Terms of Reference for the Exploratory Research Projects Call for Proposals

Transcription

1 Terms f Reference fr the Explratry Research Prjects Call fr Prpsals February 2017

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 Intrductin Backgrund Initiative descriptin Award infrmatin Regulatins and guidelines Duratin and estimated number f awards and funding amunt Applicatin and deadline fr receipt f full applicatins Supprted Entities Frmat requirements Review f applicatins Ntificatin and reprting Eligibility infrmatin Organizatin limit and requirements Principal Investigatr (PI) limit PI and researchers dedicatin Limit n number f prpsals per rganizatin Limit n number f prpsals per PI and researcher Evaluatin and selectin criteria Additinal Infrmatin

3 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 BACKGROUND The Carnegie Melln Prtugal Prgram is an educatin, research, and innvatin platfrm that cnnec ts Prtuguese universities, research institutins, and cmpanies in cperatin with Carnegie Melln University (CMU). The partnership was launched in 2006 t create new knwledge in key fcused areas f Infrmatin and Cmmunicatins Technlgies (ICT) by means f cutting-edge research, wrld-class graduate educatin, and a clse cnnectin with Prtuguese industry, aiming at placing Prtugal at the frefrnt f science and innvatin. In rder t identify and assess emerging key strategic areas fr a ptential third phase, the Prgram is inviting submissins fr its furth Call fr Prpsals in Phase II, this time fr Explratry Research Prjects. 1.2 INITIATIVE DESCRIPTION Explratry Research Prjects are designed t assist teams f researchers frm Prtuguese institutins, Carnegie Melln University and industry partners, t jumpstart high-impact ptential research activities f strategic relevance fr the Carnegie Melln Prtugal Prgram. The prpsals shuld be high - risk/high-reward and shw prmise and a strategy fr significant future expansin f prject gals. In the scpe f this Call, the prjects will specifically be used t identify and assess emerging key strategic areas that culd be cnsidered in the design f a ptential third phase fr the Prgram. The submitted prjects shuld preferably cntribute t the scientific develpments and bjectives f the Atlantic Internatinal Research Center (AIR Center), as stated in the dcument Twards a Science and Technlgy agenda fr an integrative apprach t the Atlantic: Climate Change and Energy Systems, Space and Ocean Sciences, thrugh Nrth-Suth cperatin, available n FCT s website. The prjects must aim at stimulating and prmting Prtugal s internatinal cmpetitiveness and innvatin capacity in science and technlgy, in ICT as such, r as enabling technlgies in applic ati n sectrs. The analysis f the scietal, plicy and managerial implicatins f ICT-enabled scientific and technlgical breakthrughs naturally als fits within the scpe f these prjects. Fr this Call, the Prgram is seeking prpsals in the fllwing areas : 1. Integrative research based in the cntext f the AIR Center; 2. Data Science and Engineering; 3. Cmputer Science; 4. Electrical and Cmputer Engineering; 5. Applied Mathematics; 6. Technlgy, Management and Plicy. 3

4 The area f Cmputer Science includes, but is nt limi ted t, sub-areas such as: Cmputer Science; Cmputer Science - Rbtics; Sftware Engineering; Language Technlgies; Human Cmputer Interactin. The area f Technlgy Management and Plicy includes, but is nt limited t, sub -areas such as: Engineering and Public Plicy; Technlgical Change and Entrepreneurship. The supprt, direct invlvement, and/r c-funding frm cmpanies, industry cnsrtia, gvernment agencies, fundatins r financial investrs will be emphasized. Pririty will als be given t prps a l s featuring ne r mre f the fllwing characteristics: multidisciplinarity, exchange missins, and/r the inclusin in the team f yung researchers, e.g., graduate students. Explratry Research Prjects will ften be aimed at frmulating and l aunching a lnger-term prject, i.e., they will nt be required t achieve, within their wn scpe, the fully develped and ambitius final results that will be typical f lnger-term prjects. Hwever, the prpsals must be very cncrete n the activities and utcmes that the cnsrtium actually prpses t carry ut and achieve in the scpe f the Explratry Research Prject, and clearly link them t its lnger-term bjectives. 2 AWARD INFORMATION 2.1 REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES Regulatins gverning access t funding are available at: The annuncement f the pening f this call is available at: The guidelines t writing and submitting prpsals are available at: Guidelines fr Explratry Research Prjects Prpsals Writing The Guide fr Peer Reviewers is available at: Guide fr Peer Reviewers 2.2 DURATION AND ESTIMATED NUMBER OF AWARDS AND FUNDING AMOUNT The awards will be effective fr prjects lasting 12 calendar mnths r less, intended t cmmence by June 15, Depending n the quality f the prpsals, 7 t 10 new awards are expected t be financed. 4

5 Frm the ttal funding, 700, (seven hundred thusand eurs) will be available t supprt resurces and activities in Prtuguese research institutins, and apprximately $ 500, (five hundred thusand dllars) will be available t supprt cmpl ementary activities at Carnegie Melln University. The participating researchers frm Carnegie Melln University may be funded by the Infrmatin and Cmmunicatin Technlgies Institute (ICTI), at Carnegie Melln University. The maximum budget fr Prtuguese research institutins in each prject will be 100, APPLICATION AND DEADLINE FOR RECEIPT OF FULL APPLICATIONS Applicatins must be submitted nline thrugh the FCT website fllwing the Annuncement f the Call fr Prpsals. Slicitatins will be pen frm February 17 t 5pm (Lisbn time) f April 12, SUPPORTED ENTITIES Only the fllwing entities are eligible t receive funding frm FCT thrugh the present Call fr Prpsals: Higher Educatin Institutins, their institutes and R&D units; State r internatinal Labratries with head ffice in Prtugal; Nn-prfit private institutins whse main bjective is R&D activities; Other nn-prfit private and public institutins develping r participating in scientific research activities. 2.5 FORMAT REQUIREMENTS Full applicatins must fulfill the fllwing frmat requirements: Cmpletin f the n-line FCT frm, available thrugh the FCT platfrm, accrding t the Guidelines fr Explratry Research Prjects Prpsals Writing. Imprtant nte: All sectins f the FCT frm must be filled. Except where mentined therwise all the requested infrmatin needs t be in English. Please make sure that the text entered in the n-line frm is frmatted and cmprehensive. Submissin f the Annex t Applicatin, that must include: A cver page (nt exceeding ne page, Arial regular fnt, 11 pint) The cver page includes the title f the prject, the cntact infrmatin f the PIs, a list f C-PIs and ther key persnnel, the duratin f the prject, and the ttal budget amunt (requested amunt and c-funding). A summary (nt exceeding ne page, Arial regular fnt, 11 pint) The summary shuld include: 5

6 - a synpsis f the prpsed prject; - five keywrds; - a cncise descriptin f the nature and aims f each partner s cntributin and the cllabratin in the cnsrtium as a whle; - the indicatin f the prject s scientific area, accrding t sectin 1.2; - a brief explanatin f hw the prpsal meets the bjectives f the Call and hw it fits with the selected scientific area, accrding t sectin 1.2. A prject descriptin (nt exceeding fur pages, Arial regular fnt, 11 pint) The descriptin shuld include sufficient detail that the reviewers can evaluate the apprpriateness and feasibility f the prpsed plan. The cntributins f each member f the team must be delineated. The descriptin shuld be as specific as pssible abut future expansin f prject gals and supprt frm gvernment agencies, cmpanies, industry cnsrtia, fundatins r financial investrs. The prpsals must be very cncrete and specific n the activities and the utcmes that the cnsrtium actually prpses t carry ut and achieve in the scpe f the Explratry Research Prject, and clearly link them t its lnger-term bjectives. A team members list (Arial regular fnt, 11 pint) List all the team members, including their rganizatinal affiliatins and ther relevant infrmatin. The CV and publicatin list f the principal applicant and each c-applicant (fr each applicant, a maximum f 2 pages, Arial regular fnt, 11 pint, including a list f up t 10 f the mst relevant papers) Supprt letter(s) (fr each rganizatin, a maximum f 1 page, Arial regular fnt, 11 pint) Letters frm any surce(s) f matching funds must be included, when applicable. Other letters f supprt may be included. Imprtant nte: The cver page, the summary, and the prject descriptin shuld include all the cntent f the Scientific Cmpnent sectin f the FCT frm and must nt exceed six pages in ttal (including the title page). This limitatin will be strictly enfrced. Submissin f the fllwing Eligibility Dcuments: The dcument that certifies the PhD degree f the lead Prtugal Principal Investigatr Written agreement between the lead Prtugal Principal Investigatr and the Prpsing Institutin (if applicable). 6

7 A statement frm the PI at CMU cnfirming that he/she will be the lead PI frm CMU and that he/she hlds a faculty appintment at CMU. 2.6 REVIEW OF APPLICATIONS The applicatins must fllw the guidelines prvided in these Terms f Reference and in the FCT n-line tls fr general infrmatin n applicatin filing, namely the instructins guidelines: Applicatins will be reviewed by an internatinal panel f independent experts, as rganized by FCT. The review panel will be respnsible fr evaluating the merit f each prpsal. The selectin fr funding is based n the criteria presented in sectin NOTIFICATION AND REPORTING The applicants will be ntified in accrdance with article 15 f the Regulatins fr Prjects Exclusively Funded by Natinal Funds. Funded applicatins are intended t cmmence by June 15, A mid-term reprt after the first semester f each prject, describing early utcmes and cntributing t a mre effective design f a ptential third phase fr the Prgram, will be delivered fr interim review by the Bard f Directrs f the Carnegie Melln Prtugal Prgram and by FCT. The Bard f Directrs has the right t recmmend t FCT that further funding be discntinued. A final reprt f the Explratry Research Prject will be delivered, fr review by the Bard f Directrs and by FCT. The Bard f Directrs and FCT may request that a panel f experts reviews the Explratry Research Prject, at any pint in its prgress and at its end. Peridic status updates f the prject may be requested at the discretin f the Bard f Directrs, FCT, r the Directrs f the Carnegie Melln Prtugal Prgram. 3 ELIGIBILITY INFORMATION 3.1 ORGANIZATION LIMIT AND REQUIREMENTS The prpsals must have research cnsrtia including at least: Tw partner Prtuguese research institutins frm different entities as identified in sectin 2.4. One f them shuld belng t the categry f Higher Educatin Institutins, their institutes and R&D units. One partner CMU faculty team. One f the Prtuguese research institutins is the lead institutin in Prtugal. The CMU faculty team is the lead at CMU. 7

8 In additin t the entities mentined abve, the cnsrtia may include ther public r private entities, prfit r nn-prfit, that may als invest in the explratry prject and that may bring relevant cmpetencies t the prject. 3.2 PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR (PI) LIMIT The lead Prtugal Principal Investigatr (PI) shuld have a dctral degree. The dcument certifyi ng the dctral degree shuld be attached t the applicatin. The lead Prtugal PI shuld als be a prfessr r have a research psitin in the Prpsing Insti tuti n. In the absence f such a link, a written agreement between the parties must be submitted attached t the applicatin, accrding t pint c) f item 1 f article 6 f FCT s Prject Regulatins. The lead PI at CMU must hld a faculty appintment at CMU. A cnfirmatin statement shuld be attached t the applicatin. Prpsals will nt be accepted frm lead Prtugal PIs affiliated with institutins n a situatin f unjustified fault with FCT requirements regarding the delivery f scientific and/r financial executin reprts frm previus financed prjects. Prpsals will als nt be accepted frm lead Prtugal PIs wh were PI f any prject with a final scientific reprt rejected within tw years befre the pening f the Call, fr reasns attributable t them. 3.3 PI AND RESEARCHERS DEDICATION The lead Prtugal PI shall be dedicated t the prject, accrding t the duratin f the prpsed activities, at n less than 30%. The remaining members f the Prtugal research team shall be dedicated t the prject, accrding t their participatin, at n less than 15%. 3.4 LIMIT ON NUMBER OF PROPOSALS PER ORGANIZATION There is n limit n the number f prpsals a lead research institutin may submit. There is n limit n the number f prpsals in which a research institutin may participate. 3.5 LIMIT ON NUMBER OF PROPOSALS PER PI AND RESEARCHER A Prtugal researcher may be identified as lead PI in at mst ne prpsal. Researchers may be listed a s c-pis r senir researchers in multiple prpsals. 8

9 4 EVALUATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA The selectin and ranking f the applicatins will be based n the fllwing criteria, detailed in the Regulatins Gverning Access t Funding fr Scientific Research and Technlgical Develpment Prjects: A. Scientific merit and innvative nature f the prject, preferably within the scpe f the pririties develped by the Atlantic Internatinal Research Center (AIR Center) initiative; B. Scientific merit f the research team; C. Feasibility f the plan f wrk and reasnableness f the budget; D. Cntributin t the bdy f knwledge and cmpetence f the Natinal Science and Technlgy System; E. Ptential ecnmic value f the technlgy. Applicatin f these evaluatin criteria shall take int accunt, amng ther cnsideratins, the fllwing: a. Fr criterin A: i. Relevance and riginality f the prject prpsed (based n the state-f-the-art in a determined scientific area and previus wrk dne by the prpsing team); ii. iii. Thematic alignment f the prpsal with the Explratry Research Prjects tpics as utlined in sectin 1, giving pririty t prpsals that cntribute t the scientific develpments and bjectives f the Atlantic Internatinal Research Center (AIR Center) initiative; Adequacy f methdlgy adpted fr carrying ut the prject; iv. Expected results and their cntributin t scientific and technlgical knwledge; v. Resulting publicatins and articles; vi. vii. sectr. b. Fr criterin B: Cntributin twards prmting and disseminating science and technlgy; Prductin f knwledge that can cntribute t benefits t sciety r t the business i. Scientific prductivity f the team (references t publicatins and citatins in ii. iii. iv. published wrks, ther relevant indicatrs); Abilities and skills t adequately execute the prpsed prject (team cnfiguratin, PI s qualificatins); Ability t invlve yung researchers in training; Availability f the team and nn-duplicatin f bjectives in relatin t ther prj ec ts underway; v. Degree f internatinalizatin f the team; vi. Degree f success in previus prjects in relatin t the Principal Investigatr (PI) (in the case f yung PIs, this requirement must be assessed based n the ptential 9

10 vii. revealed by the PI s curriculum vitae in the absence f prir cncrete accmplishments); Level f cmmitment f any cmpanies participating in the prject (if applicable). c. Fr criterin C: i. Organizatin f the prject in terms f the prpsed bjectives and resurces (duratin, equipment, size f the team, institutinal and management resurces); ii. Institutinal resurces f the prpsing and participating entities (technical-scienti fi c, rganizatinal and managerial and, when apprpriate, c-funding capacity n the pa rt d. Fr criterin D: f cmpanies). i. Cntributin t the bdy f knwledge and cmpetence f the Natinal Science and Technlgy System (expected effects and results). e. Fr criterin E: i. Ptential ecnmic value f the technlgy (if apprpriate), namely in terms f its impact n the cmpetitiveness f the natinal sci-ecnmic system. 5 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Fr inquires f a scientific nature, please cntact the Carnegie Melln Prtugal Prgram at research@cmuprtugal.rg. Fr specific infrmatin related t applicatin submissin, please cntact prjetscmu@fct.pt. 10