Collaborative Calls for Proposals
FAPESP and THI (Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt): Seed Fund – Call for Proposals 2024 Versão em português
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Summary |
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Openinig and closing dates: |
October 18th to December 16th 2024 |
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Publishing of results: |
March 1st, 2025 |
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Fundable items: |
Mobility of researchers and students workshops and seed funds for limited direct costs |
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Maximum duration of the project: |
2 years |
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Eligibility: |
FAPESP: Researchers with ongoing research Grants at FAPESP |
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Submission: |
The joint proposal must be submitted by the researcher in Germany to THI and by the researcher in São Paulo to FAPESP |
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Contact: |
FAPESP: Alexandre Roccatto – chamada-thi@fapesp.br |
1. General Information
FAPESP (São Paulo Research Foundation) and THI (Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt) are pleased to receive applications for a Seed Fund Call for Proposals 2024.
The aim of the Call is to initiate research collaborations and deepen already established research connections between researchers from the state of Sao Paulo and from THI under two distinct funding tracks.
The topics focus on the three research specializations "Vehicle Safety and Innovative Mobility", "Artificial Intelligence" and "Renewable Energies", where THI is represented on the HRK (German Rectors' Conference) research map.
Activities pursued under this Call are expected to have benefits beyond the duration of the award, e.g. establishing long-term international collaborations, self-sustaining activities and/or developing high-impact knowledge and technologies.
This Call is intended to support mobility and exchange activities (such as travel and workshops) and the costs of exploratory studies (consumables, third-party services and low-cost equipment).
Research developed in cooperation with Industry is highly welcomed, benefiting from THI´s Innovation environment.
Projects may span from 6 months to 2 years depending on the Track modality.
2. Funding Tracks
2.1. Research Initiation
a) With up to 1-year duration, seeks to develop new collaborations in topics of mutual interest, engaging researchers, Post-Doc fellows and PhD students.
b) Expenses with workshops, researchers exchange and exploratory study costs are expected.
2.2. Research Deepening
a) From 1 to 2-year duration, directed primarily to teams that already collaborate and that are ready to deepen their research goals or to start new areas of studies.
b) Expenses with workshops, researchers´ exchange and exploratory study costs are expected.
3. Eligibility criteria
3.1. For FAPESP:
a) Only current Principal Investigators (PR – “Pesquisador Responsável”) or Co-Principal Investigators (PP – “Pesquisador Principal”) of one of the research Grant modalities listed below are eligible to apply. Applicants to this Call must have a valid formal employment with a São Paulo research institution accordingly to FAPESP´s regulations.
• Regular Research Grant;
• Thematic Project Grant;
• Young Investigator Grant phases 1 or 2;
• Public Education Research Program;
• Research in Public Policies Program;
• Research Partnership for Technological Innovation Program (RPTIP);
• Engineering/Applied Research Centers (E/ARC);
• Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers (RIDC);
• Initial Project π (Pi).
b) The FAPESP Grant must be active for at least 6 months from the Call submission deadline (as per item 9. Timeline).
c) 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.
d) Eligible participants of the exchange activities within the scope of this Call must be team members of the related ongoing research award, who are currently listed as:
• Principal or Co-Principal Investigators;
• Associated Researchers affiliated to Higher Education and Research Institutions in the state of São Paulo;
• Post-Doctoral, Doctoral or Direct Doctoral fellows that must have an ongoing FAPESP scholarship during the planned exchange mission.
PARTICIPANTS MUST BE FORMALLY LISTED AS MEMBERS OF THE ONGOING RESEARCH PROJECT.
3.2. For THI:
Lead applicants must be THI academic members e.g. research professors at THI; eligible participants of the exchange activities within the scope of this Call must be team members of the research professors (Post-Doc, PhDs, Master students).
4. Funding
4.1. 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 6 to 12 months for the “Initiation Track” and for 12 to 24 months for the “Deepening Track”.
4.2. For Track 1 - Research Initiation:
a) FAPESP and THI will each fund up to ten thousand euros (10.000€) per project (20.000€ total).
b) The projects may have a duration from 6 (six) to 12 (twelve) months.
c) Research visits may last up to 3 (three) months.
d) 3 (three) Track 1 projects are expected to be jointly funded.
4.3. For Track 2 - Research Deepening:
a) FAPESP and THI will each fund up to thirty five thousand euros (35.000€) per project (70.000€ total).
b) The projects may have a duration from 12 (twelve) to 24 (twenty four) months.
c) Research visits may last up to 6 (six) months.
d) 2 (two) Track 2 projects are expected to be jointly funded.
4.4. For mobility, both FAPESP and THI will cover travel, daily allowances and insurance costs for eligible researcher from their respective regions.
4.5. Funds are also provided for a modest level of direct research costs, including consumables, third-party services, low cost equipment and access to facilities to support activities and extra expenditures for visitors. Workshops are also expected to be organized through the same funding items.
4.6. FAPESP will provide the selected proposals with funds for travel (economy class air tickets - www.fapesp.br/5835, item 3.4.1), travel insurance (www.fapesp.br/2921), and living allowances (www.fapesp.br/16590) for researchers from the state of São Paulo that will visit THI.
a) Daily allowances are guided by Portaria PR nº 35/2020 (www.fapesp.br/14018). When the period of the stay abroad is less than 30 days, a maximum of 10 per diems can be used for researchers and a maximum of 7 per diems for scholarship holders and other team members. The monthly rate can only be applied if the stay abroad is for a period equal to or greater than 30 days, according to FAPESP´s current tables for researchers (www.fapesp.br/15942) and scholarship holders (www.fapesp.br/15939).
b) The Grant can only be used for the exchange of researchers, visits for research planning, international workshops, and initial activities of data collection, always aiming to continue research collaboration and its consolidation.
c) The FAPESP Grants will not be eligible to budgetary scholarships nor overheads (i.e. “Reservas Técnicas” and “Benefícios Complementares”).
d) Researchers and scholarship recipients must abide to the rules of their home institutions and FAPESP´s pertaining long term absent periods from their activities and ongoing Grants.
e) Considering the quota of resources destined to this Call, requests for budget alterations will not be analysed.
f) The grantee must to verify with the competent consulate the need to obtain specific visa, as well as to the related costs.
4.7. THI will provide the selected proposals with funds for travel for researchers of THI according to the current regulations for business trips.
5. Suggested Activities
Please consider the following scenario examples to help in structuring projects; applicants are free to choose a structure that best fits their needs.
5.1. For Track 1 - Research Initiation, considering a 12-month Grant:
Activity 1 (month 1): Kickoff research workshop in São Paulo (SP) or Germany (1 week, with PI + Post-doctorate or PhD researcher).
Activity 2 (months 1 to 2): Research stay of 1-2 months of THI or SP researchers (PhD) in SP or Germany (following the workshop).
Activity 3 (months 3 to 10): Research Stay of 1-2 months at THI innovation ecosystem (university and industry partners), research team member/PhD from SP + PI from SP for 1 week at THI (at the beginning).
Activity 4 (month 11 or 12): Closing (virtual) workshop with research results presentation and agreed Follow-up-steps together with host institutions and industry stakeholders.
5.2. For Track 2 - Research Deepening, considering a 24-month Grant:
Activity 1 (month 1): Kickoff research workshop in SP or Germany (1 week, with PI + PhD researcher).
Activity 2 (months 1 to 2): Research stay of 1-2 months of THI or SP researchers (PhD) in SP or Germany (following the workshop).
Activity 3 (months 3 to 22): Research Stay of 1-6 months at THI innovation ecosystem (university and industry partners), research team member/PhD from SP + PI from SP for 1 week at THI. Conversely, Research Stay of 1-6 months at the host institution in SP, research team member/PhD from THI + Professor from Germany for 1 week at SP.
Activity 4 (month 23 or 24): Closing workshop in SP or Germany with research results presentation and agreed follow-up-steps together with host institutions and industry stakeholders.
For organizing the workshops, PIs may wish to seek assistance and/or additional resources from their host institutions, departments or other partners.
6. Research Proposal
6.1. The proposal must contain a Research Project jointly conceived and written by the researchers from São Paulo and from THI.
6.2. The Research Project must have a clear and objective description of the planned collaboration (distribution of tasks, and implementation methods), as well as benefits expected from the collaboration.
6.3. The Research Project must be written in English and not exceed five (5) pages, including the following information: Title, abstract, keywords, objectives, methodology, research plan, description of the research team and each expected mission and workshop. A timetable and the bibliography should also be included.
6.4. Additionally, a description should be included of how the Principal Investigators in São Paulo and at THI 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 to create a medium-long-term collaboration (up to one page).
6.5. FAPESP will cover the costs of the research team based in São Paulo and, accordingly, the SAGe budget form should include only local costs.
6.6. THI will cover the costs for the research team based in Germany.
7. How to submit the proposal
7.1. Applicants from the state of São Paulo should submit the joint proposal to FAPESP via the SAGe platform (www.fapesp.br/sage) no later than the closing date for submissions, observing the accompanying forms and documents.
a) The specific path for this opportunity is: Nova Proposta Inicial + Outras Linhas de Fomento > + Acordos de Cooperação > + THI - Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt > THI - Auxílio à Pesquisa – Regular - Seed Fund – Track 1 OR Track 2 - Chamada de Propostas 2024.
b) IMPORTANT: the PI from Germany must be registered in the SAGe system. This can be done by accessing SAGe in the English version and choosing the option “Not registered?” The researcher must fill in all mandatory fields, indicated with an asterisk (*). After receiving an email from SAGe, the PI must click on the link provided and complete the registration process. After successfully registering, the PI from Germany may be nominated as a member of the research project and should then access the proposal through SAGe to accept participation (menu option “My Proposals”). Additional guidelines can be found in the manuals “User Registration”, and “Confirming Participation as a Team Member” available under the “Guides” section on SAGe.
c) The Project Team should be composed by local participants, including all those engaging in research missions and, from the German side, only by the applicant (option equivalent to “principal investigator from the partner institution”).
7.2. THI applicants are expected to submit the joint proposal to THI accordingly to the guidelines provided at https://aware.thi.de/en/service/funding-programs/.
8. Assessment Criteria
Applications to this Call will be assessed by FAPESP and by THI. THI will form a selection committee consisting of the President, the Vice President for Research and the relevant institute directors.
This Call´s configuration allows applications to be processed swiftly which is possible because applications must be based on existing FAPESP Grants that have already undergone robust peer review. Proposals will be assessed through the following criteria:
a) Originality of the research project;
b) Intellectual merit and soundness of planning and methodology;
c) The potential of future collaborative research derived from this activity and if it shows potential for submission of proposals through different funding schemes;
d) The uniqueness of this activity and expertise of the partners;
e) The opportunities for early career scientists´ exchanges.
A final decision will be made jointly between FAPESP and THI.
9. Call timeline
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Call announced by FAPESP and THI websites |
October 18th, 2024 |
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Closing date for submission of proposals at the THI and FAPESP |
December 16th, 2024 |
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Publishing the Selection Results |
March 1st, 2025 |
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Projects start |
May 1st, 2025 |
10. Contact details
For further information, applicants may contact:
FAPESP: Alexandre Roccatto e-mail: chamada-thi@fapesp.br
THI: Prof. Harald Göllinger e-mail: harald.goellinger@thi.de
11. Research Networking Tool
FAPESP: The Virtual Library (www.bv.fapesp.br/en/) includes FAPESP database of awarded research Grants and Scholarships. In it, you may search for information including title and abstracts as well the name of participating researchers and their institutions.
THI: The AWARE Center (https://aware.thi.de/) supports in match making and identifying potential research partners at THI.