Advancing a potential new therapy often depends on securing funding for specialised studies whose outcomes remain uncertain. For pharma and biotech companies, the grant writing tips in this article address a central challenge: demonstrating the scientific value of a project while establishing the feasibility of the research required to move it forward.
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Funding programmes differ in the types of research they support and the evidence they expect from applicants. Developing a competitive proposal therefore begins with selecting the right opportunity and understanding its evaluation criteria. From defining clear research objectives to demonstrating implementation capacity, several factors can influence how a proposal is assessed.
What makes a grant proposal competitive in pharma and biotech?
One of the most useful grant writing tips for pharma and biotech companies is to understand how funding bodies assess proposals before drafting them. Under Horizon Europe, for example, Research and Innovation Actions (RIAs) and Innovation Actions (IAs) are generally assessed against three core criteria:
- Excellence: the clarity and relevance of research objectives, the soundness of the proposed methodology and the degree of scientific innovation;
- Impact: the potential contribution of the project to the expected outcomes and impacts of the funding programme, supported by credible pathways towards their achievement;
- Quality and efficiency of implementation: the feasibility of the work plan, the appropriate allocation of resources and the expertise of the participating organisations.
For pharmaceutical and biotechnology projects, particular attention should be given to the relationship between scientific objectives and the evidence required at each development stage. A proposal involving a new therapeutic candidate, for instance, should explain how the planned studies will address existing knowledge gaps and inform subsequent development decisions.
Before writing: choosing the right funding opportunity
The seven grant writing tips outlined in the next section build on an essential preliminary decision: selecting the funding opportunity that best matches the project. A programme may address biotechnology or pharmaceutical innovation without necessarily supporting the proposed activities or their current stage of development.
Before preparing an application, companies should examine four fundamental aspects:
- Eligibility and project scope: confirm that the organisation meets the participation requirements and that the proposed research aligns with the objectives of the call;
- Evaluation criteria: understand how scientific excellence, expected impact and implementation capacity will be assessed under the specific programme;
- Funding conditions: review eligible costs, funding rates, project duration and any applicable co-financing requirements;
- Consortium and submission requirements: determine whether external partners are required and verify the applicable templates, supporting documents and deadlines.
For example, the EIC Accelerator targets eligible start-ups and SMEs developing breakthrough innovations with significant market potential and ambitions to scale. Applicants must therefore demonstrate a credible business proposition alongside their technological capabilities.
Seven grant writing tips to strengthen your funding proposal
Once a suitable opportunity has been identified, the following grant writing tips can help organise the scientific case and its implementation:
1. Define a clear research question and specific aims
Begin by identifying a specific gap in scientific knowledge and formulating the research question your project intends to address. Translate this question into well-defined objectives, ensuring that each contributes meaningfully to the overall research programme.
For hypothesis-driven projects, hypotheses should be testable and supported by available evidence. Avoid overly ambitious objectives or unnecessary dependencies between research aims, particularly when subsequent activities rely entirely on favourable results from earlier experiments.
2. Demonstrate scientific relevance and innovation
Establish the current state of knowledge and explain how your research addresses an unresolved scientific or clinical problem. A compelling proposal should demonstrate the significance of the intended contribution and its relevance to the field. If the project involves a novel experimental technique or technological platform, explain its proposed methodological advantages and how it could contribute to answering the research question.
3. Support your proposal with robust evidence and preliminary data
A credible research proposal should be grounded in relevant scientific literature. Where available, preliminary experimental data can further strengthen the application by supporting the proposed hypothesis and demonstrating methodological feasibility.
Prioritise evidence directly connected to your research objectives, acknowledging any limitations that may influence its interpretation. Remember that requirements for preliminary data vary between funding mechanisms, with some exploratory programmes accepting proposals supported primarily by existing scientific literature.
4. Develop a realistic research plan with measurable milestones
Among the most practical grant writing tips is the need to translate scientific objectives into a feasible implementation plan. Reviewers should be able to determine whether the experimental approach is appropriate and achievable within the proposed timeframe.
A structured research plan should specify:
- Experimental methods: procedures, appropriate controls and data analysis strategies;
- Work packages or equivalent activity structures, where applicable: the organisation of activities and their respective responsibilities;
- Milestones and deliverables: measurable indicators of progress and clearly defined outputs;
- Implementation timeline: a realistic schedule that accounts for dependencies between activities.
Milestones should correspond to meaningful scientific or operational achievements. For example, an assay development project could establish predefined performance criteria that must be met before progressing to subsequent testing.
5. Anticipate technical risks and propose alternative strategies
Research programmes involve uncertainty, particularly when developing novel therapeutic approaches or experimental methodologies.
Identify potential limitations and propose realistic mitigation measures. These may include alternative experimental methods if an assay fails to achieve the expected performance or contingency plans for restricted access to biological samples. For pharmaceutical and biotechnology projects, relevant regulatory requirements should also be considered during research planning.
6. Demonstrate team expertise and justify the required resources
Reviewers need confidence that the project team possesses the expertise and resources required for successful execution. Highlight relevant experience and access to appropriate research infrastructure.
The proposed budget should reflect the actual needs of the research programme. Personnel costs, experimental resources and other eligible expenditure must be justified against specific activities, ensuring consistency between the financial plan and the project’s scope.
7. Communicate the expected outcomes and broader impact
The final consideration in these grant writing tips concerns the potential value of the proposed research. Explain what the project is expected to generate and how its findings could contribute to scientific progress or subsequent development activities.
For Horizon Europe proposals, for example, distinguishing between three concepts is particularly important:
- Results: the direct outputs generated by the project, such as experimental datasets or new methodologies;
- Outcomes: the expected effects associated with the uptake or application of those results;
- Impact: the broader, longer-term contribution to science, industry or society.
Keep impact claims realistic and supported by a credible pathway towards their achievement. Where relevant, explain how the proposed research aligns with the programme’s commercialisation objectives.
Common grant writing mistakes to avoid before submission
These grant writing tips should be complemented by a thorough pre-submission review, as even scientifically sound proposals can be undermined by avoidable errors. According to the European Research Executive Agency, applicants should pay particular attention to compliance with the call requirements, the clarity of their proposals and the consistency of their implementation plans.
Before submitting an application, review the following potential weaknesses:
- Failure to follow submission requirements: using outdated templates, exceeding page limits or overlooking mandatory documents and declarations;
- Inconsistencies across the application: discrepancies between research objectives, work packages, implementation timelines and budget allocations;
- Unsupported or exaggerated claims: presenting anticipated scientific outcomes as established findings or describing innovation without sufficient evidence;
- Incomplete ethical considerations: failing to address applicable research ethics requirements, including mandatory assessments or declarations;
- Unclear scientific communication: excessive technical jargon or poorly explained methodologies that make the proposal difficult to evaluate.
How specialised scientific partners can strengthen project feasibility
For pharma and biotech companies, putting these grant writing tips into practice may involve engaging specialised scientific partners before finalising the research plan. Early collaboration can help assess the technical feasibility of proposed studies, identify gaps in expertise and determine the resources required for their execution.
A competitive application should demonstrate how each partner contributes to the project, linking its capabilities to clearly defined activities and deliverables. Depending on the funding programme, specialist organisations may participate as consortium members or contracted service providers, subject to the applicable eligibility and cost rules.
As a full-service CRO, VectorB2B supports drug development through specialised Discovery, Toxicology, Chemistry Manufacturing and Clinical Services. Our expertise also extends to development programme design and regulatory strategy. Through our Functional Service Providing offering, we additionally offer funding application consultancy and grant management support for healthcare research centres, including the development and submission of applications for national and international projects.
Contact our team to explore how VectorB2B’s scientific expertise and operational capabilities can support your research programme!
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
1. How important are preliminary data in a grant application?
Preliminary data strengthen scientific credibility and help demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed research. However, requirements vary by funding programme, with some exploratory grants accepting applications without preliminary experimental results.
2. What do funding evaluators look for in a research proposal?
Evaluators assess proposals against programme-specific criteria, which may include scientific excellence, expected impact, implementation feasibility and team expertise. With this in mind, one of the most valuable grant writing tips is to demonstrate how the proposed methods and available resources support the research objectives.
3. How can pharma and biotech companies improve their chances of securing research funding?
Key grant writing tips include selecting a suitable funding opportunity, defining clear research objectives, supporting the proposal with robust scientific evidence and presenting a realistic implementation plan. Independent review can also help identify weaknesses before submission.
