Marie Skłodowska Curie Actions (MSCA): Innovative Training Networks (ITN) Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) Anett Kiss and Elena Dennison Research and Enterprise Services 21 st February 2014
What is Horizon 2020 EU funding programme for Research & Innovation (Successor of Framework Programme 7 FP7) Will run from 2014-2020 (calls opened 11 th Dec 13) Total budget of 78.6 billion: Excellent Science ~ 30% Industrial Leadership ~ 22% Societal Challenges ~ 38% Other (EIT, JRC) ~ 10%
Structure of Horizon 2020
Excellent Science rationale Overall objective: to strengthen the excellence of European research : New research and ideas are drivers of competition Attract and retain high potential individuals Fund the most talented and creative researchers Develop and maintain world-class research infrastructures
MSCA rationale.. Ensure excellent and innovative research training as well as attractive career and knowledge-exchange opportunities through.. Ensure current and future societal challenges... Ensure excellent and innovative crossborder and cross-sector mobility of researchers to best prepare them to face current and future societal challenges.
MSCA main features Operates in a bottom-up basis: no prescribed topics Open to all research and innovation domains Mobility is a key requirement Aim to develop new knowledge / enhance skills of people behind research and innovation Strong participation across sectors Gender balance: equal opportunities but also gender dimension in the research content Total budget: 6.2bn (compared with 4.7bn in FP7)
Key definitions Early Stage Researcher (ESR) Experienced Researcher (ER) Academic sector Non-academic sector At the time of recruitment (ITN) or secondment (RISE) by the host organisation, must be in the first 4 years (full-time research experience) of their research careers and have not been awarded a doctoral degree At the time of the call deadline (IF) or secondment (RISE) by the host organisation, must be in possession of a doctoral degree or have at least 4 years of full-time equivalent research experience Includes universities and higher education institutions (public and private) awarding degrees, non-profit research institutions (public and private), and international European interest organisations Includes any socio-economic actor not included in the academic sector
Transnational mobility criteria Standard mobility rule RISE specific At the time of the relevant deadline for submission of proposals, or recruitment / secondment by the host organisation, depending on the action, researchers shall not have resided or carried out their main activity (work, studies, etc) in the country of their host organisation for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to the reference date. Secondments in RISE are not subject to the mobility rules. Career Reintegration and Career Restart rule in Individual Fellowships Researchers shall not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of their host organisation for more than 3 years in the 5 years immediately prior to the relevant deadline for submission of proposals. No restrictions on nationality!
Innovative Training Networks (ITN) Overview
What are ITNs Aim to train a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative researchers, able to face current and future challenges and to convert knowledge and ideas into products and services for economic and social benefit Competitively selected joint research training/doctoral programmes implemented by partnerships of universities, research institutions, businesses, SMEs and other socio-economic actors from different countries across Europe (and beyond) Focus on scientific/ technological knowledge through research on individual / personalised projects Exposure to non-academic sector Transferable skills training to meet employer needs across sectors e.g. communication, research management, IP, ethics, public engagement and societal outreach, entrepreneurship
The triple-i research training experience within the knowledge triangle
ITNs : Three Options
ITNs: participants
ITN activities
European Training Networks (ETN) Average size: 6-10 beneficiaries From academic and non-academic sectors Each beneficiary recruits & hosts at least one ESR ESR contract length: 3-36 months ESR can spend up to 30% on secondment(s) Maximum 40% total budget to any one country Joint supervision encouraged
ETN minimum set-up
European Industrial Doctorates (EID) Obligatory non-academic beneficiary primarily enterprises ESR must be enrolled on a doctoral programme at academic beneficiary Research done in beneficiaries must be in the area of the doctoral programme and should aim to support long-term, industry oriented research (fundamental of applied) ESRs must spend at least 50% of their time in the non-academic sector Mandatory joint selection, training and supervision of ESRs by both sectors ESR contract length: 36 months expected as standard but the contract can be split between beneficiaries (check mobility rules and salary implications) ESR can spend up to 30% on secondment(s) to other beneficiaries or partner organisations on top of the 50% minimum at non-academic sector
EID minimum set-up (or 540 for networks with 3+ beneficiaries)
ITN funding Funding based fully on unit costs, multiplied by requested ESR person months Automated calculation of budget when ESR months filled into application Country-specific correction coefficient applies to living allowance (UK = 120.3%) ESR allowances cover employer + employee contributions of NI (+ pension) and are taxed ESR allowances are a minimum to be paid, top-ups from other sources allowed Institutional costs can be moved between beneficiaries and redistributed to partners (needs to be agreed in the Consortium Agreement) No detailed financial reporting but need to evidence ESR recruitment and that ESRs have received their full allowances PhD fees: can be charged either to the RTD or the MGT budget
Key information Work programme, in particular: Introduction Call description (Objective, Scope, Expected Impact) Links to: European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers EU Principles for Innovative Doctoral Training Guide for applicants Previously funded ITNs: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/projects_en.html
ITN call information Publication date: 11 December 2013 Call deadline: 9 April 2014 (17:00 Brussels time!) Indicative budget: 405.18M ETN: 349.68M EID: 30M EJD: 25.5M Indicative timetable: Evaluation of proposals: June 2014 Results: September 2014 Signing of Grant Agreements: December 2014
Who do I need in my consortium Depends on topic and research area Participants must match activities in proposal and add complementary competences and expertise Appropriate balance of sectors: academic and non-academic (incl. industry, health service, museums, civil society, user groups etc.) Consideration of the purpose of the scheme being: research training EU dimension / added value
What is EU added-value? How does the EU benefit from funding your project and why is EU level action required? Excellence Expertise from other EU countries (and from international partners) Access to data from other countries Different cultural and social perspective Research/training too costly for one country Impact Improve competitiveness, health and environment of EU Feed into EU-wide policy objectives and their development Decrease fragmentation and duplication and lift standards Implementation One partner must not dominate research/training activities and budget Appropriate geographic spread for that project
ITN evaluation and scoring Proposals ranked within panels by overall score Proposals funded in ranking order: need to aim at a score of 90+ Evaluation summary reports provided No restrictions on re-application
ITN evaluation criteria: Excellence Quality, innovative aspects and credibility of the research programme, including inter/multidisciplinary and intersectoral aspects Quality and innovative aspects of the training programme including transferable skills, inter/multidisciplinary and intersectoral aspects Quality of the supervision, including mandatory joint supervision for EID Quality of the proposed interaction between the participating organisations
ITN evaluation criteria: Impact Enhancing research- and innovation-related human resources, skills and working conditions to realise the potential of individuals and provide new career perspectives Contribution to structuring doctoral/early-stage research training at the European level and to strengthening European innovation capacity, incl. the potential for Meaningful contribution of the non-academic sector to the doctoral/research training, as appropriate to the implementation mode and research field Developing sustainable joint doctoral degree structures (for EJD only) Effectiveness of proposed measures for communication and dissemination of results
ITN evaluation criteria: Implementation Overall coherence and effectiveness of the work plan, including appropriateness of the allocation of tasks and resources (incl. awarding of the doctoral degrees for EID) Appropriateness of the management structures and procedures, including quality management and risk management (with a mandatory joint governing structure for EID projects) Appropriateness of the infrastructure of the participating organisations Competences, experience and complementarity of participating organisations and their commitment to the programme
ITNs final tips Non-academic participation is key: Specifically addressed under the evaluation criteria: and has been strengthened with respect to training. Aspects that are assessed under more than one evaluation criteria will count under each of these criteria Evaluation criteria: Address thoroughly: make sure you cover each one; do not bury in the text: make the evaluator s job easy! Clarity of presentation: Present case clearly: use tables, diagrams, bullet points and summaries where appropriate
ITN major changes from FP7 Initial Training <-> Innovative Training No Experienced Researchers, only Early Stage Strong non-academic sector Increased person-months Strong gender aspect Joint Doctorates: replacing previous ErasmusMundus
Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) Overview
What is RISE Aim to promote international and inter-sector collaboration through research and innovation staff exchanges, and sharing of knowledge and ideas from research to market (and vice-versa) for the advancement of science and development of innovation Should involve institutions from the academic and non-academic sectors (particularly SMEs) based in MS/AC and/or third countries Development of partnerships in the form of joint research and innovation activities between the participants Knowledge sharing via international and/or inter-sector mobility through two way secondments of staff with built-in return mechanism no recruitment of new staff! Exchanges between MS/AC only: secondments must be intersectoral Exchanges between MS/AC and third countries: secondments can be same sector and/or intersectoral
RISE features Participants must be from at least 3 different countries, at least 2 of which are MS/AC If all participants in same sector one participant country must be a third country Secondment period 1-12 months (does not need to be continuous) Projects up to 4 years and max 540 exchange visit months Secondments in RISE are not subject to MSCA mobility rule Typical activities in RISE: Networking; sharing of knowledge; joint research and innovation; new skills acquisition; workshops/conferences; career development of Staff
Eligible staff for RISE secondments Early-Stage Researchers (ESR), Experienced Researchers (ER) + managerial, technical, administrative staff supporting the research and innovation activities of the project Have been actively engaged in or linked to research and/or innovation activities at the sending institution for at least 6 months (full-time equivalent) prior to the first period of secondment After the secondment period(s), the exchanged staff members should be reintegrated again into the sending organisation No mobility rule applies
RISE minimum setup At least 3 independent participants in 3 different countries At least 2 participants from 2 different MS/AC If all in MS/AC: at least 1 academic and 1 non-academic
RISE eligible secondments Intra-European Exchanges
RISE eligible secondments Europe Third Country (TC) Exchanges
Description of secondments
RISE funding Funding based fully on unit costs, multiplied by requested person months spent on secondments Automated calculation of budget when secondment months filled into application Institutional costs can be moved between beneficiaries and redistributed to partners (needs to be agreed in the Consortium Agreement) No detailed financial reporting but need to report on completed secondment months
RISE 2014 call information Publication date 11th December 2013 Deadline: 24th April 2014 (17:00 Brussels time) Indicative budget: EUR 70M Indicative timetable: Evaluation of proposals: June 2014 Results: September 2014 Signing of Grant Agreements: November 2014
RISE evaluation and scoring Proposals ranked within panels by overall score Proposals funded in ranking order: must aim at 90+ Evaluation summary reports provided No restrictions on re-application
RISE evaluation criteria: Excellence
RISE evaluation criteria: Impact
RISE evaluation criteria: Implementation
In addition to the evaluation criteria
RISE major changes from FP7 Replacing two previous actions: IAPP (Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways) IRSES (International Research and Staff Exchange Scheme) No employment, only secondments No need to name staff in the proposal other than key investigators Money available for Institutional costs Brazil, Russia, India, China, Mexico: not eligible for funding
Final Tips
Final tips - preparation 1. Clarify your own goals for participation 2. Read all call documentation and lift the language into the proposal 3. Fully appreciate the evaluation criteria 4. Discuss with and MEET with potential partners 5. Use appropriate partnerships (including balance of budget and activities) 6. Set aside enough time 7. Research previous and current projects 8. Work with your Research Development Officer
Final tips - application Register in the Participant Portal Give access to the proposal to relevant people Put yourself in the shoes of the evaluator Write clearly and concisely (plain English!) Stick to formatting rules (page limits, font, etc) Include well worked out plans Outline any Plan B (risk analysis) Use tables and diagrams where appropriate Make sure final version is submitted!
Future calls Next ITN call expected: - Publication: September 2014 - Deadline: January 2015 Next RISE call expected: - Publication: January 2015 - Deadline: April 2015
How to apply Create your account
More information (1)
More information (2) European Commission Horizon 2020 website: http://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/ UK research office (UKRO) website: www.ukro.ac.uk: for factsheets, news and events Research Professional: www.researchprofessional.com for EU news, insights (of particular interest is the Know-How section for practical advice) and summaries of all work programmes Technology Strategy Board (TSB) Horizon 2020 webpages: www.h2020uk.org
Thank you for your attention