Agreements
FAPESP-NERC: Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund Call for Proposals Versão em português
Summary
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Closing date: |
9 May 2019 |
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Notification of intent: |
15 April 2019 |
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Results announced on: |
29 July 2019 |
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FAPESP scheme: |
Regular Research Award |
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Maximum duration of the project: |
24 months |
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Budget for the São Paulo researcher: |
Up to R$150,000.00 per proposal |
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Eligibility: |
Researchers based in the State of Sao Paulo with an active FAPESP grant, as described in the call for proposals below (Annex I). |
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Submission: |
by the research partner based in the UK to NERC (Je-S) and by the researcher from São Paulo to FAPESP (SAGe) |
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Contact details: |
Carolina Costa - chamada-nerc@fapesp.br |
Announcement of Opportunity
1. Summary
The Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) invites proposals to its Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund (GPSF) 2019 call.
The Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund allows UK environmental science researchers to forge new partnerships and networks with the best international researchers wherever they are located and seed collaborations that will be sustained beyond the lifetime of the grant.
Proposals for continuation of existing international research collaborations and collaborations focused on research for international development (Official Development Assistance) are ineligible to apply to this scheme and should seek other appropriate sources of funding.
Supported activities may include, but are not limited to, programmes of exchange visits, scoping studies, proof of concept studies and workshops.
NERC has allocated £1.0M to this call. Additional funding is available for successful joint NERC-FAPESP proposals under the terms of the UKRI/FAPESP Memorandum of Understanding (Annex B), and for joint NERC-MOST (Taiwan) proposals (Annex C).
Key Information:
• Standard NERC Principal and Co-Investigator eligibility rules apply.
• New Investigators without existing international partners are encouraged to apply.
• Awards can be up to a maximum of £100k (100% FEC) over two years.
• Proposals must include at lea st one International Project Partner.
• Proposals Evaluation will be directly evaluated by an expert Assessment Panel.
• Deadline for applications is 16 April 9 May 2019 at 4pm BST,
• to help NERC manage the call please submit a mandatory ‘Notification of Intent to apply’, by 15 April.
• Full applications will not be accepted unless NERC has received a Notification of Intent.
• Awards announced in late June/ July 2019 , and must start between September-December.
• Proposed work should not fit under the Official Development Assistance criteria (but may be with partners from DAC listed countries).
2. Background
Environmental science is inherently global in nature. Many of the biggest environmental challenges the world faces do not respect national boundaries. Advancing our understanding of the environment and developing innovative solutions to these challenges requires UK researchers to collaborate with the best international researchers wherever they are located.
The proportion of grants across NERC funding streams including at least one international project partner has increased from 21% in 2012 to 32% in 2016. Additional NERC analysis of publication and citation rates from 2012-2015 showed grants with international collaboration produce more publications at a faster rate and with greater citation impact. The 2016 Elsevier report on the International Comparative Performance of the UK Research Base1 also concluded that the UK rate of international co-authorship is rising.
Considering the increasing importance of international partnerships for research and taking into account the feedback from our community consultation in 2017, from 2018 NERC replaced the International Opportunities Fund scheme with the Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund. Focused on non-ODA research, the new scheme provides support to enable UK researchers to establish sustainable long-term partnerships with international collaborators and reap the benefits that these relationships can deliver.
3. Scope
3.1 Programme objectives
The Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund enables UK environmental science researchers to develop new international partnerships and networks, which underpin the development of long-term sustainable collaborations.
Proposed collaborations may involve international research partner(s) from any country and in any science area within NERC remit.
The Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund has the following objectives:
• Support new international collaborations with the best researchers wherever they are located that will result in excellent research i.e. developing new knowledge that cannot be achieved by individual national research communities alone or by existing collaborations. For example, new collaborations may enable sharing of unique or complementary data, skills, infrastructure and field sites between UK researchers and international partners to develop novel research outcomes;
• Support development of long-term partnerships with international scientists that have potential to become self-sustaining beyond the lifetime of the grant. For example, through accessing new collaborative research funding opportunities;
• Pilot new collaborative research ideas with international partners or enhance existing funded research through adding an international dimension or extending the number, nationality or type of international partners already engaged.
In addressing the scheme objectives the case for support should make clear:
• The significance of the international collaboration to the projects’ objectives
• Specific intellectual and material contributions of each Partner.
• The expected outputs and impact of the project
The case for support should also describe the potential durability of the collaboration including plans for further long-term collaboration, and clarify the following:
• How the new research collaboration is expected to develop beyond the duration of the grant;
• Identification of appropriate potential future funding opportunities and how the proposed activity will facilitate future funding bids.
Please note that the following international collaborations are out of scope for this call:
• Existing international collaborations;
• International collaborations whose primary focus is the promotion of economic development and welfare of countries on the OECD’s Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list. Development Assistance Committee (DAC) list. Applicants should apply to appropriate Official Development Assistance (ODA) opportunities available under the Newton Fund and Global Challenges Research Fund. However, UK researchers may still collaborate with researchers from DAC list countries through the Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund where the research is not on ODA relevant topics specifically subject to ODA compliance requirements .
We particularly encourage welcome applications from New Investigators seeking to collaborate with new international research partners (see section 3.3 for further details).
3.2 Proposal requirements
3.2.1 Supported activities
Activities funded under the call must align with the aims of the Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund. Supported activities may include, but are not limited to: programmes of exchange visits or staff secondments; establishing networks on a common research area; scoping feasibility or proof of concept studies; and workshops.
It is expected that the majority of the application should lie within NERC remit. However multidisciplinary / interdisciplinary collaborations with international partners are welcomed.
In all cases activities must be undertaken with the clear and demonstrable intention of developing long-term sustainable collaborations. Whilst some exploratory elements are permitted, the proposal must include specific scientific objectives.
Applicants should ensure the balance between partnership building activities and direct research is appropriate.
3.2.2 International Partners
The inclusion of at least one international project partner is mandatory. To maximise the quality of the activity and its potential to develop long-term sustainable partnerships, international project partner(s) must have an integral role in the proposed work.
Applicants should note the following when considering potential partners:
• The quality of partnership/s should be the primary criteria rather than the number of international partners;
• While existing long-standing international partners are welcome to participate, the application must primarily involve working with new international project partners.
Details of the Project Partners and their contributions to the project must be recorded in the appropriate sections of the application including the Je-S form, Case for Support and Project Partner Letters of Support. Letters of Support will be a key consideration of the panel at assessment and should complement the Case for Support effectively.
3.3 New Investigators
The process to allocate funding under this call will consider New Investigator status in the final decision by the NERC office, after ranking by the panel, to allow an increased chance of success.
The New Investigator must be the Principal Investigator on the grant and use the prefix “NI:” in their project title to indicate it is to be considered as a New Investigator proposal.
3.4 NERC-FAPESP & NERC-MOST proposals
This call will accept joint proposals with researchers from the State of São Paulo in Brazil under the terms of the UKRI-FAPESP Lead Agency Agreement , or researchers from Taiwan under the NERC-MOST MoU. Please refer to Annex B and C respectively for further guidance on how to apply.
4. Programme requirements
4.1 Programme funding
NERC has allocated £1.0m to this call. The maximum funding for Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund proposals is £100k (at 100% FEC) with a duration of up to two years.
All applicants are advised to consult their institutional finance officers when completing the financial parts of the application. All applicants should enter the 100% FEC of the proposed research into the budget sections of the Je-S form. All costs should be in pounds sterling (£). Requested costs for UK research organisations will be funded at 80% of full economic costs (FEC).
All costs associated with the project must be itemised in the Je-S proforma and justified in the Justification of Resources document.
4.1.1 Funding for International Project Partners
International partners are not eligible for direct funding however, eligible UK organisations may request up to £15k for international partner(s) in order to support their travel and subsistence costs during visits or exchanges.
Costs for UK and International Project Partner organisations must be entered as separate items. All travel and subsistence for International Project Partners (only) will be payable at 100% of actual costs and entered as ‘Exceptions’ on Je-S , UK T&S is still paid at 80% FEC. For projects seeking support from FAPESP or MOST you may still use this allowance, or part of, but should carefully consider and make clear which costs are supported by NERC and why.
4.1.2 Ineligible costs
The following are ineligible costs under this call:
• Conference attendance – both T&S and registration fees
• Standard office computing equipment
• Equipment over £10k (inclusive of VAT)
• All international project partner costs except for travel and subsistence e.g. salary and estates costs
• Associated studentships
4.2 Eligibility
Standard NERC individual and Research Organisation eligibility apply for PI and Co-Is and can be found in Section C of the NERC research grant and fellowships handbook.
In addition, a number of specific criteria apply to the Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund scheme:
• Investigators may only submit one proposal as either a PI or Co-I;
• Investigators who hold an active Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund grant either as PI or Co-I at the time of the call closing date are ineligible;
• Resubmission of proposals is not permitted under this call.
• New Investigators must meet the eligibility requirements for the New Investigator’s scheme in NERC standard grant (see Section C paragraphs 57-59 of the NERC research grants handbook).
4.3 Implementation and delivery
Projects should be no longer than 24 months in duration, starting no earlier than September 2019 and no later than December 2019.
4.4 Data Management
The NERC Data Policy NERC Data Policy must be adhered to, and an outline data management plan outline data management plan produced as part of proposal development. Applicants should ensure they request sufficient resource to cover preparation of data for archiving by the relevant Data Centre.
4.5 NERC Facilities
Prior to submitting a proposal, applicants wishing to use a NERC service or facility must contact the facility to seek agreement that they can provide the service required. Please refer to the NERC services and facilities NERC services and facilities page on the NERC website for further information.
4.6 Reporting requirements
As for all NERC grant holders, there will be a requirement to report through the UKRI reporting system, ResearchFish; this is required annually and continues for up to five years after funding ends.
5. Application process
5.1 How to apply
Closing Date: 4pm (BST) 16 April 2019
Refer to Annex A B and Annex C for additional guidance on the application process for joint NERC-FAPESP , and NERC-MOST proposals.
5.1.1 Notification of Intent
To help NERC manage the call a mandatory ‘Notification of Intent’ to apply is required, using the online form, the online form, no later than Monday 15 April. This includes the names of the applicant, their international collaborator(s) and the main research area(s) of the work. Full applications will not be accepted unless NERC has received a Notification of Intent.
5.1.2 Full Proposal
The full proposal must be submitted by the deadline above using the Research Councils’ Joint Electronic Submission system Joint Electronic Submission system (Je-S). Applicants should select Proposal Type - ‘Standard Proposal’ and then select the Scheme – ‘Directed International’ and the Call – ‘ Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund 2019’.
Applicants should ensure that their proposal conforms to all eligibility and submission rules, otherwise their proposal may be rejected without peer review. More details on NERC’s submission rules can be found in section F of the NERC research grant and fellowships handbook and in the submission rules on the NERC website. NERC research grant and fellowships handbook and in the submission rules on the NERC website.
Applications to the Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund require the following mandatory documentation, uploaded as attachments:
a) Case for support; consisting of the following three sections clearly labelled:
i. Previous Track Record not exceeding 2 sides of A4, covering standard NERC requirements and in addition:
• Any experience and leadership in an international context including past collaborative work that is relevant to the current activity;
• Summarised CVs of key Project Partners; Partner/s;
• New Investigators must demonstrate they are the proposal leader and will be responsible for its direction.
ii. Description of the Proposed Activity not exceeding 3 sides of A4, covering standard NERC requirements and in addition, how the activity will deliver against the aims of the scheme (see Section 3).
iii. Potential for Long-term Partnership , not exceeding 1 side of A4, describing the durability of the collaboration and plans for long-term collaboration, including how it will develop beyond the duration of the grant and potential future funding opportunities targeted.
b) Project Partner/s Letter/s of Support, each not exceeding 2 sides of A4. Letters of support should be signed on headed paper and provide evidence of sufficient contributions that substantive collaboration will go-ahead if funded.
c) Pathways to Impact , not exceeding 1 side of A4, covering standard NERC requirements. An acceptable Pathways to Impact is a condition of funding. Grants will not be allowed to start unless unacceptable Pathways to Impact are enhanced to an acceptable level within 2 months 1 month of notification of the panel outcome.
d) Outline Data Management Plan, see section 4.4 above for details and link to form.
e) Justification of Resources, not exceeding 2 sides of A4. For information on what to include in the Justification of Resources, see section E in the NERC Research Grants Handbook.
f) for NERC-FAPESP or NERC-MOST proposals see Annex B or C for any further required documents.
6. Assessment Process
6.1 Sift Process
Given the open nature of this call we expect a high level of demand (NERC received 149 applications to the first GPSF call in 2018). Therefore we will implement a soft stage before the panel to reduce the number of applications to a manageable level for a 2 day panel meeting (approx. 60-70). The sift will be carried out by a sub-set of the panel members and panel chair.
All application will be assigned to two panel members who will then pre-score the proposals. A group of 4 panel members and the panel chair will then look at all the proposals and agree which ones will continue to the full panel meeting based on the pre-scores and comments. They will ensure that an even approach to the scoring has been taken at that stage.
6.2 Assessment panel
Proposals will be directly reviewed by an Assessment Panel of independent experts including members of the NERC Peer Review College.
The full assessment panel will discuss all proposals that progress from the Sift process and agree a single score for each proposal. The panel will make funding recommendations to NERC via a single ranked list of proposals (including New investigators). NERC will use the recommendations of the assessments panel along with the overall call requirements and the available budget in making the final funding decisions. New Investigator status will be taken into consideration, as previously described.
Panel Feedback will be provided to both successful and unsuccessful applicants following the funding decision.
6.3 Assessment Criteria
All proposals must clearly show how the project delivers against the Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund objectives (as per Section 3). If proposals fail to demonstrate a strong link between the project objectives and the Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund Scheme objectives they will be office rejected on poor fit to scope of the call prior to panel assessment.
Proposals will be assessed on their excellence, including how well they meet the scheme objectives, and given a single score by the panel. The full scoring criteria can be found in Annex A.
7. Timetable
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Stage |
Date |
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Announcement published |
26 February 2019 |
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‘Notification of Intent’ (to apply) |
15 April 2019 |
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Deadline for submission of full proposals |
9 May 2019 |
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Assessment Panel |
July 2019 |
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Announcement of Awards |
Late July 2019 |
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Project start dates |
Between September and December |
8. Contact
For all enquiries, please contact:
Maren Pauly
Programme Manager
international@nerc.ac.uk or +44 (0)1793 41 1503
ANNEX A - Panel Scoring Criteria
The following considerations will be included in assessment:
• Development of new research collaborations and the extent to which this will promote excellence. Some aspects of the proposed research collaborations may be more speculative and exploratory than is expected for NERC Standard Grants. Consideration of excellence will take into account both the duration of the grant and the potential to achieve further excellence in the longer term.
• The level of unique or complementary contribution and expertise of the UK team and the international partners, i.e. why the proposed project objectives require collaboration between the UK and international partners.
• The potential for long-term sustainability of the collaboration, including routes for further collaboration beyond the duration of the seedcorn fund grant.
• The level of the contribution made to this award from other sources including the UK institutions and international potential partners.
• The balance between partnership building activities and direct research activities is appropriate to achieve the objectives of the grant.
When deciding your score please consider the score indicators, below;
• A very high score (8-10): The project merits a higher rating across all criteria and score indicators.
• Medium score (5-7): The project has some strong but also weaker aspects.
• Low score (below 5): Has more weak than strong aspects.
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Score |
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Excellent quality proposal |
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10 |
The proposed work is outstanding and represents world-leading standards in terms of quality, significance and scientific impact.
Outstanding alignment with the Programme’s objectives and requirements as outlined in the Announcement of Opportunity.
Applicants are collaborating with world leading international researchers in areas of very high potential. The partnership may bring together highly complementary and unique combinations of skills and expertise not achievable by working within the UK community alone. There are clearly identified and actionable routes for the partnership to grow and a high chance for it to be maintained in the future.
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9 |
The proposed work is excellent and represents world-class standards in terms of quality, significance and scientific impact.
Excellent alignment with the Programme’s objectives and requirements as outlined in the Announcement of Opportunity.
The collaboration is with world-class researchers in areas of significant potential. Partners bring together complimentary and potentially unique sets of skills not achievable within the UK alone. There are clear routes for future collaboration and plans to maintain and build the partnership after the grant ends.
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8 |
The proposed work is very good, contains aspects of excellence, and represents high standards in terms of quality, significance and scientific impact.
Excellent alignment with the Programme’s objectives and requirements as outlined in the Announcement of Opportunity.
The applicants are working with excellent researchers who bring together complementary expertise not found within the UK. There is the clear potential for future collaboration beyond the life of the grant demonstrated within the application.
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Good quality proposal |
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7 |
The proposed work is of a good quality, internationally competitive, at the forefront of the research area and has potential for high scientific impact.
Very good alignment with the Programme’s objectives and requirements as outlined in the Announcement of Opportunity.
The collaboration brings together researchers with the potential for internationally competitive work. There is the clear potential for future collaboration beyond the life of the grant demonstrated within the application. |
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6 |
The proposed work is of a good quality, and has a good level of scientific impact.
Good alignment with the Programme’s objectives and requirements as outlined in the Announcement of Opportunity.
The partnership is between researchers who bring together complementary skills and expertise with the potential for internationally competitive outcomes. Some consideration has been made for future collaboration and there is the potential for the partnerships to be maintained beyond the life of the grant. |
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5 |
The proposed work is of a good quality and has some scientific merit but is not at the forefront of the area
Adequately aligned with the Programme’s objectives and requirements as outlined in the Announcement of Opportunity.
Partnerships are between researchers who bring together complementary expertise but could be achieved within the UK community. There is some potential for maintaining and developing the partnership in the future. |
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Adequate proposal |
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4 |
The proposed work has some scientific merit, but has a number of weaknesses.
Limited alignment with the Programme’s objectives and requirements as outlined in the Announcement of Opportunity.
The collaboration isn’t particularly original and doesn’t require international partners to achieve. There is limited potential for future collaboration, which isn’t well defined or identified within the application. |
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3 |
The proposed work is adequate. It would provide some new knowledge, but fails to provide reasonable evidence and justification for the proposal.
Limited alignment with the Programme’s objectives and requirements as outlined in the Announcement of Opportunity.
The collaboration doesn’t require international partners to achieve. There is limited potential for future collaboration, which isn’t defined or identified within the application. |
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Poor proposal |
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2 |
The proposed work is weak in terms of quality, significance and scientific impact, and has only a few strengths.
Not aligned with the Programme’s objectives and requirements as outlined in the Announcement of Opportunity.
The focus of the application is not on the partnership aspects of the work and there is no potential for future working together beyond the life of the grant.
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1
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The proposed work is of an unsatisfactory quality and unlikely to advance the field.
Not aligned with the Programme’s objectives and requirements as outlined in the Announcement of Opportunity.
There is no significance to the partnership work and the research could be achieved individually. There is no intention to build the partnership for the future. |
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0 |
For special cases, e.g. flawed in scientific approach, subject to serious technical difficulties, does not address operational risks, sufficiently unclearly written that it cannot be properly assessed, success depends on the project student, or is duplicative of other research. |
Annex B : joint proposals to NERC-FAPESP
Applicants considering international collaboration with researchers from São Paulo State, Brazil, should note that this Call will welcome proposals jointly prepared and submitted by PIs from the UK and São Paulo State, Brazil, under the terms of the UKRI-FAPESP (the State of São Paulo Research Foundation) Lead Agency Agreement.
1. Context
In 2009, the United Kingdom Research Councils (UKRI) and FAPESP signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen the existing research links between the UK and the State of São Paulo, in Brazil and to help encourage and support proposals that involve international collaborative teams. The MoU provides for a Lead Agency Agreement whereby researchers based in the UK and in São Paulo State, Brazil, may apply for funds from both countries through the UK Research Councils’ funding schemes.
2. Aims
FAPESP will consider proposals from PIs eligible for FAPESP funding and that demonstrate excellence in one or more of the following characteristics (international collaboration is a must):
a. activities that place international collaboration at the centre of their approach, adding value to Brazilian capability and delivering outcomes that cannot be delivered by scientists in São Paulo alone (FAPESP’s standard requirement that the PI must be a scientist affiliated to a research organization in São Paulo still applies to the Brazilian side of the collaboration).
b. activities with lasting outputs that are expected to have benefits beyond the duration of the NERC Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund and the FAPESP award (e.g. establishing long-term collaborations, pump priming for ongoing, self-sustaining activities and/or developing high-impact knowledge).
NOTE: Applications to multiple FAPESP-NERC programmes with similar applications are not allowed.
3. Eligibility Requirements for the São Paulo PI:
3.1 Proposals must be “related” to an ongoing FAPESP grant (i.e. complement and build upon another confirmed grant). Thus, researchers regarded as eligible to submit proposals are:
a) Principal Investigators of ongoing research projects funded by FAPESP within the following funding lines: Regular Research Awards; Thematic Projects; Young Investigators; Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centres (RIDC/CEPID – acronyms in Portuguese); Public Education Research Program; Research in Public Policies; Research Partnership for Technological Innovation (PITE); and Engineering Research Centres (CPE).
b) Co-Principal Investigators (PPs) of ongoing Thematic Projects; RIDCs; PITEs or CPEs
4. Supported activities
4.1 Funding from FAPESP will be in addition to the funding awarded by NERC, and granted to cover the costs of the team based in the State of São Paulo.
4.2 Funding of FAPESP will be through the modalities Regular Projects and follow strictly all the rules as published in on the FAPESP website www.fapesp.br/apr regular projects guidance, with the following exceptions:
a. Applicants can request up to £30K for up to two (2) years in duration including at least one international workshop to be held in São Paulo.
b. Overheads and scholarships are not eligible for funding in this call for proposals.
4.3 FAPESP will provide the selected proposals with funds to cover short-term scientific exchange visits to UK (travel, accommodation, living expenses and health insurance), workshops (within the rules of FAPESP) and small research expenses (consumables, services, low cost research equipment).
4.4 Each Principal Investigator can present only one proposal to this Call.
5. Additional Application Procedures for joint FAPESP – NERC proposals
5.1 Applicants considering applying under this Agreement must read the Operational Guidelines available from the UKRI website. Please note that there are specific guidelines for applicants to NERC within these Guidelines.
5.2 Proposals must be submitted by the PI from São Paulo to FAPESP (SAGe) and by the UK PI to NERC (Je-S), following the procedure described in the main text of the corresponding Announcement of Opportunity, and the specific guidelines for São Paulo researchers published here www.fapesp.br/12566.
5.3 A FAPESP Budget form should be included in the application to NERC.
5.4 The applicants based in the State of São Paulo should be included as Project Partners on the JeS form and their role should be described in the Case for Support
5.4.5 The applicant based in the UK must be included as a “Partner PI” on SAGe, and confirm their participation in the project.
5.6 UK Principal Investigators of potential collaborative proposals should, in this case, contact the NERC Programme Manager (international@nerc.ac.uk) before submitting a proposal.
5.7 Brazilian Principal Investigators can contact FAPESP’s representative for matters related to this joint Call, Carolina Costa (chamada-nerc@fapesp.br).
6. Intellectual Property
6.1 In case of approval, a Letter of Agreement between the Partner Host Institution and the Host Institution to which the PI 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. The Letter of Agreement is not mandatory for the submission of proposals, but no approved project will be contracted before the presentation of a copy of the signed Agreement. To avoid delays to projects funding this agreement should be completed within 2 months of notification of a successful award (i.e. this will need to be considered in advance).
ANNEX C: Joint NERC-MOST Proposals
Applicants considering international collaboration with researchers from Taiwan should note that this Call welcomes proposals jointly prepared and submitted by PIs from the UK and Taiwan under the terms of the NERC-MOST MoU.
1. Context
In 2018 NERC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Taiwanese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST). The aims of this MoU are to strengthen existing and enable new research links between the UK and Taiwan.
This is a joint proposal with the Taiwanese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), in which the UK researchers will be supported by NERC and the Taiwanese Researchers will be supported by MOST.
2. Application and Assessment Process
Taiwanese applicants can request up to £15K per year, for up to two (2) years in duration. Funding from MOST will be in addition to the funding awarded by NERC. Funds must be used according to the rules and requirements of the respective agencies for UK and Taiwanese researchers, as described in the GPSF announcement of each agency.
The UK and Taiwan partners are required to submit separate (but still joint in the work described) applications. Within each proposed collaboration, the UK partners must submit an application to NERC, while the Taiwan partners must submit an application to MOST.
A MOST budget form should be included in the application to NERC.
The application submitted to MOST should be identical to that submitted to NERC, with the addition of any specific documents required by MOST. T aiwan applicants should consult MOST for up to date details of their application procedure.
Project titles should be prefixed by “NERC-MOST:” in order to identify that they wish to be considered as a joint proposal.
Applications which are submitted only to NERC or MOST will not be accepted.
Taiwan applications made to MOST will be assessed to similar criteria as described in the standard NERC Global Partnerships Seedcorn Fund guidance. NERC and MOST will jointly agree on selected projects for award from these assessments.
Data Sharing Notice:
NERC carries out the processing of personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The information you provide will only be used by UKRI NERC and its partner, Taiwan’s Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and used only for the purpose of carrying out assessment in making a funding decision.
The information you have provided will only be shared with the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) for this purpose.
By providing your information you are consenting to its use as detailed above.
Application Checklist:
• The project title starts with ‘NERC-MOST:’
• Taiwanese Partners have submitted a corresponding application to MOST.
• UK Partners have submitted a corresponding application to NERC.