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Marie Curie Initial Training Networks

Marie Curie Initial Training Networks Workshop at University of Limerick, 5 June 2008 Dr. Dagmar M. Meyer Marie Curie National Contact Point. www.iua.ie. Introduction to the Marie Curie Initial Training Networks

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Marie Curie Initial Training Networks

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  1. Marie Curie Initial Training Networks Workshop at University of Limerick, 5 June 2008 Dr. Dagmar M. Meyer Marie Curie National Contact Point www.iua.ie

  2. Introduction to the Marie Curie Initial Training Networks What are ITNs, who can participate, how does it work? Hints for the proposal preparation Evaluation process and criteria Things to keep in mind Outline of the presentation An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  3. Marie Curie Initial Training Networks Background, budget and general principles Participants and their roles Eligible researchers ITN activities Financial aspects Part 1 An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  4. FP7 overall budget € 48bn People (Marie Curie) Programme € 4.727bn On average € 675m per year (in FP6: € 425m) Ireland’s success in FP6: € 59m = ~30% of FP6 total for a programme of 9% of total budget European Research Council € 7.5bn People Programme in FP7 (2007 – 2013) An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  5. Overview of the Marie Curie Actions Initial training of researchers Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN) Life-long training and career development Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) European Reintegration Grants (ERG) Co-funding of regional/national/international programmes (COFUND) Industry-academia pathways and partnerships MC Industry-Academia Pathways and Partnerships Scheme (IAPP) International dimension MC International Outgoing and Incoming Fellowships (IOF / IIF) MC International Reintegration Grants (IRG) International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) Specific actions Researchers’ Night (NIGHT), other specific actions An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  6. Budget breakdown for 2008 Calls on 2008 budget, total € 483.16m : * ITNs: plus € 145 m (?) from the 2009 budget An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  7. Directed at Early Stage Researchers Strengthen and structure initial training of researchers at European level Attract students to scientific careers Improve career perspectives by broad skills development (including private sector needs) Objectives of the ITNs An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  8. International network of participants Joint Research Training Programme: Training through research Complementary competences modules Exposure to both public and private sectors Industry involvement Mutual recognition of the quality of the training Grant agreements with Commission for four years, max. duration of fellowships 3 years Main features An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  9. Bottom-up approach Evaluation carried out in panels (data 2007): Chemistry (13%) Social and Human Sciences (9%) Economic Sciences (2%) Information Science and Engineering (20%) Environmental and Geo-sciences (10%) Life Sciences (26%) Mathematics (3%) Physics (17%) Research areas An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  10. Organisations that are actively involved in research and/or research training: Universities/Institutes of Technology Private and public research institutes Companies big and small International Organisations (CERN, UNESCO, …) The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre NGO’s Etc. Who are the participants? An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  11. 27 Member States (MS) 11 Associated Countries (AC) Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Israel, Switzerland, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Albania, Montenegro Third Countries (TC) More than 140 International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC) – can receive funding Other Third Countries (OTC) – normally self funded Which countries can they come from? An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  12. No more than 40% of the total EC contribution may be allocated to the benefit of organisations within one country in Multi-site ITNs. Type of ITN Country of Participants Multi-site ITN ≥3 Participants from 3 different countries (MS or AC) - Additional Participants: MS, AC, ICPC or OTC* * Funded only if a special agreement between the country and the EU or in very exceptional cases Types of ITNs An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  13. Type of ITN Country of Participant(s) Twinning ITN Well-established transnational collaboration 2 Participants from 2 different countries (MS or AC) Mono-site ITN 1 Participant from MS or AC Types of ITNs An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  14. Full Network Partners Offer research training & recruit eligible researchers Level 1 Associated Partners Provide research training, complementary skills courses,(communication, enterprise cycles, innovation, IPR, …)secondments Level 2 Members of the Supervisory Board: definition of skills requirements for targeted researchers Level 3 Partner status An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  15. At the highest possible level Expected minimum involvement of industry - Level 3 Clear evidence of the commitment of industry to be included in proposal Private sector participation An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  16. Eligibility Criteria at the time of recruitment Duration of appointments Early stage researchers (≥ 80%) 0 ≤ Research experience ≤ 4 years No PhD 3-36 months Experienced researchers PhD or at least 4 years of research experience & Research experience ≤ 5 years 3-24 months Visiting scientists (a limited number) Experienced researchers (experience >> 4 years) with outstanding stature in international training and collaborative research ≥ 1 month Multiple stays Eligible researchers INITIAL TRAINING Transfer of NEW COMPETENCES An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  17. Researchers can be nationals of any country other than the country of the premises of the host institution Nationals of Third Countries can only be recruited by hosts located in MS or AC Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the host for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment Special rules in case of: Dual citizenship European researcher returning from a third country Third Country researcher having resided in Europe for a long time International organisations as host institutions Transnational mobility An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  18. Complement the network’s capacity to transfer new knowledge Strengthen supervision of the network-wide training activities Exceptional and duly justified, with explicit reference to the punctual training events he/she will provide or organise Reasonable duration of appointment Role of visiting scientists An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  19. Training Networking International conferences open to external researchers Typical ITN activities An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  20. Training on scientific and technological knowledge through research:individual personalised projects within the framework of the research topics defined by the network Provision of structured training courses: tutoring, lecture courses, teaching Available either locally or from another participant of the network Local training programmes to be coordinated to maximise added value Training activities An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  21. Intersectorial visits and secondments Development of network-wide training activities : workshops, summer schools Exploitation of the interdisciplinary and intersectoral aspects of the project Exposure of the participants to different schools of thought Provide complementary training in IPR, project management, presentation skills, language courses, ethics, communication, entrepreneurship, proposal writing, task coordination… Coordinated by a clearly identified Supervisory Board Training activities An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  22. Personal Career Development Plan For researchers recruited for ≥ 6 months Early Post-Docs Intersectoral or interdisciplinary Transfer of Knowledge Taking part in the management of the research project Organisation of training events Training objective: to make them more independent and to provide them with the skills to become team leaders in the near future Training activities An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  23. Organisation of scientific/managerial network meetings Invitation of external experts Attendance at international conferences and workshops Electronic networking Collaboration with other ITNs Organisation of a final network conference Networking activities An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  24. International conferences, workshops, seminars, summer schools, etc. Should provide an opportunity to exchange knowledge with more experienced researchers disseminate the skills and knowledge of the network Events open to external researchers An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  25. Clearly identified Ensures that scientific and technological training is balanced with complementary skills training Composed of representatives of each of the participants in the network as well as external representatives Industry involvement Supervisory Board An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  26. Eligible expenses for the activities carried out by the recruited researchers Managed by the researchers Managed by the host institution ESR and ER A* Monthly living and mobility allowance Allowance rates adjusted by applying a country correction factor B Travel allowance Based on direct distance between place of origin and host institution C Career Exploratory allowance 2000€ for each researcher with a stay of at least 1 year • D • Participation to training / networking activities • 300€/researcher-month: non laboratory projects • 600€ /researcher-month: laboratory projects Visiting scientists Community contribution *Budget category, see Work Programme 2008 An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  27. Living, mobility and travel allowances • Living allowance (including all mandatory deductions) – basic rate submitted to country-specific coefficient (IE:113.3, UK:109.2, FR:104.4, DE:101.5, ES: 95.5, …) • Mobility allowance (€500/€800 monthly, depending on family situation at recruitment; country coefficient applies) • Travel allowance (€250 - €2500 every 12 months, depending on distance) An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  28. Eligible expenses for the activities carried out by the host organisations: Contribution to the research/training/Transfer of Knowledge programme expenses (E) Fixed amount of 600€ / researcher-month Contribution to the organisation of international conferences, workshops and events (F) Fixed amount of 300€ / researcher-day for researchers from outside the network and for the duration of the event Management activities (G) 7% of the total EC contribution for Multi-site ITN 3% of the total EC contribution for Mono-site and Twinnings ITN Overheads -10% of direct costs (except subcontracts) (H) Community contribution An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  29. Indicative timetable for Initial Training Networks An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  30. Stage 1 Proposals submitted: 905 (104 Irish participations in 86 distinct proposals, 14 as coordinators) Proposals invited to Stage 2: 197 (14 proposals with 1 Irish participant each, none as coordinator) Stage 2 Proposals submitted: 196 (14 Irish participations in 14 distinct proposals) Proposals on the ranked list: 68 (7 proposals with 1 Irish participant each) Overall success rate: 7.5 % Success rates in first Marie Curie ITN call in 2007 An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  31. Official website of the FP7 “People” (Marie Curie) programme on CORDIS (information on calls, work programme, guide for applicants, etc.): http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/people/ More information An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  32. IUA Marie Curie Office – National Contact Point Dr. Dagmar Meyer (dagmar.meyer@iua.ie) Dr. Conor O’Carroll (conor.ocarroll@iua.ie) mariecurie@iua.ie 01 676 4948 Enterprise Ireland – National Contact Point Focus on Industry - Bill Kee bill.kee@enterprise-ireland.com 01 808 2277 Key contacts An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  33. Hints for the proposal preparation: Evaluation process and criteria Things to keep in mind Part 2 An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  34. Download all the necessary documentation Do your homework – background reading! (Rules of the programme but also some policy background) Choose your consortium carefully – what kind of research and training expertise is needed? Exploit complementarities and synergies! Establish contacts with chosen partners well ahead of time (financial support for preparatory meetings etc. available from Enterprise Ireland) Proposal preparation – first steps An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  35. Only electronic submission using EPSS (Electronic Proposal Submission Service) Proposal has two parts: Part A: administrative information about proposal, applicant and host institution (prepared forms) Part B: free text covering a number of predefined aspects of the project, limited number of pages (prescribed font size and margins), limited size of pdf-file Deadline is STRICTLY enforced Submission procedure An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  36. Evaluation according to criteria provided in the Guide for Applicants Different criteria carry different weights Thresholds for some evaluation criteria Overall threshold is 70% All issues need to be addressed! Competition is fierce – don’t waste your chances. Always keep in mind the objectives of the activity! Evaluation criteria – basic principles An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  37. All proposals undergo initial eligibility check Evaluation by at least three experts from an international pool (not all experts are exactly from your field of speciality!!) Proposals that miss a threshold are rejected Remaining proposals are ranked within each panel All applicants receive evaluation summary report (very useful for re-submission!!) Distribution of funding to different panels in proportion to proposals submitted Reserve lists in case of late withdrawal etc. Evaluation process An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  38. Initial Training Networks – Part B • Evaluation criteria and thresholds (overall threshold 70%): An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  39. S&T objectives of the research programme, including in terms of inter/multi-disciplinary, intersectoral and/or newly emerging supra-disciplinary fields Scientific quality of the research programme Appropriateness of research methodology Originality and innovative aspects of the research programme. Knowledge of the state-of the-art. Weight: 30%, Threshold: 3/5 Initial Training Networks – S&T Quality An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  40. Quality of the training programme. Consistency with the research programme. Complementary skills offered: Management, Grant Writing, Communication, Ethics, Commercial exploitation of results, Research policy, IPR, Entrepreneurship, etc. Importance & timeliness of the training needs (e.g. multi-disciplinary, intersectoral and newly emerging supra-disciplinary fields) a) For multi-site proposals: Adequate combination of local specialist training with networkwide training activities. b) For mono-site proposals: Adequate exploitation of the international network of participants for the training program Appropriateness of the size of the requested training programme with respect to the capacity of the host Weight: 30%, Threshold: 4/5 Initial Training Networks – Training An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  41. Capacities (expertise/human resources/facilities/ infrastructure) to achieve research; adequate task distribution Appropriateness of industry involvement Adequate exploitation of complementarities & synergies among partners in terms of research and training How essential is non ICPC Third Country participation, if any, to the objectives of the research training programme Plans for the overall management of the training programme (demarcation of responsibilities, recruitment strategy etc) Networking and dissemination of best practice among partners. Clarity of the plan for organising training events (workshops, conferences, training courses) Weight: 20%, Threshold: 3/5 Initial Training Networks – Implementation An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  42. Contribution of the proposed training programme to the improvement of the career prospects of the fellows Provision to establish longer term collaborations and/or lasting structured training programme between partners' organisations, including private & academic partners Where appropriate, justification of the training events open to external participants and their integration in the training programme Where appropriate, mutual recognition of the training acquired by multipartner hosts Where applicable, relevance of the role of visiting scientist with respect to the training programme. Weight: 20%, Threshold: none Initial Training Networks – Impact An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  43. Follow the guide for applicants and address all issues mentioned in the explanatory notes Plan your writing - focus on one section at a time, but keep the “overall picture” in mind Don’t be repetitive – the same issue may appear in various sections, but from different perspectives, so don’t simply cut-and-paste! Be concise and observe the page limit Hints for a successful proposal An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  44. Stick to the structure suggested in the guide for applicants – keep the evaluators happy! The evaluators may not all be world experts in exactly the area of your proposal – avoid using very specific jargon and acronyms Provide the evaluators with evidence for your claims, but avoid external resources (links to websites etc.) Graphics and charts can be very helpful, but don’t overdo it! Make sure they are readable in black & white. Hints for a successful proposal An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  45. Get a colleague to read through your proposal and do a “mock evaluation” If in doubt, ask your National Contact Point for clarification! If you want to avail of our pre-submission proposal check, allow enough time for feedback. Regularly upload preliminary versions of your proposal, and don’t forget to hit “submit”! Keep the deadline - 5pm Brussels time means 4pm Irish time!! Hints for a successful proposal An Irish Universities Association Presentation

  46. Good luck!!! And finally…. An Irish Universities Association Presentation

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