A new assessment method produced a winning proposal
Urban Futures is not only a new research division within Mistra, the project also includes a completely new approach. A process of pre-studies and specialized coaching helped the winning research project to meet Mistra’s vision—the establishment of an international cross-science center for sustainable urban development with worldwide nubs.
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Mistra has used a new assessment process in Urban Futures. It evolved as a result of financing larger projects where Mistra´s own vision on research is crucial. For the past couple of years Mistra has been working with “calls for proposal submittals." In this manner, Mistra has its own idea-generating process primed with pre-studies. Mistra charts what is being accomplished on a global scale, finds niches that need to be investigated and creates the conditions needed for forward-thinking research.Urban Futures is one example of how Mistra implemented this new assessment process. The “calls" started in May of 2008.
"It was an open call that carefully laid out what direction Mistra wanted to aim. Deans from selected universities were invited to an informational gathering at Mistra. They represented universities viewing themselves capable of building an international research center focused around large-city environmental issues. All of them had been asked to submit “pre-proposals" regarding themselves and their universities— including an overview description of how they were planning on realizing Mistra´s vision," says Clas-Uno Frykholm, in charge of evaluations at Mistra.
Seven applications were submitted. Mistra appointed an international evaluation group to judge the proposals. Three proposals—from Lund, Gothenburg and Stockholm—turned out significantly stronger than the rest. They were given planning support and expert guidance in order to turn in proficient applications.
The guidance included, among other things, valuable experience gathered from a trip to the 2008 UN conference World Urban Forum in China. The three supported groups got to present their proposals to an international audience.
“The thought was to give the different consortia a chance to test their proposals on a well informed international audience," says Ola Engelmark, Mistra´s CEO.
In China, the evaluators from Mistra were playing the role as program support. Mistra led their in-house coaching sessions with the three groups to sharpen their vision and presentation.
“At this stage the evaluators were assuming a more active role, giving more directed support to the aspirants," Clas-Uno Frykholm says.
Deadline for the complete applications was April 1st 2009. That was when another assessment process was started by the evaluators Belinda Yuen, Olivier Coutard and Roderick J. Lawrence, who were to write a final report about the proposals.
Mistra´s board of directors made the financing decision on August 19.2009 “The board was very pleased with its unanimous decision on who would get the financing support, but still had some feedback for (opinions on) the winning proposal. Deliberations between Mistra and the Gothenburg consortia will now take place and in December the board will make its decision on plans and budget for the first three years," says Clas-Uno Frykholm.
Several research “angels" have been following the process and shown interest in investing in Urban Futures. Those negotiations will continue throughout the autumn.
