Author Archives: Esther KNIGHT

H2020 marie Curie Individual Fellowships

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The goal of Individual Fellowships is to enhance the creative and innovative potential of experienced researchers wishing to widen their experience in terms of skill acquisition at multi- or interdisciplinary level through advanced training, international and intersectoral mobility.

Individual Fellowships provide opportunities to acquire and transfer new knowledge and to work on research in a European context (EU Member States and Associated Countries) or outside Europe. The scheme particularly supports the return and reintegration of researchers from outside Europe who have previously worked here. It also develops or helps to restart the careers of individual researchers that show great potential, considering their experience.

Support is for individual, trans-national fellowships awarded to the best or most promising researchers for employment in EU Member States or Associated Countries, based on an application made jointly by the researcher and host organisation in the academic or non-academic sectors.

Fellowships are either European Fellowships or Global Fellowships. European Fellowships are held in EU Member States or Associated Countries and are open to researchers currently within and outside Europe.

Support to individuals to resume research in Europe after a career break, e.g. after parental leave, is ensured via a separate multi-disciplinary career restart panel of the European Fellowships. To qualify for the career restart panel, researchers must not have been active in research for at least 12 months immediately prior to the deadline for submission.

Researchers receiving an Individual Fellowship may opt to include a secondment phase in Europe, notably in the non-academic sector, within the overall duration of their fellowship. For a fellowship of 18 months or less, the secondment phase may last up to three months. For a fellowship of more than 18 months, the secondment phase may last up to six months. The secondment phase can be a single period or be divided into shorter mobility periods. The secondment should significantly add to the impact of the fellowship.

A Career Development Plan should be established jointly by the supervisor(s) and the researcher. In addition to research objectives, this plan comprises the researcher’s training and career needs, including training on transferable skills, planning for publications and participation in conferences.

Expected impact:

• Individual Fellowships are expected to add significantly to the development of the best and most promising researchers active in Europe, in order to enhance and maximise their contribution to the knowledge-based economy and society.

• Individual Fellowships are expected to strengthen the contact network of both the researcher and the host organisation.

• Individual Fellowships are expected to contribute the full potential of researchers and to significant development in their careers in both the academic and non-academic sectors.

• Some researchers will be resuming a research career in Europe after a break, or reintegrating within Europe after living abroad.

Deadline: 10-09-2015 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)

Further details: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/calls/h2020-msca-if-2015.html#tab2

 

Interdisciplinary innovation awards: Conflict, Crime and Security

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The Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Economic and Social Research Council, as part of Research Councils UK’s Partnership for Conflict, Crime and Security, invite applications for their interdisciplinary innovation awards.

These support the development of innovative, high risk, interdisciplinary research, exploratory or pilot studies, or the development of new partnerships and collaborations addressing issues of central relevance to the PaCCS conflict theme.

The theme brings together security research and other activities that are sensitive to the changing global context and have an impact in the prediction, detection, prevention and reduction of security threats. Priority areas include conflict, transnational organised crime and cybersecurity.

Applications must be submitted by the principal investigator’s research organisation, which may be a higher education institution recognised by the ESRC or AHRC for submitting applications, or an ESRC- or AHRC-recognised independent research organisation.

The principal investigator or any co-investigator must either have a PhD or be of postdoctoral standing, and have the skills and experience to undertake their outlined role.

Awards are worth up to £80,000 each, covering 80 per cent of full economic cost, over a maximum period of 18 months. Approximately eight to 12 awards are available.

A second call for Interdisciplinary Research Grants (up to 48 months and between £400,000 and £800,000 fEC) aims to support innovative interdisciplinary research proposals addressing one or more of the following strands within the Conflict theme:

  • New Perspectives on the Changing Character and Mosaic of Conflict, and Transitions to and from Conflict, through Time
  • Community Experiences of, and Responses to, Conflict
  • Conflict in the Information Age

The AHRC and ESRC are contributing to a ‘common pot’ of up to £4m to these joint PaCCS calls on conflict to support interdisciplinary research innovation which crosses the remits of the two Councils; in addition, the EPSRC has indicated that it would be willing to consider co-funding projects on a case by case which cross into its remit, particularly in relation to the connections between conflict and digital technologies and/or cyber-security.​

Deadline 22 Oct 15 Applications due by 4pm.

www.ahrc.ac.uk/Funding-Opportunities/Pages/PaCCS-Conflict-Theme-–-2-Funding-Calls.aspx

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former UK chief scientist joins European selection panel

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Former UK chief scientific adviser David King is among the trio selected to choose European Commission’s High Level Group of scientific advisers.

Carlos Moedas, the European Union’s research commissioner, announced today that David King, now the UK foreign secretary’s special representative for climate change, will be assisting the Commission in choosing advisers for the Scientific Advice Mechanism.

King will join Rianne Letschert, chairwoman of the Royal Dutch Academy of Sciences’ Young Academy, and António Vitorino, former European Commissioner for Justice and Internal Affairs, to form an identification committee that will define the criteria for identifying members of the High Level Group, in addition to making their own recommendations.

The High Level Group will comprise seven scientific advisers who will offer the Commission independent scientific advice to support policy decisions. A press release said the group would draw on the “wide range of scientific expertise in Europe through a close relationship with national academies, universities, research organisations and specialised EU bodies”.

The EU’s Scientific Advice Mechanism was created in response to criticism at the decision of EU president not to renew the post of chief scientific adviser to the Commission president following the departure of the first holder of the post Anne Glover in November 2014.

 

Newton Advanced Fellowships

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Newton Advanced Fellowships is a new programme introduced in 2014 and provided under the Newton Fund, which is part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment.

Newton Advanced Fellowships provide early to mid-career international researchers who already have a track record with an opportunity to develop their research strengths and capabilities, and those of their group or network, through training, collaboration and visits with a partner in the UK.

The award enables international researchers based in a country covered by the Newton Fund to establish and develop collaborations with the UK with the intention of transferring knowledge and research capabilities.

The skills and knowledge gained should contribute to advancing economic development and social welfare of the partner country.

Aims

The aim of the Newton Advanced Fellowships is to:

  • Support the development of a well-trained research community who can contribute to advancing economic development and social welfare of the partner country by transferring new skills and creating new knowledge.
  • Strengthen research excellence in partner countries by supporting promising independent, early to mid-career researchers and their research groups and networks to develop their research through training, collaboration, reciprocal visits and the transfer of knowledge and skills from the UK.
  • Establish long-term links between the best research groups and networks in partner countries and the UK to ensure that improvements in research capacity are sustainable in the longer term.

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must have a PhD or equivalent research experience and hold a permanent or fixed-term contract in an eligible university or research institute in a partner country, which must span the duration of the project. Collaborations should focus on a single project involving the overseas-based researcher (“the Applicant”) and a UK-based researcher (“the Co-applicant”). Applicants should have not more than 15 years postdoctoral research experience.

The British Academy Newton Advanced Fellowships cover researchers working in all disciplines within the social sciences and humanities.

Applicants in the natural sciences and medical sciences (including clinical or patient-orientated research) should apply for a Newton Advanced Fellowship to the Royal Society and Academy of Medical Sciences.

For more details on eligibility please see the detailed scheme notes.

Note that some partner countries have specific eligibility requirements so please check the guidance carefully.

Newton Advanced Fellowships awarded by the British Academy are currently only available for researchers in the following countries:

  • Malaysia
  • Mexico
  • Thailand
Please note that Newton Advanced Fellowships for Brazil, Turkey, and South Africa will reopen in January 2016.

Value and Duration

Fellowships are available for either one year or two years depending on the Newton Fund partner country. Each award provides funding for a salary top-up (only available for the overseas researcher), research support, travel and subsistence, and training. In some cases, additional support is available from match funders. Please refer to the scheme notes for the country from which you are applying for more details.

Application Process

Applications must be submitted online using the British Academy’s electronic Grant Application and Processing (eGAP) system. For the assessment criteria please see the detailed scheme notes.

  • Application deadline: 16 September 2015
  • Referee deadline: 24 September 2015
  • Decisions made: December 2015
  • Fellowships must start not later than 31 March 2016

 

 

 

 

 

Funding for : Research for health in humanitarian crises

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The Department for International Development and the Wellcome Trust, via Enhancing Learning and Research for Humanitarian Assistance, invite expressions of interest for their call for research for health in humanitarian crises. Funding supports collaborative projects that aim to improve health outcomes by strengthening the evidence base for public health interventions in humanitarian crises. This call is particularly seeking proposals on the following topics:

•communicable diseases, including epidemics;

•sexual and reproductive health or gender-based violence;

•cost effectiveness of health interventions;

•ethical issues in the context of public health operations or research during humanitarian crises.

All applications must involve at least one research institute and one humanitarian actor working in partnership. Only consortium applications are eligible, with lead applicants being legally registered research institutions, non-profit institutions, nongovernmental institutions, a UN agency, or public or governmental institutions. Private sector organisations may be project partners but may not act as lead applicants. Proposals must be submitted in English.

Projects may receive funding within the following two categories: core grants, which involves a two-stage application process and is the principal mechanism for funding research; rapid response grants, which fund research on public health interventions in the acute phase of a crisis.

The annual budget is worth approximately £2 million. Seed funding of up to £10,000 per project may be awarded to cover travel and other costs associated with bringing the various project partners together and to collect preliminary data to support the proposal.

Further details: www.elrha.org/r2hc/home/

Closing date for expressions of interest 20 Jul 2015

Full proposals due by 14 December 2015

 

 

Scientists – spend a week with an MEP

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​The MEP-Scientist Pairing Scheme 2015 is calling for applications from researchers who would like to interact with Members of  the European Parliament (MEPs) and provide scientific expertise. The aim of the scheme is to enhance knowledge-based decisions and to facilitate better public awareness of EU policies and to foster greater mutual understanding.

Successful applicants will be paired with MEPs and will be invited to Brussels later in 2015 for a week where they will have the opportunity to follow MEPs in their daily political activities and learn about EU policy in the area of research. There would then be follow-up event organised by the MEPs which could include workshops, visits to local research facilities, press conferences and exhibitions.

The selection criteria specify specific fields of research, which are linked to the priority areas of the European Parliament’s Science and Technology Options Assessment bureau (STOA), an in-house service which also uses external expertise and provides its services to the European Parliament’s Committees. These are:

  • Eco-efficient transport and modern energy solutions;
  • Sustainable management of natural resources;
  • Potentials and challenges of the Information Society;
  • Health and life sciences; and
  • Science, technology and innovation policy.

These areas are to be understood in a broad sense and both natural scientists in state-of-the-art innovative areas (energy storage, renewable energy, photonics, innovative production etc.) and social scientists (jobs and growth, indicators, foresight etc.) are encouraged to apply.

There is no research funding available but researchers participating in the scheme will be reimbursed for travel and accommodation when the come to Brussels.

The deadline for applications is 31 July 2015 and all details on the application process can be obtained form the invitation document.

Find partners for your creative project

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Creative Europe supports cross-border exchange and cooperation. In order to apply for funding opportunities such as European Networks, Cooperation Projects and European Platforms as part of the Culture sub-programme, you will need to work with partners.

The best partnerships develop over time and can be a meeting of shared or contrasting intent and creative practice.

How can you can meet peers and partners to collaborate with?

Commission acts to simplify access to European Structural and Investment Funds

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The Europen Commission has announced its intention to create a High Level Group on simplification. It aims to reduce the administrative burden for beneficiaries to access the five European Structural and Investment Funds– the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund, the Cohesion Fund, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund.

The group is to independently assess and monitor the uptake of simplification opportunities to access and use European Structural and Investment Funds by the Member States, thus contributing to the Commission’s efforts for Better Regulation.

Former Commission Vice President Siim Kallas will chair this group which is planned to run for three years. The members of the group should include the best available experts in the field. Special focus is to be put on five priorities:

1. Facilitating access to funding for SMEs

2. Tackling the “Goldplating” practice, where extra requirements or administrative hurdles are addedat national or regional level, including in the process of selecting projects.

3. Using simpler ways to reimburse costs.

4. Increasing the use of online procedures, such as “e-cohesion” in Cohesion Policy funded projects

5. Analysing how projects initiated and managed by local communities are implemented (community-led local development)

The new regulations offer a broad range of opportunities for simplification and reduced administrative burden. These include a set of common rules for all European Structural and investment Funds.

This High Level Group on simplification is part of a broader initiative to improve how Member States and regions invest and manage EU Cohesion Policy funds, set by Commissioner Corina Creţu and the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy.

 

EU PRIZE FOR CULTURAL HERITAGE / EUROPA NOSTRA AWARDS

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The EU Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards was launched in 2002 by the European Commission and has been organised by Europa Nostra since then. The Prize celebrates and promotes best practices related to heritage conservation, management, research, education and communication. In this way, it contributes to a stronger public recognition of cultural heritage as a strategic resource for Europe’s society and economy.

The Prize honours every year up to 30 outstanding heritage achievements from all parts of Europe. Up to seven are selected as Grand Prix laureates and one receives the Public Choice Award, chosen in an online poll. All the winners receive a certificate as well as a plaque or trophy. The Grand Prix laureates also receive €10,000 each.

The awards are given in four categories:

CONSERVATION
Outstanding achievements in the conservation, enhancement and adaptation to new uses of cultural heritage.

RESEARCH
Outstanding research projects which lead to tangible effects in the conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage in Europe.

DEDICATED SERVICE by INDIVIDUALS or ORGANISATIONS
Open to individuals or organisations whose contributions over a long period of time demonstrate excellence in the protection, conservation and enhancement of cultural heritage in Europe and far exceeding normal expectations in the given context.

EDUCATION, TRAINING and AWARENESS-RAISING
Outstanding initiatives related to education, training and awareness-raising in the field of tangible and/or intangible cultural heritage, to promote and/or to contribute to the sustainable development of the environment.

Specialist juries made up of independent experts assess the nominated projects and select the winners in the four categories.

The awards are presented to the winners at a major public event, which is held each year in a different European city. The 2015 European Heritage Awards Ceremony is held on 11 June at the emblematic City Hall of Oslo. Vienna hosted the European Heritage Awards Ceremony in 2014, Athens in 2013 and Lisbon in 2012.

The European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage / Europa Nostra Awards has been supported by the EU Culture Programme (now replaced by the Creative Europe Programme). A total of 415 remarkable heritage accomplishments have been recognised in the past 13 years.

Since 2002, the Awards Scheme has contributed significantly towards further professionalism and structuring of the heritage sector, by highlighting the best practices, encouraging cross-border exchange of knowledge and bringing together different stakeholders in wider networks. The Prize has also brought major benefits to the laureates, such as greater national and international exposure, follow-on funding, technology sales and increased visitor numbers. Last, but not least, the Prize has increased the visibility of the heritage sector amongst the general public while giving it a distinctly European dimension. Read study on the impact of the Prize.

WINNERS 2010-2015

APPLY FOR AN AWARD IN 2016

For more information, please contact:
Elena Bianchi
Heritage Awards Coordinator
eb@europanostra.org
+31 70 302 40 58