041012 nzh individual fellowships

Marie Curie Information and Proposal Writing DayNew Zealand House 12 October 2004 : 

Marie Curie Information and Proposal Writing Day New Zealand House 12 October 2004 Estelle Kane UK Research Office mobility@bbsrc.ac.uk

Individual session : 

Individual session Estelle Kane UK Research Office mobility@bbsrc.ac.uk

Overview of session: 

Overview of session UKRO Benefits of Marie Curie Actions Outline of submission and evaluation process Advice on Marie Curie Proposal Writing for individual actions

What is UKRO?: 

What is UKRO? Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) Medical Research Council (MRC) Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council (PPARC)

UKRO’s mission: 

UKRO’s mission To promote effective UK participation in EU funded research, higher education & training & related activities by: alerting subscribers to the opportunities available providing updates on developments exchanging information between UK & EU

UKRO services: 

UKRO services Web: http://www.ukro.ac.uk Tailored information services Advice to European Officers & researchers UK Mobility National Contact Point UK Briefing visits Brussels: Meeting room

National Contact Point: 

First point of contact for applicants Advice, guidance and information on applying for funding, contract management, report writing etc Website and helpline service Training events, publicity actions Liaison between the Member State and the Commission National Contact Point

Benefits: 

Benefits UK Research Office

Marie Curie Funding: 

Marie Curie Funding Benefit of the researchers Living allowance (by researcher category and country) Travel costs Mobility allowance Career development allowance Costs of eligible researchers Benefit of the host organisations Contribution to programme expenses (organisation, co-ordination...) Overheads Management costs (incl. audit certificate) Other eligible expenses Not all contributions apply to all Actions

Researcher salaries: 

Researcher salaries Living allowance (reference, cost of living index 100) Correction factor for cost of living to be applied UK 112.5%

Additional allowances: 

Additional allowances Travel costs depending on distance: 250€ - 2500 €/year Mobility allowance 500 € /month (no family); 800 € /month (family) (Correction factor for cost of living to be applied) Career exploratory allowance 2000 € /fellow (min. 1 year stay, depending on Action) Training/research costs of eligible researchers 250 € -750 € /fellow-month (depending on Action)

Contribution to researchers: example: 

Contribution to researchers: example Activities carried out by the researcher: Researcher with family, going from Lisbon to Paris for 2 years with an Intra-European Fellowship under an employment contract: Living allowance: 47,000 € x 2 years= 94,000€ Mobility allowance: 800€ x 24 months= 19,200€ correction factor= 104.7% 113,200€x 104.7% = 117,728€ Career exploratory allowance =2000 € Travel costs: 1000 € x 2 years=2000€ Total contribution for the researcher: 121,728€ Research costs (lab based): 750€ x 24 = 18000€ TOTAL Community Contribution: 139,728 €

Slide13: 

Questions?

Proposal submission and evaluation: 

Proposal submission and evaluation

Proposal submission (1): 

Proposal submission (1) PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGES TO THE SUBMISSION AND EVALUATION PROCEDURES FOR THE 2004 – 2006 CALLS AND DEADLINES

Proposal submission (2): 

Proposal submission (2) Hard copy Sensible font size Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS) User-name and password in good time Send in time MEET THE DEADLINE 17:00 BRUSSELS TIME

Proposal submission (3): 

Proposal submission (3) For both 1 and 2 stage evaluation process Submit a complete proposal before the deadline The following actions will follow a 2 stage evaluation process: IEF, IIF, OIF, EXT, EXC The following actions will follow a 1 stage evaluation process: SCF, ToK, EXA, ERG, IRG

Outline of the process : 

Outline of the process Published as a ‘call’ Submit application before deadline Evaluation process Notification of results Submit full proposal or undergo complete evaluation Notification of results Contract negotiation Contract signature and start of project

Evaluation of proposals: 

Evaluation of proposals Evaluation by competent experts in the field Need to address all of the issues to maximise scores Total score is 100% Overall threshold (70%) Some criteria have a threshold Each area is weighted In many cases the science counts for less than 20% You must focus on the objectives of the activity to be successful

Slide20: 

Eligibility Individual Evaluation Consensus Thresholds Ranking by Commission Negotiation Negative Result Ethical Issues Commission Funding Decision Proposal Rejection Rejection Rejection Evaluation process

Key documents: 

Key documents The Call Text ‘A Rough Guide to the Marie Curie Actions’ The Human Resources and Mobility Work Programme 2004-2006 The ‘Handbook’ [all actions except IRG] The Guide for Proposers Guidance Notes for Evaluators Sources UKRO NCP website: http://www.ukro.ac.uk/mobility Commission http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6

Proposal submission forms: 

Proposal submission forms Part A Set of forms on administrative information about the proposal and the proposers (pre-prepared form). Part B Free-text description of the research project. Series of headings and explanatory notes based on the evaluations criteria.

Proposal writing: 

Proposal writing

What does the Commission want?: 

What does the Commission want? Breaking down the application form Understanding the action Finding more information Think about your evaluators MEET THE DEADLINE

General Tips I: 

General Tips I Read the Work Programme, Guide for Proposers and Handbook http://fp6.cordis.lu/fp6/calls.cfm Follow the instructions Use common sense

General Tips II: 

General Tips II Eligibility check Write a concise and clear proposal, answering all the questions Meet the deadline

Evaluation criteria and weightings for IEFs: 

Evaluation criteria and weightings for IEFs W T B1 Scientific Quality of the Project 15 (30) NEW! - B2 Quality of the research training 15 3 B3 Quality of the host 15 - B4 Quality of the Researcher 15 (70) NEW! 4 B5 Management and Feasibility 5 - B6 Added value and Relevance to the objectives of the activity 35 NEW! - B7 Previous proposals and contracts - - B8 Other Issues - -

Evaluation criteria and weightings for OIFs/IIFs: 

Evaluation criteria and weightings for OIFs/IIFs W T B1 Scientific Quality of the Project 15 (30) NEW! 3 B2 Quality of the research training 15 3 B3 Quality of the host 15 - B4 Quality of the Researcher 15 (70) NEW! 4 B5 Management and Feasibility 5 - B6 Added value and Relevance to the objectives of the activity 35 NEW! B7 Previous proposals and contracts - - B8 Other Issues - -

IEF/IIF/OIF Tips– Training (1): 

IEF/IIF/OIF Tips– Training (1) Some comments from evaluators…. Clear assignment of scientists responsible for the training Contemplates training courses specifically designed for postdoctoral fellows. Research training objectives are clearly identified and described Both participants will benefit from their mutual collaboration, not only through direct joint work, but also through the interaction with the whole research group

IEF/IIF/OIF Tips – Training (2): 

IEF/IIF/OIF Tips – Training (2) Evaluator comments continued… A research project with no training element The host asserts skills with out presenting convincing evidence of competence The range of techniques described would clearly be valuable to the researcher, but the lack of detailed description does not inspire confidence in the quality of training available

IEF/IIF/OIF Tips - Quality of the researcher (1) : 

IEF/IIF/OIF Tips - Quality of the researcher (1) Research potential Independent thinking and leadership qualities Match between fellow’s profile and project Current research experience and skills Cross and multi-disciplinary experience Give evidence

IEF/IIF/OIF Tips - Quality of the researcher (2): 

IEF/IIF/OIF Tips - Quality of the researcher (2) Work experience (in research) Industrial experience and expertise Transferable skills Prizes, Awards, Lectures etc Referee assessment

IEF/IIF/OIF – Specific objectives and added value to the Community (1): 

IEF/IIF/OIF – Specific objectives and added value to the Community (1) 35% of your overall score

IEF/IIF/OIF – Specific objectives and added value to the Community (2): 

IEF/IIF/OIF – Specific objectives and added value to the Community (2) Commission’s criteria… Relevance of the proposal to one or more of the specific objectives of the action Potential of acquiring competencies during the fellowship to improve the prospects of reaching and/or reinforcing a position of professional maturity, diversity and independence, in particular through exposure to complementary skills training Contribution to career development or re-establishment where relevant.

IEF/IIF/OIF – Specific objectives and added value to the Community (3): 

IEF/IIF/OIF – Specific objectives and added value to the Community (3) Commission’s criteria continued… For international fellowships : potential for creating long term collaborations and mutually beneficial co-operation between Europe and the third country For incoming fellowships : contribution to the socio-economic development of the Developing Countries or emerging and transition economies by transfer of knowledge and human capacity building (where appropriate) Extent to which the research contributes to the objectives of the European Research Area or other European policy objectives.

European Research Policy background documents: 

Towards a European Research Area, Jan 2000 More Research for Europe: Towards 3% of GDP, Sept 2002 ERA: Providing New Momentum, October 2002 Investing in Research: An Action Plan for Europe, June 2003 The Role of Universities in the Europe of Knowledge, Feb 2003 Researchers in the ERA: One Profession, Multiple Careers, July 2003 Europe and Basic Research, Jan 2004 S&T, the Key to Europe’s Future – Guidelines for Future EU Policy to Support Research, June 2004 European Research Policy background documents

Example of European Policy Objectives: 

Life Sciences and Biotechnology – A Strategy for Europe, Jan 02 Environment 2010: Our Future, Our Choice, July 2002 Stimulating Technologies for Sustainable Development: An Environmental Technologies Action Plan for the EU, Jan 2004 Towards a European Strategy for Nanotechnology, May 2004 Security Research: The Next Steps, September 2004 Example of European Policy Objectives

EXT – Quality of the researcher: 

EXT – Quality of the researcher Threshold 4 Weighting 20% (60%) Potential to lead a team to reach a high level of excellence Scientific and technological excellence of previous research Level of international experience obtained Experience with managing research Ability of proposer to take on the responsibilities of the task and to successfully manage and carry out the proposed research

EXT - Specific objectives and added value to the Community (1): 

EXT - Specific objectives and added value to the Community (1) Commission’s criteria… Relevance of the proposal to one or more of the specific objectives of the action - as specified in section 2.3.3.1 of the WP National diversity of envisaged team Impact on prospective team leader's career Synergies built by carrying out the proposed research at a European level

EXT - Specific objectives and added value to the Community (2): 

EXT - Specific objectives and added value to the Community (2) Commission’s criteria continued… Impact on increasing the attractiveness of Europe, and on promoting European research careers, in particular the contribution to reversing brain drain. Impact in the creation of excellent, transnational dynamic and stimulating focal points in Europe Relevance of theme(s) in relation to European achievements and interests

Slide41: 

Marie Curie deadlines for individual/excellence actions

Further information: 

Further information UKRO NCP website http://www.ukro.ac.uk/mobility UKRO NCP contact details mobility@bbsrc.ac.uk Tel: +32 2 230 0318 Other useful websites http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/mariecurie-actions/home_en.html http://www.cordis.lu/rtd2002/home.html http://europa.eu.int/geninfo/whatsnew_comm.htm

Slide43: 

Questions?