sure to familiarize yourself with this process that is mandatory for research projects at EPT. In chronological order, you see the tasks for every phase and which roles at the department must be involved at any given time. EPT's process is an addition to NTNU's guidelines on Research Project Management.

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1. Application

Tasks Responsible Comments
1.1 Initiate proposal Project Manager All new proposals at the Department must be initiated at least 3 weeks* before deadline with this form: Fill in the project proposal form (MachForm) 

 

*EU proposals must be initiated 3 months before deadline if NTNU is coordinator.

 

The Head of Research Group and the Deputy Head of Research evaluate if the project is according to the department strategy and not in conflict with other initiatives or regulations. The Head of Research Group acts as advisor to the Project Manager in the initiating phase and has an advisory role for approval of the application to the Deputy Head of Research. Requests submitted after the deadline may be rejected by the Deputy Head of Research.

1.2 Project plan and resource planning including in-kind (PhD/Postdoc positions, amount of project hours, Resource Infrastructure Resource (No: leiested) and other laboratory resources, operational costs, etc).

Project Manager, Adm (research advisor and financial officer), Lab

Once the proposal is accepted by the Deputy Head of Research the Project Manager must involve the research administration at EPT and the lab manager (if applicable) at least 3 weeks before application deadline. Research advisors can contribute at an early planning stage of a potential coordinated proposal. The Head of Group acts as advisor to the Project Manager in the initiation phase.

 

EU-proposals: Also the EU-advisor at the IV faculty must be involved from the start.

1.3 Classify the project - sponsored/commission finding - BOA Adm (research advisor and financial officer) If the project is classified as a commission funded project, all costs must be covered (no in-kind is allowed). It is important to set the correct classification already in the application process. 
1.4 Special regulations for commision funded projects Adm (financial officer) See EPT's clarification of the guidelines for budgeting and accounting of NTNU's commmission funded projects (PDF).
1.5 Prepare budget and use of resources Project Manager, Adm (financial officer)

The budget for the project application must be prepared together with the financial officer and lab. It is important that all costs are included in the budget (TDI-model). 

EU-projects: EU-advisor and EU financial officer must be involved at an early stage.

 

All budget information must be treated confidential and must not be sent to a third party.

1.6 When we act as a project partner, a letter of intent (LoI) must be written upon request from coordinator Project Manager Letter if Intent (LoI) must be signed by Head of Department. See template: Letter of intent (DOC)
1.7 Signed check-list must follow all applications Project Manager, Adm (financial officer) Project Manager, financial officer and Head of Department sign the check list before the proposal is submitted. See Template check-list (DOC)

1.8 Online administrative forms:

RCN applications - follow the department instructions

EU applications - follow the advisor instructions

Project Manager, Adm (research advisor)

The Head of Department is project owner for projects coordinated by EPT.

 

The research advisors and financial officers must have access to the application at RCN portal in order to check applications, update budgets etc. For the first page of applications to RCN, use this EPT info to RCN (PDF).

EU applications: EU-advisor and the research advisor must have access to EU participant portal and can assist with the administrative forms. 

1.9 Send a copy of the submitted application to EPT: boa-applications@ept.ntnu.no Project Manager All applications will be treated as confidential in our internal archive.

 

2. Awarded proposal / Grant preparation phase

Tasks Responsible Comments
2.1 Inform Head of Department and research advisors on awarded proposal Project Manager Send an e-mail to Head of Department, Head of Group and research advisors on application granted and any additional information from founding source as soon as the results are published.
2.2 Grant preparation and revision Project Manager, Adm (Research advisor and financial officer) If requested; revise project description, decide on a start date and update budget. Contact the research administration for support. 
2.3 Data management plan (DMP) Project Manager, Adm (research advisor) Most research projects must have a Data Management Plan, check the DMP requirements for your project with the funding source. The research advisers can give support and some examples if needed
2.4 Develop a website if required Project Manager, Adm (web contact at the Department) Some projects require a web page. Order a basic web page at EPT, and/or get in touch with the web contacts at the Department for initial discussions.

 

3. Contract

Tasks Responsible Comments
3.1 Contracts with the funding agency must be negotiated and completed Project Manager, Adm (research advisor) Make sure all project related information including project dates in contract is correct.
3.2 Consortium agreements for collaborative projects Project Manager, Adm (research advisor) Consortium agreements should be started as soon as the project is granted. Ask the research advisors for the correct template for the project (the templates must be optained from the website of RCN and NTNU in each individual case, in order to use the most updated template, see contract templates)
3.3 Consortium agreements for collaborative projects where EPT is partner Project Manager, Adm (research advisor) Request first draft of the Consortium agreement from coordinator immediately, draft must be checked by the research advisor and in some cases by the legal department. at NTNU.
3.4 Other types of contracts and agreements Project Manager, Adm (research advisor) Contact Research advisor at EPT
3.5 Safeguarding IPR Project Manager, Adm (research advisor) Make sure all IPR and background is included in the contracts and consortium agreements.
3.6 Quality assurance Project Manager, Adm (research advisor) Consortium agreements must be quality assured by the legal team at NTNU. Note that there is some processing time at the legal department.
3.7 Contract approvals and signatures Project Manager, Adm (research advisor), Head of Department The Head of Department must approve all contracts and consortium agreements, the approval goes via the research advisor. All contracts and consortium agreements shall be signed by an authorized person, depending on project type and size.
3.8 Circulate signed contracts and consortium agreemente Project Manager, Adm (research advisor) Send to all partners and if applicable to the founding source. Archive the contracts and consortium agreements internally at NTNU.

 

4. Start up

Tasks Responsible Comments
4.1 Project presentation meeting

Project Manager

Head of Department invites to a project presentation meeting shortly after project is granted. The Project Manager presents the project and project details (contract and consortium agreements, budgets, HR, communication) are discussed. Download project presentation template (PPT).
4.2 Start-up meeting (budget, resource planning, project plans etc.) Project Manager, Adm (research advisor, financial officer and HR), Lab The Project manager is responsible for initiating a start-up meeting when the project is to start.
4.3 Information to HR regarding announcement of vacant positions Project Manager, Adm (HR) The department's responsible HR persons must be involved as  soon as possible in order to avoid unnecessary time spent. To start the recruitment process, fill out form: 

 

  Register new positions to start the recruitment process (Machform)

4.5 Establish the project in Maconomy Adm (financial officer) Project manager must be informed about project number and Maconomy structure, especially when the project demands time recording and approval.
4.6 Schedule deliverables, reporting periods etc. Project Manager The Project Manager is in charge of scientific reporting within the deadlines set in the project description, in the contracts with the funding agency, and in the collaboration agreements.

 

5. Project phase

Tasks Responsible Comments
5.1 Progress reports Project Manager To be prepared and submitted according to project plan and upon request from funding source. Contact the research advisor for support.
5.2 Project revisions Project Manager, Adm (research advisor and financial officer) Act immediately when need for revision. Funding source must be informed depending on type of revision. If budgets are to be revised, the financial officer must be notified as soon as posssible.

5.3 Periodic status reports (accounts)

Adm (financial officer) The financial officere prepares frequently financial status reports for the project. 

5.4 Financial report to contractor

Project Manager, Adm (financial officer) To be prepared and submitted according to project plan and contract, and upon request from the funding source. 
5.5 Publishing/Open access

 

Project Manager All NTNU publications must be archived in NTNU Open to ensure open access.

5.6 Register research in Cristin

Project Manager All publications that are uploaded to Cristin will be accessible in NTNU Open and thus comply to the open access requirements. Register research in Cristin

5.7 Log hours if applicable

Project Manager, Adm (financial officer) Project participants must record hours continually in the Self-service Portal. See EPT guide on how to register hours.  Project manager must sign for hours at a monthly basis.

 

6. Close project

Tasks Responsible Comments

6.1 All deliverables and reports must be submitted

Project Manager, Adm (research advisor)

Check that everything is finalized and submitted.
6.2 Are all costs incurred on the project?

Project Manager, Adm (financial officer)

The financial officer must check that all known costs are incurred and the Project Manager must confirm that all invoices are submitted and paid.
6.3 Are all invoices submitted to the funding source / coordinator and paid? 

Adm (financial officer)

The financial officer must check that all invoices are submitted

 

Contact research administration support:

Research administration at EPT is divided into research advisors and financial officers:

Research advisors:

See also: