1. Funding opportunities for JETSET Marie Curie fellows and other Early Career Researchers
JETSET winter school, Galway, 8 January 2008
Dr. Dagmar M. Meyer
Marie Curie National Contact Point

2. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Outline of the presentation
Marie Curie Actions
European Reintegration Grants
Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development
International Outgoing (and Incoming) Fellowships
European Research Council
ERC Starting Grants (short overview)
Financial support for FP7 applicants
Essential and useful links and addresses
Support structures for mobile researchers
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

3. Overview of the Marie Curie Actions
Initial training of researchers
Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN)
Life-long training and career development
European Reintegration Grants (ERG)
Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)
Co-funding of regional/national/international programmes (COFUND)
Industry-academia pathways and partnerships
MC Industry-Academia Pathways and Partnerships Scheme (IAPP)
International dimension
MC International Outgoing and Incoming Fellowships (IOF / IIF)
MC International Reintegration Grants (IRG)
International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES)
Specific actions
Researchers’ Night (NIGHT)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

4. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
General principles
Focus is on the researcher and her/his career development
Open to all disciplines – from Natural Sciences to Social Sciences and Humanities
Bottom-up – no pre-defined topics or priority areas
Free choice of host institution from public or private sector (within certain limits)
No age limits – what counts is level of experience
Provisions for appropriate work/life balance
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

5. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Basic definitions: host & individual actions
Intra-European/International Fellowships and Reintegration Grants are individual actions:
individual researcher applies jointly with host institution
duration at least 1 year for fellowships, 2 years for reintegration grants
contract between Commission and host institution, work contract or stipend agreement between host and fellow
fellowship/grant bound to individual (no replacement)
Other actions (e.g. Initial Training Networks) are host actions:
consortium of various institutions applies for funding
successful institutions advertise positions and select fellows/researchers themselves
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

6. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Basic definitions: level of experience
Early-Stage Researchers (ESR):
0 – 4 years of research experience (full-time equivalent) since degree qualifying them to embark on a doctorate
Experienced Researcher (ER):
either in possession of a doctoral degree, or
at least 4 years of research experience (full-time equivalent)
All Marie Curie Individual Actions are for Experienced Researchers only! Relevant date is deadline for submission of proposals.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

7. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Basic definitions: MS/AC/TC
Member States (MS)
there are now 27 EU member states
Associated Countries (AC)
Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Israel, Switzerland, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Albania, Montenegro
Third Countries (TC)
more than 140 International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC)
other Third Countries (OTC)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

8. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Basic definitions: host institutions
Organisations that are actively involved in research and/or research training:
Universities/Institutes of Technology
private and public research institutes
companies big and small
International Organisations (CERN, UNESCO, …)
the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre
NGO’s
etc.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

9. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Basic definitions: mobility requirements (fellowships)
Fellow has not been resident in the host country for more than 12 months within the last 3 years
Fellow does not have the nationality of the host country. Special rules in case of:
dual citizenship
European researcher returning from a third country
third country researcher having resided in Europe for a long time
international organisations as host institutions
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

10. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Individual Fellowships and Grants
“Life-long Training and Career Development”
European Reintegration Grants (ERG)
Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development (IEF)
“International Dimension”
International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)
International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)
Next deadline / cut-off date:
Reintegration Grants: 3 April 2008
Fellowships: 19 August 2008
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

11. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
European Reintegration Grants (I)
Following a Marie Curie fellowship of at least 18 months duration (could be a host fellowship!)
Application at the earliest 12 months before and at the latest 6 months after the end of initial fellowship
For ERs from MS/AC or “assimilated nationals” (i.e. third country researchers having been active in MS/AC for at least 3 out of the last 4 years)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

12. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
European Reintegration Grants (II)
Grants provide support to the longer-term (re-)integration in any MS/AC institution
contribution to the research and/or salary costs during 2 – 3 years (€15,000/year)
host institution must provide adequate work contract for at least the duration of the project
mobility not mandatory – host could be the original host institution!!
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

13. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Intra-European Fellowships
For the career development and competence diversification of experienced researchers (with or without PhD, from post-doc to senior researcher)
Nationals of MS/AC or “assimilated nationals”
Any topic, any host institution in a MS/AC (could be a company!)
Transnational mobility is a must
Duration 1 – 2 years
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

14. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
International Outgoing Fellowships
To reinforce the international dimension of the career of experienced researchers who are nationals of a MS/AC
Two phases (fellowship covers both phases):
outgoing phase (1 – 2 years) for training and career development in any third country institution
mandatory return phase (1 year) in distinct legal entity in MS/AC for reintegration and knowledge transfer
Contract is with the return host (responsible for return of the fellow)
Transnational mobility is a must
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

15. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
International Incoming Fellowships
To reinforce scientific excellence of MS/AC by attracting top-class experienced third country researchers (not assimilated to MS/AC nationals)
Enhance possibility for future collaborations
One or two phases:
incoming phase (1 – 2 years) in any MS/AC (fellowship)
optional return phase (1 year) if researcher is from an ICPC country (€15,000/year towards research costs)
Contracts with European and return host
Transnational mobility is a must
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

16. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Work-life balance
Split stays are possible (fellowships)
should be integrated and justified in original work plan
Temporary suspension (for personal, family or professional reasons) can be requested later if unforeseen at time of grant agreement
always granted in case of maternity/parental leave (augmentation of Community contribution)
In principle, fellowships are on a full-time basis
exceptionally, part-time work and corresponding extension can be granted in case of personal or family reasons (total Community contribution will not be augmented)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

17. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Success rates in first Marie Curie calls in FP7
European Reintegration Grants:
first cut-off: 88% (only 49 proposals submitted!)
second cut-off: 85% (68 submitted)
Intra-European Fellowships
25.3% (1703 proposals submitted)
International Outgoing Fellowships
30% (340 proposals submitted)
International Incoming Fellowships
23.3% (570 proposals submitted)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

18. Employment contract (€/year)
Allowances to the researchers (fellowships)
Living allowance (including all mandatory deductions) – basic rate submitted to country-specific coefficient (IE:113.3, UK:109.2, FR:104.4, IT:103.9, DE:101.5, ES: 95.5, PT:91.4, EL:90.1, …,US:100.5, CA:90.6, MX: 70.2)
Experience level
Employment contract (€/year)
Stipend (€/year)
ESR
34,500
17,250
ER with up to 10 years exp.
53,000
26,500
ER with >10 years exp.
79,500
39,750
Mobility allowance (€500/€800 monthly, depending on family situation at deadline)
Travel allowance (€250 - €2500, depending on distance)
Career exploratory allowance (€2,000 once)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

19. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Contribution managed by the host institution (fellowships)
“Participation expenses of researchers” managed by host institution to cover research and training activities of fellows (conference attendance, training actions, research costs, membership in professional associations, etc.)
€500 per fellow-months for non-laboratory based projects
€800 per fellow-months for laboratory based projects
does not apply to reintegration grants and return phase of IIF
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

20. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Contributions to the host institutions (fellowships)
Management activities
max. 3 % of total Community contribution
Overheads
10 % of direct costs except subcontracting
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

21. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Indicative timetable for Reintegration Grants
Publication of call
30 November 2007
Cut-off dates
3 April 2008
8 October 2008
Evaluation of proposals
May 2008
November 2008
Evaluation Summary Reports sent to proposal coordinators
June 2008
December 2008
Invitation for contract negotiations
Letter to unsuccessful candidates
July 2008
January 2009
Signature of first contracts
From September 2008
From March 2009
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

22. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Indicative timetable for Individual Fellowships
Publication of call
19 March 2008
Submission deadline
19 August 2008
Evaluation of proposals
October 2008 (?)
Evaluation Summary Reports sent to proposal coordinators
November 2008 (?)
Invitation for contract negotiations
December 2008 (?)
Letter to unsuccessful candidates
From December 2008 (?)
Signature of first contracts
From February 2009 (?)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

23. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Proposal preparation – first steps
Establish contacts with your chosen host institution / supervisor well ahead of time (financial support for preparatory meetings etc. available from Enterprise Ireland)
Jointly develop a realistic research and training / transfer of knowledge project
Arrange for up to three referees’ assessments
Download all the necessary documentation
Do your homework – background reading! (Rules of the programme but also some policy background)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

24. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Submission procedure
Only electronic submission using EPSS (Electronic Proposal Submission Service)
Proposal has two parts:
Part A: administrative information about proposal, applicant and host institution (prepared forms)
Part B: free text covering a number of predefined aspects of the project, limited number of pages (prescribed font size and margins), limited size of pdf-file
Deadline is STRICTLY enforced
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

25. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Evaluation criteria – basic principles
Evaluation according to criteria provided in the Guide for Applicants
Different criteria carry different weights
Thresholds for some evaluation criteria
Overall threshold is 70%
All issues need to be addressed! Competition is fierce – don’t waste your chances.
Always keep in mind the objectives of the activity!
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

26. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Evaluation process
All proposals undergo initial eligibility check
Evaluation by at least three experts from an international pool (not all experts are exactly from your field of speciality!!)
Proposals that miss a threshold are rejected
Remaining proposals are ranked within each panel
All applicants receive evaluation summary report (very useful for re-submission!!)
Distribution of funding to different panels in proportion to proposals submitted
Reserve lists in case of late withdrawal etc.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

27. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Reintegration Grants –Part B
Evaluation criteria and thresholds (overall threshold 70%):
criterion
weight
threshold
S & T Quality
30%
3/5
Researcher
none
Implementation
20%
Impact
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

28. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Reintegration Grants – S&T Quality
Scientific/technological quality, including any interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary aspects of the proposal
Research methodology
Originality and innovative nature of project, and relationship to the ‘state of the art’ of research in the field
Timeliness and relevance of project
Weight: 30%, Threshold: 3/5
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

29. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Reintegration Grants – Researcher
Research experience
Scientific and technological quality of previous research during the Marie Curie Fellowship
Independent thinking and leadership qualities
Match between the fellow’s profile and project
Weight: 30%, Threshold: none
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

30. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Reintegration Grants – Implementation
Quality of host organisation, including adequacy of infrastructure/facilities
Feasibility and credibility of the project, including work plan
Practical arrangements for the implementation and management of the scientific project
Weight: 20%, Threshold: none
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

31. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Reintegration Grants – Impact
Potential of transferring knowledge to host
Capacity to develop lasting cooperation (with previous country of the Marie Curie Fellowship
Potential and quality of lasting professional integration (expected length of work contract, expected career development)
Benefit to the career of the researcher from the period of reintegration
Weight: 20%, Threshold: none
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

32. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Individual Fellowships –Part B
Evaluation criteria and thresholds (overall threshold 70%):
criterion
weight
threshold
S & T Quality
25%
3/5
Training (IEF/IOF) Transfer of Knowledge (IIF)
15%
IEF/IOF: 3/ IIF: none
Researcher
4/5
Implementation
none
Impact
20%
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

33. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
More information on the Marie Curie Actions
Official website of the FP7 “People” (Marie Curie) programme on CORDIS:
information on calls, work programme, guide for applicants, etc.
Marie Curie FP6 website on EUROPA:
lots of background documents, case studies, interviews, ...
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

34. Opportunities from FP6 http://mc-opportunities.cordis.lu
Many projects from FP6 are still running:
Transfer of Knowledge, Early Stage Training,
Excellence Teams, …
For vacancies visit:
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

35. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
European Research Council Starting Grants
Support researchers at the start of their independent research career in the establishment of their first research team
Provide a structure for transition from working under a supervisor to independent research
Supply grants to support the creation of excellent new teams which bring energy and new ideas to their disciplines
Grants of 100 – 400 k€/year for up to 5 years
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

36. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
ERC Starting Grants – team composition
Team Leader (“Principal Investigator”) has the
power to assemble his/her research group;
freedom to choose the research topic.
Individual teams should consist of a grouping of researchers which meets the needs of the project, without “artificial” administrative constraints:
members may be drawn from one or several legal entities
from either within or across national boundaries, including third countries
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

37. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
ERC Starting Grants – eligibility criteria
Team Leader (“Principal Investigator”)
2-9 years since completion of PhD (+ 3 years max for maternity/paternity leave or military service)
Team leader and team members
any nationality
one ERC Grant per investigator only may be active at any one time
Hosting institution
located in a MS/AC
intra-European grant portability
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

38. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
ERC SG – evaluation criteria and first results
Sole criterion is scientific excellence
potential of applicant
quality of the proposal
research environment
Results from first call (Starting Grants)
9,167 proposals submitted (127 from Ireland)
569 passed to stage 2 (4 from Ireland)
~ 300 funded (1 from Ireland plus 1 on reserve list)
Next call: summer 2008 with deadline in late autumn
More information:
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

39. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Financial support for proposal preparation
Enterprise Ireland travel support:
for researchers in higher education / publicly funded institutions
for visits by Irish researchers abroad to meet potential partners or attendance at EU information days/workshops relating to FP7
covers least-cost travel plus subsistence rates up to € 150 per day (typical length of visits: three days)
during the period of FP7, any one researcher can receive up to € 3,000 to facilitate multiple visits to research partners (open to discussion!)
More details and application form:
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

40. Marie Curie contacts in Ireland
IUA Marie Curie Office – National Contact Point
Dr. Dagmar Meyer
Dr. Conor O’Carroll
+353-(0)
Enterprise Ireland – National Contact Point
Focus on Industry - Bill Kee
+353-(0)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

41. Science Foundation Ireland – ERC National Contact Point
ERC contacts in Ireland
Science Foundation Ireland – ERC National Contact Point
Dr. Graham Love
+353-(0)
Irish Research Council for Humanities and Social Sciences – ERC National Contact Point
Ms Sorcha Carthy
+353-(0)
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

42. National Contact Points: FP7 contacts in third countries:
Contact points in other countries
National Contact Points:
(choose “Mobility” for the Marie Curie NCP and “Ideas” for the European Research Council NCP)
FP7 contacts in third countries:
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

43. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Support structures for mobile researchers
European and National Researcher Mobility Portals
joint initiative of the European Commission and countries participating in FP7
lots of practical information on living and working in other European countries, but also information on training and jobs
a one-stop shop for mobile researchers and their families
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

44. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

45. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

46. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

47. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Support structures for mobile researchers
ERA-MORE Network of Mobility Centres
European network of more than 200 centres in 32 countries
help-desk and personalised assistance in all matters relating to professional and daily life, including information on legal issues, social security, health and taxes, everyday life as well as family support
service completely free of charge
available both to incoming and outgoing researchers
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

48. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

49. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

50. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

51. An Irish Universities Association Presentation
Links to the Mobility Portals
European Researcher Mobility Portal:
Irish Researcher Mobility Portal
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation

52. Thank you for your attention!!
Thursday, September 20, 2018
An Irish Universities Association Presentation