Marie Curie Information and Proposal Writing Day University of Leeds 15 October 2004

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Marie Curie Information and Proposal Writing
DayUniversity of Leeds 15 October 2004

• Estelle Kane
• UK Research Office
• mobility_at_bbsrc.ac.uk

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Individual session

• Estelle Kane
• UK Research Office
• mobility_at_bbsrc.ac.uk

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Overview of session

• UKRO
• What is the European Research Area (ERA)?
• What is the Framework Programme?
• Outline of Marie Curie Actions incl. new Work
  Programme
• Outline of submission and evaluation process
• Advice on Marie Curie Proposal Writing for
  individual actions

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

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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

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European Research Area (ERA) Rationale

• Need to bring national initiatives closer
  together, and help them achieve greater coherence
• This is the aim of the ERA project, the reference
  framework for European research since the Lisbon
  European Council in March 2000

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What is a Framework Programme?

• The principal EU Programme for RTD
• 4 years in duration
• FP5 1999-2002 14.96Bn
• FP6 2002-2005 17.5Bn
• Contract research
• European collaboration
• User driven approach
• Prioritised research areas

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Programme content
Life Sciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for
Health
New/Emerging ST and Policy Support
Information Society Technologies
Nanotechnologies and Nanosciences,
Knowledge-Based Multifunctional Materials
and New Production Processes and Devices
SME Activities
Specific Activities Covering a Wider Field of
Research
Thematic
Aeronautics and Space
Food Quality and Safety
International Co-operation
Sustainable Development, Global Change and
Ecosystems
Citizens and Governance in the Knowledge Society
Science and Society
Innovation and SMEs
Human Resources and Mobility
Research Infrastructures
Horizontal
Co-ordination of Research Activities
Development of RTD/Innovation Policies
Underpinning
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Participation in the Framework Programme

• EU Member States Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech
  Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France,
  Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
  Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands,
  Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
  Sweden, UK
• EEA Countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway
• Association Agreement Countries Israel,
  Switzerland
• Candidate Countries Bulgaria, Romania,Turkey
• Third Countries INCO (Developing, Mediterranean,
  Russia and NIS, Western Balkans), all other
  countries

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Marie Curie Actions in brief

• UK Research Office

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What are Marie Curie Actions?

• Human Resources and Mobility Programme
• 1580M
• A series of fellowships to support the
• training and mobility of researchers, within the
  context of promoting excellence in European
  Research
• Aimed at individual researchers, research groups
  and companies

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Key features

• Open to 3rd country nationals
• No age limit, but experience criterion
• Reintegration and return measures
• Excellence promotion measures
• Life-long learning concept
• Personal/family situation of researchers
• Bottom-up approach

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Types of Fellowship

• Individual actions
• Intra-European Fellowships, Outgoing
  International,
• Incoming International
• Host actions
• Research Training Networks, Early Stage
  Researcher Training
• Transfer of Knowledge, Conferences and Training
  Courses
• Excellence Actions
• Chairs, Teams and Awards
• Reintegration Mechanisms
• European and International Return and
  Reintegration Grants

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Some key changes in new Work Programme

• Individual session
• A two-stage evaluation process for IEFs, IIFs,
  OIFs, EXTs, EXCs
• Merger of Specific objectives and Added Value
  to the Community
• Introduction of additional thresholds for
  OIFs/IIFs
• Removal of Training Criteria for IRGs/ERGs/EXTs

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HRM indicative budget distribution 2004-6
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Individual driven actions

• Researcher applies jointly with host
• Length of stay depending on Action
• Fellows who withdraw cannot be replaced

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Host driven actions

• Host institutions/network applies for a number of
  fellows/researchers
• Hosts proposal is evaluated
• Selected host/network advertises fellowship
  position and selects fellows/researchers
• Contract duration with host, usually 4 years
• Fellows stay depending on Action (up to 3 years)

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Definition of researchers

• Early Stage
• Starting a research career, i.e. postgrad
• No PhD or lt4 years research after first degree
• Experienced
• PhD or 4 years research experience after first
  degree
• Very experienced
• More than 10 years research experience

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Transnational mobility requirements

• Must not have been resident in host country for
  more that 12 months in the last 3 years
  immediately before application (Individual
  actions) or start of work (Host actions)
• Cannot be a national of host country unless
• European researcher working outside EU for 4 in
  the last 5 years
• Dual nationality and have not resided there in
  last 5 years
• International organisation
• Return and reintegration grants
• Note that Excellence Team leaders are exempt

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Individual Fellowships

• To respond to the individual advanced training
  needs of the most promising experienced
  researchers to give them the necessary boost to
  become fully independent in their field
• Fellowships for experienced researchers(gt4 years
  experience or PhD)
• Training through research, incl. life-long
  training or for resuming career
• Application by fellow in liaison with host

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Individual Fellowships

• 3 Action Types
• Intra-European (EIF) 1 to 2 years
• From and to EU and Associated Countries
• Outgoing (OIF) up to 2 1 years
• EU and Ass. Country fellows to 3rd country
• mandatory return element
• Incoming (IIF) 1 to 2 years
• promising researchers from 3rd country
• possibility of return support for emerging
  economies

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Capacity building

• To promote excellence in European research
• Marie Curie Excellence Grants (EXT) up to 4
  years
• To set up or extend teams of the highest level
• Leading edge or interdisciplinary research
• Marie Curie Chairs (EXC) up to 3 years
• Top level teaching appointments
• Particularly for researchers who wish to resume
  their career in Europe
• Marie Curie Prizes (EXA)
• Prizes for excellent researchers who have
  benefited from Marie Curie Actions

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Re-Integration Grants

• To support integration of a stable research
  career following a period of mobility
• Following a 2-year Marie Curie fellowship (ERG)
• EU and Associate Country fellows
• Reintegration of country of origin or elsewhere
• Obligation for host to offer minimum 2-year work
  contract and research project
• Following a stay outside Europe (IRG)
• European researchers who have been outside Europe
  for 5 years

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Marie Curie deadlines for individual/excellence
actions



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• Questions?

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Benefits

• UK Research Office

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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

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Researcher salaries

• Living allowance (reference, cost of living index
  100)

Correction factor for cost of living to be
applied UK 112.5
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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)

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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 104.7 113,200x
  104.7 117,728
• Career exploratory allowance 2000
• Travel costs 1000 x 2 years2000
• Total contribution for the researcher 121,728
• Research costs (lab based) 750 x 24 18000
• TOTAL Community Contribution 139,728

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• Questions?

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Proposal submission and evaluation
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Proposal submission (1)

• PLEASE NOTE THE CHANGES TO THE SUBMISSION AND
  EVALUATION PROCEDURES FOR THE 2004 2006 CALLS
  AND DEADLINES

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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
• 1700 BRUSSELS TIME

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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

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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

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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

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

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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.

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Proposal writing
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What does the Commission want?

• Breaking down the application form
• Understanding the action
• Finding more information
• Think about your evaluators
• MEET THE DEADLINE

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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

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General Tips II

• Eligibility check
• Write a concise and clear proposal, answering all
  the questions
• Meet the deadline

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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 - -

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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 - -

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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

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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

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

• Research potential
• Independent thinking and leadership qualities
• Match between fellows profile and project
• Current research experience and skills
• Cross and multi-disciplinary experience
• Give evidence

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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

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

• 35 of your overall score

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

• Commissions 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.

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

• Commissions 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.

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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
• ST, the Key to Europes Future Guidelines for
  Future EU Policy to Support Research, June 2004

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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

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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

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

• Commissions 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

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

• Commissions 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

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Marie Curie deadlines for individual/excellence
actions



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Further information

• UKRO NCP website
• http//www.ukro.ac.uk/mobilityUKRO NCP contact
  details mobility_at_bbsrc.ac.uk Tel [phone]
  
• Other useful websites
• http//www.europa.eu.int/comm/research/fp6/mariecu
  rie-actions/home_en.html
• http//www.cordis.lu/rtd2002/home.html
• http//europa.eu.int/geninfo/whatsnew_comm.htm

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• Questions?