Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council

1. Opportunities under FP7 Marie Curie Actions - Individual ActionsCecilie Hansen and Estelle Kane UK National Contact Point for MCAsmariecurie-uk@bbsrc.ac.uk http://www.ukro.ac.uk

2. Arts and Humanities Research Council Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Central Laboratory of the Research Councils UK Research Office Economic and Social Research Council Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council Medical Research Council Natural Environment Research Council Particle Physics and Astronomy Research Council

3. UKRO’s Aim Based in Brussels, UKRO: Provides early insight and briefing; • Disseminates EU funding opportunities; • Provides high quality guidance and training; • Exchanges information between the UK and EU …promotes effective UK participation in EU-funded research programmes, higher education programmes, and other related activities… UK Research Office

4. UKRO Services include… • Website with information on programmes, FAQs and Guidance http://www.ukro.ac.uk- Information services – email updates (& searchable database) • Enquiry service - Annual visit from an UKRO European Advisor- Specialist training courses and information events- Annual conference for European officers- Meetingroom in Brussels • - Monthly publication - British Council ‘RTD Insight’ • - National Contact Point (Marie Curie and ERC) UK Research Office

5. Marie Curie NCP - helpdesk • Web, email, telephone, visits • Advice on applying for MC actions: • Eligibility • Application help • Results • Contractual issues • Advice to those with MC contracts: • Social security and tax • Model agreements between host and fellow • Contractual issues UK Research Office – MC NCP

6. Overview of session Opportunities to support post-doctoral researchers: Marie Curie Individual Fellowships and the International Dimension How to apply and tips on writing your proposals Round-up and Close FP7 – Marie Curie – Introduction

7. Framework Programme 7 UK NCP for Marie CurieEstelle KaneCecilie HansenUK Research Office http://www.ukro.ac.uk

8. Policy Background • FP7 is designed to achieve the Lisbon and Barcelona objectives and to complement activities in Member States. • Support to the European Research Area • Budget of €50 521 million • Complementarity with other EC programmes: • Competitiveness and Innovation • Education and Training • Structural Funds FP7 – Policy Background

9. EU Countries EU-27 Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, UK Associated Countries (FP6) Croatia, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Turkey, Serbia FP7 – Policy Background

10. ICPCs FP7 – International cooperation

11. FP7 Specific Programmes Co-operation – Collaborative Research Framework Programme 7 European Research Council Marie Curie Actions Capacities – Research Capacity JRC EURATOM

12. Marie Curie Actions Objectives and Policy Context: • Make Europe more attractive to researchers • Structuring effect on the European Research Area through transnational and intersectoral mobility in order to create a European labour market for researchers • Strengthen human potential by: • Encouraging people to become researchers • Encouraging researchers to carry out their research in Europe • Trans-national and inter-sectoral mobility • €4.7 Billion FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

13. Principles • Skills and competence development at all stages of researchers career • Open to all research areas addressed under the Treaty plus possibility of targeted calls • Strong participation from enterprises • Reinforce international dimension • Appropriate gender and work/life balance • Good working environment, transparent recruitment and career development FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

14. Overview of Marie Curie Actions FP7 – Marie Curie Actions Specific Actions: Marie Curie Awards, Researcher’s Night

15. MCA – Budget breakdown FP7 – Marie Curie Actions € Million

16. MCA - Deadlines FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

17. Central to all MC projects The RESEARCHER, their training and mobility In order to assess eligibility (for project or fellowship), it is essential that you consider the following: • The minimum or maximum amount of research experience stipulated for the action • The transnational mobility requirements for the action FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

18. Key Changes from FP6 • Individual Fellowships • Must have PhD or 4 years experience at time of application(no 8 months rule) • International Reintegration Grants • Must not be employed in research in a Member State or Associated Country at time of application FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

19. Individual Actions • Researcher applies jointly with host • Length of stay depending on Action • Reintegration Phase • Mandatory for International Outgoing Fellowships • Optional for International Incoming Fellows (if the fellow is from an international co-operation partner country (ICPC)) • Fellow who withdraws cannot be replaced FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

20. Definition of researchers FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

21. Transnational Mobility Requirements • Must not have been resident in host country for more that 12 months in the last 3 years immediately before application deadline (for individual actions) • Cannot be a national of host country unless • European researcher working outside EU for 3 of the last 4 years • Dual nationality and have not resided in a country of nationality for the last 5 years • International organisation • Return and reintegration grants FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

22. Individual Fellowships • Aimed at ‘Experienced Researchers’ • Skills diversification • Three categories: • Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) • International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) • International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

23. Intra-European Fellowships • EU Member or Associated State National or Third Country national if in EU for at least 4 of the last 5 years • 12 – 24 months in a different EU Member State or Associated Country • Resuming a career in research • Individual applies with host • Attaining or strengthening professional independence • Skills diversification FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

24. International OutgoingFellowships • EU Member or Associated State Nationals only • 24 – 36 months in total of which 12 -24 months in third country followed by mandatory reintegration phase in European host institutions • Individual applies with host • Acquiring new knowledge in the third country – bringing it back to the EU/AS • Contract is between European host institution and Commission for duration of fellowship • Mandatory return phase of 1 year FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

25. International IncomingFellowships • Third Country nationals only • 12 – 24 months incoming phase in EU/AS • Possible 1 year reintegration for nationals from ICPC • Individual applies with host • Contract between European host institution and EC for incoming phase, and between third country host and EC for reintegration / return • Knowledge-sharing • Mutually-beneficial research co-operation FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

26. European Re-integration Grants • (Re)-integration into research career following a period of transnational mobility • Applicants must have already benefited from a Marie Curie fellowship under FP6 or FP7 - 18 months minimum FTE • The European Re-integration Grant: • Supports a research project of 2- 3 years • Contributes to the research costs • Researcher applies with host institution • Start within 12 months of your fellowship end FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

27. International Re-integration Grants • Integration into research career in Europe following a period of transnational mobility outside Europe for at least 3 years • Contribute to development of lasting co-operation with scientific community of the third country from which they have returned • No requirement to have benefited from MCA previously • The International Re-integration Grants • Support a research project of 2- 4 years • Contributes to the research costs • Researcher applies with host institution • Host commits to researcher for at least 3 years • Must not be employed in research in EU at time of application FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

28. Overview of Marie Curie Actions Any questions? FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

29. Financial Issues UK NCP for Marie CurieEstelle KaneCecilie HansenUK Research Office http://www.ukro.ac.uk

30. Community Contribution • Benefits for the researchers • Living allowance • Mobility allowance • Travel allowance • Career exploratory allowance • Benefits for the institution • Contribution to research costs • Contribution to management costs • Other eligible costs possible • Indirect costs (overheads) FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

31. Researcher Salaries FP7 – Marie Curie Actions Salaries are inclusive of all compulsory deductionsCorrection factor applied for cost of living (UK Coefficient 110.2%)

32. Individual fellow allowances • Travel costs – depending on distance € 250 - €2500 • Mobility allowance Without family: €500 per month With family: €800 per month Correction factor applied for cost of living • Career Exploratory allowance € 2000 for stays of more than one year • Training / research costs of eligible researchers • Lab-based research: € 800 per month • Non-lab-based research: €500 per month FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

33. Benefits for the institution • Management Activities maximum 3% of the total EC contribution • Contribution to overheads 10% of direct costs except for subcontractors • Other types of eligible expenses ERG: Fixed amount € 15000 per researcher per year IRG: Fixed amount € 25000 per researcher per year FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

34. Contribution to the researcher – example Activities carried out by the researcher: Researcher with family, going from Lisbon to Paris for two years with an Intra-European Fellowships: • Living Allowance: 52 000 * 2yrs = € 104 000 • Mobility Allowance: 800 * 24 months = € 19 200 Correction factor = 91 % 123 200 * 91% = € 112 112 • Career exploratory allowance: € 2000 • Travel costs: 500 * 2 yrs = € 1000 Total contribution to the researcher = € 115 112 • Research costs (Lab-based) 800 * 24 = € 19200 Total community contribution € 134 312 FP7 – Marie Curie Actions

35. Submission and Evaluation UK NCP for Marie CurieEstelle KaneCecilie HansenUK Research Office http://www.ukro.ac.uk

36. Proposal Submission • All submission done online Contact the EC if there are compelling reasons for why you are unable to submit online • Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPPS) • should be available from 17 March • Meet the deadline! MCA – Submission & Evaluations

37. Contract signature Call fiche Published Project Start Contract negotiation Proposal submitted Evaluation Process Notification Of results Outline of the Process MCA – Submission & Evaluations

38. Evaluation Process Proposal Eligibility Rejection Individual Evaluation MCA – Submission & Evaluations Consensus Ethical Issues Rejection Thresholds Ranking by Commission Negotiation Rejection Negative Result Commission Funding Decision

39. Proposal Submission • All submission done online Contact the EC if there are compelling reasons for why you are unable to submit online • Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPPS) • should be available from 17 March • Meet the deadline! MCA – Submission & Evaluations

40. Proposal Submission Forms Part A Set of forms on administrative information about the proposal and the proposers (pre-prepared form) Part B Free-text description of the research project; Series of headings and explanatory notes based on the evaluations criteria; Limits on font size, size of PDF file MCA – Submission & Evaluations

41. Evaluation of proposals • Evaluation by competent experts in the field • Need to address all of the issues to maximise scores • Total score is 100% • Overall threshold (70%) • Some criteria have a threshold • Each area is weighted • Science counts for 25% • You must focus on the objectives of the activity to be successful MCA – Submission & Evaluations

42. European Charter and Code • European Charter for Researchers addresses: • Roles and responsibilities • Entitlements • of researchers and their employers or funding organisations. • Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers aims to: • improve recruitment and make selection procedures fairer and more transparent • proposes different means of judging merit MCA – Submission & Evaluations

43. European Charter and Code • The RCUK/UUK provided a UK HE sector analysis of the European Charter and Code against current UK guidelines and employment law • The analysis indicates there are no major barriers to UK HEIs wishing to adopt the Charter and Code in a more formal way, • Advise acknowledging adherence to the Charter and Code in all applications MCA – Submission & Evaluations

44. Maximising Your Chances of Success - Individual Fellowships UK NCP for Marie CurieEstelle KaneCecilie HansenUK Research Office http://www.ukro.ac.uk

45. What does the Commission want? A project that matches “their” objectives Marie Curie – What’s required

46. Individual Fellowships – Part B Other issues 3/5 FP7 – People – Marie Curie S & T Quality 25% 3/5 No thresholds for IIF Training & knowledge transfer 15% Researcher 25% 3/5 • Implementation 15% No threshold Impact 20% No threshold Overall threshold 70%

47. MCA – S&T Quality FP7 – People – Marie Curie

48. MCA – Training FP7 – People – Marie Curie

49. IEF/IIF/IOF Tips– Training (1) Positive feedback: • Clear assignment of scientists responsible for the training • Contemplates training courses specifically designed for postdoctoral fellows. • Research training objectives are clearly identified and described • Both participants will benefit from their mutual collaboration, not only through direct joint work, but also through the interaction with the whole research group Marie Curie – Evaluation Criteria

50. IEF/IIF/IOF Tips – Training (2) Negative Feedback • A research project with no training element • The host asserts skills without presenting convincing evidence of competence • The range of techniques described would clearly be valuable to the researcher, but the lack of detailed description does not inspire confidence in the quality of training available. Marie Curie – Evaluation Criteria