FBK MOBILITY4RESEARCH PROGRAMME - 2 nd Phase CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2017/2018 OVERVIEW The Bruno Kessler Foundation fosters the enhancement of human capital engaged in research by introducing instruments for career development and encouraging opportunities, such as international mobility. FBK invites researchers and innovators to apply for the Mobility4Research Programme 2nd Phase for the year 2018. Art. 1 - GENERAL AIMS The main goal of Mobility4Research Programme 2nd Phase is to support the career development of FBK staff at different stages of their professional growth and to foster their individual competence diversification in terms of skill acquisition at multi or interdisciplinary level and inter sectoral experiences. The programme provides funding for outgoing research grants to carry out projects at a foreign scientific institution or enterprise developing R&D and innovation activities. FBK has designed this opportunity with the following goals: to create opportunities for the career development of researchers and innovators; to improve the qualification of the human capital engaged in R&D and innovation activities; to contribute to the growth of knowledge in a specific field of interest to the Research Unit; to promote research and innovation results and knowledge potentials, strengthening the links between scientific institutes and the industry sector. Art.2 - BENEFICIARIES Proposals can be presented by FBK researchers and innovators. Applicants must meet the following eligibility conditions at the moment of the submission of the proposal: 1. To be a member of the FBK research or innovation staff 1 2. To have gone through a selection process at FBK at least one year prior to the call closing date; 3. To have a working contract with FBK during the whole period of mobility as well as for at least five months after coming back from the mobility; 4. Not to be a recipient of a Marie Curie Intra-European fellowship, namely Marie Skłodowska-Curie action 2 ; 1 (i.e., employees and collaborators with an active working contract; PhD grant-holders are excluded) 2 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Horizon 2020 funding consists of four types of actions: Innovative Training Network (ITN), Individual Fellowship (IF), Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) e Co-funding of programmes (COFUND). Page 1 of 6
Art.3 - GRANTS The total funding for FBK Mobility4Reasearch Programme 2nd Phase amounts to 110.000. FBK will continue to pay to the selected candidates their contractual wages during their stay abroad. Candidates will also receive a contribution to their mobility expenses that include those related to family obligations. When submitting the proposal, candidates must include a budget, which will be evaluated by the FBK Mobility Committee. Please be informed that the FBK Mobility Committee will typically approve proposals for mobility expenses in the amount of 1,300.00/month. Additional expenses will be examined by the FBK Mobility Committee. Art.4 SUBMISSION OF THE PROPOSAL Applications are accepted only if submitted through the online platform (http://mobility.fbk.eu). The proposal must be written in English 3. Candidates are required to submit the following documents: Proposal (see Art.5) 4 ; Letter of Intent signed by the host institution(s) 5 Template; Letter of Support written by the Head of the Unit the applicant works for. Please note that the source of curricular information is going to be the existing FBK database 6. The deadline for application submission is the 30th of November 2017. A help-desk will be activated at the following address: mobility@fbk.eu. Applications of ineligible candidates, incomplete applications and applications submitted after the indicated deadline will not be accepted. 3 Each candidate can submit only one proposal. 4 If needed a template is available at http://mobility.fbk.eu. 5 Many different types of host institutions can take part in the Mobility4Reasearch Programme 2nd Phase, such as: Governmental or public organizations (e.g. universities, research centers, consortium of research institutions, etc.); International organizations; Commercial enterprises, including small and medium size enterprises; International European interest organizations (e.g. CERN, EMBL, etc.). The proposal may include more than one host institution. 6 For problems or any further information regarding IRIS please contact researchassessment@fbk.eu. Page 2 of 6
Art. 5 PROPOSAL Applicants are invited to keep in mind, when drafting their proposals,that the following aspects will be taken into account during the evaluation process: 1. EXCELLENCE: Quality and innovative characteristics. 2. COHERENCE, in particular: Consistency with the applicants activities and with the FBK Unit s/he works for 7 ; Clarity and feasibility with respect of the timescale and budget. 3. EXPECTED IMPACT, mainly: Dissemination and network potentiality; Knowledge transfer and economic exploitation (if applicable) of the results. 4. EXPECTED PROFESSIONAL GROWTH: Possibility of professional development 8. Criteria are weighted as follow: Art. 6 EVALUATION AND SELECTION PROCESS Evaluation Criteria Points A. Excellence 30 points B. Coherence 30 points C. Expected Impact 20 points D. Expected professional growth 20 points 7 Proposals must be in keeping with the technological areas of the FBK Research Strategic Lines. 8 Especially regarding the role mapping system if applicable: https://hr.fbk.eu/en/role-mapping-system-and-competency-development. Page 3 of 6
Evaluation procedure: An Internal Selection Committee will assess the applications according to the above-mentioned criteria. Only proposals passing a threshold of 75/100 will be considered for funding. 1. Individual evaluation: on the closing date of the call, all applications submitted will be checked for eligibility by the HR Department. 2. Consultation phase: once the eligibility check has been completed, the HR Department will contact the Director of the Center (or his/her delegate) for which the applicant works in order to have his/her opinion on the proposed activities (coherence of the plan with FBK strategic goals and possible impact on the Centre). 3. Interview: the applicants will be invited by the HR Department and by the Head of the Research Assessment Department for an interview to discuss the reasons of their application. 4. Final decision. Art. 7 PUBLICATION OF THE EVALUATION RESULTS The outcome of the evaluation will be published on the FBK website by the 31st of January 2018. Applicants will be notified by email about the outcome of their applications. Mobility funds will be approved based on selection ranking and available budget. Art. 8 CONDITIONS FOR THE ALLOCATION OF FUNDS The mobility experiences must have a duration of minimum 3 weeks to a maximum of 9 months and must be carried out between the 1 st of March and the 31 st of December 2018. In order to promote work-life balance as well as the work activities at FBK, Mobility stays lasting more than 2 months can be divided into two periods, Selected applicants will be asked to communicate their acceptance by sending an email to: mobility@fbk.eu and to confirm the starting date of the visit by the 15 st of February 2018. FBK will sign the Letter of Intent (signed by the host institution Art. 4) covering the terms and conditions of the mobility experience. Art.9 OWNERSHIP OF RESULTS Any results of the mobility experience, understood as intellectual property rights and potential for financial exploitation, shall belong to FBK, unless otherwise agreed. If valuable intellectual property is created as a result of joint research, ownership of such intellectual property shall be determined in accordance with the host institution s policies. FBK will evaluate the intellectual property in agreement with the host institution to determine whether formal patent, copyright, or other protection is desirable. Page 4 of 6
Art. 10 RESPONSIBILITY AND DUTIES OF THE RESEARCHER The selected candidates will be responsible for the scientific and financial realization of the proposal. Any deviation/change from the project implementation must be explained. Moreover, selected participants must ensure compliance with the following conditions: Start the activities by the date indicated in the agreement signed with FBK; Work regularly at the implementation of the activities at the hosting institution; Deliver reports as scheduled in the proposal and according to the rules given in the Reporting Methods Section; Hold dissemination activities once back to FBK and share his/her experience with the internal community. Art. 11 REPORTING METHODS For periods exceeding 3 months, a mid-term progress report is required, as well as a final report at the end of the experience. For visits shorter than 3 months, only a final report is required. Mid-term progress reports should describe preliminary results, possible evolutions and include a first evaluation of the experience. The final report must be presented within 30 days from the end of the visit. This should contain the following elements: Overall description of the results and skills learned during the mobility experience; Impact on career development; List of publications and/or other scientific dissemination activities; General evaluation of the mobility experience. The reports will be collected by the HR Department and sent to the Director of the Center and to the Head of the relevant Unit. At the end of the mobility period, each participant may be asked to fill out an informational survey and/or perform an interview about their mobility period. Art.12 MONITORING OF THE MOBILITY EXPERIENCE The monitoring of the mobility experience is the responsibility of the Head of the relevant Unit and/or Director of the Center as well as of the HR Department. It is accomplished through the evaluation of the reports and if necessary, by contacting the host institutions. FBK may take action to correct any unjustified deviation from the proposal, potentially resulting in discontinuation of the funding. Art.13 PRIVACY FBK undertakes to handle the personal data in compliance with the provisions of the legislative decree of the 30 th of June 2003, n. 196 (Code for the protection of personal data). In particular applicants are informed that: the data will be used only for procedures related to the implementation of the present call for proposals, with regard to the selection process, the awarding of fellowships, the publication of results and the management of fellowships; the provision of data is compulsory in order to carry out the procedures linked to the implementation of the present call for proposals; FBK is the data controller; Page 5 of 6
at any time, the people concerned may exercise their rights in relation to the data controller handling the data, according to art.7 of D.Lgs. 196/2003. Art. 14 GOOD PRACTICES The Mobility4Reasearch Programme 2nd Phase provides for an evaluation and selection process based on equal opportunity and gender balance, and transparency principles, in keeping with the European Charter for Researchers and the Code of Conduct for their Recruitment. Priority will be given to candidates who are applying to FBK Mobility Programme for the first time. Finally, in order to ensure that the Mobility Programme will keep serving its purpose, the Foundation will strive to positively respond to issues and conditions which the candidates could raise, such as specific needs or new events that may occur with reference to the Mobility period. For any issue regarding the program please send an email to mobility@fbk.eu. Page 6 of 6