The ESF is pleased to announce a Call for Proposals for new Research Networking Programmes.  CLOSED

Deadline: 30 October 2007; 16.00hrs CET (extended to 31 October 2007, 16:00 CET)

Introduction

An ESF Research Networking Programme is a networking activity bringing together nationally funded research activities for four to five years, to address a major scientific issue or a science-driven topic of research infrastructure, at the European level with the aim of advancing the frontiers of science.

Key objectives include:

• creating interdisciplinary fora;
• sharing knowledge and expertise;
• developing new techniques;
• training young scientists.

A successful Programme proposal must show high scientific quality and also demonstrate added value by being carried out at a European level rather than by individual research groups at the national level.

Proposals may be submitted in any or across several of the following broad scientific fields:

Biomedical Sciences
Life, Earth and Environmental
Physical and Engineering Sciences
Humanities
Social Sciences
Science driven issues of Research Infrastructures in any of the above fields

The following are links to the relevant ESF Standing Committees:

European Medical Research Councils (EMRC)
Standing Committee for Life, Earth and Environmental Sciences (LESC)
Standing Committee for Physical and Engineering Sciences (PESC)
Standing Committee for the Humanities (SCH)
Standing Committee for the Social Sciences (SCSS)

Multi-disciplinary proposals across fields are encouraged.

Proposals with a ‘global’ dimension which intend to interface a European scientific network supported by a new ESF à la carte Programme with network(s) of scientists in other, non-ESF, countries (e.g. Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, USA and others) supported by their own agencies are also encouraged.

Format and activities

A Programme can include the following activities:

• Science meetings (workshops, conferences or schools) organised either by Programme participants or following an open call for proposals;
• Grants for short and exchange visits awarded following an open call for applications;
• Publication of information brochures and leaflets, DVDs and CD Roms, scientific books and meeting proceedings etc; creation of websites;
• Creation of scientific databases at the European level.
   

Eligibility criteria for applicants

Proposals may be submitted by researchersfrom European universities or research institutes in countries having agencies that are ESF Member Organisations. Proposals may have co-proposers from non-ESF member countries. In this case, the co-proposers should assure their funding through their own sources (see Proposals with a "global" dimension).

Open character of ESF Programmes

ESF Research Networking Programmes are open activities. Principal participants within a Programme are expected to network during the Programme’s lifetime with colleagues in other relevant research groups, not necessarily listed in the proposal, to ensure that opportunities in the Programme's activities are known and are open to other eligible participants. Activities proposed in the application should demonstrate this open character, i.e. ensure access to all the relevant research community.
 

Level and use of a Programme budget

The typical annual budget of an ESF Programme does not usually exceed € 120 000 per year of its duration. Smaller or larger programmes can be accepted if justified. For example if a publication of a book series is foreseen an annual budget may be substantially higher.

An ESF Programme provides financial support for the networking activities that arise from carrying out the collaborative actions under the Programme and which aim to achieve the Programme’s objectives.

The Programme budget may be used for the following types

• Steering Committee Meetings;
• Science Meetings (Workshops, Conferences, Schools);
• Grants for Short and Exchange Visits;
• Publicity, Websites and Publications including DVDs and CD ROMs;
• Database Costs;
• External Administrative Costs (up to max. 10% of the annual budget);
• External Programme Coordinator.

Research activities, e.g. salaries, equipment and materials, are not funded, as such costs should be funded directly at the national or international (e.g. EU) level.

For each Programme, the ESF charges an administration fee of 7.5% of the annual contributions requested.

It is highly recommended to consult the Guidelines for Management of ESF Research Networking Programmes for detailed financial rules.

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Assessment criteria and procedure

Assessment and selection procedures are carried out by the ESF Standing Committee(s) relevant to the proposal. All proposals are peer reviewed by independent referees selected by ESF. On the basis of these written assessments, the Standing Committees select the proposals to be recommended to Member Organisations for funding.

Proposals are assessed and selected on the following criteria:

• scientific quality of the content of the proposed Programme;
• scientific qualifications of the principal applicant(s) to coordinate the Programme;
• level of impact on world science, multidisciplinarity and timeliness;
• value to European science including European and global dimension of the participation, and participation of key researchers in the field;
• Programme structure and budget.

When making the final selection, Standing Committees take into account the above criteria as well as their own policies including the scientific balance of their Programme portfolio.

To access the assessment form for information, click here (PDF 20 KB)
 

Funding decision and "A la Carte" principle

ESF Programmes are funded on an à la carte principle by ESF Member Organisations (MOs) and other partner organisations which decide to contribute. In early Summer 2008, after a rigorous assessment process, ESF will recommend selected Programme proposals across all research domains to all its Member Organisations and other national funding agencies with official Observer status with a request for funding. These agencies will consider funding the recommended proposals, based on their interests and funding capacity, on a case-by-case basis (for special requirements of national funding agencies click here).

The ESF monitors the response of these organisations during the decision-taking period. A Programme can only be launched if sufficient financial support, allowing to reach the objectives of the Programme, is obtained from MOs. To secure sufficient funding the proposed network must usually bring together a significant number of participating funding agencies to guarantee a sufficient level of funding commitment. For this reason, ESF will not send to peer review proposals with teams from less than five ESF countries listed under the section "Programme Collaborations" of the proposal.

The level of ESf Member Organisation contributions is based on the level of their contributions to the ESF General Budget and their national GDP per capita.

Each organisation contributing funds to the Programme is eligible to nominate a member of the Programme’s Steering Committee. The usual practice is for organisations to nominate those scientists from their country listed in the proposal but the decision is within their discretion.

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Proposals with a global dimension

Proposals with a global dimension, i.e. involving partners from non-ESF countries (e.g. Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, USA and others) must follow the normal requirements and criteria for an ESF Programme proposal.  They will be assessed within ESF in competition with all other proposals but high quality collaboration outside Europe will be a positive element in the assessment and final selection.

The characteristic of proposals with a global dimension is the declared intention to interface the proposed network of European investigators with counterpart networks outside ESF member countries (e.g.: networks in Australia, Canada, China, Japan, Russia, USA and other countries). The proposal may include activities such as workshops, meetings, exchange and travel grants, to link counterpart networks worldwide supported by their own funding agencies (e.g. NSF in US or JSPS in Japan).

Unless already funded, the non-ESF network will need to follow the application and approval processes of their supporting organisation(s) – the use of a common scientific case within this boundary condition and the ESF Programme guidelines is acceptable. Assessment processes and selection will, in most cases, be separate and independent. Financing will be expected to be based on a “reciprocity” model; ESF funds will not be used to support the non-ESF network or their participation in the ESF-funded Programme.

For a (non exhaustive) list of Organisations which may provide support to potential networking partners in the frame of 'global' proposals, click here.
 

Results and feedback to proposers

 The ESF will:

• Send an acknowledgment of receipt by e-mail to the contact person, within two weeks of the deadline. No acknowledgements will be sent via fax or mail;
• Inform the contact person within one month if the proposal is not eligible for funding;
• Inform the contact person of the outcome of the assessment by the Standing Committees by mid-June 2008. A copy of the referees' assessments will be provided as feedback at a later date. The proposals that are recommended for funding will be sent to ESF Member Organisations inviting them to contribute on an à la carte basis;
• Inform the contact person in late 2008 if a recommended proposal has received a viable level of funding from Member Organisations and has been approved by the ESF CEO for launching.

Approved Programmes can be launched in 2009.
 

Further information

It is highly recommended to consult the following documents before submitting a proposal:

• Information on current Research Networking Programmes
• Guidelines for Management of ESF Research Networking Programmes
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)