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Note (March 21, 2018): when the call was announced, in item #2 there was a topic missing: "food safety". The correct topics are as follows: "food safety; use of agro-industrial waste; development of new food additives; natural products for pest control." 

1. INTRODUCTION

The Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP), Brazil and the Comisión Nacional de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica (CONICYT), Chile, launch a call for joint research projects.

The aim of this joint research call is to promote and strengthen collaboration between researchers affiliated with Higher Education and Research Institutions in the state of São Paulo, Brazil and Chile.

2. RESEARCH AREAS

The present Call invites Research Proposals in the field of Agroindustry, in the following topics:

a) Environmental sustainability vs. food production: food safety; use of agro-industrial waste; development of new food additives; natural products for pest control.

b) IT (Information Technologies) in agriculture.

3. DURATION OF PROJECTS

The maximum project duration is 36 months, non-extendable.

4. FINANCIAL SUPPORT

The call aims at giving financial support to joint research projects selected in the identified theme. Each side shall finance its own national research teams.

CONICYT and FAPESP are each prepared to fund up to the equivalent of USD 30,000 per project/per year.

4.1 CONICYT will fund the Chilean research team in the following items:

a) Equipment: Acquisition of minor research equipment (national or imported, with a limit of a 25% of total project) and their related accessories, only if they are strictly needed for the correct project execution, the cost associated to this item may include:

- Transport, transport insurance and import taxes;

- Infrastructure modifications related to equipment functions;

- Training courses related to equipment use.

b) Administrative costs: Incidental and minor expenses discriminated in the project, such as services done by physical or juridical persons and acquisition of consumption materials:

- Payment of eventual contracts of maintenance or services;

- Field trips, including insurance if needed;

- Materials for printing, filming and recording, drawing, photography;

- Laboratory functioning and others;

- Software acquisition.

c) Mobility for the Chilean research team:

- Daily allowances of CLP $100.000, one hundred thousand Chilean pesos, per day for international trips and for national trips will provide a daily allowance of CLP $150.000, one hundred and fifty thousand Chilean pesos, per day to cover for lodging and for meals. Both national and international trips with a maximum duration of 30 days for the Principal Investigator, co-researchers and Chilean research team (post-docs, graduate students, undergraduate students, and other researchers)¹.

- International and national travel tickets for research team; all travel tickets must be in economy class.

d) Personnel costs: Postdocs, graduate and undergraduate students, research associates and technical staff whose services are specifically associated to project execution. Part-time work must be proportional to the time dedicated and responsibilities on project´s activities. Principal Investigator, associate researchers, and personnel associated with academic institutions participating in the project are not considered.

e) Dissemination activities, including assistance to seminars, websites, workshops, magazines and costs associated to publish the results of this project.

CONICYT does not include overhead.

4.2 FAPESP will fund the research team from the state of São Paulo under the following conditions:

a) For the applicant researcher in the state of São Paulo, the collaborative proposal will be processed at FAPESP as a Regular Research Award (Auxílio à Pesquisa – Regular);

b) FAPESP may fund the equivalent amount of up to USD 30.000 per project/per year including fundable budget items and applicable overheads;

c) Fundable budget items follow the usual conditions of the Regular Research Award (www.fapesp.br/apr), which include equipment with individual cost of up to the equivalent of R$ 100.000, consumables, third-party services, mobility costs and technical training fellowships. The usual overheads are applicable (“RT/BC”).

4.3 Funding requests from CONICYT and FAPESP do not have to be equal; proposals should have a budget that reflects the participation of scientists from each region. It is envisaged that applications will be for a balanced partnership, not specifically in monetary terms but with equivalent research commitment and efforts from both sides. The only requirement is that the funding rules of each agency must be followed.

5. WHO CAN BE FUNDED

Research groups, specialists (researchers) linked to nonprofit institutions or centers: Higher education institutions, research institutions (public or private) and research centers eligible to FAPESP and CONICYT for the offered grant modalities. Please check the eligibility criteria in item 7.5 below.

6. TIMELINE

7. SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

The proposals are to be submitted only to FAPESP before or on 30 April 2018, by the Principal Investigator of the proposal from the state of São Paulo. No proposal will be accepted after the closing date for submission, nor will any addendum or explanation be accepted, unless those explicitly and formally requested by FAPESP or CONICYT.

7.1 Submissions can only be accepted through the SAGe online platform, available at www.fapesp.br/sage. Please find detailed submission instructions at the Annex 1 below.

a) Proposals submitted by any other means will not be accepted;

b) No documents should be sent to CONICYT by the partner research from Chile;

c) Chilean partner researchers must check national requirements available at www.conicyt.cl/pci.

7.2 Joint Research Project

The proposal shall include a unique Joint Research Project (maximum of 15 pages, in English) written jointly by applicants from Chile and from the state of São Paulo. The research project shall include a clear description of the planned collaboration (distribution of work per year/per side and methods of implementation) and the added value to be expected from the collaboration. The research plan shall include separate summarized budget tables from both partners (in a single page) and bibliography.

7.3 Submission conditions specific to FAPESP

Submission to FAPESP will follow the general rules for Regular Research Awards (www.fapesp.br/apr), except as determined by this call for proposals.

The application shall include the following specific information and documentation, along with the usual Regular Research Awards requirements:

a) The common Joint Research Project with a maximum of fifteen (15) pages of scientific content (as of item 7.2 above);

b) Summary CV of the Principal Investigators from São Paulo and from Chile (in English, following the guidelines at www.fapesp.br/en/6351); the proponent from Chile must register his personal information on the SAGe platform, accordingly to Annex 1;

c) Summary CVs of Collaborating Researchers from São Paulo and from Chile (in English, following the guidelines at www.fapesp.br/en/6351) only researchers from São Paulo must be registered at the SAGe platform.

All proposals must be submitted to FAPESP through the SAGe online platform.

7.4 Submission conditions specific to CONICYT

The joint proposal shall include the following documentation provided by the Chilean Principal Investigator², to be uploaded to the SAGe online platform:

a) Letter of Institutional support (sponsorship), signed by the legal representative of the Sponsoring National Institution to which the principal investigator belongs according to the available template (“Compromiso Institución Patrocinante Chilena”, signed as a PDF file);

b) Chilean specific Budget Worksheet according to the available template (“Presupuesto”), in Chilean pesos;

c) Certificate recognizing the obtained PhD degree of the Chilean Principal Investigator (PDF file);

d) Description of the Chilean technical team, which may comprise researchers, students and technicians (as a single PDF document).

For further detailed information, applicants must follow the national requirements on the Terms of Reference of CONICYT, available at www.conicyt.cl/pci.

The Chilean technical team may comprise researchers, students and technicians, mentioned in the Research Proposal Form.

7.5 Eligibility criteria

Applicants from Chile and from the state of São Paulo must satisfy the eligibility criteria of CONICYT and FAPESP:

a) For FAPESP: Terms of reference available at www.fapesp.br/apr (particularly on items 3.3 and 6);

b) For CONICYT: Terms of reference at www.conicyt.cl/pci.

Applicants must be aware that submitted proposals may not pass to merit evaluation should eligibility criteria is not met in either side.

8. REVIEW OF PROPOSALS

The proposals shall be reviewed using peer review from Sao Paulo, Chilean and International experts. A bilateral scientific panel will consolidate the external reviews and rate the scientific quality of the applications for decision-making.

Only the proposals jointly selected by CONICYT and FAPESP will be funded.

8.1 The evaluation criteria should include, among others:

Scientific quality:

a) Scientific merit of the proposal: excellency, scope and relevance (national and international) of the subject; objectives; methodology; originality; potential for scientific and technological innovation; potential for development of new products and processes; global targets and multi and interdisciplinary perspectives;

b) Coherence among objectives, methodology, expected results and timetable of the research plan;

c) Partnerships: interaction between Brazilian and Chilean research teams; institutional links, also with private sector in case that they exist; strategic importance, benefits and relevance of foreseen international cooperation;

d) Coherence and adequacy of the demanded budget in relation with the objectives and goals fixed for the project and with the global budget available for the Call for Proposals.

Management and Scientific skills of research team:

a) Scientific merit of project leaders and participants of research teams involved in the project: competence; level of academic formation; scientific and technological co-production (publications, patents and others); skill to orientate capacity building of students; and available time to work in the project;

b) Coherence and adequacy between formation/experience of research teams involved in the project and the objectives, activities and goals fixed for the project;

c) Available infrastructure and support in the participating institutions for the execution of the project, and compatibility of the infrastructure and the support team with the project’s research plan;

d) Financial counterpart of the participating institutions, as well as other existing grants to support the activities of the project.

Scientific and technological impact:

a) General expected results: joint publications, capacity building of students, socioeconomic impacts and other mutual benefits that may be generated from such international cooperation;

b) Potential of dissemination of scientific and technological knowledge yielded by the project.

8.2 Proposals that do not comply with the terms of this Call will not qualify for analysis.

8.3 Binational Evaluation Committee

a) CONICYT and FAPESP will designate a Committee, specially appointed for this call.

b) The funding of the proposals approved by CONICYT and FAPESP will be agreed between the two institutions.

c) The selected projects will be published on the websites of FAPESP and CONICYT - available at www.fapesp.br and www.conicyt.cl.

9. STARTING OF THE SELECTED PROPOSALS

9.1 At FAPESP:

a) A Letter of Agreement regarding Intellectual Property Rights must be issued before FAPESP sends out the Grant Contract to the proponent (as of item 10 below);

b) Selected proposals start as soon as the Grant Contract is signed by FAPESP, the proponent and the legal representative of the Higher Education and Research Institution to which he/she is affiliated.

9.2 At CONICYT:

a) Following the official communication of the grant, CONICYT will send the financing agreement to each Chilean counterpart for the respective signatures;

b) This agreement shall expressly establish the rights and obligations of each of the parties, the duration of the project and all clauses, which safeguards the fulfillment of the objectives of the project;

c) For all legal purposes and the subscription of the respective agreement, CONICYT's counterpart will be the Sponsoring National Institution of the Principal Investigator³;

d) The starting date of the project will be from the date of the completion of the entire administrative procedure in CONICYT that approves the financing agreement and will have a duration of 36 months;

e) The resources granted by CONICYT will be transferred to the National Sponsoring Institution in Chile;

f) Funds for the second and third year of the project will be transferred by CONICYT once the technical progress report has been approved and the respective accountability for all the funds delivered in the previous year has been presented and approved.

10. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

In case of approval, a Letter of Agreement has to be formulated between the Partner Host Institution in Chile and the Host Institution to which the Principal Investigator from São Paulo is affiliated, establishing how Intellectual Property Rights, confidentiality, and publications will be treated jointly, in observance of the policies of each funding Party. Ownership of IP generated during the project and rights to exploitation, as well as any costs regarding management of IP, are expected to be agreed between the collaborating research organizations before the research begins. The presentation of this Letter of Agreement is mandatory before the signature of the grant contract in the case of FAPESP.

11. GRANT CANCELLATION

FAPESP or CONICYT may cancel funding if, during the grant timeframe, a significant event justifies its cancellation, without prejudice of any other appropriate actions.

12. FUNDING AGENCIES AND CONTACTS:

[1] Find glossary in CONICYT national terms of reference at www.conicyt.cl/pci/category/lineas-del-programa/investigacion-conjunta.

[2] For purposes of this Call, the Principal Investigator assumes the commitments and obligations that its execution requires and acts as technical counterpart to CONICYT. It is responsible for the timely delivery of the technical reports requested, as well as the corresponding account surcharges. Must reside permanently in Chile during the execution of the project. Must work in the Chilean National Sponsoring Institution of the project.

[3] For definitions, please see the glossary on CONICYT’s terms of reference.

ANNEX 1 (In Portuguese only)

Instruções específicas sobre o uso do SAGe

1. É necessário que o Pesquisador Responsável pela proposta seja cadastrado no sistema SAGe:

(i) Pesquisadores que não possuem cadastro no SAGe devem inicialmente realizá-lo acessando a página www.fapesp.br/sage, clicar em “Sem cadastro?” e preencher os dados solicitados. Não basta apenas cadastrar-se como usuário, é necessário completar os dados cadastrais;

(ii) Pesquisadores do Estado de São Paulo já cadastrados devem realizar o login no SAGe com identificação e senha usuais para acessar a página inicial do sistema.

1.1. O Pesquisador Responsável parceiro no Chile também precisa ser cadastrado no sistema SAGe:

(i) Pesquisadores parceiros que não possuem cadastro no SAGe devem inicialmente realizá-lo acessando o endereço www.fapesp.br/sage escolhendo a versão em inglês da página inicial e clicar em “Not registered?”. Em seguida preencher, em inglês, os dados solicitados.

2. Para a submissão da proposta, na página inicial, selecionar dentre as opções do menu “Acesso Rápido – Atividades do Pesquisador”, a opção “Nova Proposta Inicial”.

3. O sistema disponibilizará na página seguinte o menu “Incluir Proposta – Selecionar Linha de Fomento”, selecionar a opção “Outras linhas de fomento”.

4. Ao expandir a opção “Acordos de Cooperação” escolher “CONICYT” e então selecionar:

CONICYT - Projeto de Pesquisa – Regular -> Chamada de Propostas (2017)

5. A seguir clicar o botão “Confirmar” e confirmar a operação na próxima janela (“Incluir Proposta”) ao clicar “Incluir”. A partir da janela seguinte, inserir os dados solicitados em todas as abas, inclusive a lista de documentos a serem anexados.

6. Atenção para a obrigatoriedade de preenchimento de todos itens marcados com “ * ”. É necessário “Submeter” o projeto ao final do preenchimento. “Projeto salvo não significa projeto submetido”.

7. No caso de dúvidas, na página inicial do SAGe pode ser usado o link Manuais e, na página Manuais, buscar esclarecimentos na lista Manuais de Apoio aos Pesquisadores.

8. IMPORTANTE: Recomenda-se fortemente verificar periodicamente as pendências da proposta utilizando a opção “Validar” do SAGE. Isso pode ser feito repetidas vezes, à medida que a proposta for construída, permitindo que sejam tomadas em tempo as providências necessárias à submissão. Ao selecionar a opção “Validar”, o sistema SAGe apresentará as pendências impeditivas para submissão da proposta considerando os itens que foram inseridos. Em caso de dúvidas sobre a utilização do SAGE, além dos Manuais, a FAPESP disponibiliza ainda atendimento pelo Setor de Informações ((11)3838-4000).