Agreements

FAPESP-Monash University Collaboration Seed Program (FAMOUS) Call for Proposals Versão em português

Closing date:

March 31, 2022

FAPESP scheme:

Regular Research Grant, with the exceptions described in the announcement below

Maximum duration of the project:

24 months

Eligibility:

For FAPESP: São Paulo researchers in charge or as a principal investigator of an ongoing Regular Research Grant; Thematic Project Grant; Young Investigator Grant; Research, Innovation and Dissemination Center (CEPID); or Engineering Research Center

For Monash: members from the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS)

Submission:

By the researcher based in São Paulo to FAPESP (SAGe)


1. General Information

1.1 FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation) and Monash University are pleased to invite applications for the FAPESP - Monash University Collaboration Seed Program (FAMOUS) Call for Proposals 2021.

1.2 This opportunity aims to support new collaborations between research groups in the State of São Paulo, Brazil, and in Monash University, Australia, that can be encouraged with minimum travel, mostly using online means for collaboration.

1.3 This call will support collaborative research proposals in the Health Sciences.

1.4 Successful Monash applicants will be funded by Monash University, while their São Paulo based counterparts will be funded by FAPESP.

1.5 FAPESP and Monash University will fund up to a total of 10 proposals.

2. Eligibility criteria

2.1 For Monash University:

  • Lead CI applicants must be Monash University academic staff members, Teaching and Research (T&R) or Research Focused (RF) or Research Only (RO) from the Faculty of Science and Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences (MNHS). They must hold either full-time or fractional appointments at greater than or equal to 0.5 paid fraction (Monash University) with an expectation of employment over the duration of the grant and be able to dedicate sufficient time to the project to ensure its completion.

  • An eligible Monash academic must hold a paid appointment at Levels B-E.

2.2 For FAPESP:

The partnering PI in São Paulo (Brazil) must be currently PI or Co-PI of a FAPESP research grant in one of the following modalities:

a) Regular Research Grants;

b) Thematic Project Grants;

c) Young Investigator Grants;

d) Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (CEPIDs/RIDCs);

e) Engineering Research Centers (CPEs)

The FAPESP grant must be active for at least 6 months from the start of the new collaborative project with Monash University.

3. Objectives and costs

3.1 These grants provide resources to FAPESP funded research groups to explore collaborative research with scientists from Monash University. The aim is to foster or strengthen the scientific relationship between these research groups, generating preliminary results that can support the development of longer-term projects.

3.2 All collaborations should involve a balanced partnership in terms of research commitment and efforts. We expect the collaborative activities funded under this award to last from 12 to 24 months.

3.3 Funds in this scheme are provided for a modest level of direct research costs, including consumables and access to specialist equipment to support research to gather preliminary data to support new applications/research proposals. Although travel costs may be included in the grant, they are not the primary cost to be supported, as virtual gatherings can and should be considered by applicants.

3.4 For this opportunity FAPESP will fund up to R$ 150,000, and Monash University up to A$ 25,000 per project proposal.

3.5 FAPESP researcher will not be eligible for Overheads (“Reserva Técnica” and “Benefícios Complementares”).

4. How to draft the research proposal

4.1 The proposal must contain a research project (Case for Support) jointly written and conceived by the researchers from São Paulo and from Monash University. Please follow the template provided here.

4.2 The research project must have a clear and objective description of the planned collaboration (distribution of tasks, and implementation methods), as well as what is expected to gain from the collaboration.

4.3 The research project must be written in English and not exceed 5 pages, including the following information: Title, abstract, keywords, objectives, methodology; research plan, timetable.

4.4 Additionally, a description should be included of how the Principal Investigators in São Paulo and in Monash University intend to prepare a joint research project, resulting from the exchange activities developed from the proposal submitted to this Call, to be submitted to research funding agencies accessible in their regions in order to create a medium-long-term collaboration (up to one page).

4.5 FAPESP will cover the costs of the research team based in São Paulo – SAGe budget online form should be used for São Paulo costs only.

4.6 Monash University will cover the costs for the research team based in Monash – budget spreadsheet should be added in SAGe as an annex. Please use this template form.

5. How to submit the proposal

5.1 The applicants must submit the joint application to FAPESP via the SAGe submissions system (www.fapesp.br/sage). FAPESP will share all documents submitted to SAGe with Monash University staff/reviewers.

5.2 Proposal submissions to FAPESP will be submitted with the São Paulo PI as the Principal Investigator (Pesquisador Responsável). However, the Monash PI must also create a log in SAGe and use it to confirm her/his participation in the proposal, as per instructions below.

5.2.1 In SAGe, the researcher from São Paulo must login and select Nova Proposta Inicial > Chamadas Vigentes > Monash University (...).

5.2.2 To create a SAGe login, the Monash PI must access SAGe in English and choose the option “Not Registered?”. The researcher must then fill out all fields marked as mandatory, or his/her registration will not be valid. The Monash PI must have been nominated as a participant in the research proposal by the São Paulo PI, then confirm participation in the project in SAGe. After logging into your SAGe account, to confirm your participation in the project you should access the option “Proposals in which I participate” of the main menu.

5.3 Applicants are encouraged to start their SAGe application early to identify and start preparing the list of additional documents required by FAPESP as listed in SAGe.

6. Assessment Criteria

6.1 Applications to this call will be fast-assessed by FAPESP and by Monash University. This light-touch internal assessment allows applications to be processed swiftly and is made possible because all applications must be based on existing FAPESP grants that have already undergone robust peer review. Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:

a) Originality of the research project;

b) Intellectual merit and soundness of planning and methodology;

c) The future joint research likely to accrue from the collaboration and particularly whether this work has the potential to lead to applications to other funding schemes;

d) The uniqueness of the opportunity and expertise of the partners;

e) The opportunities for early career scientist exchanges.

A final decision will be made jointly between FAPESP and Monash University.

7. Call timeline

Call announced: November 5, 2021
Deadline for submission of proposals: March 31, 2022
Announcement of results: July 15, 2022
Projects due to start: August 2022

8. Contact details

For further information applicants should contact:

Monash University:
Mirana Ramialison, Associate Professor (Research), Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute: mirana.ramialison@monash.edu

FAPESP:
Specific questions to FAPESP about this Call must be sent tochamada-monash@fapesp.br