1. ERA-NET Plus Infravation
Trondheim October 24, 2013
Peter Wilbers, Coordinator Infravation
Richard van der Elburg, Call manager
Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Rijkswaterstaat

2. Infravation Call ERA-Net Plus Infravation Announc. Evaluation
EC Grant agreement
Payments
Reporting
Dissemination
Project management
Infravation Call
Announc.
Evaluation
Selection
Negotiation
Monitoring

3. ERA-NET Plus Infravation
European Research Area Network
EC instrument for enhancing Europe’s competitiveness in research area
Pooling scarce resources
Transnational calls for tenders + proposals
ERA-NET Plus (EN Plus)
Financial top-up by EC: ½ of country contributions
Consortium of 5 countries/regions minimum
One large call for proposals
EU project
Proposal submission/evaluation/negotiations
Grant Agreement (GA) with EC
Compliance to FP7 rules

4. Consortium Rijkswaterstaat/NL (coordinator) TÜV Rheinland/DE
FEHRL (representing USA)
BMVBS/DE
Danish Road Directorate/DK
Trafikverket/SE
Norwegian Public Roads administration/NO
Icelandic Road Administration/IS
MEDDE/FR
CDTI/ES
ANAS/IT
Israelian National Transport Infrastructure Company/IL

5. Geographical coverage

6. Characteristics EN Plus Infravation
EN Plus: financial top-up EC to research projects
Real common pot, treated as one uniform budget
Money is allowed to cross borders
Applicants from non-funding EU countries can apply too
Central negotiation, funding + monitoring (through Rijkswaterstaat)
Country contributions 100% spent to research projects

7. Structure EN Plus Infravation
TÜV
RWS
TÜV
RWS
FEHRL
RWS

8. Structure EN Plus Infravation

9. Topics: 1st level of scoping
EN Plus SST call text:
Advanced systems, materials and Techniques for next generation infrastructure
Surface transport
Road infrastructure

10. Topics: 2nd level of scoping
Infravation proposal: 7 challenges
Eco-design; resource and energy efficiency in road construction and maintenance
Virgin material reduction by substitution or recycling
Enhanced durability and life-time extension
Rapid and non-destructive methods for routine quality and performance checks of materials and construction
Keeping freight routes open through zero-intrusive maintenance
Ensuring infrastructure performance under all weather conditions
Advanced predictive infrastructure performance processes

11. Topics: 3rd level of scoping
Workshops in participating countries/regions
Scanning tours, e.g. in US
Scoping team/scoping study
Team of experts
Narrowing down, defining and detailing specific topics
Output
Contents for Guide for Applicants Infravation call
Delivery report background info, also for evaluators

12. To be launched by EN Plus Infravation
Infravation Call
To be launched by
EN Plus Infravation

13. Infravation Call ERA-Net Plus Infravation Announc. Evaluation
EC Grant agreement
Payments
Reporting
Dissemination
Project management
Infravation Call
Announc.
Evaluation
Selection
Negotiation
Monitoring

14. Call budget Country/region contribution 6,350 MEURO
EC top-up 2,675 MEURO*
Total ,025 MEURO
* US contribution will not be topped-up by EC. Therefore EC contribution is a bit less than ½ of country contributions

15. Time schedule (preliminary)
Open call for (light) proposals
January-March 2014
First level evaluation
Evaluation of light proposals until
Decision of the Steering Group on selection of light proposals until
May 2014
Call for full proposals (on invitation only)
Invitation to submit full proposals until
Deadline to submit full proposals
July 2014
Second level evaluation (international peer review)
Remote evaluation period
International peer review (2 presence days)
Selection of projects for funding and invitation to negotiation
September 2014
October 2014
Negotiation of grant agreements
November April 2015
Start of transnational projects
January 2015-May 2015
End of transnational projects (project duration is 30 months max.)
Until end 2017
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start

16. Call launch Infravation webpage Webpages and partner magazines
Publication
Infravation webpage
Webpages and partner magazines
Webpages of EC, NCP, ETNA
International magazine
Brokerage event…
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start 16

17. Information & Brokerage Event
General event -> January 2014
Size participants
Supported by ETNA Plus (European Transport NCP Alliance).
Participation free of charge.
Registration via Infravation webpage
In addition brokerage event in US
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start 17

18. Guide for Applicants (GfA)
THE TRANS-NATIONAL CALL 
Background, Thematic scope, Budget
FORMAL CONDITIONS OF THE CALL 
Type of research, Type of consortia, Funding rates, Project duration, Project size
EVALUATION  
Criteria, process, step 1 pre-proposal, step 2 full proposal (international peer review), selection list
HOW TO APPLY? TURNING YOUR IDEA INTO AN EFFECTIVE PROPOSAL  
CMT (call management tool) and technical assistance
CHECK LIST 
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT 
FURTHER INFORMATION AND HELP
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start 18

19. Call Management Tool (CMT)
2-step submission, 2-step evaluation
Pre-proposal submission
Full-proposal submission on invitation
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start 19

20. Proposal structure Two parts:
Part A: administrative data; directly in CMT
Part B: description of work and the roles of participants in consortium; PDF file to be uploaded to CMT
Adapted from FP proposals
Smaller number of pages
Language English
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start 20

21. Proposal contents (Part B)
1. Scientific and/or technical quality
1.1 Concept and objectives
1.2 Progress beyond the state-of-the-art
1.3 S/T methodology and associated work plan
2. Implementation
2.1 Management structure and procedures
2.2 Individual applicants
2.3 Consortium as a whole
2.4 Resources to be committed
3. Impact
3.1 Expected impacts
3.2 Dissemination and/or exploitation of project results, and management of intellectual property
4. Ethics Issues
5. Consideration of gender aspects
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start 21

22. Funding Funding rates based on FP7/H2020
Applicants from non-funding countries: max 1/3 of requested project funding
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start

23. Evaluation (1) 1st step: light proposals 2nd step: full proposals
Delegated national experts
Relevance + quality (proposal + consortium)
Technical capacity + competence applicants
Eligibility (financial, legal, complete)
2nd step: full proposals
Independent international experts
Quality proposals, guided by outcomes scoping study
According to ENT Plus criteria
Outcome: ranking list proposals
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start

24. Evaluation (2) 2nd step: full proposals
International peer review
Remote evaluation through CMT
Presence days
Lunch-to-lunch meeting
Day 1: Group sessions to agree on scores
Day 2: Plenary consolidation session
Agreement on ranking list for SG
Selection list: Steering Group decision
Projects for funding (negotiations)
To EC (for topping up)
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start

25. Negotiation + monitoring
Negotiation (Rijkswaterstaat)
Contract negotiations projects with Coordinators (only from funding countries)
Preparation funding contracts
Monitoring (Rijkswaterstaat + TUV)
Reporting mid + end duration Infravation
Monitoring reports by project coordinators
Financial and activity-related information
Continuous monitoring by Scientific Panel
Call Launch
CMT + Proposal
Evaluation
Negotiation
Project start

26. Contact Peter.wilbers@rws.nl Richard.vander.elburg@rws.nl
Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and the Environment, Rijkswaterstaat