Launching into an international multidisciplinary project

Drawing on examples from the illustrative case studies, the second chapter examines the vast array of complex overlapping tasks entailed in collaborative research across national borders and disciplinary boundaries, many of which need to be carried out simultaneously and cumulatively. The chapter focusses on the early stages in the process covering the issues to be considered when deciding whether to respond to a funding call; when navigating institutional regulations, including financial rules, incentives and expectations of sponsors and stakeholders; and when preparing and submitting a research proposal, securing appropriate funding and negotiating a budget, including the institutional requirements of participating researchers, and the constraints they impose. In addressing the question of access to external funding, the authors review the implications of different funding mechanisms when selecting a project manager, building a multidisciplinary research team with appropriate skill sets and experience of international cooperation, and when planning subsequent stages in the research.