Agreements

Sprint 1/2014 – University of Sydney

SPRINT – 1st Edition 2014 

(item 2.1.1 – c. en/8621) 

GUIDELINE University of Sydney

Specific requests for submission of proposals in partnership with researchers from The University of Sydney

FAPESP and University of Sydney signed a Cooperation Agreement for Research on April 3, 2014, aiming to implement scientific and technological cooperation between researchers from the University of Sydney, Australia, and from the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, through the funding of joint research projects. In this first Call for Proposals, applicants are encouraged to submit funding applications for innovative and sustainable programs built around collaborative research and/or learning and teaching initiatives linking the University of Sydney and FAPESP with each other.

Under the referred Agreement, as a first action to promote such collaboration, FAPESP and University of Sydney make public this Call for Proposals for the exchange of faculty and postdoctoral researchers, under the terms and conditions of the SPRINT 1st Edition 2014 (www.fapesp.br/en/8621) and hereinafter set forth.

1. Eligibility from University of Sydney side

a. Applications are welcome once per year from post-doctoral fellows, academic and research staff at the University of Sydney in all disciplines.

b. Chief investigators on a project must hold a salaried appointment with the University of Sydney and are only permitted to apply for one grant at any one time.

2. Fields of knowledge

This Call for Proposals invites research proposals in all fields.

3. Duration of the project for the exchange of researchers

Grants should be spent within the period indicated in the project submission or, as a maximum, within 24 months of receipt of funding. Extensions may be granted but must be requested in the first instance, in writing, to the contact at each respective institution.

4. Funding principles

FAPESP will provide funding of up to the equivalent of AUD $10,000.00 (ten thousand Australian dollars) per proposal per year and University of Sydney will provide funding of up to AUD $10,000.00 (ten thousand Australian dollars) per proposal per year, for the duration of the grant to cover research-related mobility expenses, under the provisions of Clause 5 of the Scientific Cooperation Agreement established by the Parties https://fapesp.br/8582. In the present Call, no more of five highest ranked proposals will be awarded.

4.1. Activities eligible for funding:

a. Academic mobility between Sydney and the State of Sao Paulo

b. Travel expenses (e.g. economy airfare, train, rental car, etc)

c. Partial costs for hosting a seminar/conference or workshop

d. Accommodation

e. Consumables, including technical equipment, and publication/printing costs.

4.2. Applications that will not be considered for funding:

a. Salaries for general teaching;

b. An individual staff member’s research projects, unless as catalytic funding for the estbliahsment of an international research collaboration with the prospect of external funding;

c. Website development

d. Salaries or salary supplementation, per diems or honorarium;

e. Scholarships for students;

f. Course fees for international students;

g. Mobile phone cards;

h. Entertainment costs;

i. Computers, including laptops (excluding access to high-performance computers or other specialized applications that are justified against the project) and basic computing facilities such as printers, word processing and other standard software).

4.3. The following restrictions apply on the use of this funding:

a. Airfares: no more than 3 economy tickets will be funded per application. Airfares will be funded to a maximum of $3500 (return).

b. Accommodation: a maximum of two weeks subsistence for up to three people at up to $250 per night.

c. Meals and incidentals: a maximum of $100 a day per person.

d. Consumables: costs not to exceed $500

e. Conference/workshops: costs to hold conferences or workshops shall not exceed 25% of the overall budget.

f. Publication and Printing: costs not to exceed $1000 

5. Proposal characteristics f or University of Sydney researchers

University of Sydney applicants should submit a completed application form and all of the required supporting documentation to ip.ipdf@sydney.edu.au

Applications should include an outline of the methods, aims and results of their project and should also ensure that they sufficiently address: academic quality and impact; sustainability; innovation; relevant to the University’s strategy and; relevance to fostering long-term international partnership between the University of Sydney and FAPESP. The expected outcomes of the project should also be included and may include: enhanced networks, workshops, conferences and researcher mobility (though these would not necessarily be considered outcomes in and of themselves).

Applications will be scored according to five criteria:

a. Academic quality and impact: the academic quality of the proposed work, the likelihood of it gaining wide recognition and/or having a high impact when published, the ability to cut across disciplines and to draw in postgraduate students and junior academics.

b. Strategic relevance: its contribution to realizing the Universities’ international strategy, and its potential to provide useful outcomes to society locally and globally, such as building capacity and influencing policy.

c. Partnership: How the partnership will contribute to promoting and consolidating the relationship between University of Sydney and FAPESP and in which key areas.

d. Innovation: the extent to which the project will contribute to novel thinking and/or new technology in its field.

e. Sustainability: the likelihood that the project will lead to long-term international relationships and generate significant external funding for ongoing collaboration.

Applicants from the University of Sydney must complete the Application form and required supporting documentation, which is outlined in the Guidelines (http://sydney.edu.au/international/resources/preferential-partnerships.shtml#FAPESP)

Completed applications will include:

a. Completed 2014 University of Sydney and FAPESP Joint Research Proposal Application form with Dean’s authorization and detailed budget;;

b. A letter of support from the Head of Department or Faculty from the partner institution supporting the proposed activities;

c. A letter of support from any additional collaborating partner institutions outlining any collaboration activity to date.

d. Copy of research project proposal and all additional documents submitted to FAPESP.

6. Submission of proposals to University of Sydney:

Submissions to the University of Sydney can only be accepted by email to ip.ipdf@sydney.edu.au

7. Result of the analysis

Final results will be announced on FAPESP (www.fapesp.br) and University of Sydney (www.sydney.edu.au/international/) web portals and by means of a communication to the interested PIs.

8. Contract for selected projects by University of Sydney

The Principal Investigator for selected proposals will be required to complete an Acceptance of Funding Form, which will be provided by the International Portfolio. 

9. Grant cancellation

If circumstances change – for example the lead investigator or a fellow investigator leaves the project, or the industry partner withdraws – University of Sydney investigators should contact the IPDF Program Manager as soon as the change occurs. Such changes will need to be approved and documented. Grants from the University of Sydney which have not been spent by the due date will be transferred back to the IPDF so that unspent balances can be re-allocated.

10. Financial and Reporting Obligations

Recipients will be required to submit a final report within three months of completion of the project. A report pro-forma will be sent to successful applicants. The report should include an outline of the outcomes of the project, an indication of the project’s sustainability, a summary of lessons learned in undertaking the project and a detailed acquittal of funds as required by University policy. Applicants who fail to submit a final report will not be able to submit future applications.

11. Information about this Call at University of Sydney

All questions related to this Call for Proposals from University of Sydney applicants must be directed to:

University of Sydney: ip.ipdf@sydney.edu.au

 


Page updated on 10/01/2015 - Published on 05/21/2014