Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Boosting research careers Individual Fellowships and Innovative Training Networks
Horizon 2020 1. Excellent Science Bottom-up research To raise the level of excellence in Europe's science base, make Europe an attractive location for researchers and secure Europe's long-term competitiveness European Research Council supporting the most talented and creative individuals and their teams to carry out frontier research; Future and Emerging Technologies collaborative research to open up new and promising fields of research and innovation; Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, providing researchers with excellent training and career development opportunities; Research Infrastructures accessible to all researchers in Europe and beyond. 2
What is the objective with MSCA? - finance ± 65 000 researchers including 25 000 doctoral candidates. - EU will need at least one million new research jobs in order to reach political goals - high-quality professional opportunities open to researchers of any age, nationality or discipline.
Political instrument The Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions ensure excellent and innovative research training as well as attractive career and knowledge-exchange opportunities through cross-border and cross-sector mobility of researchers, to better prepare them for current and future societal challenges.
Draft MSCA WP 2018-2020 MSCA-ITN-2018 2017-10-12 - - 2018-01-16 442 EUR million MSCA-ITN-2019 2018-09-13 - - 2019-01-10 470 EUR million MSCA-ITN-2020 2019-10-12 - - 2020-01-09 525 EUR million MSCA-IF-2018 2018-04-12 - - 2018-09-12 278 EUR million MSCA-IF-2019 2019-04-11 - - 2019-09-11 300 EUR million MSCA-IF-2020 2020-04-08 - - 2020-09-09 332 EUR million
Key features MSCA Open to all domains of research and innovation from basic research up to market take-up and innovation services Entirely bottom-up Mobility as the key requirement - funding on condition participants move from one country to another Promotion of attractive working and employment conditions Particular attention to gender balance Public engagement of supported researchers Participation of non-academic sector strongly encouraged, especially industry and SMEs
Early Stage Researchers (ESR) First 4 years (full time equivalent research experience) not yet awarded a PhD Experienced Researchers (ER) PhD or at least four years of full time research experience
Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions in H2020 ESR Innovative Training Networks ITN Doctoral and initial training ER Individual Fellowships IF Support for experienced researchers undertaking international and inter-sector mobility staff Research and Innovation Staff Exchange RISE International and inter-sector cooperation through the exchange of staff ESR, ER Co-funding of programmes COFUND Co-funding of regional, national and international programmes: - doctoral programmes - fellowship programmes Bild 9
Why participate? Build Links with Research Groups and Industry Worldwide Increase number of research students & staff Attracting Leading & Up-and-Coming Researchers Fund a Sabbatical Abroad (up-skill for ERC) Significant co-financing opportunity through COFUND
Funding in MSCA EU contribution is unit costs on the basis of research months (100% activity) No reporting of actual costs Different types of allowances: Living contribution to base salary Mobility contribution on top of salary Family contribution on top of salary Research, training Overhead and management ESR/ER Institution/Organisation
Individual Fellowships (IF) A personal fellowship to support a period of mobility No upper experience or age limit Focus on career development, not necessarily experience Support to experienced researchers of any nationality (IF Global and IF Reintegration: nationals of EU MS/AC and long-term residents Separate multidisciplinary panels for Society & Enterprise (S&E), Career Restart (CAR) and Reintegration (RI), Widening (Draft WP) Optional secondment during fellowship Bild 12
European and Global fellowships Mobility Rule: max 12 months in the last European 3 years prior to the Call deadline Fellowships RI/CAR/SE: max 3 years in the last 5 years 1 prior 2 years to the Call deadline Global Fellowships 2 3 years (incl. 12 months back in Europe)
Duration (months) European Fellowships 12-24 Global Fellowships Outgoing totc 12-24 Return to MS or AC 12 (mandatory) During the implementation of the IF the Experienced Researcher may be seconded to another institution in Europe. Such secondments must significantly contribute to the impact of the fellowship and therefore in certain research fields would be expected to take place in the non-academic sector. Duration of IF Max duration of secondments <= 18 months 3 months >= 18 months 6 months
Researcher unit cost in person/month Institutional unit cost in person/month Living allowance* Mobility allowance Family allowance Research, training and network costs Management and indirect costs IF 4,650 4,880 600 500 800 650 * Adjusted through correction coefficient for the cost of living to the country in which the host organisation is located
News WP 2018-2020 EF: Society and Enterprise Panel EF: Widening Fellowships ( 5-7m Spreading Excellence and Widening participation) IF: increased living allowance IF: Special needs allowance, max EUR 60,000 per researcher IF: part-time employment for professional, personal or family reasons (including parental leave) GF: Option to start project with 3 month secondment
Time to read and think (Hint: what is the objective with MSCA IF?) This exercise was provided by Alie Kwint, Kwintessence
This exercise was provided by Alie Kwint, Kwintessence The 2014-2015 Work Programme states: The goal of Individual Fellowships is to enhance the creative and innovative potential of experienced researchers wishing to diversify their individual competence in terms of skill acquisition through advanced training, international and intersectoral mobility. Individual Fellowships provide opportunities to acquire and transfer new knowledge
It continues. Expected Impact: Individual Fellowships are expected to add significantly to the development of the best and most promising researchers active in Europe, in order to enhance and maximise their contribution to the knowledge-based economy and society. The action will also strengthen the contact network of both the researcher and the host organisation. The fellowship will contribute to realising the full potential of researchers and to catalysing significant development in their careers in both the academic and non-academic sectors.
What did you notice? The word research does not feature much in these objectives
TAKE-HOME MESSAGE: MARIE SKŁODOWSKA-CURIE INDIVIDUAL FELLOWSHIPS ARE ABOUT MUCH MORE THAN THE RESEARCH
Innovative Training Network (ITN) Research programme for Early Stage Researchers (ESR) Objective: to train a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative researchers Triple i dimension - international, interdisciplinary, intersectoral Mobility rule 12 months / 3 years applies
ITN Objectives Train innovative early-stage researchers Excellence in doctoral/early-stage research training Provide skills to match public and private sector needs ITN Expected impact Improved career perspectives of researchers Structured high-quality research / doctoral training Collaboration academia with non-academic sectors
ITN Features (1) Excellence: International network of organisations applies and proposes a joint research training or doctoral programme Bottom-up (no pre-defined topics) All domains*: CHE, ECO, ENG, ENV, LIF, MAT, PHY, SOC Multidisciplinary approach Meaningful exposure to non-academic sector *: except areas of research covered by the EURATOM Treaty
ITN Features (2) Strong networking within the consortium Mobility across countries /disciplines Career guidance arrangements Supervisory Board Project duration typically 48 months Only for Early Stage Researchers
Typical ITN Consortium of organisations from different countries and sectors (no limit but typically 6-10) Beneficiaries: recruit ESR 3-36 months Partner organisations: host secondments/provide training Joint research programme 48 months Advanced research skills and transferable skills training Networking events Secondments for each researcher to another sector
Innovative Training Networks (ITN) European Training Networks (ETN) Academia Academia Nonacademia Nonacademia Academia Academia Nonacademia Nonacademia Country 3 Country 1 Academia Nonacademia Academia Non-academia Country 2 Academia Country 3 Country 1 Academia Academia Academia Non-academia Country 2 European Joint Doctorates (EJD) Academia Non-academia European Industrial Doctorates (EID) Academia Academi a Country 1 50% Non-academia Nonacademia Country 2
ITN - Financial Researcher unit cost Institutional unit cost Marie Skłodowska- Curie Action Living allowance* person/month Mobility allowance Family allowance person/month Research, training and networking costs Management and indirect costs Innovative Training Networks 3 110 3 270 600 500 1 800 1 200 * A country correction coefficient applies to the living allowance (CCC listed in the Work Programme)
News WP 2018-2020 ITN: Increased living allowance ITN: Special needs allowance, max EUR 60,000 per researcher
Time line for proposal writing Support from the organisation? Engagement, co-funding (overhead costs), formal aspects (EJD) Time for project planning! Contact potential hosts, beneficaries, secondments, supervisors (IF) EU Webinar (contact NCP for links) Involve Grants Offices, Research Services! (NCP) Sources for additional information: other MSCA Fellows, successful proposals, supervisors Get familiar to Participant Portal and start submission process early!
Mindset and long term perspective What is the impact of the project? MSCA has strong focus on individuals, how will this influence the future? Fellowship regarded as temporary employment to evaluate prior stategic recruitment? Fellowship door opener for future long term collaborations?.... Need for a thought out strategy!
2005 Business plan, Center for Proteomics:.the most promising field is to build up a unit in association with the University of Rijeka with excellence in highthroughput development and production of monoclonal antibodies on customer demand. Such a center should be able to develop into a selfsustaining entity within 5 years. Start-up project: The Center for Monoclonal Antibody Production, Croatian Ministry of Science, JEZGRA-17, EUR 480.000 (EUR 160.000 / p.a.) for laboratory equipment, supplies and personnel, 2005-2007
2017 103 grant applications to national, EU and international calls (43 % success rate) 43 awarded grants worth 11,2 mil. EUR for Stipan Jonjic research group (3 departments) 47 employees in the group, 26 grant-funded 1.000.000 EUR annual budget of grants and tech transfer activities
What kind of projects are we involved in? Basic scientific projects 3 grants 2009-2017 $ 1,2 mil. StAdvInn 2013-2018 1,7 mil. VISTRIE 2011-2017 400.000 7 grants 2006-2018 990.000 2 grants 2007-2015 330.000 Research capacity projects JEZGRA-17 2005-2008 480.000 Proteome Binders 2006-2010 22.000 CAPRI 2006-2008 250.000 CAPRI 2010 2009-2012 619.770 TransMedRi 2010-2013 1,8 mil. Staff mobility projects NK Defense and Therapy 2006-2009 199.000 HTP-GlycoMet 2013-2017 320.000 NKG2D in T cells 2011-2013 170.000 ICroMe 2013-2014 1.750 GLYCOVAX 2015-2019 248.000 + Centre of excellence for virus immunology and vaccines, 2014-2019 Knowledge transfer and innovation EntrepMEDRI 2013-2015 440.000 PACINNO 2013-2016 530.000 MAT promotor 2012-2013 46.000 anti-hcmv / anti- GBM vaccine 2016-2017 46.000
Important to think about Plans based on each individual researcher Supervisor(s): academic/industrial/public Political context (now, future?) Latest news regarding changes ( improvements ), e.g. EU-13 Added value (consequence of EU contribution) Logic career development (does the project provide what is needed) Attractive proposal (easy to read and understand) Ethics, gender -
The proposal should provide.. Understanding the motives for EU funding and goals Understanding for the regulations and conditions Understanding of the texts in WP and Call for Proposals!!! (Read, read again and again and again.) Contributions to the goals stated by EU (and not only for yourself and SE)
Check this to get a good proposal Consortium with complementary participants Who is the reader? Specialist? Generalist? Industrial? Public? Academic? Be concrete and avoid generic writing Avoid complicated expressions Write clear concrete goals and expected results Be realistic! What you write in the proposal is what you promise to deliver by a contractual agreement!
Interim Evaluation H2020: gender Among the 61 projects considered by project officers as having a gender dimension, only 35 projects actually included it. None of the 111 projects included gender training (eligible for funding in Horizon 2020) indicating that offering the possibility of having gender training as an eligible cost is not sufficient to generate take-up. Implementing gender in research content is challenging and calls for a better understanding of gender issues.
Change of rank with same score (ITN-2017)
Interim Evaluation H2020: outreach There is a need for greater outreach to civil society to better explain results and impacts and the contribution that research and innovation can make to tackling societal challenges, and to involve them better in the programme co-design (agenda-setting) and its implementation (cocreation).
Evaluation Read and follow the instructions: does the proposal answer the evaluation criteria? SWOT analysis for the project Remember individual support already in place: integration, employment conditions, housing, normal salaries (doktorandstegen) etc Do not promise too much (Proposal -> GA) Do not be too specific, good to have flexibility for future adjustments Do not have too many WP and Deliverables (reporting is based on this!) Main list, Reserve list, Out of budget, Cut-off, SoE
Evaluation panels
Make it easy for the evaluator Use a self-explanatory title A memorable acronym is helpful Use Diagrams, Charts, Tables or Figures where possible Easy to evaluate Minimise scientific jargon and write in a clear readable style For resubmissions, don t just use Evaluation Summary Report from previous submission to help you revise Look at the proposal as a whole to find room for improvement You need to score well in all sections in order to be funded don t spend all your time writing the Research section!
Many proposals have weak Impact description ITN Example: Delivering a research training programme to train a new generation of researchers in the fields of X and Y, which are important to European economy and society. Researchers will be equipped with key research and complementary skills, and will have the opportunity to work across disciplines, countries and sectors, broadening their career perspectives.
How to achieve this impact? Consortium and Complementarity Which participants (Beneficaries and Partner Organisations) do you need to achieve this impact? How will you harness the competencies and complementarities of these partners in order to achieve this impact? Research Programme How do you shape the research programme in order to achieve this impact? Training Programme How do you shape your training programme to achieve this impact? Supervision How to ensure the researchers are properly supported in order to achieve this impact? Implementation How will you manage the programme to ensure that the impact is achieved?
Remember the political agenda! EU funding is allocated as an political instrument to reach specific goals! The applicants need to show that they want to contribute to reach these goals But of course you also want to reach your own goals
Evaluation forms
Register as expert: http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/experts/index.html
The most common questions are What is the salary before and after tax? What is the mobility allowance? When does the Fellow have the right to get the mobility allowance?
The most common questions are What is the salary before and after tax? What is the mobility allowance? When does the Fellow have the right to get the mobility allowance? Recommendation 1: Recommendation 2: Ask if you do not know or are not convinced that GfA is not followed! Make sure that Fellow, employer, HR department, management and Grants Office involved get the same information before the project starts!
This is how it is according to GfA Living allowance is contribution to base salary ER: should be based on education, experience, competition and similar to other in the organisation ESR: should follow Doktorandstegen in Sweden Living allowances include employer fees and income tax Mobility and family allowances are taxed as income but is not base salary. Shall extensively be used for and by the ER/ESR Research, training allowances is used for activities stated in Annex 1 / Project description
Contains all documentation - be selective! Top documents: Work-Programme Guide for Applicants Proposal Template General Annexes FAQ Participant Portal The Gate to EU-projects List of countries, eligibility criteria, funding rates, evaluation etc. Paperless Grant Management in Horizon 2020
Objectives Implementation How to submit
Contact support offices and support functions Small and Mediumsized Enterprises (SME) Research Infrastructure Companies and entrepreneurs Grants Offices or Research Services at UoH eusme.se researchmatch.se enterpriseeurope.se
Euraxess Looking for a job? Free access to the research job market and funding opportunities Beyond job-hunting: Personalised information and support to relocate with confidence and ease Collaboration opportunities in and outside Europe? A global network connecting European researchers with the rest of the world
https://www.euraxess.se
Thank you! Erik Litborn National Contact Point (NCP) MSCA erik.litborn@vinnova.se +46 (0) 8 473 3198 Richard Andersson National Contact Point (NCP) MSCA richard.andersson@vr.se +46 (0) 8 546 44010
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