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FAPESP-IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON RESEARCH ENGAGEMENT SCHEME 

SPRINT 4th Edition 2015 www.fapesp.br/sprint/call42015

(Item 2.1.1. – c.)

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS

Specific requests for proposal submissions from researchers of the Imperial College London 

Contact at Imperial: Prisca Merz, Senior International Relations Officer, p.merz@imperial.ac.uk

Contact at FAPESP: Virginia Sanches, Technical Advisor of the Scientific Directorate, sprint@fapesp.br

1. Purpose

Collaborative international activities enable cross-border pooling of research capabilities and sharing of expertise and facilities, the opportunity to appreciate different perspectives, outputs that are typically more highly cited, as well as access to new environments for impact and exploitation of research outcomes. To support this, FAPESP and Imperial College London launched an initiative to fund scientific and technological cooperation between researchers from Imperial and from the State of São Paulo, Brazil, in 2013. A first round of successful proposals was selected in 2014.

Funding is available to support exchange activities between researchers from Imperial and from the State of São Paulo, Brazil, in any field of knowledge. Applicants will need to demonstrate how the funding will be used to build or reinforce lasting contacts with the very best researchers in their field. Collaborations can therefore be with new collaborators, existing collaborators or previous collaborators, providing that the application demonstrates a strong development of the collaborations proposed. Such activities may include, but are not limited to:

• Outward visits for PhD students, post-doctoral researchers, academic or research staff nominated by the Principal Investigator to initiate, follow-up, or work on a collaborative project or training opportunity;

• Networking events such as international workshops and seminars, bringing together researchers to strengthen existing collaborations and foster new links.

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

2. Eligibility

For Imperial researchers: Applications are welcomed from any members of Academic or Research staff at Imperial. It will be assumed that Research staff will have received any necessary approval to undertake the proposed activity. Imperial will only accept one application per researcher, whether as the named Principal Investigator (PI) or nominated to participate in the activity .

For Brazilian partners: Research partners in the State of São Paulo should observe items 3.1 and 7.1 of the FAPESP call (www.fapesp.br/sprint/call42015).

3. Funding

Each application may request a total budget of £10,000 (£5,000 from Imperial, £5,000 from FAPESP). FAPESP and Imperial expect to jointly fund up to four (4) proposals. Funds can only be spent on activities which fit the purpose of this call. All activities must be completed by 31 July 2017.

Applicants are asked to itemise their budget using the tables in the application form. The grant start date is expected to be no earlier than 1 May 2016 and funds must be spent by 31 July 2017. Extensions are not possible.

Eligible costs [1]

	Eligible (Y/N)
Salary	N
Limited Research Consumables	Y
Travel	Y
Accommodation	Y
Subsistence	Y
Health Insurance (for Brazilian partner only)	Y
Equipment	N
Bench fees	N
Indirect and estate costs	N

[1] Under the provisions of Clause 5 of the Scientific Cooperation Agreement established by the Parties (www.fapesp.br/en/8571)

4. How to apply

Each application should have two Principal Investigators, one based at Imperial and one based in the State of São Paulo. Each application must contain a Research Collaboration Project (identical), as well as supporting documentation.

1. Research Collaboration Project: A maximum of five (5) pages,written jointly by the Principal Investigator of the Host Institution in the State of São Paulo and the Principal Investigator at Imperial. The Research Collaboration Project must be written in English. One copy shall be sent to FAPESP and another (identical) copy to Imperial. The Research Collaboration Project must include the following:

• A substantive description of the exchange activities, emphasizing their relevance.

• A timeline for each specific exchange mission, considering the limit of missions and funding established in this call;

• Performance indicators for the planned activities;

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

• Foreseen actions that will add to the impact of the exchange for Imperial and for the Host Institution in the State of São Paulo;

• An explanation how the project will add value to existing research at Imperial and the host institution.

2. Supporting documentation:

• For Imperial applicants, please submit a completed Imperial Application Form. A template application form can be found here

• For FAPESP applicants, please observe the item 6.2 of FAPESP call (www.fapesp.br/sprint/call42015). 

For Imperial applicants, all application material must be submitted to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk. Please note that only applications submitted to this email address (and not that of the named contact) will be considered.

For FAPESP applicants, please observe the item 8.4 of FAPESP call (www.fapesp.br/sprint/call42015).

5. Deadlines

The deadline for applications is 17.00 (GMT) Monday 1 February 2016. Decisions are expected by 22 April 2016.

6. Review and Selection of Applications

The selection process consists of two stages:

1. All eligible applications will first be assessed by FAPESP and Imperial individually. In the case of Imperial, these will be considered for funding by the Cross-College Research Proposal Review Group The Group will rank the proposals based on excellence of research, fit to call, and potential strategic value of the international partnership (including potential for opportunity to leverage overseas funding).

2. A joint committee meeting between Imperial and FAPESP will take place where projects will be chosen based on both individual rankings, as well as strategic fit to both partners.

Imperial applicants will be informed of the results via email as soon as possible after the joint committee meeting. A formal letter confirming the outcomes will then be sent electronically to the Principal Investigator. Results will also be announced on the FAPESP website and web portal (www.fapesp.br). Feedback on unsuccessful applications will be limited unless the Group decides that additional feedback is necessary or useful. 

7. Accessing Funds

Successful applicants will be informed on how to access funds in their award letter.

FAPESP or Imperial may cancel funding if, during the grant timeframe, a fact is of sufficient gravity to justify cancellation, without prejudice of any other appropriate actions.

8. Reporting

For Imperial applicants, the Principal Investigators who are successful in receiving an award are required to provide a written report within 4 weeks after the completion of the supported activity (via email to researchoffice.fundingstrategy@imperial.ac.uk). The report should provide details of the funding provided, the relevant activities supported, and how these have addressed the objectives of the call.

 

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