Happy Grant - Grant writing and proposal development

info@happygrant.eu

Strong proposals:

Research that includes everyone
and respects the planet

Happy Grant is a senior expert consultancy specialising in grant writing and proposal development for research and innovation funding.

We support researchers, organisations, and consortia to secure funding through proposals that are clear, competitive, and aligned with inclusion, responsibility, and sustainability expectations.

What is Inclusive & Responsible Grant Writing?

Funding bodies increasingly expect research proposals to demonstrate more than scientific excellence.

Inclusive and responsible grant writing means:

Integrating equality, diversity, and non-discrimination into research design
Addressing societal and environmental impact
Ensuring alignment between research goals, methods, and responsibility commitments

At Happy Grant this means:

Making proposals stronger by aligning them with real evaluation criteria
Ensuring that impact and responsibility are meaningful, not just technical add-ons
Supporting research that contributes to both knowledge and broader wellbeing

Why Happy Grant?

The name Happy Grant is intentional

My approach is rooted in strengths-based thinking and positive psychology, bringing clarity, confidence, and momentum into proposal processes that are often complex and high-pressure.

Clients consistently value

An energising, solution-oriented approach
A clear and structured path through complex proposal requirements
A way of working that builds focus, trust, and psychological safety

It is also called Happy Grant, because we are a 100% Finnish consultancy, proudly from the land of the happiest people in the world!

What We Do

Grant Writing & Proposal Development | Senior-level expertise for competitive research funding

I provide comprehensive, high-quality support for developing funding proposals, from early structuring to final refinement.

Core Services

Tailored proposal writing and expert editing
Structuring and strengthening research narratives
Alignment with evaluation criteria and funding logic
Support for impact, implementation, and dissemination sections
Strategic clarity and positioning throughout the proposal

Added value

Integration of inclusion and non-discrimination into proposal design
Strengthening of impact and societal relevance
Alignment with sustainability and responsibility expectations
Clear, structured proposals that are easy to evaluate, but hard to reject

Relevant for

Horizon Europe programmes
Research Council of Finland
Business Finland

The result is proposals that are not only technically strong, but credible, compelling, and competitive

Why This Matters Now

Sustainability, responsibility, and inclusion are no longer optional. They are core evaluation criteria.

Funders increasingly expect:

Consideration of equality and non-discrimination
Integration of these aspects in both research aims and design
Clear societal and environmental impact

For example

The Research Council of Finland requires these aspects to be addressed, and proposals that do not are rejected
Horizon Europe and Business Finland emphasise impact, responsibility, and sustainability

Happy Grant ensures your proposal is not only compliant, but strategically strong

About

Happy Grant is led by Dr Rose-Marie Peake, a senior expert working at the intersection of:

Research funding and grant strategy
Inclusive and responsible research
Coaching and psychologically informed practice

I combine analytical depth with human insight, supporting both the quality of the proposal and the clarity of the process behind it.

I bring over 10 years of experience in interdisciplinary, international postdoctoral research, with a focus on minority history, and hold a PhD and the title of Docent in History from the University of Helsinki.

My experience includes:

Securing substantial research funding from Finnish funding bodies and contributing to the preparation and development of Horizon Europe funding proposals
Working in Research Services at Finnish universities, supporting national and Horizon Europe applications across disciplines, including the arts, humanities, social sciences, business and management research, and sustainability science
Serving as a Science Adviser at the Research Council of Finland, with insight into evaluation processes and funding priorities

In addition, I am a DEI (diversity, equity, inclusion) -informed solution-focused brief therapy practitioner and coach, supporting researchers in navigating the demanding and high-stakes nature of proposal work.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion are central to my work, combining academic expertise, practical experience, and lived insight.