# Generate research proposals with OpenAI: n8n workflow template

> Started by an event in a connected app, and works across n8n data table. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you...

Source: https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-research-proposals-with-openai (Millionrounds; every figure on the page links to its filing or article)

[Automation library](https://millionrounds.com/workflows) · [Money admin](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?category=Money+admin#library)

# Generate research proposals with OpenAI

Started by an event in a connected app, and works across n8n data table. It puts OpenAI behind a retrieval step, so answers are drawn from documents you supply rather than from the model alone. 21 steps, 1 branch: large, and worth reading before you trust it with anything live.

Large Calls a model: OpenAI Retrieval

[Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fgenerate-research-proposals-with-openai)

**21 steps** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live

**1** Branch: places the flow splits

**0** Loops or waits

**1** Service it connects to

## The flow

Starts it 1 Model 13 Logic 5 Service 2

The steps in the order they run, from what starts it.

- 1 **Start Proposal Generation** Manual trigger *Starts it*
- 2 **Supervisor Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 3 **Research Content Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 4 **Strategic Planning Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 5 **Funding Agency Research Tool** Http Request Tool *Service*
- 6 **Web Search Tool** Tool Serp Api *Model*
- 7 **Quality Control Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 8 **Quality Assessment Output** Output Parser Structured *Model*
- 9 **Conversation Memory** Memory Buffer Window *Model*
- 10 **Ethics Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 11 **Impact Model** Lm Chat Open Ai *Model*
- 12 **Supervisor Agent** Agent *Model*
- 13 **Research Content Agent** Agent Tool *Model*
- 14 **Strategic Planning Agent** Agent Tool *Model*
- 15 **Quality Control Agent** Agent *Model*
- 16 **Parse Proposal Structure** Code *Logic*
- 17 **Check Quality Score** If *Logic*
- 18 **Format Final Proposal** Set *Logic*
- 19 **Flag for Revision** Set *Logic*
- 20 **Prepare Storage Data** Set *Logic*
- 21 **Store Proposal Results** Data Table *Service*

## How it's built

- **Starts on:** An event in a connected app
- **Steps:** 21, with 1 branch
- **Size:** Large: read it before trusting it with anything live
- **Connects to:** n8n data table
- **Model:** OpenAI
- **Retrieval:** Answers are drawn from documents you supply, not from the model alone

## Questions

What does it need to run?

An n8n account, and a key for OpenAI. You connect your own accounts after importing it; none are included.

What starts it?

It starts on an event in a connected app.

Does it use AI?

Yes. It calls OpenAI. Its answers draw on documents you give it, not on the model alone. Model calls are billed by the provider, not by n8n.

How long does it take to set up?

Take your time. At 21 steps it is large: read it before trusting it with anything live.

How do I import it?

Copy the workflow, open a new workflow in n8n and paste. The steps appear on the canvas, ready for your own accounts.

**Before you run it**

Nothing here has been tested by us. It is somebody's working automation, read and described from its own steps. Treat the connections it wants as a list of accounts it will touch, and read the 21 steps before you point it at anything that matters.

## Run it in n8n

- **Create your n8n account** Free to start. n8n is where the workflow runs. [Create an n8n account ↗](https://millionrounds.com/n8n)
- **Download the workflow** Free with a Millionrounds account. [Download free](https://millionrounds.com/login?next=%2Fapp%2Fworkflow%2Fgenerate-research-proposals-with-openai)
- **Paste it into n8n** Open a new workflow in n8n and paste. Then connect your own accounts.

Stored with the author's traces removed: canvas notes, instance identifiers, saved credential names and any live document they had left behind.

## Connects to

Each opens the other workflows that use it.

[n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflows?service=n8n+data+table#library)

## Workflows like it

Also money admin, with the same services where possible, closest in size first.

- [**Track MPESA and Airtel mobile payments** 21 steps · calls a model · Twilio, n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/track-mpesa-and-airtel-mobile-payments)
- [**Vet supplier payments with Bright Data and OpenAI** 20 steps · calls a model · Slack, n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/vet-supplier-payments-with-bright-data-and-openai)
- [**Validate incoming XRechnung invoices from IMAP and archive them** 20 steps · Email, n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/validate-incoming-xrechnung-invoices-from-imap-and-archive-t)
- [**Generate invoices and send AI-powered reminders with Jotform** 23 steps · calls a model · Email, n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/generate-invoices-and-send-ai-powered-reminders-with-jotform)
- [**Match supplier invoices to purchase orders with Gmail** 19 steps · calls a model · Gmail, n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/match-supplier-invoices-to-purchase-orders-with-gmail)
- [**Process invoices and send weekly AI reports with OpenAI** 19 steps · calls a model · Gmail, n8n data table](https://millionrounds.com/workflow/process-invoices-and-send-weekly-ai-reports-with-openai)