International Research Funding Expert Shares Insights at Vilnius University
Dr. Akanimo Odon from Lancaster University (UK), where he serves as Head of African Strategic Partnerships, visited Vilnius University. On March 3, he gave a presentation to doctoral students and experienced researchers about internationalization and innovation in scientific research.
"The academic community doesn't enter science to become millionaires. It's curiosity, innovation, dedication, and social responsibility," Dr A. Odon mentioned in his presentation, emphasizing that research success depends not only on ideas but also on strategic planning and the ability to secure funding.
The lecturer openly shared his personal experience, admitting that during his doctoral years, he didn't feel particularly strong as a researcher but understood that he could serve the academic community in another way.
"Now I work as a funding consultant and help people attract money for their research. Just from Sunday afternoon to Monday morning, I sent out two applications for funding," he said, emphasizing the importance of consistent work.
The expert explained that both when applying for funding and in science in general, the most important thing is to clearly formulate the problems that research addresses: "It's not enough to say that Africa lacks electricity. You need to identify precisely – 600,000 people who don't have access to electricity. Organizations that provide funding want to know the scale of the problem."
"One of the essential steps in seeking funding is to properly choose your audience and establish meaningful partnerships. One person alone is not a warrior. To be effective, you need a team, partners, and people with whom you can collaborate and exchange information," said Dr. A. Odon.
He revealed that his own strategy is to contact people who have already received funding, offer to collaborate with them and ask them to share their experiences. It turns out that out of ten emails sent, he receives responses to at least five.
According to Dr. A. Odon, attracting funding is a consistent process: "You can't wait and hope that funding opportunities will arise on their own. I always subscribe to international funds' newsletters, monitor competition announcements, and even write to organizations myself, introduce myself, and express interest in funding opportunities. This allows me to be visible, and when it's time to allocate funding – they remember me."
The expert also emphasized that success depends on preparation. "I have at least 15 prepared funding applications on my computer that are waiting for the right moment. As soon as a suitable call appears, I am ready to submit an application immediately."
"How can you look for funding if you don't even know who provides it? The truth is, many don't know," the expert asked rhetorically, encouraging researchers to be more informed and strategic in planning their projects.
Dr. Akanimo Odon is an international expert collaborating with world-class universities, governments, and business organizations. He consults academics on research impact, funding strategies, and career internationalization. More information about his activities can be found here.