Funding opportunities for JETSET fellows and other ECRs

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Funding opportunities for JETSET Marie Curie
fellows and other Early Career Researchers JETSET
winter school, Galway, 8 January 2008 Dr. Dagmar
M. Meyer Marie Curie National Contact Point
www.iua.ie
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Outline of the presentation

• Marie Curie Actions
• European Reintegration Grants
• Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development
• International Outgoing (and Incoming) Fellowships
• European Research Council
• ERC Starting Grants (short overview)
• Financial support for FP7 applicants
• Essential and useful links and addresses
• Support structures for mobile researchers

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Overview of the Marie Curie Actions
Initial training of researchers Marie Curie
Initial Training Networks (ITN)
Life-long training and career development European
Reintegration Grants (ERG) Marie Curie
Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) Co-funding of
regional/national/international programmes
(COFUND)
Industry-academia pathways and partnerships MC
Industry-Academia Pathways and Partnerships
Scheme (IAPP)
International dimension MC International Outgoing
and Incoming Fellowships (IOF / IIF) MC
International Reintegration Grants
(IRG) International Research Staff Exchange
Scheme (IRSES)
Specific actions Researchers Night (NIGHT)
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General principles

• Focus is on the researcher and her/his career
  development
• Open to all disciplines from Natural Sciences
  to Social Sciences and Humanities
• Bottom-up no pre-defined topics or priority
  areas
• Free choice of host institution from public or
  private sector (within certain limits)
• No age limits what counts is level of
  experience
• Provisions for appropriate work/life balance

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Basic definitions host individual actions

• Intra-European/International Fellowships and
  Reintegration Grants are individual actions
• individual researcher applies jointly with host
  institution
• duration at least 1 year for fellowships, 2 years
  for reintegration grants
• contract between Commission and host institution,
  work contract or stipend agreement between host
  and fellow
• fellowship/grant bound to individual (no
  replacement)
• Other actions (e.g. Initial Training Networks)
  are host actions
• consortium of various institutions applies for
  funding
• successful institutions advertise positions and
  select fellows/researchers themselves

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Basic definitions level of experience

• Early-Stage Researchers (ESR)
• 0 4 years of research experience (full-time
  equivalent) since degree qualifying them to
  embark on a doctorate
• Experienced Researcher (ER)
• either in possession of a doctoral degree, or
• at least 4 years of research experience
  (full-time equivalent)
• All Marie Curie Individual Actions are for
  Experienced Researchers only! Relevant date is
  deadline for submission of proposals.

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Basic definitions MS/AC/TC

• Member States (MS)
• there are now 27 EU member states
• Associated Countries (AC)
• Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Israel,
  Switzerland, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Serbia,
  Turkey, Albania, Montenegro
• Third Countries (TC)
• more than 140 International Cooperation Partner
  Countries (ICPC)
• other Third Countries (OTC)

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Basic definitions host institutions

• Organisations that are actively involved in
  research and/or research training
• Universities/Institutes of Technology
• private and public research institutes
• companies big and small
• International Organisations (CERN, UNESCO, )
• the European Commissions Joint Research Centre
• NGOs
• etc.

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Basic definitions mobility requirements
(fellowships)

• Fellow has not been resident in the host country
  for more than 12 months within the last 3 years
• Fellow does not have the nationality of the host
  country. Special rules in case of
• dual citizenship
• European researcher returning from a third
  country
• third country researcher having resided in Europe
  for a long time
• international organisations as host institutions

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Individual Fellowships and Grants

• Life-long Training and Career Development
• European Reintegration Grants (ERG)
• Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development
  (IEF)
• International Dimension
• International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)
• International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)
• Next deadline / cut-off date
• Reintegration Grants 3 April 2008
• Fellowships 19 August 2008

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European Reintegration Grants (I)

• Following a Marie Curie fellowship of at least 18
  months duration (could be a host fellowship!)
• Application at the earliest 12 months before and
  at the latest 6 months after the end of initial
  fellowship
• For ERs from MS/AC or assimilated nationals
  (i.e. third country researchers having been
  active in MS/AC for at least 3 out of the last 4
  years)

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European Reintegration Grants (II)

• Grants provide support to the longer-term
  (re-)integration in any MS/AC institution
• contribution to the research and/or salary costs
  during 2 3 years (15,000/year)
• host institution must provide adequate work
  contract for at least the duration of the project
• mobility not mandatory host could be the
  original host institution!!

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Intra-European Fellowships

• For the career development and competence
  diversification of experienced researchers (with
  or without PhD, from post-doc to senior
  researcher)
• Nationals of MS/AC or assimilated nationals
• Any topic, any host institution in a MS/AC (could
  be a company!)
• Transnational mobility is a must
• Duration 1 2 years

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International Outgoing Fellowships

• To reinforce the international dimension of the
  career of experienced researchers who are
  nationals of a MS/AC
• Two phases (fellowship covers both phases)
• outgoing phase (1 2 years) for training and
  career development in any third country
  institution
• mandatory return phase (1 year) in distinct legal
  entity in MS/AC for reintegration and knowledge
  transfer
• Contract is with the return host (responsible for
  return of the fellow)
• Transnational mobility is a must

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International Incoming Fellowships

• To reinforce scientific excellence of MS/AC by
  attracting top-class experienced third country
  researchers (not assimilated to MS/AC nationals)
• Enhance possibility for future collaborations
• One or two phases
• incoming phase (1 2 years) in any MS/AC
  (fellowship)
• optional return phase (1 year) if researcher is
  from an ICPC country (15,000/year towards
  research costs)
• Contracts with European and return host
• Transnational mobility is a must

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Work-life balance

• Split stays are possible (fellowships)
• should be integrated and justified in original
  work plan
• Temporary suspension (for personal, family or
  professional reasons) can be requested later if
  unforeseen at time of grant agreement
• always granted in case of maternity/parental
  leave (augmentation of Community contribution)
• In principle, fellowships are on a full-time
  basis
• exceptionally, part-time work and corresponding
  extension can be granted in case of personal or
  family reasons (total Community contribution will
  not be augmented)

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Success rates in first Marie Curie calls in FP7

• European Reintegration Grants
• first cut-off 88 (only 49 proposals submitted!)
• second cut-off 85 (68 submitted)
• Intra-European Fellowships
• 25.3 (1703 proposals submitted)
• International Outgoing Fellowships
• 30 (340 proposals submitted)
• International Incoming Fellowships
• 23.3 (570 proposals submitted)

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Allowances to the researchers (fellowships)

• Living allowance (including all mandatory
  deductions) basic rate submitted to
  country-specific coefficient (IE113.3,
  UK109.2, FR104.4, IT103.9, DE101.5, ES 95.5,
  PT91.4, EL90.1, ,US100.5, CA90.6, MX 70.2)

Experience level Employment contract (/year) Stipend (/year)
ESR 34,500 17,250
ER with up to 10 years exp. 53,000 26,500
ER with gt10 years exp. 79,500 39,750

• Mobility allowance (500/800 monthly, depending
  on family situation at deadline)
• Travel allowance (250 - 2500, depending on
  distance)
• Career exploratory allowance (2,000 once)

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Contribution managed by the host institution
(fellowships)

• Participation expenses of researchers managed
  by host institution to cover research and
  training activities of fellows (conference
  attendance, training actions, research costs,
  membership in professional associations, etc.)
• 500 per fellow-months for non-laboratory based
  projects
• 800 per fellow-months for laboratory based
  projects
• does not apply to reintegration grants and return
  phase of IIF

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Contributions to the host institutions
(fellowships)

• Management activities
• max. 3 of total Community contribution
• Overheads
• 10 of direct costs except subcontracting

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Indicative timetable for Reintegration Grants
Publication of call 30 November 2007 30 November 2007
Cut-off dates 3 April 2008 8 October 2008
Evaluation of proposals May 2008 November 2008
Evaluation Summary Reports sent to proposal coordinators June 2008 December 2008
Invitation for contract negotiations June 2008 December 2008
Letter to unsuccessful candidates July 2008 January 2009
Signature of first contracts From September 2008 From March 2009
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Indicative timetable for Individual Fellowships
Publication of call 19 March 2008
Submission deadline 19 August 2008
Evaluation of proposals October 2008 (?)
Evaluation Summary Reports sent to proposal coordinators November 2008 (?)
Invitation for contract negotiations December 2008 (?)
Letter to unsuccessful candidates From December 2008 (?)
Signature of first contracts From February 2009 (?)
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Proposal preparation first steps

• Establish contacts with your chosen host
  institution / supervisor well ahead of time
  (financial support for preparatory meetings etc.
  available from Enterprise Ireland)
• Jointly develop a realistic research and training
  / transfer of knowledge project
• Arrange for up to three referees assessments
• Download all the necessary documentation
• Do your homework background reading! (Rules of
  the programme but also some policy background)

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Submission procedure

• Only electronic submission using EPSS (Electronic
  Proposal Submission Service)
• Proposal has two parts
• Part A administrative information about
  proposal, applicant and host institution
  (prepared forms)
• Part B free text covering a number of predefined
  aspects of the project, limited number of pages
  (prescribed font size and margins), limited size
  of pdf-file
• Deadline is STRICTLY enforced

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Evaluation criteria basic principles

• Evaluation according to criteria provided in the
  Guide for Applicants
• Different criteria carry different weights
• Thresholds for some evaluation criteria
• Overall threshold is 70
• All issues need to be addressed! Competition is
  fierce dont waste your chances.
• Always keep in mind the objectives of the
  activity!

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Evaluation process

• All proposals undergo initial eligibility check
• Evaluation by at least three experts from an
  international pool (not all experts are exactly
  from your field of speciality!!)
• Proposals that miss a threshold are rejected
• Remaining proposals are ranked within each panel
• All applicants receive evaluation summary report
  (very useful for re-submission!!)
• Distribution of funding to different panels in
  proportion to proposals submitted
• Reserve lists in case of late withdrawal etc.

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Reintegration Grants Part B

• Evaluation criteria and thresholds
  (overall threshold 70)

criterion weight threshold
S T Quality 30 3/5
Researcher 30 none
Implementation 20 none
Impact 20 none
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Reintegration Grants ST Quality

• Scientific/technological quality, including any
  interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary aspects
  of the proposal
• Research methodology
• Originality and innovative nature of project, and
  relationship to the state of the art of
  research in the field
• Timeliness and relevance of project
• Weight 30, Threshold 3/5

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Reintegration Grants Researcher

• Research experience
• Scientific and technological quality of previous
  research during the Marie Curie Fellowship
• Independent thinking and leadership qualities
• Match between the fellows profile and project
• Weight 30, Threshold none

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Reintegration Grants Implementation

• Quality of host organisation, including adequacy
  of infrastructure/facilities
• Feasibility and credibility of the project,
  including work plan
• Practical arrangements for the implementation and
  management of the scientific project
• Weight 20, Threshold none

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Reintegration Grants Impact

• Potential of transferring knowledge to host
• Capacity to develop lasting cooperation (with
  previous country of the Marie Curie Fellowship
• Potential and quality of lasting professional
  integration (expected length of work contract,
  expected career development)
• Benefit to the career of the researcher from the
  period of reintegration
• Weight 20, Threshold none

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Individual Fellowships Part B

• Evaluation criteria and thresholds
  (overall threshold 70)

criterion weight threshold
S T Quality 25 3/5
Training (IEF/IOF) Transfer of Knowledge (IIF) 15 IEF/IOF 3/5 IIF none
Researcher 25 4/5
Implementation 15 none
Impact 20 none
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More information on the Marie Curie Actions

• Official website of the FP7 People (Marie
  Curie) programme on CORDIS http//cordis.europa.e
  u/fp7/people/
• information on calls, work programme, guide for
  applicants, etc.
• Marie Curie FP6 website on EUROPA
  http//ec.europa.eu/research/fp6/mariecurie-action
  s/indexhtm_en.html
• lots of background documents, case studies,
  interviews, ...

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Opportunities from FP6
Many projects from FP6 are still running
Transfer of Knowledge, Early Stage Training,
Excellence Teams, For vacancies visit
http//mc-opportunities.cordis.lu
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European Research Council Starting Grants

• Support researchers at the start of their
  independent research career in the establishment
  of their first research team
• Provide a structure for transition from working
  under a supervisor to independent research
• Supply grants to support the creation of
  excellent new teams which bring energy and new
  ideas to their disciplines
• Grants of 100 400 k/year for up to 5 years

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ERC Starting Grants team composition

• Team Leader (Principal Investigator) has the
• power to assemble his/her research group
• freedom to choose the research topic.
• Individual teams should consist of a grouping of
  researchers which meets the needs of the project,
  without artificial administrative constraints
• members may be drawn from one or several legal
  entities
• from either within or across national boundaries,
  including third countries

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ERC Starting Grants eligibility criteria

• Team Leader (Principal Investigator)
• 2-9 years since completion of PhD ( 3 years max
  for maternity/paternity leave or military
  service)
• Team leader and team members
• any nationality
• one ERC Grant per investigator only may be active
  at any one time
• Hosting institution
• located in a MS/AC
• intra-European grant portability

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ERC SG evaluation criteria and first results

• Sole criterion is scientific excellence
• potential of applicant
• quality of the proposal
• research environment
• Results from first call (Starting Grants)
• 9,167 proposals submitted (127 from Ireland)
• 569 passed to stage 2 (4 from Ireland)
• 300 funded (1 from Ireland plus 1 on reserve
  list)
• Next call summer 2008 with deadline in late
  autumn
• More information http//erc.europa.eu

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Financial support for proposal preparation

• Enterprise Ireland travel support
• for researchers in higher education / publicly
  funded institutions
• for visits by Irish researchers abroad to meet
  potential partners or attendance at EU
  information days/workshops relating to FP7
• covers least-cost travel plus subsistence rates
  up to 150 per day (typical length of visits
  three days)
• during the period of FP7, any one researcher can
  receive up to 3,000 to facilitate multiple
  visits to research partners (open to discussion!)
• More details and application form
  http//www.enterprise-ireland.com/FP7/FinancialSu
  pport.htm

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Marie Curie contacts in Ireland

• IUA Marie Curie Office National Contact Point
• Dr. Dagmar Meyer (dagmar.meyer_at_iua.ie)
• Dr. Conor OCarroll (conor.ocarroll_at_iua.ie)
• mariecurie_at_iua.ie
• 353-(0)1 676 4948
• Enterprise Ireland National Contact Point
• Focus on Industry - Bill Kee
• bill.kee_at_enterprise-ireland.com
• 353-(0)1 808 2277

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ERC contacts in Ireland

• Science Foundation Ireland ERC National Contact
  Point
• Dr. Graham Love (graham.love_at_sfi.ie)
• 353-(0)1 607 3284
• Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social
  Sciences ERC National Contact Point
• Ms Sorcha Carthy (scarthy_at_irchss.ie)
• 353-(0)1 660 3652

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Contact points in other countries

• National Contact Points
• http//cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ncp_en.html
• (choose Mobility for the Marie Curie NCP and
  Ideas for the European Research Council NCP)
• FP7 contacts in third countries
• http//cordis.europa.eu/fp7/third-countries_en.htm
  l

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Support structures for mobile researchers

• European and National Researcher Mobility Portals
• joint initiative of the European Commission and
  countries participating in FP7
• lots of practical information on living and
  working in other European countries, but also
  information on training and jobs
• a one-stop shop for mobile researchers and their
  families

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Support structures for mobile researchers

• ERA-MORE Network of Mobility Centres
• European network of more than 200 centres in 32
  countries
• help-desk and personalised assistance in all
  matters relating to professional and daily life,
  including information on legal issues, social
  security, health and taxes, everyday life as well
  as family support
• service completely free of charge
• available both to incoming and outgoing
  researchers

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Links to the Mobility Portals

• European Researcher Mobility Portal
• http//europa.eu/eracareers/index_en.cfm
• Irish Researcher Mobility Portal
• http//www.researchcareersireland.com/

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• Thank you for your attention!!