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Available at https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za/

Specific requests for proposals submissions from researchers of the National Research Foundation (NRF) South Africa

FAPESP and NRF, signed a Cooperation Agreement for Research on November 2015, aiming to implement scientific and technological cooperation between researchers from the South Africa, and from the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, through the funding of joint research projects.

Under the referred Agreement, as a continuation this fruitful collaboration, FAPESP and NRF make public this Call for Proposals for the exchange of faculty and postdoctoral researchers under the terms and conditions of the SPRINT 1^st Edition 2019 (www.fapesp.br/sprint/call12019) and hereinafter set forth.

1. Eligibility from NRF side

1.1. Eligibility to submit proposals within the scope of this Call:

This call is open to working researchers residing in South Africa and affiliated with a recognised higher education or research institution such as a university, university of technology or science council. Commercial institutions and private education institutions are not eligible to apply under this programme. The South African applicant must be in possession of a PhD. In terms of human capital development, South African applications from previously disadvantaged individuals and the involvement of historically disadvantaged higher education and research institutions will be prioritised.

1.2. Eligibility for the exchange activities within the scope of this Call

a. Mobility: The exchange visits of researchers, postdocs and PhD students. The proposals must aim to respect the principle of reciprocity with regard to academic qualifications of those who will take part in the exchange activities;

b. The proposals must aim to respect the principle of reciprocity with regard to academic qualifications of those who will take part in the exchange activities;

c. Considering the principle of reciprocity, FAPESP exceptionally may either support PhD students from São Paulo state to take part in the scientific missions. In this case, the PhD student(s) must have an ongoing FAPESP fellowship during the planned exchange mission to the partner institution.

d. Eligibility of research partners in the State of São Paulo should observe the items 3.1 and 4.2 of FAPESP call (www.fapesp.br/sprint/call12019).

2. Fields of knowledge

This Call for Proposals invites research proposals in the following fields:

• Health Sciences

• Humanities

• Social Sciences

3. Duration of the project for the exchange of researchers

The projects will be supported for a period of two years (projects starting January 2020 and ending December 2021 - For both researchers from State of São Paulo and researchers from South Africa.

4. Timeline

Call announced by FAPESP and NRF	January 29th 2018
Closing date for submission of proposals	April 29th, 2018
Successful proposals notified after	July 26th, 2018
Project starting	January, 2020

5. Funding principles

5.1. FAPESP will provide funding of up to the equivalent of US$ 28.938,00 (twenty eight thousand, nine hundred and thirty eight dollars) per project for the duration of the grant and the NRF will provide funding of up to the equivalent of US$ 28.938,00 (twenty eight thousand, nine hundred and thirty eight dollars) per project for the duration of the grant to cover research-related mobility expenses, under the provisions of Clause 5 of the Scientific Cooperation Agreement established by the Parties (www.fapesp.br/en/9949).

5.2. The NRF will provide funding of up to US$ 28.938,00 per project. Funding will be made available for a maximum of two years, to be paid in annual installments as follows: 

- US$ 14.469,00 per project per annum (total of US$ 28.938,00) for research and mobility.

- US$ 6.511,00 masters position per project, per student, per annum (total of US$ 13.022,00).

5.3 FAPESP and the NRF will fund a maximum of TEN (10) approved proposals.

6. Proposal characteristics for PARTNER researchers:

The proposal shall be composed of:

a. A Research Project having a maximum of five (5) pages of scientific content, written in English jointly by the Principal Investigator at the Host Institution in the State of São Paulo and the Principal Investigator in South Africa. South African researchers must follow the guidelines and application form as set out on the NRF online submission system (https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za/). One copy of the Research Project shall be sent to FAPESP and an identical copy to the NRF.

b. Additional documents required by the NRF.

6.1 As described at www.fapesp.br/sprint/call12019, the Research Project must include the following items:

a. A substantive description of the exchange activities, emphasizing their relevance. The proposal must state clearly how the exchange activities to be carried out by each team will contribute to the ongoing research project funded by FAPESP and to the research being carried by the partner researcher in South Africa;

b. Detailed schedule of the exchange missions to be carried out by the partner team at the São Paulo institution and the São Paulo team in South Africa;

c. Performance indicators for the planned activities, indicating the expected results;

d. A description of each candidate’s contribution to the mission, explaining their expertise to carry out the foreseen activities;

e. Foreseen actions that will add to the impact of the exchange for the South African researchers and for the Host Institution in the State of São Paulo, e.g. by means of seminars, short courses etc.;

f. Description of how the Principal Investigators in São Paulo and in South Africa intend to prepare a joint research project, resulting from the exchange activities developed from the proposal submitted in this Call, to be submitted to research funding agencies accessible in their regions in order to create a medium-long-term collaboration (up to one page).

6.2 The following additional documents required by the NRF:

6.2.1 Additional documents required by the NRF:

Applicants are expected to attach the required documents in PDF format in the following order: CV of partner, budget of partner and the signed support letter of the partner.

6.2.2 Letter of Agreement of the Host Institution in the State of São Paulo to which the PI from São Paulo is affiliated. The same document is required by FAPESP in item 6.2.3 at www.fapesp.br/sprint/call12019. The Letter of Agreement may be delivered after the notification of results of this call for proposals and before the grant agreement signature.

7. Submission of proposals to the NRF

Applications must be submitted electronically to the NRF Online Submission System at https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za/.

8. Result of the analysis

The results will be announced on the FAPESP site (www.fapesp.br) and the NRF will communicate to successful applicants via email and designated authorities at institutions.

9. Contract for selected projects by the NRF

a. A final scientific and financial report will be submitted in English to the NRF by the South African project leader no more than 3 months after the end of the project;

b. The report will mention the outputs of the projects compared with the objectives and aims of the proposal;

c. The joint publications by the researchers will mention the support from the NRF and FAPESP.

10. Grant cancellation

FAPESP or the NRF may cancel funding if, during the grant timeframe, a significant event justifies its cancellation in the assessment of the Joint Steering Committee, without prejudice of any other appropriate actions.

11. Information about this Call in South Africa

All questions related to this Call for Proposals must be directed to: 

For content related queries: Ms Nombuso Madonda
Knowledge Advancement and Support (KAS) Directorate
Tel: +27 (0) 12 481 4285
Email: Nombuso.madonda@nrf.ac.za

For technical queries: Mr Jan Phalane
Grants Management and Systems Administration
Tel: +27 (0) 12 481 4157
Email: jan.phalane@nrf.ac.za

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