Agreements
SPRINT 2021 – Guidelines University of Tsukuba
FAPESP and University of Tsukuba (UT), signed a Cooperation Agreement for Research on September 1st, 2017, aiming to implement scientific and technological cooperation between researchers from the UT, Japan, and from the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, through the funding of joint research projects.
Under the referred Agreement, to continue this fruitful collaboration, FAPESP and UT make public this Call for Proposals for the exchange of faculty and postdoctoral researchers under the terms and conditions of the SPRINT 2021 (www.fapesp.br/sprint/call2021) and hereinafter set forth.
1. Eligibility from UT side
1.1. Eligibility to submit proposals within the scope of this Call:
a. Academic staff at University of Tsukuba with a contract of employment for the full length of the proposed project. Academic staff must be regular faculty and/or full-time research faculty members.
b. University of Tsukuba will only accept one application per related ongoing research project. Likewise, each PI can present only one proposal in response to this Call.
c. Proposals that include support for activities involving researchers, post-doctoral researchers and doctorate students are encouraged.
1.2. Eligibility for the exchange activities within the scope of this Call
a. Regular faculty and/or full-time research faculty members belonging to University of Tsukuba, and Doctoral students, post-doctoral researchers, researchers nominated by the PI and affiliated with the project selected for funding under this Call.
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. Eligibility of research partners in the State of São Paulo should observe items 3.1 and 4.2 of the FAPESP call (www.fapesp.br/sprint/call2021).
2. Fields of knowledge
This Call for Proposals invites research proposals in all fields of knowledge.
3. Duration of the project for the exchange of researchers
The maximum duration of each project is 12 months, non-extendable.
4. Timeline
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Call announced by FAPESP and University of Tsukuba |
October 26, 2021 |
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Closing date for submission of proposals |
January 31, 2022 |
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Successful proposals notified after |
April 22, 2022 |
5. Funding principles
5.1 FAPESP will provide funding of up to the equivalent of US$ 8,900.00 (eight thousand and nine hundred dollars, JP¥ 1,000,000) per proposal per year and UT will provide funding of up to US$8,900.00 (8.9 thousand dollars, JP¥1,000,000) per proposal per year, for the duration of the grant to cover research-related mobility expenses (air tickets, health insurance and living allowances) for the researchers from the State of São Paulo, and research-related expenses for the researchers from UT under the provisions of Clause 5 of the Scientific Cooperation Agreement established by the Parties (www.fapesp.br/en/11388).
5.2 FAPESP and UT will fund a maximum of 5 approved proposals.
6. Proposal characteristics for UT researchers
The proposal shall be composed of:
6.1 A Research Project having a maximum of five (5) pages of scientific content (Form1), written in English jointly by the Principal Investigator at the Host Institution in the State of São Paulo and the Principal Investigator at the UT. One copy of the Research Project shall be sent to FAPESP and an identical copy to the UT.
6.2 As described at www.fapesp.br/sprint/call2021, 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 at UT;
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 at the UT;
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 UT 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 the UT 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).
6.3 The following additional documents are required by UT:
a. Research Proposal Form (including Schedule of Exchange Missions) (Form 2-1, 2-2)
b. Budget Sheet (Form 3)
c. List of participants and CV for each participant in the partnership, followed by the provided form (Form 4-1, 4-2)
d. Written endorsements of the project from the appropriate Dean of the University of Tsukuba PI’s faculty and an appropriate university official (e.g., Dean, Department, or Institute head) of the partner institution in the State of São Paulo.
7. Submission of proposals to UT
Submissions will only be accepted in the form of a single PDF file in which all documents have been merged. The Principal applicant must submit the application to their Academic Service Office. The staff of each academic office will submit the PDF application file to the Office of Global Initiatives by email (saopaulo-office@un.tsukuba.ac.jp), with “Tsukuba-FAPESP Proposal (Name of Principal Researcher)” in the subject line. Other format of submission will not be accepted.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Please also submit Form 2-1 separately in EXCEL for administrative purposes.
8. Result of the analysis
The results will be announced on FAPESP (www.fapesp.br) and UT (www.tsukuba.ac.jp) web portals and by means of a communication to the interested PIs.
9. Contract for selected projects by UT
9.1 Selected proposals will subject to the conditions set forth in the letter of award.
9.2 Selected proposals will be expected to submit all expenses immediately following each visit and within the agreed Project period. A progress report will be required following each visit to Sao Paulo. It will contain a brief summary of progress and a plan of action with specific timelines detailing when research funding applications will be submitted to the chosen sponsor.
9.3 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 11.2 at www.fapesp.br/sprint/call2021. Upon notification of award, UT will initiate the Letter of Agreement with the Host institution in the state of São Paulo.
10. Grant cancellation
FAPESP or UT 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 at UT
All questions related to this Call for Proposals must be sent to their Academic Service Office, which then will contact the São Paulo Office at the Office of Global Initiatives:
saopaulo-office@un.tsukuba.ac.jp
12. Research Networking Tool
FAPESP: The Virtual Library (www.bv.fapesp.br/en/) includes FAPESP’s database of awarded research grants and scholarships. In it, you may search for information on grants and fellowships funded by FAPESP, including abstracts as well the name of participating researchers and their institutions. The Virtual Library includes an interface that allows contacting FAPESP-funded researchers by sending them a message.
UT: The University of Tsukuba Researcher Information system (https://trios.tsukuba.ac.jp/en/researcher/search/advanced) provides information on researchers belonging to the University of Tsukuba. The database allows users to search for researchers at the University of Tsukuba by affiliation, research field, etc., and to view information on researchers funded by this joint project.