Category / EU

Welcome to the EU section of the blog! Emily Cieciura (BU’s Research Facilitator – EU and International), Jo Garrad (Funding Development Manager) and Dianne Goodman (Funding Development Co-ordinator) together try to take the pain out of finding and applying for EU funding by horizon scanning many sources and placing the most important information on this page.

We blog as often as possible on everything from calls for proposals and partner searches, to networking event opportunities, all the latest on Horizon 2020 and international funding. We also use the blog to disseminate information on EUADS (BU’s EU academic training initiative), how to write brilliant proposals, how to find partners and other top tips!

Book your place on the BU EU Showcase Event

EU

I am really looking forward to the forthcoming EU Showcase Event; last year’s event was a tremendous success and this year’s will be even bigger and better!

We all know the importance of getting involved in EU funding as national funds dwindle, greater importance is placed on international collaborations and of BUs strategic focus on internationalisation. This event will celebrate our successful EU award holders who will share their tips for engaging in EU funding.

We have presentations on schemes to help you start your EU career (Christos Gatzidis on the Leonardo scheme of the Lifelong Learning Programme and Bogdan Gabrys and Rob Britton on Marie Curie schemes) and schemes for those already engaged (Anthea Innes on applying for an FP7 grant and Adrian Newton on being a Partner in an FP7 consortium). We also have top tips on how to network effectively to become involved in EU funding (from the very experienced Dimitrios Buhalis and Cornelius Ncube). Finally I will be launching 3 very exciting internal EU focused funding competitions at this event to help you engage in EU funding and we have presentations from those who won funding through 2 of these schemes last year.

The informal and informative event will be opened by Matthew Bennett in Kimmeridge House  on 14th November. Plenty of coffee, tea, lunch and cake provided and due to the restriction of room size, registration is essential. This takes only 10 seconds on the Staff Development website.

The event will be finished in plenty of time for you to drive/ catch the uni bus to the Executive Business Centre (EBC) to hear the Inaugural Lecture Dementia: personal journey to policy priority by HSC’s Prof. Anthea Innes.

European universities need improved mobility strategies

EU

The European University Association (EUA) has announced that EU universities need a better strategy for mobility. The EUA assessed current practice as part of a 2 year project and released their findings in Mobility: Closing the gap between policy and practice. Key findings were that:

  • academic staff are unaware of mobility strategies in their institution
  • mobility is especially important for doctoral students
  • mobility of administrative staff is not highly prioritised
  • mobility programmes for staff, students, and researchers tend to be fragmented within each institution

The report recommends that universities collect comprehensive data on the different types of mobility going on in their institution and use that data to develop mobility strategies. It also recommends that data collection should be coordinated on European and national levels.

The Maunimo project provided a self-assessment tool for universities with the aim of improving mobility programmes. Among the issues examined are mobility strategies, collection of data on mobility, the influence of external factors on mobility, and how mobility is perceived across the institution.

As part of the International Task Force at BU I will be recommending this is undertaken.

Germany’s launches donation site for research funding!

EU

Stifterverband is an association of German research funders who will soon launch Germany’s first crowd-funding site for science in order to connect the research world with the public. It is already available on Facebook and Twitter, and will go live independently in November.

The site allows researchers to post a call for funding for small expenditures (a research trip, a computer, or money to hire an assistant for a few months) and visitors to the site can donate directly to the calls they want to support!

FP7 Social Sciences & Humanities ‘Global Europe 2050’ Report Published

EU

Research Professional gave a great summary of the FP7 Social Sciences and Humanities ”Global Europe 2050′  foresight report. This report is the output of an EC expert group; it presents and qualifies three scenarios that identify the main pathways Europe could follow over the next few decades:

1. The ‘Nobody Cares’ scenario, where Europe is in a ‘muddling through’ process;

2. ‘Europe under threat’, where Europe is faced by an economic decline and protectionist reactions; and

3. The ‘European Renaissance’ where the EU continues to enlarge and become stronger with more efficient innovation systems.

Any bets on which way we go…?!

Pilot project for archive digitalisation gets under way which will ease access to info for researchers

EU

German organisation DFG is to finance a pilot project that will digitalise archives across Germany in an attempt to save data and make it easily available for researchers which is great news if you have German collaborators. The pilot project will distribute just under €200,000 to each participating archive to test different ways of data digitalisation and access. The projects vary in length depending on each archive’s needs, but should last for over a year. The archives are supplying about a third of the costs from their own resources, and are in turn setting their own areas of interest. The state archive of Saxony, for example, will focus on the digitalisation of microfiches and microfilms. Hopefully this will pave the way for the UK archiving system too!

EU acknowleges need for single framework for professional development of researchers

EU

A study part-funded by the European Science Foundation (ESF) and tested the professional development framework developed by the UK’s Vitae in different European settings has released some very interesting findings. The study into the feasibility of implementing a professional development framework for researchers across Europe has found that there is demand for such a framework, although nations vary in their readiness to participate in it.  Now that this recognition has been gained, expect a framework to follow!

 

BU EU Showcase Event date announced!

EU

I am very excited to announce the date for this year’s EU Showcase Event! Last year’s event was a tremendous success and this year’s looks like it will be even bigger and better!

We all know the importance of getting involved in EU funding as national funds dwindle, greater importance is placed on international collaborations and of BUs strategic focus on internationalisation. This event will celebrate our successful EU award holders who will share their tips for engaging in EU funding.

We have presentations on schemes to help you start your EU career (Christos Gatzidis on the Leonardo scheme of the Lifelong Learning Programme and Bogdan Gabrys and Rob Britton on Marie Curie schemes) and schemes for those already engaged (Anthea Innes on applying for an FP7 grant and Adrian Newton on being a Partner in an FP7 consortium). We also have top tips on how to network effectively to become involved in EU funding (from the very experienced Dimitrios Buhalis and Cornelius Ncube). Finally I will be launching 3 very exciting internal EU focused funding competitions at this event to help you engage in EU funding and we have presentations from those who won funding through 2 of these schemes last year.

The informal and informative event will be opened by Matthew Bennett in Kimmeridge House  on 14th November. Plenty of coffee, tea, lunch and cake provided and due to the restriction of room size, registration is essential. This takes only 10 seconds on the Staff Development website.

The event will be finished in plenty of time for you to drive/ catch the uni bus to the Executive Business Centre (EBC) to hear the Inaugural Lecture Dementia: personal journey to policy priority by HSC’s Prof. Anthea Innes.

ICT SMEs in Horizon 2020

EU

As many of you will know from my previous blogposts, I am always emphasising the importance of enagaging SMEs for Horizon 2020. Last week the EC has funded a survey aimed at increasing the participation of innovative companies from the information and communications technologies (ICT) in future research programmes. The survey aims to identify and characterise highly innovative ICT companies that do not participate in Framework projects, and assess their reasons for non-involvement. This is expected to feed into recommendations to improve the participation of SMEs in Horizon 2020, in a final report due in February 2013.

This is further evidence that enagaging SMEs in your Horizon 2020 proposals will be essential, so start networking now 🙂

 

EPSRC UK-India partnership in smart energy grids and energy storage technologies

EU

The EPSRC, under the Research Council UK’s energy programme, and the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, have launched a joint call for proposals for their UK-India partnership in smart energy grids and energy storage technologies. This seeks to strengthen collaboration between UK and Indian research institutions within an overarching focus on research relating to smart energy grids and energy storage technologies. Proposals must address one of the following areas:

•appropriate distributed storage technologies;

•on/off grid energy systems;

•DC networks;

•control and communications.

Projects must be joint activities involving research groups from both India and the UK, and must involve personnel exchange between the Indian and UK partners. All proposals must be for consortia, with equal or proportionate participation from UK and Indian researchers. UK applicants must be the principal investigator or co-investigator on a current Research Council award. Higher education institutions, some Research Council institutes and independent research organisations are eligible to apply.

The costs for UK institutions will be met by EPSRC, and those for Indian institutions will be met by DST. EPSRC will contribute up to £5 million for this call over a three-year period with matched resources from DST. The deadline is 15.11.12

Work in labs? Got links in Africa? Then this will be good news for you!

EU

A £15.3 million (US$24 million) fund to build links between African research laboratories and strengthen their research capacity through mentoring has been launched by the Royal Society (the UK’s science academy) and the UK Department for International Development (DFID). The aim is to provide equipment and training for African scientists, and to establish researcher exchange programmes between the United Kingdom and Sub-Saharan Africa. Start-up grants of up to US$39,000 will assist the formation of research consortia, and larger grants of almost US$2 million will then support specific research programmes over a five-year period. To qualify for the larger grants, projects must involve a consortium of one UK laboratory and three African laboratories. Calls for proposals will be launched in November, but keep an eye on the DFID website for more announcements.

FI- WARE are looking for additional partners

EU

FI-WARE, the core platform of the future internet, invites proposals through the Directorate-General for Information Society and Media for its open call for additional partners. FI-WARE has reserved a portion of its budget to fund specific tasks carried out by a new beneficiary or beneficiaries, who will join the consortium after starting the project. Topics for this call are:

•advanced web-based user interface generic enablers, for which funding is worth up to €2.75 million;

•steam-oriented GEs, for which funding is worth up to €2.25m;

•cloud proxy extended development and management platform GE, for which funding is worth up to €1m.

The deadline is 07.11.12; to find out more info check out the FI-WARE webpage.

Lifelong Learning programme Grundtvig funding available

EU

Adult Education Learner Workshops: Any organisation involved in adult education provision can apply for funding through the Grundtvig programme to host interactive learning workshops for European participants on a specific educational theme.  Workshop themes could include; active citizenship and intercultural dialogue;  language learning; discussion groups on issues of common European interest; basic number, literacy and ICT skills for personal development; and visual and creative arts.  Funding of approximately 9,000 Euro is available towards the preparation and management of a Learner Workshop and the travel and subsistence costs of each participant. Funding is also available for cultural and linguistic preparation as well as special assistance based on the needs of the individual.  The closing date for applications is the 21st February 2013 and the Learner Workshop must be held before the 31st August 2014.

Grundtvig In-Service Training Grants: Individuals involved in adult education provision have the opportunity to apply for grants through the Grundtvig In-service training programme to attend practical skill-based courses in a European country and provide personal development opportunities.  The funding is available to individuals involved in both formal or in-formal adult education and can include  teachers or trainers; managerial or administrative staff from an adult education provider; a member of staff working with adults with special learning needs; or those intending to work in adult education in the future.  There are 3 deadlines for applications each year. The next deadline for applications is 17 September 2012.

 

Grundtvig Preparatory Visits: Grundtvig is a European Union programme that funds training opportunities for UK adult education organisations, staff & learners.  UK organisation involved in non-vocational adult education that want to meet partners prior to submitting a Grundtvig Partnership or Senior Volunteering application, or to attend a Contact Seminar to find new partner can apply for funding to undertake a preparatory visit.  Organisations wishing to undertake a Preparatory Visit can apply for funding of up to 1,200 Euro.   An example of a preparatory visit was from Gingerbread Northern Ireland who used a Preparatory Visits grant to visit potential project partners in Belgium. They met to discuss a collaborating on a Grundtvig Learning Partnership.  Organisations  must submit their funding application to the UK National Agent (ECOTEC) at least 8 weeks before the activity start date.

Funding for Adult Education Staff Placements in Other European Countries: Adult Education organisations can apply for funding to send individuals on work placements in an adult education organisation  in another European country.  Funded through the Grundtvig Assistantships programme, placements are for between 13 and 45 weeks.  Grundtvig Assistantships are for those at any stage in their career who are already working on a part time or full-time basis anywhere in the informal and formal non-vocational, adult education sector. This applies to volunteer staff as well as those who are formally employed. The amount of funding available is determined by the duration of an Assistantship and the country in which it is to be undertaken. The funding available is intended as a contribution to the costs involved in an Assistantship, this can include; travel to and from the host country; visa costs; local travel during the Assistantship; travel insurance; and accommodation and general living The deadline for applications is the 28th March 2013.

Grundtvig Visits and Exchange Grants :Adult education staff who want to improve their practical skills and to gain a broader understanding of lifelong learning across Europe can apply for funding to attend a seminar, conference, job shadowing and training in another European country. Visits and Exchange grants are offered under the Grundtvig part of the Lifelong Learning Programme. The Grundtvig programme aims to strengthen the European dimension in adult education. Funding is open to those involved in adult education. Activities can last between one day and twelve weeks and are a great way for you to improve teaching, coaching, counselling or mentoring skills. Grants are available to contribute towards the total costs incurred, including conference or seminar fees, travel, subsistence and other costs. An illustration of a project is where a lecturer from Aberdeen went to job shadow social pedagogy experts and to learn about the Danish educational system. Applications can be made throughout the year, up to 12 weeks before the activity begins, until 14th December 2012?.

COST pilot evaluation and selection scheme for interdisciplinary proposals

EU

COST (European Co-operation in Science and Technology) has announced the launch of a pilot evaluation and selection scheme for interdisciplinary proposals. You may remember from my earlier posts on COST, that  this is a funding source which offers support for networks centred around nationally funded research projects in fields that are of interest to at least five COST countries. And that it has had a whopping €10m boost lately.

A pilot evaluation and selection procedure for the submission to the Open Call of Trans-Domain Proposals (TDP) will be launched in early 2013. These funding opportunities offer researchers the chance to bid for funding to support future networks across wide interdisciplinary research areas. Currently all domains across the COST Open Call use a two stage submission process; the TDP Pilot will  require a single submission of a full proposal, with the aim of making the evaluation and selection procedure faster.  This means that if you want to submit a proposal you will need to pre-register;  this will most likely be from 15 February 2013 to 29 March 2013 with the Full Proposal to be submitted by 14 June 2013 and the first proposals to be approved in November 2013.

Get involved in an ICT consultation

EU

The EC is exploring future developments for 2 of its Joint Technology Initiatives on electronic components and embedded computer systems under Horizon 2020 (Artemis and Eniac). There is a consultation currently open which will end in October; it has been suggested that the two initiatives should be merged as they cover similar elements. Have your say on what should happen by joining in the consultation.

Funding available for tourism services

EU

The EC has funding (€250,000 over 15 months) available for a mapping and performance check of the supply of accessible tourism services available as a tender. You will need to:

•assess the presence and performance of accessible tourism services and facilities along the tourism supply chain;

•assess the effectiveness of existing best practices and tools to foster tourism accessibility;

•analyse the results, propose recommendation and prioritise actions;

•disseminate and validate results.

The closing date is 09.10.12; see the TED website for more details.

Transversal funding announced

EU

The EC has announced funding is available under the Transversal Programme. The aim is to promote European cooperation in fields covering two or more sub-programmes, and promote quality and transparency of member states’ education and training systems. The following relevant to BU staff are available and all have a deadline of 28.02.13

•KA1 multilateral networks: which support the creation of transversal networks to promote mutual policy learning and exchange of information on good practices and critical factors for the development and implementation of coherent and comprehensive approaches towards lifelong learning – funding is worth €200,000 per year over two or three years, but overall funding will not exceed €400,000;

•KA2 multilateral projects: which support promotion of language awareness and access to language learning resources – EU funding is worth a maximum of €200,000 per year over three years, but overall funding will not exceed €400,000, plus €25,000 for all third country partners combined;

•KA2 multilateral networks: which support contributions to promoting language learning and linguistic diversity – funding is worth a maximum of €150,000 per year over a maximum of three years, plus €25,000 for all third country partners combined.

•KA2 accompanying measures: which promote the objectives and results of languages projects – funding is worth a maximum of €150,000 over one year.

•KA3 multilateral projects:  which support the development of innovative ICT-based content, services, pedagogies and practices for lifelong learning – EU funding is worth a maximum of €200,000 per year over three years, but overall funding will not exceed €400,000, plus €25,000 for all third country partners combined.

•KA3 multilateral networks: which support the building of partnerships and the networking of learning communities with a view to exchanging ideas and experiences related to ICT for learning – funding is worth a maximum of €150,000 per year over a maximum of three years, plus €25,000 for all third country partners combined.