Agreements

FAPESP-UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2013

Public Call for Proposals for the exchange of researchers and post-doctoral fellows under the Scientific Cooperation Agreement between the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), Brazil, and University of Edinburgh, UK.

1. Introduction

FAPESP and University of Edinburgh make public this Call for Proposals and invite interested researchers affiliated with Higher Education and Research Institutions in the State of São Paulo, Brazil and with University of Edinburgh, respectively, to submit research proposals for the exchange of researchers and post-doctoral fellows, between the State of São Paulo and Edinburgh, UK, under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth.

2. Objective

This call is open to University of Edinburgh researchers who propose a collaborative project with FAPESP funded researchers. This Call for Proposals is being announced simultaneously by FAPESP and University of Edinburgh.

3. Eligibility

3.1 Eligibility to submit proposals within the scope of this Call:

3.1.1 By FAPESP:

a) Principal Investigators of ongoing research projects funded by FAPESP within the following funding lines: Regular Research Awards, Thematic Projects, Young Investigators, Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (CEPIDs/RIDCs), Public Education Research Program, Research in Public Policies, and Research Partnership for Technological Innovation (PITE). Co-Principal Investigators of ongoing Thematic Projects, CEPIDs/RIDCs and PITEs are also eligible to apply.

b) FAPESP will only accept one application per related ongoing research project. Likewise, each researcher can present only one proposal to this Call.

c) The ongoing research project linked to this proposal must have a minimum of six months left at the scheduled beginning of the mobility project. FAPESP may accept proposals submitted to this call linked to research proposals that are still undergoing merit review. However, if the research proposal is still under analysis or has not been approved by the time the proposals in this Call are selected, the related mobility proposal will be cancelled.

3.1.2 By University of Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh applicants working in the remit of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council are asked to note that EPSRC is currently not participating in the RCUK-FAPESP Memorandum of Understanding. UK applicants could still apply to the EPSRC for funding for research that involves collaboration with partners in São Paulo, but this would need to be done separately from any application that the research partners in São Paulo make to FAPESP − a ‘double jeopardy’ process would apply.

3.2 Eligibility for the exchange activities within the scope of this Call:

3.2.1 By FAPESP: Principal and Co-Principal Investigators of the ongoing research projects funded by FAPESP as well Associated Researchers from Higher Education and Research Institutions in the State of São Paulo directly involved in the ongoing research project. The eligible post-doctoral fellows must have an ongoing FAPESP fellowship during the planned exchange mission.

3.2.2 By University of Edinburgh: Funding is available to support mobility undertaken by the principal investigators plus staff and postgraduate students associated with the principal investigators’ academic research. 

3.2.3 The proposals must aim to respect the principle of reciprocity with regard to academic qualifications of those who will take part in the exchange activities.

4. Fields of knowledge

This Call for Proposals invites research proposals in all fields.

5. Timeline

Call announced on FAPESP and University of Edinburgh websites

September 25, 2013

Closing date for submission of proposals

February 10, 2014

Successful proposals notified after

May 16, 2014

6. Duration

The maximum duration of each project is 24 months, non-extendable.

7. Funding principles

7.1 FAPESP and University of Edinburgh will each provide funding the equivalent of up to £5,000.00 per proposal per year, for the duration of the grant to cover mobility expenses, under the provisions of eighth clause of the Scientific Cooperation Agreement established by the Parties (www.fapesp.br/en/7050).

7.1.1 FAPESP will provide the selected proposals with funds for travel (air tickets), health insurance and living allowances for researchers and fellows from the State of São Paulo that will visit Edinburgh, UK, according to item 3.2.1.

7.1.2 University of Edinburgh will provide the selected projects funds for travel (air tickets), health insurance, and living allowances for researchers from Edinburgh, UK visiting the State of São Paulo, according to item 3.2.2.

7.1.3 Under this call, no more than 5 awards will be made jointly by the University of Edinburgh and FAPESP.

8. Proposal Characteristics

The proposal, in English, consists of an identical research project to be submitted to both Parties and the required documentation for each Party (FAPESP and the University of Edinburgh), under the terms and conditions hereinafter set forth. The exchange activities to be carried out by the researchers and fellows from São Paulo must be thematically related to the ongoing research project funded by FAPESP.

8.1 A research project with a maximum of five (5) pages of scientific content, with one copy sent to University of Edinburgh and another copy sent to FAPESP, including the following items:

8.1.1 A description of the foreseen exchange activities, including:

a) A substantive description of the activities, emphasizing their relevance;

b) A timeline for each specific exchange mission, considering the limit of missions and resources established in this Call;

c) Performance indicators for the planned activities;

d) A description of each candidate’s contribution to the mission, explaining their expertise to carry out the foreseen activities;

e) Foreseen actions adding to the impact of the exchange for University of Edinburgh and for the Host Institution in the State of São Paulo, e.g. by means of seminars, short courses and visits to other institutions that carry out research activities in cognate areas;

8.1.2 A one-page summary of the FAPESP funded research project to which the mobility proposal relates, including:

a) Current and expected results;

b) A description of the project activities that will benefit from the exchange activities;

c) A description of the expected academic gains for the research project resulting from the proposed exchange activities;

d) A description of the infrastructure and financial resources available for the research project, excluding the mobility expenses requested in the proposal.

8.2 In addition to the research project above referred, the proposal must include the following items:

8.2.1. To FAPESP:

a) Research Proposal Form;

b) Researchers Registration Form to be filled in by the PI and by all candidates for the exchange activities;

c) CV Summaries of the Principal Investigators on both sides and of all candidates for the exchange activities;

d) Budget forms;

f) Worksheet listing the candidates for the exchange missions;

g) A Letter of Agreement between Edinburgh and the Higher Education and Research Institution in the State of São Paulo to which the PI from São Paulo is affiliated, including details of the agreed Intellectual Property rights, confidentiality and publication arrangements, in observance of the policies of each funding Party. The Letter of Agreement is not mandatory for the submission of proposals, but the presentation of a copy of the signed Agreement is mandatory for the grant contract, in case of approval.

h) For proposals related to ongoing FAPESP PITE projects, the PI must present a Statement of Consent by the partnering company agreeing with the application to this CFP.

8.2.2. To University of Edinburgh:

a) Research Proposal Form 

b) CV Summaries of the Principal Investigators on both sides and of all candidates for the exchange activities (guidelines at www.fapesp.br/en/6351);

c) Budget forms;

d) Worksheet listing the candidates for the exchange missions; 

e) A Letter of Agreement between Edinburgh and the Higher Education and Research Institution in the State of São Paulo to which the PI from São Paulo is affiliated, including details of the agreed Intellectual Property rights, confidentiality and publication arrangements, in observance of the policies of each funding Party. The Letter of Agreement is not mandatory for the submission of proposals, but the presentation of a copy of the signed Agreement is mandatory for the grant contract, in case of approval.

9.Submission of proposals

9.1 The proposal as specified in the previous section must be submitted by the deadline stated in section five above, both to FAPESP by the Principal Investigator from the State of São Paulo and to the University of Edinburgh by the Principal Investigator from Edinburgh.

9.2 No proposal will be accepted after the closing date for submission, nor will any addendum or explanation be accepted, unless those explicitly and formally requested by FAPESP or University of Edinburgh.

9.3 Submissions to FAPESP must be in paper, via mail, to the following address: Rua Pio XI, 1500, Alto da Lapa, CEP 05468-901 – São Paulo/SP, with “ Chamada FAPESP/ University of Edinburgh, 2013” written on the envelope. Only proposals with a stamped postmark date within the deadline of this Call will be processed.

9.4 The proposal must be submitted to the University of Edinburgh by emailing it to Hamish Macandrew, Head of Research Support and Development at Hamish.macandrew@ed.ac.uk

9.5 Proposals submitted by any other means will not be accepted. Late submissions will be returned.

10. Analysis and selection

10.1 Each Party will select the proposals according to its own procedures. Only the proposals selected by both Parties will be funded.

10.2 The proposals will be pre-qualified and, subsequently, analyzed by way of a competitive process which will evaluate the merit and relevance of the project, the relation of the proposed project to the ongoing project funded by FAPESP, the capacity of the proposed project to leverage further research funding, and the strategic research aims of the University of Edinburgh.

10.3 Proposals that do not comply with the terms of this Call will not qualify for analysis.

11. Result of the analysis

FAPESP (www.fapesp.br) and the University of Edinburgh (www.ed.ac.uk) will announce the results on web portals and by means of a communication to the interested PIs.

12. Contract for selected projects

Selected proposals will be the object of a grant contract (FAPESP) signed by the PI and a representative of the Higher Education and Research Institution to which he/she is affiliated.

13. Grant cancellation

FAPESP or the University of Edinburgh may cancel funding if, during the grant timeframe, a fact is of sufficient gravity to justify cancellation, without prejudice of any other appropriate actions.

14. Appeals and Information about this Call

14.1 The proponent who does not appeal against the terms of this Call for Proposals until the second weekday before the closing date set for proposal submission will forfeit the right to do so. The appeal filed by the proponent who, having accepted the Call without objection, points out fortuitous failures or imperfections after the analysis shall not be effective as an appeal.

14.2 All questions related to this Call for Proposals must be directed to:

FAPESP : Dr. Vera Viviane Schmidt, Area Director; at chamada_edinburgh@fapesp.br

University of Edinburgh : Hamish Macandrew, Head of Research Support and Development at Hamish.macandrew@ed.ac.uk

The Scientific Cooperation Agreement between FAPESP and the University of Edinburgh is available here.