Forskningsrådet Formas - Swedish Research Council Formas Formas Annual Open Call 2015
2015 This meeting starts a tradition of not only showing up when we are invited.
Formas One of three governmental research councils Formas mission is to promote and support basic research and need-driven research in the areas Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning. The research that is funded should be of the highest scientific quality and relevance to the areas of responsibility of the Council. Formas may also support activities related to development to a limited extent
Formas - Distribute funds to research within Formas areas of responsibility - Support interdisciplinary research - Evaluate research and development - Identify research needs - Initiate and support national and international cooperation - Communicate research and research results - Make research results useful - Promote sustainable development in society According to the Government s instructions Regulation (2009:1024)
Formas budget Research funding per year -1 106 MSEK (2014) Funding from two ministries: Ministry of the Environment (55%) Ministry of Enterprise and Innovation (45%)
Formas funding instruments Annual open call - ~ 50% bottom-up (R&D projects, R&D project Future research leaders, Mobility starting grants) Focused calls ~ 30% programs, strategic, international cooperation areas with identified research needs Grants that can be applied for twice a year or continuously conferences, workshops, information projects and urgent grants Co-financed research (Skogforsk, SLF, JTI, IVL and others)
Formas international cooperation's To promote contacts, import new knowledge, new ideas and experiences and to bring about greater Swedish participation in international research collaborations (e.g. Nordforsk, ERA-Cofund, Artikel 185 and JPI)
Open and coming calls
Formas annual open call 2015 Is open March 10 to April 16 Funding decision November 6 Call texts and Formas Handbook 2015 available from March 10 Formas Direct (not PRISMA) www.formas.se
Formas annual open call 2015 Three sub-calls: Grants for research and development projects Grants for research and development projects for future research leaders Mobility starting grants for young researchers
Formas annual open call 2014 Total number of applications: 1 325 applications 116 funded - 9 % Mobility starting grants: 110 applications -19 funded (17 %) (2013: 89 appl, 14 funded 14%) Young research leaders: 381 applications - 34 funded (9 %) (2013: 411 appl, 25 funded 6%) Research and development projects: 798 applications 63 funded (8 %) (2013: 848 appl, 82 funded 10%)
General conditions All applicants must have a doctoral degree (Mobility starting grant October 1, 2015) Grants can be administered by Swedish universities, university colleges, research institutes or Swedish authorities No age limit for applicants (fully retired researchers cannot obtain funds for their salary) International research collaboration and industrial partners are welcome in the applications
One ongoing project Maximum one ongoing project as project leader from any of Formas annual open calls Ongoing project = ongoing payment from Formas You are eligible to apply if you have a project with payments until December 31, 2015 The time of disposal after payments does not count as ongoing project time (i.e. your project does not need to be reported)
NEWS! R&D-projects and Future research leaders The review panels have the mandate to maintain an average project size (~1 million SEK per year) for all projects suggested for funding Average project size 1 million SEK per year is a guideline for the project budget. Both larger and smaller budgets can be granted funding If the applied project budget is larger than 1 million SEK the applicant must clearly motivate why (e.g. interdisciplinary projects)
Research and Development projects Maximum 150% salary costs - incl. researchers, doctoral students/post doc and technical staff Researcher max 50% of full-time position Doctoral student/postdoc 100% of full-time position Running costs, equipment depreciation costs and premises costs Three consecutive years (Salary for doctoral students can be granted up to three years) Average project size 1 million SEK per year
Future research leaders PhD within 2 to 8 years (i.e. January 1 2007 at the earliest, and December 31 2013 at the latest) Three consecutive years Apply for 100% funding of project leader s salary Same criteria and instructions for applications for grants for R&D projects (e.g. max 150% funding of salary costs) Average project size 1 million SEK per year Not allowed to submit the same application to Formas call for R&D projects
Mobility starting grants To encourage young researchers to work in new research environments (one or more) abroad, or in Sweden To develop their academic career, learning new tools, working on research questions with a different focus and expand their networks
Mobility starting grants Young researcher - PhD max 3 years (January 1, 2012 at the earliest and October 1, 2015 at the latest) Home university: employment at a Swedish university/research institute for the full time period Host university: visit university or research institute other than the one where the doctorate was awarded and other than the one where the applicant will be employed Grant for 24-48 months at least 1/3 of the total time should be spent at the home university; at least 1/3 of the total time should be spent at the host university Visit can be divided into several periods min length 3 months Appendix G: A description of how the project and the research environment both at the home and host institution will contribute to the applicant s development mandatory (template in Formas Direct) The candidate for the grant must be the main applicant
Mobility starting grants - funding Applicant s salary at the home university/research institute (current salary or corresponding starting salary) Overhead and premises costs according to practices at the home university/research institute Travel expenses for applicant and family according to a standard sum depending on country (added by Formas) Standard sum added by Formas i) costs of living in host country ii) no. of family members (Arbetsgivarverket) Running costs and costs for equipment NOT granted
How do I apply? Register in Formas Direct (www.direct.formas.se) Choose type of grant Fill in the required fields in the form Attach appendices (mandatory and others) Do the above in good time before the deadline
What to include in the application? Application form (Formas Direct) a short description of the project and a popular science description Appendix A Research programme Appendix B1 and B2 Budget (B1 template) Appendix C CV Appendix D Publication list Appendix J figures, tables, illustrations relating to the research programme in Appendix A Appendix K climate and environmental data Appendix S is generated when the application is submitted sign and send to Formas
Mobility starting grants Appendix G Description of how the project and the research environments at the host and the home universities will contribute to the applicant s development and a travel plan Appendix I Copy of doctoral degree Appendix L Letters of invitation from home university and host universities
Time plan
Review Panels in the annual open call 1. Climate change 2. The natural environment 3. Use of natural resources 4. Resource efficient products and processes 5. Environment pollution 6. Food and animal welfare 7. Urban and rural development 8. The built environment
Review Panels in the annual open call A total of 15-20 panel members including chair, vice chair Active researchers (majority) and stakeholders All panel members evaluate scientific quality and the relevance to Formas areas of responsibility The review panel as a whole should be able to evaluate applications within the panel s entire area When necessary, external reviews are included as a supplement to a panel review
Management of conflict of interest A panel member cannot submit an application to the panel they are the member of Obliged to declare conflict of interest own initiative Do not read/assess application and leave the room when the application is discussed Minutes concerning conflicts of interest are kept during panel meeting
Evaluation criteria Scientific quality Research question Method and performance Scientific competence For details see Formas Handbook! Societal value Societal value of research question Communications with stakeholders / end users Reviews are made solely on the information in the application address each criteria in the application
Societal value Describe your project in a larger context in relevance to society (Swedish/European/Global) Describe and motivate the societal importance of your project the evaluators assess what is written and do not read between lines Communication with stakeholders/end users when relevant is not the same as scientific publication Societal impact!
Evaluation of applications The panel members indicate level of competence for each application in the panel. If there is not enough competence external reviews are used Four reviewers per application One step evaluation Panel will meet and rank/discuss the applications All applications will receive a final written statement
Remember! Read Formas Handbook 2015 and the call texts carefully Look at the criteria for evaluation, and make sure you address all the criteria Evaluations are made on what is written in the application reviewers do not read between the lines Structure and clarity in the application is important International review panels English!
Information on Formas calls Formas Handbook 2015 and call texts published March10 www.formas.se
John!
2016, then? We have estimated 4-5 meetings in different parts of Sweden. We may bring a researcher from some panel maybe you would bring an experienced researcher who knows all about applying for funds? Could you gather regionally for such meetings?
2016 We wish to know how you want us to go on in our preparations. What means of communications, with you? How do we reach you? E-mail groups? Facebook Groups? How do you do among yourselves? How do you want us to communicate with you?
We: Two addresses to reach us: Elisabet: Elisabet.Goransson@formas.se John: John.Ahlmark@formas.se
Tack!