Study of possible funding channels for activities of EuroSys
- 1. European Science Foundation ESF
1. European Science Foundation ESF
ESF Programmes are funded on an à la carte principle by Member Organisations which decide to contribute (there is no obligation for them to do so), and can only be launched if sufficient financial support is obtained.
Proposals recommended by the Standing Committees are sent to ESF Member Organisations and other national funding agencies with official Observer status. ESF Member Organisations contributions are based on the level of their contributions to the ESF General Budget and their national GDP per capita.
In the past most of ESF money has gone to the hard sciences. According to my university, this is not a basic choice of ESF, but only so because that community has known these funding instruments for a long time and have applied for it more than others.
1.1 Research Networking Programmes
This instrument replaces the Scientific Networks. The current instrument is more extensive than the previous one.
Goal of the instrument
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.
Funded 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.
Level of grant that can be asked for
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 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 of activities:
- 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.
Rules that should be followed
Not many rules. Average size of current networks is 10 scientific groups.
Date of the next call
End of this month. A new call is expected for spring 2007.
Description of submission
A proposal should cover scientific, financial and administrative details. There is no specific application form but the proposal must be submitted on-line. Proposals (including appendices) must be in English, have the following headings and structure, and should not exceed 14 A4 pages.
Website
http://www.esf.org/esf_genericpage.php?language=0§ion=2&domain=0&genericpage=230
1.2 ESF FORWARD LOOKS IN 2006
Goal of the instrument
ESF Forward Looks are an instrument which enables policy makers from ESF Member Organisations, in interaction with Europe's scientific community and other organisations, to develop medium to long-term views and analyses of future research developments with the aim of defining research agendas and priorities. The purpose of a Forward Look is to bring together in a global context scientific foresight and priority setting for research funding at national and European levels. A Forward Look is essentially a systematic and high level priority setting exercise. Although research is unpredictable, a cautiously balanced assessment of state-of-the-art with looking ahead, typically over a period of 5-10 years, may provide a guide and reference for all concerned in setting new directions and priorities for European science in the global context.
Funded activities
Road mapping activities (probably funding of meetings and travel).
Level of grant that can be asked for
Not clear
Rules that should be followed
Not clear
Date of the next submission
22 november 2006
Amount of work for submission
4 pages.
Website
http://www.esf.org/esf_genericpage.php?section=8&language=0&genericpage=2656
1.3 ESF Research Conferences
Goal of the instrument
ESF Research Conferences are open to scientists world-wide, whether from academia or industry. Topics will be at the forefront of scientific research and interdisciplinary when appropriate. The Scheme will provide the opportunity for the world's leading scientists and other participants, including young researchers, to meet informally for discussions at the highest level on the most recent developments in their fields of research. It will act as a catalyst for creating new synergistic contacts throughout Europe and the rest of the world.
Conferences may be single events, or a series, usually with a biennial meeting focussing on specific aspects of the same general topic. They will normally last for four or five days and up to 150 participants and invited speakers may attend. The Chairs, who are leading scientists in their fields, will select participants from applications received as a result of publicising the Conferences.
Funded activities
The organization of a conference.
Level of grant that can be asked for
Not clear
Rules that should be followed
Current topics found on the website: Biology+, Environmental Sciences, Physics/Biophysics, Social Sciences, Humanities. Not clear if other topics are possible.
Date of the next call
Last call, for conference organized in 2008: submission deadline was 2 October 2006. It is expected that for conferences in 2009 the deadline will be again October 2007.
Amount of work for submission
Reasonable.
Website
http://www.esf.org/esf_genericpage.php?section=10&language=0&genericpage=2125&shortcut=1
1.4 ESF Exploratory workshops
Goal of the instrument
The focus of the scheme is on workshops aiming to explore an emerging and/or innovative field of research or research infrastructure at a European level. Successful proposals will be expected to demonstrate the potential to open up new directions in research or new domains. They should also show potential for initiating follow-up research activities and/or developing future collaborative actions. Interdisciplinary topics are encouraged.
Each year, ESF supports approximately 50 Exploratory Workshops across all scientific domains.
Funded activities
Workshops.
Level of grant that can be asked for
Awards will be up to a maximum value of 15 000 EUR. Travel, accommodation and meals can be covered by the grant. Rules that should be followed Applicants should be individual scientists/researchers based at European universities/research institutes (in the broad sense) in ESF Member Organisation countries. The average number of attendees of a workshop is 20-25. The maximum is 30 attendees (including speakers and convenors), whether funded from ESF source or not.
Date of the next call
Unclear. Call for 2006 was in May.
Amount of work for submission
Unclear as current call is closed.
Website
http://www.esf.org/esf_activity_home.php?language=0&domain=0&activity=4
1.5 ESF EUROCORES Programmes: call for themes
Goal of the instrument
EUROCORES themes are ideas for new EUROCORES Programmes, so a theme proposal is the first step to develop a new EUROCORES Programme. The themes are generated annually through a Call for theme proposals (deadline 1 June) from the European research community and/or national funding or research performing organisations. Through a rigorous peer-review process, a number of the submitted proposals will be selected for further development. Pending the viability of these selected themes in terms of adequate interest and commitment for participation from ESFâs Member Organisations, these ideas will be launched into new EUROCORES Programmes.
Once a theme proposal has been selected and developed into a new EUROCORES Programme, an open Call for project proposals for that EUROCORES Programme will be developed and published in which all scientists form participating countries can compete.
The aim of the European Collaborative Research (EUROCORES) Scheme is to enable researchers in different European countries to develop collaboration and scientific synergy in areas where European scale and scope are required to reach the critical mass necessary for top class science in a global context. The scheme provides a flexible framework which allows national basic research funding and performing organisations to join forces to support excellent European research in and across all scientific areas.
Funded activities
Unclear.
Level of grant that can be asked for
Unclear.
Rules that should be followed
Each proposing team should include at least 4 researchers and/or representatives from national funding or research performing organisations from 4 different member countries
Themes of 2006: 4-D Topography Evolution in Europe: Uplift, Subsidence and Sea Level Change - The Geoscience of Coupled Deep Earth - Surface Processes, Friction and Adhesion in Nanomechanical Systems (FANAS), Stress and Mental Health (EuroSTRESS), Logical Modelling in Interaction, Communication, Cognition and Computation (LogICCC), The impact of biochemicals and infochemicals on trophic dynamics and nutrient cycling in planktonic food webs (DYNAPLAN), European QUAntum StandARds and Metrology (QUASAR), Cross-national and Multi-level Analysis of Human Values, Institutions and Behaviour
Date of the next call
No call open for the moment. Last called closed on 1 June 2006. Looks like a yearly call.
Amount of work for submission
The proposals should not have more than 20 pages including appendices.
Website
http://www.esf.org/esf_activity_home.php?language=0&domain=0&activity=7
Contact the webmaster: webmaster _at_ eurosys.org