Guidelines For Preparing Project Reports: Information Society Technologies Ist Programme
Guidelines For Preparing Project Reports: Information Society Technologies Ist Programme
0. INTRODUCTION 3
2. MANAGEMENT REPORT 8
3. COST STATEMENTS 9
4. FINAL REPORT 9
5. PROJECT PRESENTATION 11
Scope of reporting
The reporting to the Commission should cover all aspects of the project, including:
project management and administration, project technical progress and achievements,
project external impact i.e. dissemination, use, exploitation and technology transfer, and
the public awareness and publicity of the programme.
The project management/administration and technical progress and achievements are
covered by two levels of reporting: Periodic Progress Reports (PPRs) and Management
Reports. Cost Statements are coupled to the PPRs. The Final Report should cover all
achievements of the project.
Technical progress and achievements are documented in the deliverables specified in
Annex 1 to the contract, Description of Work. The deliverables should not be written for
the sole benefit of the Commission, but also serve for dissemination and exploitation.
For ease of identification and overview, the table shown in Appendix 2 should be
submitted along with the individual deliverables, each of which should use the summary
sheet shown in Appendix 3 as a cover page.
The project’s external impact, in terms of both plans and achievements, is also covered
by the Dissemination and Use Plan and, after the end of the project, by the Technology
Implementation Plan.
1
Art. 4 of Model Contract for Cost reimbursement for research and technological development projects
and Art. 4 of Annex II of Model Contract (http://www.cordis.lu/fp5/mod-cont.htm)
FET Reports Guidelines (Version 3, January 2004) page 3
Support to publicity is provided by the Project Presentation, the publishable version of
the Final Report, and by the Technology Implementation Plan. These are in addition to
publicity activities undertaken directly by the consortium.
The quality of the documentation and reporting should be to best industrial/commercial
practice.
Copies of reports, frequency, delivery means
The number of copies and frequency of the contractually required reports are given in the
contract or in its annexes.
Where not explicitly given, the number of copies and frequency will be determined in
consultation with the Project Officer. The delivery means can be paper or electronically
via CD-Rom or email. It would be useful to agree this with the Project Officer early in
the project.
The number of copies indicated in the contract normally include the copies needed for
project monitoring, which is usually done with the assistance of external experts. The
consortium normally forwards the documents directly to the experts, after these have
been agreed with the Project Officer.
1. Periodic Progress Report (PPR) The Contract specifies the frequency. See Art. 4(1) of Annex II of Contract. It is
Best practice is every either 6 or 12 months, due within 1 month of the however recommended that the
end of the period covered by the report, or 10 working days before a publishable PPR is its executive summary
periodic review meeting – whichever comes earlier. (1-2 pages) in the style of a press release.
2. Management Report (MR) As agreed with the Project Officer. Best practice is every 3 or 6 No
months, due one week after the end of the period covered by the report.
4. Final Report (FR) See Art. 4.1(iii) of Annex II. Within 2 months of project’s end. Best See Art. 4(1) of Annex II .
practice is that report is available 10 working days before the final
review.
5. Project Presentation Optional deliverable for all projects due on month 3-63 and updated Yes
yearly
6. Dissemination and Use Plan (DUP) Mandatory deliverable for all RTD projects due on month 6 from the As defined in Annex I of Contract -
start of project. Can be updated during the course of the project. Description of Work
7. Technology Implementation Plan Within 2 months of project’s end4. Best practice is that the TIP is Parts 1, 3 & 4
(TIP) available 10 working days before the final review.
2
The Contract is the Model Contract for Cost reimbursement for research and technological development projects. The Annex II is annex II to the contract, General Conditions. The
reporting is described in Article 4 of contract and Article 4 of Annex II.
3
See Guidelines for Contract Preparation for Co-ordinators of IST projects (http://www.cordis.lu/ist/cont-prep.htm)
4
Model Contract for Cost reimbursement for research and technological development projects Article 16 (1) of the Annex II – General Conditions
FET Reports Guidelines (Version 3, January 2004) page 5
1. Periodic Progress Report
What is the Periodic Progress Report
The PPR provides a comprehensive account of the progress made by the project during
the reporting period. The report should also address issues and problems affecting the
progress of the project and co-operation inside the consortium, with the Commission or
with other projects.
The submission of a PPR is normally synchronised with the Cost Statements for the same
period; the frequency is usually 6 or 12 months, as specified in Article 4(2) of the
contract. The PPR will be used in the preliminary acceptance of costs.
The PPR should contain the following information;
(i) A detailed account of progress made
(ii) Resources employed
(iii) Specific results obtained
(iv) Deviations from the work schedule - where necessary
(v) Planned modifications to the work schedule for the next reporting period -
where necessary.
The size of the PPR is dependent on the size and complexity of the project as well as on
the reporting period and management style of the consortium. However, it should be
clear and easily readable without repetition. The report should as much as possible also
serve internal project reporting purposes. For FET Assessment projects that last up to 12
months, there is only one PPR.
The report will be used by the PO (and appointed Commission experts) for progress
monitoring and is a prerequisite for the preliminary acceptance of the costs claimed. The
report may be commented upon by the PO (and experts) at appropriate points in the
monitoring process.
In order to be of value, the report should be provided well ahead (at least 10 working
days!) of the review meeting or other assessment of progress for the period, or within 1
month after the period covered.
How should the Periodic Progress Report be structured?
The Periodic Progress Report can be structured as follows:
· Front page – with the acronym, number and title of the project, the title of the report,
the reporting period, the start date and the duration of the contract and the name of
the co-ordinator and other contractors (see Appendix 1 for template/outline).
· Table of Contents
· Executive summary - providing an overview of the work carried out. The executive
summary should focus on the objectives and main achievements realised during the
reporting period, as well as on the expected end results and their expected impact.
Public visibility, external cooperation and other activities beyond the borders of the
project should also be covered.
· Work progress overview - should be clear and concise giving an overview of current
as well as planned activities:
1. Specific objectives for the reporting period
FET Reports Guidelines (Version 3, January 2004) page 6
2. Overview of the progress of the project during the reporting period, including:
- Description of milestones & deliverables accomplished and any other concrete
results achieved. In the case of Assessment projects, this section should clearly
describe to what extent the success criteria have been reached.
- An updated Gantt chart showing progress made per task.
- A table of deliverables produced during the report period (See Appendix 2 for
template).
- Summaries of Deliverables - a short description of each deliverable produced
during the report period (see Appendix 3 for template).
3. Comparison of planned activities and actual work accomplished during the
reporting period. Indication of deviations from the work schedule with
recommendations for corrective action (where necessary).
4. Activities should be listed according to workpackages and tasks (and not per
partner). The contribution of each partner can be reported using a Progress
Overview Sheet (see Appendix 5). The Project Co-ordinator should summarise
the effort used and planned for the period, e.g. using a template as the one given
in Appendix 4(a). Any major difference between planned and actual efforts
should be justified.
5. World-wide 'state-of-the-art' update; this section should provide an account of
recent technical developments world-wide, which do not already appear in the
Description of Work and which have relevance to the work carried out in the
project. Such developments should be listed with an evaluation and analysis of
their impact on the project. Any actions taken in response should be described.
6. Clarifications given on comments and recommendations made by the reviewers in
previous review reports where necessary.
7. Brief account of planned work for the next reporting period.
8. Assessment of project results and achievements; this section should provide a
qualitative assessment of the project achievements and the potential impact of
the project results. The Project Co-ordinator should fill in also the questionnaire
in Appendix 6 as part of every PPR with the account of the project results and
achievements.
Note: Items 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8 are not necessary for FET Assessment projects.
· Project Management and co-ordination should give an overview of the project
management issues like project meetings, co-operation within the consortium,
possible problems encountered and solved, activities related to standardisation, co-
operation with other EU or national/international projects, etc.
Contractual issues - such as a change of status of a partner company, or a change in
the authorised contact person or the scientific person in charge of the project for one
of the partners should be reported. Changes in the persons involved in the project
should also be raised.
· Cost breakdown - costs incurred for the reporting period in €. This information
should include a comparison between budget spent and budget allocation. The
consolidated costs since the beginning of the project should be given for comparison
in a separate column (please refer to Appendix 4(b)). Cost breakdown does not need
to be provided for FET assessment projects.
2. Management Report
What is a Management Report?
The Management Report (MR) provides a short, clear overview of the progress made in
the project during the reporting period. The aim is to inform the Project Officer of the
progress of the project and of any issues needing action from the side of the Commission
or where the Commission should be kept informed. The frequency of the MR is agreed
with the Project Officer, but it is recommended to submit a MR every 3 months in case
that a PPR is submitted every 6 months, or every 6 months in case that a PPR is
submitted every 12 months. The MR is normally only sent to the PO as well as to the
consortium members, and not to outside experts. The preferred means for transmission is
by email or fax within one week after the end of the period.
The MR contains the following information:
(i) A brief account of progress made with any important results obtained
(ii) Actual vs. planned resource allocations with indication of deviations from the
work schedule and recommendations for corrective action (where necessary).
(iii) Planned modifications to the work schedule for the next reporting period (where
necessary).
(iv) Problems and possible remedial actions by the consortium or the Commission.
The typical size of a Management Report is a couple of pages. The report will be
reviewed by the PO, and commented upon when necessary. The PO may also dispense
the consortium from the obligation to provide the MR in case that other documents and
information provided by the coordinator allow him/her to have an adequate picture of
project progress or other issues.
The first page of the MR should identify the acronym, number and title of the project, the
reporting period, the start date and the duration of the contract and the name of the co-
ordinator (you may use Appendix 1 as an example).
4. Final Report
What is the Final Report ?
This report should provide a comprehensive view of the results obtained, the
methodologies and approaches employed, changes in the state-of-the-art since the project
was contracted, and elaborate on the degree to which the objectives were reached.
The final report must be submitted within 2 months of project completion, cessation, or
termination. The Commission services shall comment on this report within 2 months of
submission.
The report must be accompanied by a Periodic Progress Report for the last period.
Therefore the managerial and administrative aspects should not be repeated in the Final
Report.
Although the Final Report is contractually due two months after the end of the contract, a
draft should be available 10 working days before the final project review; this will
facilitate the assessment of the project and will allow the experts to suggest
improvements in the final and the publishable versions.
How should the Final Report be structured?
· Front page - acronym, number and title of the project, title of the report, the
reporting period under review, the start date and the duration of the contract and the
name of the co-ordinator and other contractors of the project (please refer to
Appendix 1).
· Table of Contents
· Executive Summary - a summary of the objectives and main achievements of the
project; the Consortium's composition and the roles of the partners involved should
be also described.
· Project objectives
· Methodologies employed to achieve the project objectives - this should include
comments on the advantages of methodologies used over other possible alternatives
through a review of the world-wide 'state-of-the-art'
FET Reports Guidelines (Version 3, January 2004) page 9
· Project results and achievements – including:
- comparison to the original project objectives
- relations and synergies with other relevant projects
- any implications for EU policies and standards.
- any benefits to society - this section should include a brief discussion on how
project results may potentially contribute to:
o enhancing European competitiveness in a particular market;
o support the future growth of European industry;
o protecting and preserving the natural environment and resources;
o the quality of life;
o employment within the European Union.
Project abstract
Objectives
Description of work
Milestones and expected results
Other publishable and especially visually valuable illustrations relative to the project
would be well received by the Commission. Electronic delivery and a permission to
publish would be useful.
How should the slide presentation be structured?
The following should be shown on all slides (see Appendix 7):
The second slide could summarise the participants (organisation name, country), total
cost and Community funding (€), the project start date and duration (months), as well as
the co-ordinator’s contact details.
Photos, diagrams and other illustrative material is highly appreciated. Electronic delivery
and a permission to publish would be useful.
In addition, the consortium is expected to establish and maintain a web page with project
information; links to the IST programme, the FET home page and to partners’ web pages
are also expected. The consortium is encouraged to use best publication practices and
amend the material as they see fit. The text should always clearly indicate that the work
takes place with the financial support of the IST Programme of the European Union.
When is a Project Presentation to be submitted?
The deliverable is normally foreseen between project months 3-6. Should major changes
occur or when significant results have been reached, the consortium is encouraged to
submit an updated Project Presentation. These may also be synchronised with
publication plans initiated by the IST programme.
· plans for the dissemination of knowledge gained during your project (notwithstanding
any restrictions imposed for the protection of this knowledge)
The “Dissemination and Use Plan” provides a basis for the Technology Implementation
Plan to be submitted to the EC towards the end of the project. It should be completed and
supplied to the Commission no later than project month 6.
For FET projects, it is understood that the Use Plan may be very tentative due to the long
term and high risk nature of the work. In some FET Assessment projects, the project
officer may have dispensed the project from providing a Dissemination and Use Plan.
- Cover Page
See Appendix 1
- Part 1: Overview
1.1 Overview of expected results
1.2 Approach to Dissemination and Use
1.3 Market Projections
- Part 2: Description of Dissemination Plan
2.1 Conferences
2.2 Publications
2.3 Web presence
2.4 Clustering and standardisation
2.5 Other
- Part 3: Description of the Use Plan (by result)
3.1 Description for result 1
3.2 Description for result 2
3.n Description for result n
Part 1: Overview
Section 1.1 should only include those results that could either be disseminated or
exploited. Intermediate results should not be given. A tabular form could be used
giving for each result a title, timing of when the result would be available, and
whether the results are for dissemination and/or use.
Section 1.3 ”Market Projections” should provide a brief description of the future
market(s) targeted by the project and the strategy for approaching them.
In Section 2.3 the project web presence should be briefly described. This should
include whether a specific web-site will be (or has been) set up, how it will be
maintained and by whom, and the information that will be made available on this
web-site.
Section 2.4 ”Clustering and Standardisation” should at least indicate the list of
projects relevant to the on-going work (at European or national level) and with
which clustering or information exchange might be beneficial. Any relevant
standardisation committees including ad hoc/industrial standards should also be
mentioned.
· Possible future market impact of the result, including time frame, potential “buyers”,
or ultimate end users.
<Project Acronym>
<IST–YYYY-XXXXX>
<Project Logo if existing>
<Title>
Report Version:
Report Preparation Date:
Classification:
Contract Start Date: Duration:
Project Co-ordinator:
Partners:
DELIVERABLES TABLE
Project Number:
Project Acronym:
Title:
Project Number:
Project Acronym:
Title:
Deliverable N°:
Due date:
Delivery Date:
Short Description:
Partners owning:
Partners contributed:
Period Total Period Total Period Total Period Total Period Total
WP/Task Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act.
WP1
Task 1.1
Task 1.2
WP 2
Task 2.1
Task 2.2
Total
Period: Est.: estimated effort in contract for period Act.: effort actually spent in period
Total: Est.: estimated cumulative effort to date in contract Act.: cumulative effort to date actually spent
Period Total Period Total Period Total Period Total Period Total
Cost category Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act. Est. Act.
Direct costs
1. Personnel
2. Durable equipment
3. Subcontracting
4. Travel and
subsistence
5. Consumables
6. Computing
7. Protection of
knowledge
8. Other specific costs
Subtotal
Indirect costs
9. Overheads
Total
Period: Est.: estimated costs in contract for period Act.: actual costs in period
Total: Est.: estimated cumulative costs to date in contract Act.: cumulative actual costs to date
Organisation:
Task n.2
WP n+1
Task n+1.1
Task n+1.2
5
Each partner should fill in its own Progress Overview Sheet for a period in question. The Project Co-
ordinator will check and approve the forms and attach them to the corresponding PPR.
6
In person months (or in person hours)
7
Project month when the activity was planned to be started or to be completed
8
Project month when the activity was actually started or completed
9
Give a figure used for converting person hours to a person month
10
Please submit these information in an 'excel' sheet with title of publication/authors/journal or conference/date etc.
11
Please submit these information in an 'excel' sheet with title of publication/authors/journal or conference/date etc.
12
Please submit these information in an 'excel' sheet with title of publication/authors/journal or conference/date etc.
Patents awarded
Brief explanation of the field covered by the patent* (if different from above):
Patents sold
Brief explanation of the field covered by the patent* (if different from above):
Questions about project’s outcomes Number Comments or suggestions for further investigation
B - Start-ups
Question 3.4.
Yes/No If YES, details:
Creation of start-up - date of creation:
- company name
- subject of activity:
- location:
Question 3.5.
Yes / No Name of department:
Creation of new department of
research (ie: organisational change)
C – Technology transfer of project’s results
Question 3.6.
Which partner :
Collaboration/ partnership with a
company ? Which company :
4. Other effects
A - Participation to Conferences/Symposium/Workshops or other dissemination events
Question 4.1.
Names/ Dates/ Subject area / Country:
Active participation13 to Conferences
in EU Member states, Candidate
countries and NAS.
(specify if one partner or
"collaborative" between partners)
Question 4.2.
Names/ Dates/ Subject area / Country:
Active participation to Conferences
outside the above countries
13
'Active Participation' in the means of organising a workshop / session / stand / exhibition directly related to the project (apart from events presented in section 2).
B – Training effect
Question 4.3.
In what field :
Number of PhD students hired for
project’s completion
Questions about project’s outcomes Number Comments or suggestions for further investigation
C - Public Visibility
Question 4.4.
References:
Media appearances and general
publications (articles, press releases,
etc.) (Please attach relevant information)
Question 4.5.
References:
Web-pages created or other web-site
links related to the project
(Please attach relevant links)
Question 4.6.
References:
Video produced or other
dissemination material
(Please attach relevant material)
Question 4.7.
References:
Key pictures of results
(Please attach relevant material .jpeg or .gif)
Question 4.9.
Yes / No If YES, which IST programme(s):
Any spill-over to another part of EU
IST Programme
Question 4.10.
Yes / No If YES, which organisation(s):
Are other team(s) involved in the
same type of research as the one in
your project ?
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