Synergies to fuel Researchers’ Careers Luxembourg, 10 – 11 December 2015 organised by 10 December 2015 – International Mobility: Recruitment and Retention Strategies PEGASUS – Lessons learnt Gregory Absillis Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO)

Fundamental scientific research (mainly at universities) in the Flemish Community Bottom-up funding in all disciplines including life-sciences Selection based on scientific excellence and interuniversity competition Transparent and equal opportunities Promotes international collaboration Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO)

Internationalization at FWO Placing Flemish research in a broader context Coping with Flanders’ ‘smallness’ Mobility Grants Conferences/Workshops Short/long stays abroad Lead Agency Procedures LUX, NLD, AUT, SVN Exchange and Collaboration EU: Poland, Bulgaria, France, Slovenia, Romania, … Non-EU: China, Argentina, Turkey, South Korea, … Bilateral Research Projects Vietnam, Québec, Ecuador, China, Brazil, South Africa ODYSSEUS To attract promising top researchers and postdocs to Flanders BIG SCIENCE To support research at large, international research facilities [ PEGASUS] 2 MSCA COFUND To attract excellent postdocs to Flanders To increase international mobility of postdocs in Flanders Big Science LARGE INTERNATIONAL RESEARCH FACILITIES

[PEGASUS] 2 giving wings to your career 3-year fellowships for postdoctoral researchers Cofinanced by MSCA under Horizon 2020 EU: € 6,4 mil FWO: € 8,3 mil Extension of the PEGASUS programme cofunded under FP

PEGASUS ( ) This project has received funding from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for research, technological development and demonstration under grant agreement No Impact on the RESEARCHER (career – skills and capabilities - network): “I believe it has been instrumental in getting accepted as a CERN COFUND fellow” “It was the stepping stone to an Odysseus grant and in the end a permanent position” Impact on the HOST RESEARCH GROUP: “The Pegasus fellowship holder brought the latest molecular biology techniques into my laboratory, making us the first in Belgium to have access to this technology” Impact on FLANDERS (visibility – international status – collaborations): “Contributes to the revitalization of science in Flanders”

PEGASUS ( ) Pegasus-long: 3-year postdoctoral fellowship Pegasus-short: 1-year postdoctoral fellowship INCOMING mobility Evaluation: Respondents as well as interviewees and promoters often mentioned that the Pegasus-short fellowship is too short to have a meaningful impact Action taken: Pegasus-short fellowships out - full focus on 3-year fellowships Optimized Programme Design

Need for long-term OUTGOING mobility at FWO Evaluation:Focus on project-based exchange of researchers Focus on short period mobility - max. period abroad is 1 year Action Taken:Include OUTGOING mobility in the new PEGASUS program Mobility Grants Conferences/Workshops Short/long stays abroad Exchange and Collaboration EU: Poland, Bulgaria, France, Slovenia, Romania, … Non-EU: China, Argentina, Turkey, South Korea, … Bilateral Research Projects Vietnam, Québec, Ecuador, China, Brazil, South Africa Lead Agency Procedures LUX, NLD, AUT, SVN

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No [PEGASUS] 2 ( ) Optimized Programme Design 3-year INCOMING fellowships: To attract excellent postdoctoral researchers to the Flemish Community To improve Flemish research and to stimulate internationalization of research 3-year OUTGOING fellowships: (first 2 years abroad – third return year) To boost the career of postdoctoral researchers in Flanders by gaining international research experience To anchor the gained knowledge and expertise in Flanders

[PEGASUS] 2 ( ) Although fundamental research is the DNA of FWO, FWO is convinced that the cross-fertilization between industry and academic basic research contributes to excellent research Intersectoral Mobility Action taken: Part of the research can be spend in the non- academic center Project mainly focuses on fundamental research Main supervisor remains in academia IPR are properly laid out in an agreement

Optimized Procedure Design Application EvaluationFeedbackContracting Evaluation: 84% of the respondents that read the guidelines indicate that all the necessary information is included. 15% perceives that not all the necessary information is provided. Action taken: 1. Extended guidelines containing information on: The FWO and eligibility requirements, How to apply and evaluation procedure Employment conditions and obligations 2. FAQ 3. More detailed brochure [PEGASUS] 2 ( )

Optimized Procedure Design Application EvaluationFeedbackContracting Evaluation: Fellows agree that the evaluation procedure was transparent. Nevertheless 36% had suggestions to make the process even more transparent. Action taken: 1. Guidelines include: More detailed evaluation procedure schemes Extended list of subcriteria Weighing factors for evaluation criteria 2. Revised more elaborate feedback procedure International peer-review reports + pre-reports of FWO panel members + panel discussion remarks [PEGASUS] 2 ( )

Optimized Procedure Design Application EvaluationFeedbackContracting Evaluation: The respondents are rather positive about the contracting procedure, except about the flexibility of the starting date of the fellowship “It was difficult to arrange visa, housing, family matter, … in time to start the fellowship” Action taken: 5 month flexible start date [PEGASUS] 2 ( )

Retention Strategy [PEGASUS] 2 ( ) Complementarity with regular FWO postdoc funding scheme INCOMING [PEGASUS] 2 FWO postdoc extension First regular FWO postdoc extension First regular FWO postdoc OUTGOING [PEGASUS] 2 OUTGOING [PEGASUS] 2 FWO postdoc extension Outgoing as FWO postdoc extension Return year ensures that: fellow AND his/her expertise return researcher is REintegrated for a long term position FWO postdoc open to all nationalities

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie grant agreement No Programme Overview [PEGASUS] 2 ( ) 3 year postdoctoral fellowships INCOMING and OUTGOING: open to all nationalities Guide for applicants and regulations on website: Call 1 Launch: September 2015 Deadline: February 1, 2016 Flexible start: Oct Feb 2017 Call 2 Launch: February 2016 Deadline: May 1, 2016 Flexible start: Jan-May

Thank you! Questions?