Opportunities for young Kazakh researchers in getting funded by the European Commission – A

Rough Guide to: Why, What and How

Presentation at Al-Farabi National University,Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan

28 October 2011

Who am I?Prof. Sergey V. Mikhalovsky,

Biomaterials and Medical Devices Research Group Leader

School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences,Faculty of Science and Engineering

University of Brighton, UKs.mikhalovsky@brighton.ac.uk

Group is comprised of: 3 Professors, 1 Reader, 3 Senior Lecturers, 3 Principal Research Fellows, one of them RCUK Fellow, 1.5 Senior Research Fellows, 4 Research Fellows, 3 Marie Curie Fellows, 4 PhD students. Required funding 1,000,000 euros/year

Framework Programme 5, 6 and 7

INCO-COPERNICUS, INTAS, TEMPUS III and IV, Erasmus-Mundus I and II,

Lead expert in Life Sciences, Erasmus-Mundus I

NANO-Austria, Fundamental Research Fund – Russia, NANO-Cyprus,

UK national funding bodies: EPSRC, BBSRC, the Royal Society

Project proposal evaluator:

Framework Programme 7, FP7 – the main funding body in the EU for research

Co-operation – Collaborative Research

European Research Council

Marie Curie Actions

Capacities – Research Capacity

Fram

ewor

k P

rogr

amm

e 7

JRC EURATOM

Co-operation

Ideas

People

Capacities

JRC

Budget Split 2007-2013FP

7 –

Spe

cific

Pro

gram

mes

€4 700

€7 460

€4 097 €1 751

€32 413

Values in € Millions

Stru

ctur

e of

FP

7

Health

Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology Information and Communication Technologies

Energy

Environment (including Climate Change)

Transport

Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities

Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies

Security

Research Infrastructures

Research for the BenefitOf SMEs

Regions of Knowledge

Research Potential

Science in Society

Activities of InternationalCo-operation

Coherent Developmentof Policies

Initial Training of researchersLifelong Training and Career DevelopmentIndustry-Academia Partnerships & PathwaysThe International DimensionSpecific Actions

Starting Independent Researcher Grants

Advanced Investigator Grants

Co-operation – collaborative research

Ideas – European Research Council (ERC)

Capacities

Space

People - Marie Curie

Plus JRC and Euratom

What about Kazakhstan?Fr

amew

ork

Pro

gram

me

7

Eligible for most FP7 projects!

Kazakhstan is an ICPC country – International Collaboration Partnership Country

A target country in SICA – Specific International Cooperation Actions. The required two or more partners should be from two different countries.

ICPC (international cooperationpartnership countries)

FP7

– In

tern

atio

nal c

oope

ratio

n

Why participate?Fr

amew

ork

Pro

gram

me

7

• Good Money – typically 200,000-500,000 € per

participating organisation for 2-3-4 years

• Money for salaries, travel expenses, consumables,

management, modest sums for equipment.

• Expanding your network of contacts.

• Knowledge transfer – opportunity to work in

different labs, access to unique equipment and

instruments, methods and techniques

What project? Fr

amew

ork

Pro

gram

me

7

• Diverse formats and degrees of participation:

(i) Top-bottom projects with Call specific priorities

(COOPERATION themes, Euroatom)

(ii) Bottom-up project – you choose what you want to do

(PEOPLE, ERC-IDEAS, CAPACITIES)

(iii) Participation as a team (COOPERATION, CAPACITIES,

PEOPLE-IAPP)

(iv) Participation as individual/team (PEOPLE-IIF, ERC-

IDEAS)

Health - Activity AreasFP

7 –

Co-

oper

atio

n - H

ealth

1. Health

2. FAB

3. ICT

4. NMP

5. Energy

6. Environment7. Transport

8. SSH

9. Space

10. Security

Biotechnology, generic tools & medicaltechnologies for human health

Translating research for human health

Optimising the deliveryof health care to European citizens

Child health

Health of the ageing population

Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology - Activity Areas - KBBE

FP7

– C

o-op

erat

ion

- FA

B

1. Health

2. FAB

3. ICT

4. NMP

5. Energy

6. Environment7. Transport

8. SSH

9. Space

10. Security

Sustainable production & management of biological resources

Fork to farm:food, health and well being

Life sciences, biotechnology and biochemistry for sustainable non-food products and processes

...Build a Knowledge Based Bio-Economy…

2012 Call – All areas open July 2011

FP7

– C

o-op

erat

ion

- IC

T

1. Health

2. FAB

3. ICT

4. NMP

5. Energy

6. Environment7. Transport

8. SSH

9. Space

10. Security

ICT- Challenges

Pervasive and Trusted network & Service Infrastructures

Cognitive Systems, Interaction, Robotics

Components, Systems, Engineering

Digital Libraries and Content

Towards sustainable and personalisedhealthcare

ICT for Independent Living and Inclusion

ICT for Mobility, Environmental Sustainability & Energy

Future and Emerging Technologies (FET)

Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and New Production Technologies – NMP

Activity Areas

FP7

- Co-

oper

atio

n - N

MP

1. Nanosciences and Nanotechnologies

2. Materials

3. New Production

4. Integration of technologies for industrial production

1. Health

2. FAB

3. ICT

4. NMP

5. Energy

6. Environment7. Transport

8. SSH

9. Space

10. Security

Energy - Activity Areas(Expect Annual Calls & WPs)

FP7

– C

o-op

erat

ion

- Ene

rgy

1. Health

2. FAB

3. ICT

4. NMP

5. Energy

6. Environment7. Transport

8. SSH

9. Space

10. Security9. Knowledge for energy policy making

6. Clean coal technologies

5. CO2 capture and storage for zero emission power generation

7. Smart energy networks

4. Renewables for heating and cooling

3. Renewable fuel production

1. Hydrogen and fuel cells

2. Renewable electricitygeneration

8. Energy savings and energy efficiency

10. Horizontal actions

Environment – Activity AreasFP

7 –

Co-

oper

atio

n –

Env

ironm

ent

1. Health

2. FAB

3. ICT

4. NMP

5. Energy

6. Environment7. Transport

8. SSH

9. Space

10. Security

Climate Change, Pollution and Risks• Pressures on Environment and Climate (€42m)• Environment and Health (€20m)• Natural Hazards (€14m)

Sustainable Management of Resources• Conservation and sustainable management of natural

and man-made resources and biodiversity (€30m)• Management of marine environments (€20.5m)

Environmental Technologies• Environmental technologies for…the natural and man-made

resources (€39m, incl. €5m for joint call with NMP)• Protection, conservation and enhancement of cultural

heritage, including human habitat (€9m)• Technology assessment, verification and testing (€7m)

Earth Observation (EO) and Assessment Tools for Sustainable Development• EO systems and methods for the environment

and sustainable development (€21m)• Forecasting methods & assessment tools for sustainable

development over different scales of observation (€12m)

Aeronautics and Air TransportFP

7 –

Co-

oper

atio

n - T

rans

port

1. Health

2. Food

3. ICT

4. Nano

5. Energy

6. Environment

7. Transport

8. SSH

9. Security and Space

Proposed objective oriented research themes:

1. The greening of air transport2. Increasing time efficiency3. Ensuring customer satisfaction and safety4. Improving cost efficiency5. Protecting aircraft and passengers6. Pioneering air transport of the future7. Cross cutting activities

Sustainable Surface TransportFP

7 –

Co-

oper

atio

n - T

rans

port

1. Health

2. Food

3. ICT

4. Nano

5. Energy

6. Environment

7. Transport

8. SSH

9. Security and Space

(includes rail, road and waterborne transport)

Proposed objective-oriented research themes:

1. The greening of surface transport2. Encouraging modal shift and decongesting transport corridors3. Ensuring sustainable urban mobility4. Improving safety and security5. Strengthening competitiveness6. Cross cutting activities

Socio-Economic Sciences and the Humanities - Activity Areas

FP7

– C

o-op

erat

ion

- SS

H

1. Growth, employment and competitiveness in a knowledge society

2. Combining economic, social and environmental objectives in a European perspective

3. Major trends in society and their implications

4. Europe in the world

5. The citizen in the European Union

6. Socio-economic and scientific indicators

7. Foresight activities

8. Strategic activities

10. Security

9. Space

8. SSH

7. Transport

6. Environment

5. Energy

4. NMP

3. ICT

2. FAB

1. Health

Space - ActivitiesFP

7 –

Co-

oper

atio

n –

Spa

ce

1. Health

2. FAB

3. ICT

4. NMP

5. Energy

6. Environment7. Transport

8. SSH

9. Space

10. Security

Space-based applications at the service of European Society

Strengthening of Space foundations- Research to support space science & exploration - Research to support space transportation and key technologies

Horizontal actions

•Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology / 2 open calls•Information and Communication Technologies / 5 open calls•Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies - NMP / 8 open calls•Energy / 4 open calls•Environment (including Climate Change) / 2 open calls•Transport (including Aeronautics) / 8 open calls•General Activities / 1 open calls•Health / 1 open calls•Socio-economic sciences and Humanities / 3 open calls•Space / 1 open calls•Security / 1 open calls

Currently:

How? Fr

amew

ork

Pro

gram

me

7

• Regularly monitor the funding opportunities

• Most obvious source of funding for regular

monitoring is:

FP7 - become a regular visitor on this site:

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/

and become familiar with the structure of this

programme. The Participant Portal has become the

European Commission's single authoritative website

for the publication of FP7 calls.

How?(continued)

Fram

ewor

k P

rogr

amm

e 7

• Try to get information about forthcoming Calls – it is

possible to do so by contacting your NCP (National

Contact Point), getting information from an insider, etc.

The earlier you know the contents of the future Call, the

better your chances for success. When the Call has

been announced, it is too late! You will have 2-3 months

to submit a proposal from the date when the Call opens.

Often the expected date of the Call is known in advance.

What to start with?

• Formulate the idea, which fits a particular Call

(probably several ideas to have a choice)

• Identify potential partners – do a lot of networking,

and do it all the time regardless of Calls.

• Learn the Brussels speak – it takes time, but once

you understand it – your chances of success are

much higher.

What to do next?

• You have to understand how to write a proposal.

• Read all relevant documents: contents of the Call,

Work Programme, Guide for Applicants.

• Follow instructions of the Guide for Applicants as

close as possible.

What to do next?

• Write a proposal – preferably not by yourself if it is your

first one.

• Write a proposal yourself if you have done this before

• Seek advice and assistance of people with experience:

colleagues who have got such grants, advisory bodies

• Interact with other partners

• Notify senior management about your intention to

submit a proposal and get their support in principle and

agree financial aspects of the proposal.

Assessment criteria

Science and Technology quality (aim, objectives,

innovation, originality, multi-, inter-disciplinarity,

state-of-the-art)

Detailed Work Programme description (Work packages,

tasks, milestones, deliverables, person-months)

Description of the consortium (experience of

international collaboration, achievements,

publications, complementarity of skills, infrastructure,

previous contacts with partners)

Assessment criteria(continued)

Management, dissemination, risk management,

structure, decision making process, previous

experience of management, IP protection

Impact – benefits for partners, benefits for Europe,

benefits for major stakeholders, society

PEOPLE – additional criterion – quality of knowledge

transfer

Follow instructions for writing the proposal as exactly

as you can!

Evaluation - Process OverviewFP

7 –

How

to a

pply

Call One stagee-submission

EligibilityCheck Individual

Evaluation

ConsensusPanel ReviewFeedback

(ESR)

CommissionRanking

Negotiation of Proposals

Who evaluates?

• Selected from a wide pool from a database• Minimum 3 evaluators per project• Selected per call• Replace about ¼ in any given area annually• Sign confidentiality and conflict of interest

declarations• Names published after evaluation (though not at

call or proposal level)• Target at least 40% female• Mix of geographical location and background

FP7

– H

ow to

app

ly

• An interesting and innovative idea• Strong consortium• Experienced co-ordinator• Complementarity of skills and expertise• Perfect matching between the proposal and the

call• At least 6 months to prepare a proposal• European added value• Sustainability after the end of the project• Dissemination strategy

FP7

– Ti

ps

Tips on writing a successful proposal

Objectives and Policy Context:

• Make Europe more attractive to researchers• Structuring effect on the European Research Area

through transnational and intersectorial mobility in order to create a European labour market for researchers

• Strengthen human potential by:– Encouraging people to become researchers– Encouraging researchers to carry out their

research in Europe• Trans-national and inter-sectorial mobility €4.7 Billion

Marie Curie Actions FP

7 –

Peo

ple

– M

arie

Cur

ie

Principles of Marie Curie Actions• Skills and competence development at all stages of

researchers career

• Open to all research areas addressed under the Treaty

plus possibility of targeted calls

• Strong participation from enterprises

• Reinforce international dimension

• Appropriate gender and work/life balance

• Good working environment, transparent recruitment and

career developmentFP7

– P

eopl

e –

Mar

ie C

urie

Overview of Marie Curie ActionsP

eopl

e S

peci

fic P

rogr

amm

e

Host Actions Individual Actions

Initial Training Networks (ITN)

Industry Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP)

International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)

Marie Curie Calls in 2011-2012FP

7 –

Nex

t Cal

ls fo

r Pro

posa

ls

MC Scheme Opens Deadline

ITN Initial Training Networks 20 July 2011 12 January 2012

IAPP Industry Academia Partnerships & Pathways 19 October 2011 19 April 2012

IIF International Incoming Fellowships 13 March 2012 16 August 2012

Individual Fellowships

• Aimed at ‘Experienced Researchers’

• Skills diversification

• Three categories:– Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)– International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)– International Outgoing Fellowships

(IOF)

FP7

– M

arie

Cur

ie A

ctio

ns

Definition of researchers

Early-Stage researchers 0 - 4 years (FTE)from obtaining degree that qualified them to embark on a doctorate

Experienced researchers in possession of a PhD, or> 4 years experience

(FTE)

FP7

– M

arie

Cur

ie A

ctio

ns

Individual Fellowships

Training & knowledge transfer – 15%

S & T Quality – 25%

Researcher – 25%

Implementation – 15%

Impact – 20%

FP

7 –

Peo

ple

– M

arie

Cur

ie

3/5

3/5 No thresholds for IIF

No threshold

No threshold

3/5

Overall threshold 70%

IIF grant

• 12-24 months

• ER yearly living allowance: 58,500 euros (4-10

years experience) and 87,500 euros (>10 years)

• Mobility (Family) allowance: 700-1000

euros/month

• Possible funding of the return phase 15,000 euros

Host Actions

• ITNs and IAPPs are Host Actions

• This means:– Host institutions/network applies for a

number of fellows/researchers– Host’s proposal is evaluated– For IAPP and ITNs: selected host/network

advertises fellowship position and selects fellows/researchers

– Contract duration with host, usually 3-4 years

FP7

– M

arie

Cur

ie –

Hos

t Act

ions

What is an Industry–Academia Pathways and Partnership?

FP7

– M

arie

Cur

ie -

IAP

P

• It is a two-way partnership with at least one commercial enterprise and non-commercial organisation in two different Member States or Associated Countries

• An IAPP aims to increase industry-academia co-operation by: – Supporting the creation, development,

reinforcement and execution of strategic partnerships

– Creating diverse career possibilities and experience for researchers

– Knowledge sharing/cultural exchange, especially SMEs

– Aiming for longer term co-operation between both sectors

What can you do with an IAPP?FP

7 –

Mar

ie C

urie

- IA

PP

• Recruit experienced researchers for between 12

and 24 months – advertised on EURAXESS Jobs

Portal ec.europa.eu/euraxess 

• Staff exchange – early stage or experienced researchers (and possibly technical staff and research managers!) for between 2 months and 2 years

• Organise common workshops/conferences

Salary (mobility allowance) for MC Fellows

Experience Stipend(€/yr)

Employment contract (€/yr)

Early-Stage researchers

19,000 38,000

Experienced researchers (4 – 10 yrs)

29,250 58,500

ER (> 10 yrs experience)

43,750 87,500

Salaries are inclusive of all compulsory deductionsCorrection factor applied for cost of living (UK Coefficient 134.4%, Kazakhstan 85.1%)

• Travel costs – depending on distance

€ 250 - €2500• Mobility allowance

Without family: €700 per monthWith family: €1000 per month Correction factor applies for cost of living

• Training related expenses€ 1800 per month per person

FP7

– M

arie

Cur

ie -

Rat

esAllowance rates - IAPP

• European Research Council (ERC) Starting Grant

1,500,000 euros for 5 years

• boost the independent careers of excellent researchers by providing

adequate support at the critical stage where they are starting or

consolidating their own independent research team or programme.

• ERC Advanced Grant

2,500,000 euros for 5 years

• ERC Synergy Grant

15,000,000 euros for 6 years

FP7

– M

arie

Cur

ie -

Rat

esFP7 - IDEAS

• Action 1 - Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses (EMMCs)

Currently there are 131 Erasmus Mundus Masters Courses

offering scholarships starting in the academic year 2012-

2013. This includes the 30 EMMCs selected – or re-selected

- in July 2011.

• Students or scholars should contact the consortium offering

the Masters Course for more information on courses and

application procedures and dates. Most consortia will

require applications to be submitted between November

2011 and January 2012.FP7

– M

arie

Cur

ie -

Rat

esNon-FP7 funding - Erasmus-Mundus

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/

• Action 1 - Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorates (EMJDs)

http://eacea.ec.europa.eu/erasmus_mundus/results_compendia/selected_projects_action_1_joint_doctorates_en.php

• 34 Erasmus Mundus Joint Doctorates will be offering

fellowships starting in the academic year 2012-2013.

• Doctoral candidates should contact the consortium offering

the Joint Doctorate for more information on courses and

application procedures. Most consortia will require

applications to be submitted between November 2011 and

January 2012.

Non-FP7 funding - Erasmus-Mundus

• Good luck!

• Questions?

NCP for Kazakhstan is Dr Kamila Magzieva, PhD

E-mail: kamila@nip.kz; kamila.magzieva@gmail.com

Website: www.nip.kz