SINGAPORE CHINA JOINT RESEARCH PROGRAMME 12 th SINGAPORE CHINA JRP CALL FOR PROPOSALS (For Singapore Applicants) Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) Agency for Science, Technology & Research (A*STAR) 20 Biopolis Way, #08 01 Centros Singapore 138668 1
1 SUMMARY OF INITIATIVE 1.1 The A*STAR Biomedical Research Council (BMRC) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), People s Republic of China, jointly announce the 12 th Joint Research Programme (JRP) call for proposals under the Singapore China Joint Research Programme implemented in August 1998. 1.2 This international joint research programme aims to stimulate information exchange leading to cooperative research to advance science and technology in both countries. 1.3 For 2015, joint proposals in the area of Medical Technology are invited to be submitted. 1.4 Singapore applicants are required to submit their applications via email to A STAR_ADMIN_BMRC@a star.edu.sg by Friday, 8 th January 2016, 5:00 p.m. (Singapore Standard Time). 1.5 All proposals will be reviewed by a scientific panel appointed by MOST. The panel consists of a group of scientific experts who will review and recommend complete proposals for award. 2 INITIATIVE DESCRIPTION 2.1 Under the Research, Innovation and Enterprise 2015 (RIE2015) initiative, A*STAR BMRC will fund projects that address critical technologies in the area of Medical Technology. Medical Technology encompasses technologies such as devices, equipment, as well as IT platforms that diagnose, treat and/or improve human healthcare. 2.2 This grant call is competitive and multi disciplinary in nature, and is aimed at encouraging engagements between the Singapore and China research community and research scientists/engineers to develop cost effective innovations through a needs driven approach that will improve patient care. It seeks to foster collaborations between the two countries to develop medical devices and solutions for clinical problems, and will support collaborative research projects with emphasis on devices, procedures, diagnosis, and clinical systems. 2.3 Please note that drug discovery research (small molecules and biologics) shall not be under the purview of this Grant Call and shall be rejected. 2.4 Projects will have to be driven by needs identified by Clinicians that are matched to a potential technological solution. The philosophy is to approach the needs, problems or gaps from a medical/healthcare point of view, and not from a technology push perspective, right from the start. 2
2.5 It is critical that technical researchers can understand and appreciate, even at a preliminary level, the motivation for the problem and the key features from a nontechnical perspective for a successful resolution. This includes understanding the existing (even if unsatisfactory) solution in the current situation, how the proposed solution will be tested and used in the clinical setting as well as the likely impact of a successful implementation on the end user/patient and/or healthcare organization. 2.6 Therefore, it is highly important that the clinical and technical research collaborators discuss and understand comprehensively both the clinical need and potential technical solution to ensure that there is value in such collaboration. 2.7 Up to five projects shall be jointly funded through the 12 th JRP. For each of the five projects, MOST shall grant a funding of up to RMB 1.5 million per project for Chinabased PIs, and A*STAR BMRC shall grant a funding of up to S$300,000 per project for Singapore based PIs for up to 3 years. 3 PROPOSAL PREPARATION AND SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 3.1 The objective of this initiative is for projects to leverage strongly on partnerships and collaborations with scientists and research groups/institutions in China. 3.2 It is A*STAR BMRC s intent that the proposed project leverage as much as possible on existing infrastructure and programmes. No major investments in tools and equipment are envisaged. Allocation for manpower, service and share time charges for use of equipment should be factored in proposal submissions. 4 ELIGIBILITY 4.1 This Call for Proposals is open to Singapore public sector research organizations, hospitals, universities, polytechnics, and A*STAR research institutes. 4.2 For every proposal submitted, there should be TWO Co Principal Investigators (one Singapore based, and one China based). The China based PI must concurrently submit the joint proposal to China s MOST. 4.3 Applicants from the private sector are NOT eligible to receive funding from this grant, but may take part as a collaborator of projects, and co fund the project either in cash or in kind contribution. 4.4 The assignment of commercialisation rights and distribution of any intellectual property (IP) (made according to the contributions by the respective parties) shall be established in a Research Collaboration Agreement (RCA) between the Singapore and China research entities within one year of the issuance of a Letter of Award. 3
4.5 The research project will be funded approximately up to S$300,000 (for the Singapore component) for up to 3 years, and this figure includes funding for general overheads (indirect costs). For non A*STAR research institutes that are eligible for indirect cost funding, the maximum direct cost funding quantum is S$250,000. 4.6 Under this programme, A*STAR BMRC of Singapore and their counterpart in China will fund the approved project undertaken by the respective sides through their respective budgets. That is, Singapore will fund the Singapore component of the project, while China will fund the Chinese component. 4.7 Projects should provide leverage in one or more of the following ways: (i) (ii) (iii) Provide access to unique/specialized characteristics of overseas partner country, e.g., specific scientific knowledge or technique, availability of key manpower, common interest in seeking a breakthrough in science, training in research manpower, research capability in a specific field, etc. Tap on specialized capabilities of overseas partner agencies, and through this, create strategic linkages to tap on specialized capabilities in the future. Provide opportunities to learn/share/benchmark research with your international collaborator. 5 PROPOSAL REQUIREMENTS 5.1 Proposals must attempt to fully disclose the research ideas and approaches. It is important that proposals are well crafted and provide substantive description of the research plan for a fair review of the scientific/technical plans and approaches. Proprietary or confidential information must be clearly indicated in the proposal. Proposals must not be duplicative or substantially similar to any previous project or proposal submission. No individual should be represented in more than two proposals. 5.2 The proposal should contain the following: i. The overall detailed joint project description ii. Details on the involvement and contribution of the Singaporean investigators iii. Details on the interaction among investigators of both countries iv. Details for the funding required for the Singaporean effort 4
6 SUBMISSION INSTRUCTIONS 6.1 Only FULL proposals will be accepted for review, evaluation and assessment for awards. 6.2 All proposals must also be submitted through the Principal Investigator s respective Director s Office, Office of Research or equivalent. If the Principal Investigator is the Director of the Institution, an undertaking by the Director s Reporting officer is required. A*STAR BMRC will not accept proposals from individuals without the appropriate endorsement from his/her employing organizations. This is to ensure that organizational support is clearly associated with the proposed research plan. 7 DEADLINES 7.1 Singapore applicants are required to apply electronically by submitting their applications via email to A STAR_ADMIN_BMRC@a star.edu.sg by Friday, 8 th January 2016, 5:00 p.m. (Singapore Standard Time). 7.2 China based applicants are required to submit their application forms to MOST, which can be found on the following websites: http://most.cn/mostinfo/xinxifenlei/fgzc/gfxwj/gfxwj2015/201511/t20151117_1224 07.htm 7.3 It is expected that grant recipients will be notified by end April 2016 8 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATION OF GRANT PROPOSALS 8.1 This grant call seeks to identify proposals that are innovative, demonstrative of a high level of scientific pursuit, clearly identify recipients of research outcomes and applications, challenge paradigms and set international benchmarks. 8.2 Other factors will include the level of synergy of the proposed research to the collective set of activities, the abilities of the researchers, their past performance in prior awards, comments of the referees (if required), effectiveness of project management, and appropriateness of the requested budget. 8.3 A formal contract involving the relevant Singapore based public institutions and Chinese institutions shall be drawn for each project. Each project shall inter alia: Contribute substantially to scientific progress in the respective field and must be original and innovative; Apply state of the art methods and advanced technologies; Be tackled in an inter disciplinary approach involving scientists with different backgrounds in basic research and/or applied/closed research; Involve a mix of experienced and young scientists. 5
9 PROPOSAL SELECTION AND AWARD PROCESS 9.1 All proposals will reviewed by a scientific panel appointed by the MOST. The panel consists of a group of scientific experts who will review and recommend complete proposals for award. 9.2 A*STAR BMRC may require proposals to be combined as it deems fit to enhance collaboration, facilitate integration and optimise resources. 9.3 A*STAR BMRC may seek referees reports, written submissions or presentations from some PIs to justify, elaborate or clarify aspects of the research approach described in the proposal during the review process. 9.4 Notification of in principle awards will be sent to the respective employing organizations and copied to the Principal Investigator. 10 INFORMATION OWNERSHIP 10.1 The following should be satisfied prior commencement of the project: i. Cooperating parties should enter into a formal contract agreement, which should specify the roles and tasks to be undertaken by each party to the cooperation; and ii. Share and ownership of intellectual property rights brought to and resulting from the cooperation, as well as the commercialization rights should be agreed amongst the cooperating parties, and will be subjected to contract assigned by both parties in the joint collaboration before commencement date of the project as far as possible. 10.2 The formal award letter will not be issued until the above agreed terms are incorporated into a formal contract agreement between the collaborating parties from Singapore and China and forwarded to A*STAR not later than six (6) months after the in principle approval of the project, failing which the offer would have been deemed to have lapsed. 11 PROGRAMME REVIEW AND MONITORING 11.1 Programmes will be reviewed annually, and research teams are expected to submit annual summary reports, which will be jointly reviewed by A*STAR BMRC and MOST. 11.2 Presentations and public seminars may also form part of the progress review of a project. 6
12 INDICATIVE TIMELINE OF GRANT CALL ACTIVITIES Activity Launch of 12 th JRP Grant Call Deadline for submission of project proposals for Singapore based PIs Timeline November 2015 Friday, 8 th January 2016, 5 p.m. Review of grant applications January February 2016 Joint evaluation and finalisation of selected projects for funding March 2016 Successful grantees to be informed about the outcome of the grant call April 2016 13 ENQUIRIES 13.1 For enquiries pertaining to this grant call, please contact BMRC at the following e mail address: a star_admin_bmrc@a star.edu.sg ****************************** 7