Category Archives: Business, Education and Law

Universities play a key role in Smart Specialisation

Posted on by

s3p_logohttp://s3platform.jrc.ec.europa.eu/documents/10157/a180cb45-b272-455b-9211-3e351a6626d3

This Smart Specialisation Strategy Policy Brief analyses the potential role of universities in the development and implementation of Smart Specialisation Strategies. These strategies are a central part of the new EU Cohesion Policy framework, designed to ensure effective spending of the large amount of EU funds that will be available for research and innovation.

Universites are often crucial institutions in regional innovation systems, especially in those with an absence of a dynamic, research led private sector, and there is rich history of academic and policy analysis in this area. However, with the new smart specialisation agenda, which differs in emphasis and design from previous regional innovation policies, universities have a potentially pivotal role to play in its delivery. This Policy Brief makes concrete suggestions on how universities can be integrated into Smart Specialisation Strategies to deliver their desired economic and social outcomes.

 

 

 

Society for Educational Studies – Small grant awards

Posted on by

SES logo

The Society for Educational Studies invites applications for its small grants. These aim to stimulate research in education, particularly by those who are starting their research careers and are no more than five years postdoctoral.

Applicants must be affiliated with a British university, college or school, and be or become members of the society.

Up to four grants worth up to £10,000 for one year are available. The SES is unable to meet the full economic costing of a project. Non-FEC salary costs of up to a total of £5,000 will be considered in relation to an application.

Closing date 15 Sep 14

For further information go to: http://www.soc-for-ed-studies.org.uk/grants/

 

H2020 – wide range of volume of applications per call

Posted on by

logo_en[1]

Data released on five Horizon 2020 calls that closed in April show a wide variation in application volume, ranging from only one to over 450 responses per call.

Of the programmes for which data has been released, a call for personalising health and care under the societal challenges pillar was most popular. With a budget of €185 million, the call received 451 proposals. The data was published on the European Commission’s Research & Innovation Participant Portal between 12 and 15 May.

A health co-ordination activities call, also part of the societal challenges pillar, received 49 proposals. The call carries a total budget of €40m. There were 26 proposals for a €6m call for joint EU-Japan call relating to the future of the internet. This call is part of the industrial leadership pillar.

The least popular calls were both under the programme’s excellent science pillar, each of which received only one proposal. The e-infrastructures call has a budget of €13m, while the call for supporting innovation, human resources, policy and international cooperation carries a budget of €2m. –

Summary of 2014 work programme:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-13-1122_en.htm

Number of responses per call:

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/call_updates.html

Commission Consultation on Europe 2020 Goals

Posted on by
logo_en[1]
The European Commission has launched a public consultation on the Europe 2020 Strategy, which will feed into the mid-term review of the strategy planned for 2015. The deadline for submitting a response is 31 October 2014.

The Europe 2020 Strategy is the overarching set of current EU policies, including the Innovation Union and Digital Agenda initiatives whose priorities have a strong influence on Horizon 2020 funding. The aim of the consultation is to ‘draw lessons from the first four years of the strategy and to make sure it acts as an effective post-crisis strategy for growth and jobs in Europe’.
The consultation covers the ‘scope, nature, instruments, ownership and delivery of the strategy’, and will provide important evidence for the mid-term review of the strategy in 2015. The consultation closes on 31 October 2014.

Winston Churchill Memorial Trust – 2015 Travelling Fellowships

Posted on by

Penguins

The Winston Churchill Memorial Trust are looking for people who will be able to undertake research overseas and on return disseminate their new knowledge and examples of best practice.

Applications are now open for 2015 Travelling Fellowships.

Applicants must demonstrate that their project will have a wider benefit within their community or field, in addition to their own personal development.

Grants cover return and internal travelling, daily living and insurance within the countries visited. No qualifications are required.

If you would like to apply please go to our website, check your eligibility, find the correct category for your project and apply online

 

Travel funding for ethics in biomedical work

Posted on by

This fund from the Wellcome Trust covers travel funding for people looking at the social or ethical aspects of biomedical research.

Funding Body: Wellcome Trust

Scheme: Small Grants

Overview: This scheme is for small-scale research projects, scoping exercises or meetings whose subject matter falls within the remit of the Society and Ethics programme.

This programme supports research that explores the social and/or ethical aspects of biomedical research and health, with the ultimate aim of achieving extraordinary improvements in human and animal health.

Key strands:
(1) consider social, economic and cultural factors that influence health, biomedical or health research, the development and implementation of healthcare practices, and health interventions
(2) inform answers to questions about resolving ethical dilemmas arising from biomedical or health research, the development and implementation of healthcare practices, and health interventions.

Research trips under this scheme may be to consult libraries or archives.

This scheme can also provide institutions with financial support for conferences (or a session within a conference), symposia, seminar series etc.

Budget: The normal maximum that can be applied for is £5000.

Awards provide a contribution towards expenses normally incurred in travelling to consult libraries or archives, such as transport, accommodation, subsistence and photocopying costs. They may include the costs of overseas visits.

Support does not include university fees or the applicant’s costs in attending a conference.

Costs for conferences and meetings may include the travel and accommodation of keynote speakers, catering, conference pack publication and any reasonably justified associated expenses.

Deadlines: Open call –applications may be submitted at anytime

Further Information: http://www.wellcome.ac.uk/Funding/Society-and-ethics/funding-schemes/Small-grants/index.htm

index

May’s Wider Outlook is here!

Posted on by

imagesCA8VVHEG

http://bit.ly/1fT9fYt

Welcome to May’s Wider Outlook—the team have chosen the theme of  working with others and collaboration we have identified a number of opportunities including : working with overseas partners, NIHR, Arts related funding, and sandpits.

Our lead article looks at recent collaborative work undertaken by Universities in the US, Canada and Ireland on the impact of Star academics on the wider university academic staff. Enjoy this edition and as ever do contact us with any comments, ideas or suggestions at  externalprojects@staffs.ac.uk

UK National Contact Point Events on Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships

Posted on by

 marie_curie_logo

 

Registration is now open for the Individual Fellowships information and proposal writing events, which the UK Research Office is organising in its capacity as UK National Contact Point for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions. The events will take place in Cardiff, Warwick and London on 28 May, 9 June, and 19 June 2014 respectively.

These information and proposal writing events aim to provide participants with a better understanding of the Individual Fellowships scheme and its requirements. The events will focus on the objectives of Individual Fellowships for both potential Fellows and hosts, along with practical information on proposal preparation, submission and finances. The events will also feature a case study from previously successful Individual Fellowship applicants and supervisors.

The events are aimed at staff at both UK academic and non-academic organisations, including research support staff, who are planning to submit a proposal to the Individual Fellowships call. Participants should gain a clear understanding of the proposal format for each scheme and the key issues relating to planning, writing and submitting proposals.

The events are timed to coincide with the first Individual Fellowships call under Horizon 2020, which opened on 12 March with a deadline of 11 September 2014. For registration and further information, please see link the below.

Follow the registration link here, you need to be registered with UKRO – with a xxxx@staffs.ac.uk email address.

http://www.ukro.ac.uk/Lists/MCA1/NewForm.aspx?RootFolder=/Lists/MCA1&Source=http://www.ukro.ac.uk/Pages/140326_mca1.aspx

The draft agandas for each of the sessions are below.

140528_programme_draft_msca_if_cardiff

140609_programme_draft_msca_if_warwick

140619_programme_draft_msca_if_rvc

Erasmus + Event

Posted on by

118

The External Projects Team led a workshop this week in the Ashley Centre, over 25 staff from across the institution attended to hear about the new EU funding programme for education and youth, ERASMUS+. This new programme replaces the old Life Long Learning Programme as well as Erasmus Mundus, Tempus, Asia Link, Youth in Action and Edulink. The team were joined by our Erasmus Co-ordinator Deb Graddon who shared the latest news on our Key Action 1 bid (mobility of staff and student from SU) and Abdel Hamid Soliman who gave a great overview of a current Erasmus Mundus project PEACE.

If you are interested in this programme, there are a number of ways to find out more, you can access all of the current calls for proposals in the Programme Guide or if you would like access to the slides from the day, please email us at externalprojects@staffs.ac.uk

 

 

 

 

Marie Sklodowska-Curie COFUND Seminar – April 30th 2014

Posted on by

marie_curie_logo

 

In its capacity as UK National Contact Point for Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, UKRO  announces a seminar on the Horizon 2020 COFUND scheme.

COFUND offers co-funding for new or existing regional, national and international programmes to open up to:

 

  • International, intersectoral and interdisciplinary research training; and
  • Transnational and cross-sectoral mobility of researchers at all stages of their career.

COFUND in Horizon 2020 has a new element to it, as there are now two funding streams: one supporting experienced researchers through a ‘Fellowship programme’ and the second supporting early stage researchers through a ‘Doctoral programme’.
The first COFUND call under Horizon 2020 is due to open on 10 April 2014, with a deadline for proposals on 2 October 2014.

Wednesday, 30 April Queen Mary University of London Mile End Road London, E1 4NS

This seminar will provide participants with a better understanding of the COFUND scheme and its requirements, including the new doctoral training option. It will combine discussion on the objectives of COFUND and its fit within the wider postgaduate researcher training landscape in the UK, along with practical information on proposal preparation, submission and finances. The seminar will also feature a case study from previous successful COFUND applicants.

The event will run from 10.30 to 16.00 with a lunch break.

Please note that lunch will not be provided. For more details, please see link to the draft programme. 140430_programme_draft_cofund

This seminar is aimed at organisations – universities, government departments, funding councils, charities – who manage research and/or researcher training funds and are interested to learn more about the COFUND scheme as a way to leverage Horizon 2020 funding to support research fellowship and/or doctoral training schemes.
Registration

Attendance is free of charge but capacity at the venue is limited and places will therefore be allocated on a first come first served basis.