INVITATION TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR TRAVEL GRANTS: ANNUAL SARIMA CONFERENCE (2017)

Transcription

1 INVITATION TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR TRAVEL GRANTS: ANNUAL SARIMA CONFERENCE (2017) Through the generous support of the South African Department of Science and Technology (DST) and ESSENCE on Health Research (a global research funders initiative hosted at the Special Programme for Research and Training on Tropical Diseases (TDR) of the World Health Organisation), SARIMA is offering a number of travel grants to support Research and Innovation (R&I) Management professionals from Southern Africa to participate in the 2017 Annual SARIMA Conference taking place on May 2017, at the Safari Court Hotel & Conference Centre, Windhoek, Namibia. Please visit the conference website at for additional information on the conference. 1. Definitions Research Management: Research management involves the capabilities that research-focused organisations harness so as to optimise and amplify the processes and impacts of their research activity and outcomes. Research management consists of, inter alia: research planning, strategy and policy development; research ethics and integrity researcher development; partnerships and collaboration; research funding; managing funded research; research data and research information management; research uptake and utilisation; organisation and delivery of a research management service. Research management also includes transversal areas such as societal and research values, innovation, utilisation of technologies, internationalisation, knowledge management as well as simultaneous mainstreaming for equity and equality. Innovation Management: The provision and management of support services to progress potential innovation projects from the earliest stages of development until they reach the marketplace. The range of activities to support researchers responsible for the technical development of innovations is vast, from researching market trends, facilitating intellectual property protection, to seeking industrial partners, actively driving the delivery of project milestones and negotiating the commercial engagements needed to create value for all stakeholders involved.

2 2. Travel grant categories Applications can be submitted in one of three categories: CATEGORY 1 Travel grants for R&I management professionals from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs)* in South Africa. Candidates that apply must be South African citizens (Funded by the DST) Who can apply? R&I management professionals from HDIs* in South Africa, although strong motivations from Previously Disadvantaged Individuals working at other public higher education institutions in South Africa may be considered. Up to R10 000, depending on uptake *HDIs include: University of the Western Cape, University of Fort Hare, Walter Sisulu University, Mangosuthu University of Technology, University of Limpopo, University of Venda and University of Zululand. CATEGORY 2 Travel grants for R&I management professionals from Southern African countries (Funded by the DST) Who can apply*? R&I management professionals from Southern African countries excluding South Africa. Up to R10 000, depending on uptake *SARIMA committee members may also apply 2

3 CATEGORY 3 Travel grants for R&I management professionals from Southern African countries (Funded by Essence/TDR) Who can apply*? R&I management professionals from Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mauritius, Tanzania and Zambia ONLY Up to R Eligibility and Selection In order to qualify for this Grant, the Applicant must meet all of the following Eligibility criteria: Must be based at a public research institution in the SADC region; Must be a SADC citizen; Must be in the Research and/or Innovation (Technology Transfer) management Profession; Must not have previously received a travel grant from SARIMA to attend the SARIMA conferences in 2015 or 2016; Application is co-signed by the Applicant s Line Manager indicating agreement to institutional co-funding as well as pre-funding arrangements; Is a SARIMA member or must register as a SARIMA member at the time of application; and Application is submitted by the due date and is completed in full. Furthermore, preference will be given to those Eligible applicants: o who have submitted abstracts for participation in the conference, especially if such abstracts have been approved. o who have attended other SARIMA events e.g. workshops, training courses. o whose institution has not previously received SARIMA travel grants to attend SARIMA conferences. 3

4 4. What will the Travel Grant Cover? Return economy class flight and accommodation ONLY up to the maximum amount specified for each category. Conference fees will be covered for successful applicants in Category 3 only. Travel by car to Namibia is permitted. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) travel rate per kilometre will apply to those using their own vehicles, however SARIMA will only refund the amount equivalent to the average cost of an economy class flight to Namibia. Additional costs incurred for any expenditure beyond the grant award cover are for the participant s own expenses. Per Diems will not be covered. 5. Conditions of the Travel Grant The Applicant s institution must be able to provide co-funding that will cover the Applicants conference registration fees, pre-conference workshop fees (if applicable) and subsistence. Furthermore, the Applicant s institution may need to subsidize travel and accommodation costs if the maximum SARIMA grant value is insufficient to cover this in full. While SARIMA will award the grant, in principle, the Travel Grant Recipient is responsible for making his/her own travel and accommodation arrangements and may re-claim eligible expenses from SARIMA. Travel arrangements must be made in good time and funds will ONLY be reimbursed if the individual attends the conference and submits all eligible claims and invoices to SARIMA by 31 July Reimbursements will ONLY be made upon presentation of an invoice with supporting documents (receipts). It is strongly recommended that the travel grantees institutions pay for the travel costs and accommodation so that we reimburse institutions and not individuals. Should institutions not be in a position to do this, the supporting documents to claim the travel grant that the travel grantee submits must clearly indicate that the individual paid for the expenses. Successful applicants must provide Proof of Registration for the 2017 SARIMA conference within 5 days of notification of the outcome of the application. 6. Application process and requirements Application form: [see Annexure A attached] Submission deadline: 31 March

5 Submit applications to: SARIMA will appoint a selection committee to assess and select successful applications. SARIMA, through the review committee, reserves the right to make the final decision on awarding of the travel grants. Applicants will be informed about the outcome via no later than 18 April Please note that Successful applicants will be required to submit a short report on their learnings and experience at the conference as well as how these learnings were shared with the Applicant s peers and the broader Research/Innovation management community. This report must be submitted within 1 month of the conference, on a template to be provided by SARIMA. 7. Enquiries Travel Grants (Category 1): Ms Nelisha Naidoo: pm-itt@sarima.co.za Travel Grants (Categories 2 & 3): Ms Elena Gaffurini: pm-ae@sarima.co.za SARIMA membership: Ms Corline Kriel: sarima@sarima.co.za 5