Overview of European funding opportunities for CES Wednesday, 2 nd November 2011

1. Overview of European funding opportunitiesfor CESWednesday, 2nd November 2011 HuwMerfyn Hughes European Research Funding Officer

2. European funding schemes – all have a different focus: FP7 – research focusEuropean Innovation in Technology (EIT)Joint Technology InitiativesIndividual ‘Directorate Generales’ e.g. Culture, AgricultureStructural funds – ERDF, INTERREG, ESFCOSTLIFE+Bilateral arrangements e.g. EU/US Atlantis Programme Lifelong Learning Programmes – some aspects covered by Iona Hopkins of IntRC Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP)*industry

3. Structured into ‘Specific Programmes’:Collaborative Projects/CooperationIdeas (European Research Council)People (includes Marie Curie)CapacitiesJoint Research Council (JRC) not accessible to AUEuratomnot accessible to AU FP7 ….these programmes are subdivided…

4. Research Infrastructures Research for the Benefit Of SMEs Regions of Knowledge Research Potential Science in Society Activities of International Co-operation Coherent Development of Policies Initial Training of Researchers Starting Independent Researcher Grants Lifelong Learning and Career Development Advanced Investigator Grants Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways The International Dimension Specific Actions FP7 Cooperation + JRC + Euratom Capacities Ideas People Proof of Concept Grants New pilot scheme: Synergy Grants

5. General characteristics Supports creation of ERA through promotion of collaboration that’s beyond the scope of individual Member States 67% of FP7 funding Tender type ‘topics’ with competition – success rates vary per topic but around 17% Consortia of at least 3 from 3 MS/AC Other countries can participate but developed countries rarely get € Topics announced in ‘Work Programme’ document – one for each theme - generally in July Some single stage, some two-stage applications Deadlines Nov-Feb Cooperation

6. Research Infrastructures Research for the Benefit Of SMEs Regions of Knowledge Research Potential Science in Society Activities of International Co-operation Coherent Development of Policies Initial Training of Researchers Starting Independent Researcher Grants Lifelong Learning and Career Development Advanced Investigator Grants Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways The International Dimension Specific Actions The 3 ‘other’ programmes that are accessible to AU: general characteristics Approx33% of total funding FP7 funding across the 3 competitive applications research questions mostly proposed by applicants so are ‘bottom-up’ success rates vary across schemes and from year to year – typically in the range 5-46% pre-existing excellence of organisations/individuals is favoured Capacities Ideas People Proof of Concept Grants New pilot scheme: Synergy Grants

7. Starting Independent Researcher Grants Advanced Investigator Grants Ideasaka European Research Council (ERC) grants <€2M pro-rata over 5 years – July call/Autumn deadlines Advanced Investigator Grants <€2.5M pro rata over 5 years – Autumn call/Spring deadlines For previous ERCAdv Grant recipients Proof of Concept New pilot scheme: Synergy Grants 2-4 PIs to collaborate on interdisciplinary challenge Supports ‘the best’ to undertake the highest quality research within EU or AC - scientists, engineers and scholars Funding of €7.51 billion (2007-13) Excellence of Individual Researcher and Proposal are the sole criteria Competitive, flexible funding – success rates have varied every year/9%-17% Retain, repatriate and recruit Support for a PI and (if necessary) team members usually (90% of cases) in one location within EU or AC At least 50% of PI’s time to be spent on project Investigator-initiated frontier research across all fields of research, on the basis of scientific excellence

8. Overview of Marie Curie Actions People People Specific Programme Also funded: Researcher’s Night, CO-FUND

9. Research Infrastructures Research for the Benefit Of SMEs Regions of Knowledge Research Potential Science in Society Activities of International Co-operation Coherent Development of Policies Capacities • Aims through 7 schemes to • enhance research and innovation capacities • throughout Europe, and to ensure their optimal • use • support the coherent development of policies • complement the Co-operation programme • contribute to EU policies and initiatives to improve the coherence and impact of Member States’ policies • find synergies with regional and cohesion policies, the Structural Funds, education and training programmes and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP)

10. Previous suggestions put to Elena of relevant funding schemes for CES targeted at helping CES students to develop their career in research/their employability: People/Marie Curie Individual Actions People/Marie Curie Host Actions: ITNs and IRSES People/Marie Curie ‘Researchers’ Night’

11. Support (1) • 1. Signposting/News of calls • Central Research Office – e.g. weekly staff e-mail; through PIVOT • Departmental/Faculty research support staff • Making use of AU’s UKRO membership - daily/weekly updates – register on UKRO’s website - http://www.ukro.ac.uk/Pages/UKRO.aspx • EU’s Participant Portal website • http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/page/calls

12. Support (2) • Proposal preparation – • General advice on process and writing - HuwMerfyn Hughes hmh@aber.ac.uk ext 8742 • Proposal preparation – Huw initially, and Faculty Research Support Officer • Specialist Advice: National Contact Points, UKRO • Info Days: UK or Brussels • Partner searches • Proposal writing courses: UKRO, External Contractors • Financial advice – main contact Emyr Reynolds ehr@aber.ac.uk ext 2257 • Meeting spaces for consortium meetings at Brussels: • - Berwyn Davies, WHEB abd@aber.ac.uk • - UKRO*

13. Support (3) • Financial support to prepare proposals • Funds may be available within Departments/Institutes • Possibility of applying to the University’s Research Fund • External funding available for up to 50% from Wales European Collaboration Fund administered by Wales European Enterprise Network but only for Welsh Government’s priority areas: • http://www.enterpriseeuropewales.org.uk/wlx/tech/How_we_can_help.asp?ContentID=0110&BackTo=0&savemsg=&CustomMessage=

14. Support (4) • Previous experience/copies of applications • Examples of proposals • – contact HuwMerfyn Hughes • - previously successful applicants within your Department

15. Thanks for your interest Questions?