Research is a noble field, especially when it plays a role in improving people’s lives. However, sometimes the lack of funding, facilities and materials can get in the way of potential ground-breaking discoveries.

These are where research grants come in.

Grants are made available by various institutions to help fund research efforts by individuals, universities and private and governmental groups.

The awarding of these grants can encompass many areas of research, including literature, medicine and environmental science.

Depending on the requirements of each research project, these grants can vary greatly in amount, from small short-term grants to fellowships that span several years.

A grant offers you opportunities to carry out your research when you may not have the ability to otherwise.

However, as an increasing number of researchers seek funding from a limited pool of awarding institutions, competition and qualifying criteria have never been this high.

So, the big questioin is: “How can you increase your chances of obtaining a research grant?”

Tiebreaker with minute details

No matter public or private, different institutions have their own agendas and foci, servicing specific parts of the industry and society.

Hence, it is justifiable that they have niche or specific requirements for the research they support.

While the general process behind grant application may be similar, do not miss out on crucial details such as job description, amount of funding, timeline or research location.

For example, among the many requirements, the Research Grant Application by Fellow through the Academy of Sciences Malaysia specifies the grant will be given to applied research projects rather than university-centric research.

The research project must also be carried out in Malaysia. You will nullify your chance of receiving the grant if you apply with the intention of carrying out your research overseas.

Grant applications also generally undergo a scoring system to ease the awarding institution’s process of choosing deserving applicants.

Hence, when planning your application, make sure you compare it with the grant’s guidelines and scoring system regularly to ensure you are on the right track in securing your research grant.

Clear objectives bring you far

A good grant application must come with good grant writing. An article titled “How to write a grant that will get funded published by American Journal Experts” notes that good grant writing must be “SMART” – specific, measurable, achievable, realistic and time-sensitive.

In general, the article advises applicants to share their drafts for feedback, learn from past successful grants, and ultimately write for the audience, which is the awarding institution.

Check to see if your research proposal is in line with the organisation’s mission and goals and identify terminology and style of conveying information from successful grants.

Besides that, a 2011 article titled “Securing research funding: live chat best bits” was published in The Guardian, where tips on securing research grants were shared.

One of the input providers, then-research funding manager of the University of Kent, Phil Ward, stated that applicants must make sure their writing is clear in its objectives – what the research question is, why it is important, how the research will answer the question, and how the findings will be disseminated.

Ward added that impact is highly regarded by research councils, so a lot of thought should be put into how your research will potentially impact the real world, be it directly or indirectly.

Building with feedback

At the end of the day, one cannot pursue a career in research without the support of others in and outside the field.

You will have to work with professors, colleagues, students, and other academic staff to carry out your research well and potentially solve societal issues outside of your research parameters.

The feedback of others is crucial before, during and after writing your grant proposal, and it is similarly important during your research.

Hence, when planning your grant application, talk and share your grant drafts with trusted individuals in and outside the research industry so as to not miss out on potential ideas or issues you may have overlooked if you were working alone.

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