Key trends in public funding

Extensive internal and external research has helped us identify seven important trends in public funding:

Grant complexity is here to stay

There are a huge number of grant schemes (in the UK alone, there are over 7,000, including trusts). It’s a complex market, in which a wide variety of grant-giving organisations offer a variety of schemes, each with different requirements. What's more, the application procedures vary per scheme and often lack transparency.

Qualification for grants is getting tougher

Because grant-giving organisations have limited budgets and ever-increasing numbers of applicants, the qualifying criteria are becoming more stringent. And, as the tender system is now the most prevalent approval system, only the highest-quality applications are approved.

Grant consultants have become trusted advisors

Today’s consultants are expected to be specialist trusted advisors, who transform ambitions and goals into ‘fundable’ projects – and who also secure payments. With a track record going back to 1984, we’ve established a reputation as experts and trusted advisors to a wide variety of organisations that see grants as an excellent way to leverage their projects.

Independence in grant consultancy is becoming more important

One result of the Sarbanes-Oxley legislation in the USA is that ‘captive’ grants consultancy (i.e. incorporating advice, management and auditing in the same firm) is now considered to be undesirable. Most of the ‘Big 4’ accountancy firms have therefore abandoned their grants consultancy services and two have now transferred these departments to PNO (CiaoTech is part of PNO), who are completely independent.

On 1 July 2007, PNO acquired the EU Grants and Incentive department of Ernst & Young, based in the Netherlands, and in October 2008 we acquired Deloitte’s Grants & Incentives Division in the Netherlands and Belgium. Both accountancy firms took this step to avoid potential conflicts of interest.

Being proactive increases your chances of success with grants

It’s hard to find projects that perfectly match specific grant schemes. That’s why it’s becoming increasingly important to be proactive about investigating future trends and schemes – for that’s the way to develop projects that meet grant criteria.

Grants offer more than financial value alone

Although the main reason for obtaining grants is to strengthen projects financially, there are many other less tangible benefits, such as enhancing your corporate image and the opportunity to cooperate with top research institutes and innovative companies.

The professional intermediary is now indispensable

Increasing complexity has made professional intermediaries who speak the language of all those involved indispensable.

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