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ESRC-NRF Newton Call for Collaborative Research: Higher Education in Africa

Deadline: 3 May 2016

The Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and National Research Foundation (NRF) invite Collaborative Research between the UK and South Africa, offering additional value to existing programmes of education research, and contribute to the economic development and welfare of South Africa and Africa more broadly.

Thematic Areas

Proposals addressing the following themes are invited:

  • Organisation of higher education systems, higher education institutions (HEIs) and alternative providers
  • Equity in higher education access and participation
  • Curriculum, pedagogy and modes and levels of provision
  • Higher education for the public good
  • Higher education and the labour market

Funding Information

  • The ESRC has allocated up to £2.5 million and NRF has allocated RAND 10 million;
  • Proposals are invited for joint UK and South African projects; each proposal may request £415,000 – £630,000 at 100 per cent fEC from the ESRC and R1.67m to R2.5m from NRF over 30 months in duration.

Eligibility Criteria

  • UK applicants must meet the ESRC eligibility.
  • Full-time employees at an NRF-recognised research institution in South Africa, who are eligible to apply according to the general NRF regulations and conditions, are invited to apply.
  • Part-time employees on contract at an NRF-recognised research institution (as defined above) in South Africa are invited to apply, but on condition that their appointment at the South African institution is for (at least) the duration of the project applied for in the submission. The length of the contract should be stated in the proposal form. Salaries must be paid by the research institution, and the primary employment of the individual concerned must be at that institution. A contract researcher appointed at a research institution on behalf of a third party to fulfill a very specific function for the latter does not qualify for support.
  • Retired academics/researchers are invited to apply, provided that they meet all set criteria as stipulated below:
    • Are resident in South Africa
    • Are formally affiliated to a South African higher education institution (eg appointed as an emeritus professor, honorary research associate/professor, supernumerary/contract employee).

How to Apply

Applicants must submit identical proposals via respective websites.

For more information, please visit ESRC-NRF.

Call for Applications: Australia-Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme

Deadline: 17 June 2016

Universities of Australia together with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is currently inviting applications for the Australia-Germany Joint Research Co-operation Scheme, aiming to foster research collaboration of the highest quality between Australian researchers from Universities Australia member universities and German researchers from German universities and research institutes.

The scheme will support exchanges for Australian researchers to spend time at partner institutions in Germany and for collaborating German researchers to spend time at Australian universities. Researchers must be working on a joint research project with their German counterparts, rather than simply furthering their own individual research in Germany.

The support of early career researchers and junior scholars is a significant focus of this scheme.

Funding Available

  • The maximum amount of funding available per Australian application is AUD 12,500 per year.
  • Grants will cover the costs of economy airfares and living expenses and are provided directly by the applicant’s university.
  • Each university will nominate its own level of financial contribution and will only fund projects which involve its own researchers and students.
  • Australian funding will cover the costs of:
    • return economy airfares from Australia to Germany;
    • a per diem of either maximum AUD250 per day or a maximum of AUD3500 per month per person.
  • The maximum amount of funding available per German application is EUR 8,000 per project per year. Grants will cover the costs of economy airfares and living expenses

Eligibility Criteria

  • Australian applicants must be:
    • employed as an academic staff member in a teaching and research or research only role at the Australian university administering the application and with a contract at that university that is valid for the duration of the relevant funding period; or
    • enrolled for the duration of the relevant funding period as a PhD or Research Masters student at the Australian university administering the application and part of a research project application submitted by an eligible staff member at that same university.
  • The scheme is open to Australian researchers/research groups at participating Australian universities in all academic fields involved in a collaborative project with German research partners.
  • Researchers from the Humanities and Social Sciences are encouraged to apply.
  • German applicants must be based in Germany.

How to Apply

Proposals must be submitted online via electronic submission service of Participant Portal.

For more information, please visit this link.

NATO’s Science for Peace and Security Grant: Enhancing Cooperation based on Scientific Research

Deadline: 15 May 2016

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is currently accepting applications for its Science for Peace and Security (SPS) Programme, a policy tool that enhances cooperation and dialogue with all partners, based on scientific research, innovation, and knowledge exchange.

The SPS Programme provides funding, expert advice, and support to security-relevant activities jointly developed by a NATO member and partner country.

The SPS Programme promotes civil, security-related practical cooperation, and focuses on a growing range of contemporary security challenges, including terrorism, defence against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) agents, cyber defence, energy security and environmental concerns, as well as human and social aspects of security, such as the implementation of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security (UNSCR 1325).

The SPS Programme supports collaboration through three established grant mechanisms: multi-year research projects, workshops, and training courses. Interested applicants should develop proposals for activities that fit within one of these formats.

Programme Budget

  1. Multi-year research and development project: NATO funds are provided to cover project-related costs such as scientific equipment, computers, software and training of project personnel as well as of young scientists, roughly half of the budget is generally allocated to equipment, about 20% to training and travel and 15% to stipends; these proportions may vary according to the needs of each project.
  1. Training courses: The SPS grant (average 60,000 EUR) pays for direct organizational costs, travel and living expenses of up to 15 lecturers and attendance of students (60 to 80) from countries eligible to receive NATO funding.
  1. Workshops: The SPS grant (average amount: 30,000 to 40,000 EUR) is intended to cover direct organizational expenses of the ARW, the travel and living expenses of key speakers, as well as the attendance of non-speakers from NATO countries and Partner countries unable to obtain support from other sources.

Eligibility Criteria

The SPS programme applications must be submitted jointly by a NATO and a partner country Co-Director.

  • NATO Countries:  Albania, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Czech Rep, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey,  United Kingdom and United States.
  • NATO Partner: Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Georgia, Ireland, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Malta, The Republic of Moldova, Montenegro, Russia, Serbia, Sweden, Switzerland, Tajikistan, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Algeria, Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Mauritania, Morocco, Tunisia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, Pakistan, Republic of Korea, New Zealand and Mongolia.

How to Apply

Applicants must submit the duly filled application form in order to apply.

For more information, please visit NATO-SPS.

Food & Business Applied Research Fund: Apply to win up to 300,000 Euros

Deadline: 5 July 2016

The Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) is currently seeking applications for its Food & Business Applied Research Fund (ARF), providing grants to applied research contributing to innovation for food security and private sector development in the 15 partner countries of Dutch development cooperation.

ARF aims at promoting research supported innovations that are readily applicable and contribute to the enhancement of sustainable food security for the most vulnerable populations in the fifteen partner countries of Dutch development cooperation.

Grant Value

A grant amounts to a minimum of 50,000 euros (for six months) and a maximum of 300,000 euros (for 36 months). Per 6 months a maximum of 50,000 euros ARF subsidy can be applied for.

Grants should contribute directly to the project. Reimbursable cost includes:

  • Personnel and overhead: Salaries for personnel, which should be guided by the organisations’ norms and legal regulations for the country concerned.
  • Audit costs: for a final external independent audit up to a maximum of 5,000 euros, so as to review and verify the correct application and justification of the ARF grant and the co-funding contributions.
  • Travel and accommodation: Travel and accommodation expenses for consortium partners and of the expenses incurred in short trips (<3 months) of team members directly related to the project up to a maximum of 20 per cent of the ARF grant budget.
  • Research costs: durables (buildings excluded), consumables, assistance.
  • Knowledge sharing costs: activities organised by the consortium, such as workshops (including evaluation workshops), capacity building, meetings, local/regional dissemination of results aimed at involving stakeholders from outside the consortium up to a maximum of 15 per cent of the ARF grant budget.

Eligibility Criteria

A consortium applying for the ARF should consist of at least two partners that integrate different kinds of knowledge and execute a project as an effort of co-creation:

  • A private or public practitioner organisation registered in one of the fifteen partner countries of Dutch development cooperation acting as the main applicant.
  • A research organisation from a partner country or from the Netherlands, acting as co-applicant.
  • In case the organisation/company is not a local branch of a Dutch partner or the research organisation is not from the Netherlands, a third co-applicant is required, that is from The Netherlands. This can be a private or public practitioner organisation or a research organisation.

In the execution of the project at least one researcher from a partner country must be involved (not necessarily as consortium member). The involvement of additional partners, acting as co-applicant is encouraged. Next to this, gender expertise and female participation is required in the consortium and/or the project team.

Eligible Partner Countries

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Benin, Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Mali, Mozambique, Palestinian Territories, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda, Yemen.

How to Apply

Applications must be submitted through an online process.

For more information, please visit Applied Research Fund.

Call for Proposals: The World Bank Strategic Research Program

Deadline: 27 March 2016

The Development Economics Vice-Presidency in the World Bank Group (WBG) is currently accepting proposals for the World Bank Strategic Research Program (SRP) which is now in its third year of operation.

The SRP, a multi-donor Trust Fund, primarily funded by DFID, carries out research programs and projects related to development economics; disseminates the knowledge and lessons learned to give countries and stakeholders access to evidence-based research and to enhance capacity in developing countries.

Thematic Focus

This Call for Proposals has seven thematic focus areas which are shown below:

  1. Private Sector Development;
  2. Financial Development;
  3. Education;
  4. Trade and Globalization;
  5. Agricultural and Rural Development;
  6. Transport;
  7. Energy.

Funding

The Call will fund two different types of research proposals- small grants and program grants.

  • The small grants are for proposals (up to $200K) that will fund well-defined research projects addressing a specific question.
  • The program grants will provide a strategic orientation of research towards a larger and broader objective. These will be larger proposals (about $1 million), defining well integrated programs of research rather than focusing on crafting tightly focused individual research projects.

Eligibility Criteria

Applications are invited from individual researchers or teams in any institution, belonging to the developing countries.

How to Apply

Applicants are required to follow a two-step process:

  • prepare a maximum 3-page concept note, and
  • if it is approved, prepare a full proposal.

Applications must be submitted via email.

For more information, please visit WBG-SRP.

AuthorAID Call for Applications for Travel and Workshop Grants 2016

Deadline: 7 February and 21 February 2016

AuthorAID has announced the first set of AuthorAID travel grants and workshop grants for 2016. It plans to award the following grants to people working in eligible developing countries, following a competitive selection process.

  • 12 travel grants ($1500 each): For researchers who have an accepted abstract or proposal to present at a conference. Deadline to apply: 7 February 2016, 10 PM GMT.
  • 12 workshop grants ($2500 each): For experienced researchers or administrators who would like to organise a workshop on a topic related to research communication. Deadline to apply: 21 February 2016, 10 PM GMT.

AuthorAID is a free international research community. It is a pioneering program based at INASP. It is supported by the UK Department for International Development (DFID) and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

AuthorAID helps researchers in developing countries to publish and otherwise communicate their work. It also serves as a wider global forum to discuss and disseminate research.

For more information, visit AuthorAID.

Additional Insights International Research Fellowship 2015-2016: Improving Lives and Well-Being of Low-Income Women and Children!

Deadline: 15 January 2016

Global TIES for Children is seeking applications from around the world for its Additional Insights International Research Fellowship Program for those who are interested not only in whether interventions improve the lives and well-being of low-income women and children, but for whom, why, and where they do so.

The Additional Insights International Research Fellowship is a rigorous, multi-disciplinary program for emerging scholars (advanced doctoral students through early career research scientists) in the applied social sciences.

The fellowship targets programs that seek to improve women’s economic empowerment and/or children’s development (education, early childhood, socio-emotional, mental health) in low- and middle- income countries.

Funding Information

There are two levels of support.

  • At the start of the fellowship, fellows from low- and middle-income countries will receive $8,000 and fellows from high income countries will receive $3,000 in support of the work itself.
  • Upon completion of their research, all fellows will receive a $2,000 honorarium.
  • Additionally, all eligible travel, lodging, and meal expenses for attendance at the 2016 Summer Institute in New York will be covered.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Applicants should be current doctoral students, post-docs, or early career researchers and have a clear and demonstrable interest in conducting research on interventions to strengthen women’s empowerment and/or children’s development in LAMICs.
  • Applicants must commit to attending the week long Summer Institute in New York City in July 2016 and conducting additional research after their return home toward a paper suitable for publication on their proposed research question(s).

How to Apply

All application components must be send at the mail address, given on the website.

For more information, please visit International Research Fellowship.

China–UK Research and Innovation Competition: Developing New Solutions to Socio-Economic Growth

Deadline:  30 March 2016

Innovate UK, the Research Councils UK (RCUK) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) are organizing China–UK research and innovation competition that propose new commercial solutions to challenges impacting the socio-economic growth & development of China in relation to energy, healthcare, urbanisation and agri-food.

The aim of the competition is to bring together companies (small to medium-sized companies and/or larger businesses), research organisations, academics and other collaborators from China and the UK for the joint research and development of new solutions to key socio-economic challenges, in the form of innovative products, processes or services.

Benefits

  • Innovate UK and RCUK have allocated up to £8 million to fund UK participation in collaborative R&D projects that address the challenges outlined in the scope.
  • MoST in China has allocated up to £8 million in RMB equivalent to fund the Chinese participation.
  • Successful applicants can attract grant funding towards their eligible project costs. The percentage of costs that pay varies, depending on the type of research being carried out and the type of organisation involved.

Eligibility Criteria

  • Projects must be collaborative, involving both UK and Chinese participants, with both a UK lead partner and a Chinese lead partner.
  • On the UK side, projects can be led by either a business or a research organisation.
  • The lead partner should be able to demonstrate a clear route to commercialisation of the proposed product(s) or service(s), and should have a primary focus on the translation of research and/or knowledge.

How to Apply

Interested applicants may register and apply from the website, given at the end.

Note: registration will close 6 days before the competition application deadline.

For more details, please visit Research and Innovation Competition.

Marie Curie Research Grants 2016: Improving the Quality of Life of People with Terminal Illnesses

Deadline: 14 January 2016

Marie Curie in partnership with Chief Scientist Office (CSO) and Motor Neurone Disease Association (MND Association) is seeking application forms through the Marie Curie Research Grants Scheme to fund high quality research that aims to improve the quality of life of people with terminal illnesses and their carers, families and friends.

The Marie Curie Research Grants Scheme is a joint call where funding will be available from three sources: Marie Curie, CSO with Marie Curie and MND Association with Marie Curie.

Funding Information

The scheme is spending up to £1.425 million for this year

Eligibility Criteria

  • Outline applications are invited from lead applicants at recognised Universities, NHS hospitals, hospices or research institutes within the UK and the lead applicant must have a post which covers the entire duration of the proposed study.
  • Collaborative applications are welcome and named acaemic/clinical collaborators are permitted – although, if successful, the contracted grant (and associated funding arrangements) will be with the lead applicant’s institution in the UK.
  • Applicants are strongly advised to determine if their proposal is ‘research’ as defined by the National Research Ethics Service (NRES). Proposals focusing on pure service evaluation and audits will not be accepted. However, implementation studies will be considered.

How to Apply

Interested applicants may send their completed application forms at the mail address, given on the website.

For more information, please visit Marie Curie Research Grants.

India-UK Research and Innovation Bridges Competition: Check the Eligibility and Application Process

Eligibility Criteria

The eligibilities for India-UK Research and Innovation Bridges Competition are as follows:

  • A collaboration proposing an R&D project that meets the requirements in this section is eligible to apply to this competition and does so in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures of their jurisdiction or country.
  • Project Composition
    • Projects must be collaborative, containing partners from both India and the UK.
    • Project duration should be up to 24 months.
    • Projects must be innovative and market-driven, leading to the proposed development of a new product, service or process, leading ultimately to commercialisation.
    • Projects must articulate clear commercial goals and associated commercialisation strategies.
    • Projects must have identical start and end dates for both UK and Indian applicants (both funders reserve the right to withdraw the grant if these dates are not kept to).
  • Each proposal must include as a minimum:
    • An Indian business partner
    • An Indian research organisation/academic institution/organisation
    • A UK business partner
    • A UK research organisation
  • Within these four, there should be:
    • An Indian registered organisation Project Lead (IPL), leading the Indian part of the project and communicating with the UK Project Lead. The IPL can be a business, research organisation or academic institution/organisation. The collaboration must be led by organisations in India whose primary focus is on the translation and commercialisation of research and/or knowledge. This competition is not about funding basic research.
    • A UK Project Lead (UKPL), who is a UK registered organisation, leading the UK side of the project and communicating with the Indian Project Lead. The UKPL can be a business or an RO who can demonstrate a clear route to commercialisation and whose primary focus is on the translation of research and/or knowledge. This competition is not about funding basic research.

How to Apply

  • To enter this competition, the project should appoint one of the Project Leads (either from the UK or India) who must register via the competition website.
  • Applicants will receive an email acknowledgement of registration immediately and then an additional email containing a username and password for the secure upload facility, along with a unique application form and number. Following registration acknowledgement, applicant must allow up to 48 hours for receipt of an email application form.
  • Having received unique username and password, the applicant can log into the secure website to access additional documentation relevant to the competition.
  • Documentation:

This is a two stage process-

  • Stage 1: Expression of Interest – Applicants collaborate to submit a single application per project to Innovate UK, which is assessed separately by Innovate UK and DBT assessors. Assessment results for Innovate UK and DBT will be compared and a joint ranked list of results produced.
  • Stage 2: Full Stage –Top ranking applications from Stage 1 will be invited to submit a full stage application and supporting documentation to Innovate UK. This will again be assessed separately by Innovate UK and DBT assessors, and a joint ranked list of results produced.

For more information, please visit India-UK Research and Innovation Bridges Competition.

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