1. Marie Curie Actions individual Fellowships
Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
17 May 2012
& content of the presentation
Maria Tsivertara
People Programme; Marie Curie Actions
Directorate-General for Education and Culture
European Commission

2. Agenda MCAs in FP7 Individual Fellowships Career Integration Grants
Evaluation Criteria

3. Marie Curie Actions = People Programme
FP7
Marie Curie Actions = People Programme
7th Framework Programme for Research - (2007 – 2013)
Horizon 2020 (2014 – 2020)

4. Features To develop human resources dedicated to research
MCAs in FP7
Features
To develop human resources dedicated to research
To attract young talents into a research career
To support the mobility of researchers of all nationalities in all scientific fields (bottom up approach)
To diversify researchers’ skills and competences
To provide attractive working conditions and better research career opportunities

5. MCAs in FP7
Marie Curie researchers coming from all over the world (around 130 nationalities)

6. Marie Curie host organisations in around 70 countries
MCAs in FP7
Marie Curie host organisations in around 70 countries
FP6 and FP7 Marie Curie host organisations
12 MAIN DESTINATIONS

7. Research topics are chosen freely by applicants
Bottom-up approach
Research topics are chosen freely by applicants
Budget distribution by scientific panel (Marie Curie Actions )
EU contribution: ~ €2 billion
Research projects funded: > 5000

8. More than 10.000 PhD supported in FP7
MCAs in FP7
Around researchers financed since the creation of the Marie Curie Actions
More than PhD supported in FP7
38% of women among FP7 MCA fellows
SMEs play a major role: they account for more than 50% of all businesses participating in IAPP and ITN
50-60% of the budget dedicated to research on societal challenges

9. Actions Marie Curie Action Objective Initial training of researchers
Initial Training Networks (ITN)
Improve career perspectives of
early stage researchers (ESR) in both
public & private sector
Life-long training
and career development
(1170–1400 M€)
Intra-European Fellowships (IEF)
Career development of experienced researchers (ER) (e.g. diversification of skills/competencies; integrate a stable position after mobility)
Career Integration Grants (CIG)
Co-funding of regional, national, international programmes (COFUND)
Industry dimension
( M€)
Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways (IAPP)
Open and foster dynamic pathways
between public research
organisations and private research
commercial enterprises
International dimension
World fellowships
International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)
Reinforce the extra-European dimension of the European Research Area (ERA) through mobility, training, knowledge transfer and cooperation
International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)
International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) 9

10. Individual researchers Research Organisations Senior Post-docs (MER)
Who applies to what?
Applicants
Individual researchers
Research Organisations
Funding bodies
Senior Post-docs (MER)
> 10 years
IEF
IOF
IIF
IAPP
IRSES
COFUND
Profile
ESR: Early-Stage Researcher
ER: Experienced Researchers
MER: More Experienced Researcher
Post-docs (ER)
> 4 years or PhD
CIG
Post-graduates (ESR)
< 4 years
ITN

11. Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) 1
Objectives
To support the best and most promising researchers in their Europe-wide career
To enhance and maximise their contribution to the knowledge-based economy and society
Expected impact
Career development of experienced researchers
Competence diversification – skills acquisition at multi-interdisciplinary level and/or inter-sectoral level
Attain a leading independent position
Resume a career in research after a break (Career Restart Panel- CAR)

12. Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) 2

13. Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) 3
CAREER RESTART PANEL
Encouraging researchers to return to research after a career break
No fellowship or employment in research for at least 12 months immediately prior to the call deadline
Modified mobility rule (3 years out of 5)
Multidisciplinary panel (CHE, SOC, ECO, ENG, ENV, LIF, MAT, PHY)
CAREER RESTART PANEL (only IEF)
Aims to ensure equal opportunities by encouraging researchers to return to research after a career break.
Not have been active on a fellowship, or employed under contract in research for at least 12 months immediately prior to the call deadline
Multidisciplinary panel (CHE, SOC, ECO, ENG, ENV, LIF, MAT, PHY)

14. International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) 1
Objectives
To reinforce the international dimension of researchers’ careers
To transfer acquired knowledge to Member States (MS) and Associated Countries (AC)
Expected impact
Significant advances in researchers' careers
Acquisition of complementary research competences
Reach a position of professional maturity

15. International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) 2

16. International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF) 3
Fellowships of 2 phases:
initial outgoing phase in a Third Country (1-2 years)
mandatory re-integration phase in EU or AC (1 year – return host)
Grant Agreement to be concluded with the host institution located in the MS or AC
Why to apply?
Fellowships for top-class researchers from Europe to be trained and acquire new knowledge in a high-level research organisation in a third country
Objectives:
To reinforce the international dimension of researcher careers
To transfer acquired knowledge to EU & AC
Expected Impact:
Significant advances in researchers' careers
Acquisition of complementary research competences at an advanced level
Reach a position of professional maturity
Building international research relations

17. International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) 1
Objectives
To incoming top-class researchers active in a third country
To transfer knowledge through mutual beneficial research cooperation
Expected impact
Significant advances in researchers' careers
Acquisition of complementary research competences
Attain a leading independent position

18. International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) 2

19. International Incoming Fellowships (IIF) 3
Researchers moving from a third country to MS or AC
Financial support for months (possible return phase for ICPC – max 12 months; €15000 per researcher/year, Not subject to country correction coefficient)
Applicants: researcher jointly with the EU/AC host organisation

20. Funding rates (IEF, IOF, IIF)
Category 1: Monthly Living Allowance
- €58,500 gross salary per ER / year x country coefficient (4-10 years)
- €87,500 gross salary per ER / year x country coefficient (>10 years)
Category 2: Mobility Allowance
- €1,000 – €700 (family or not) per researcher month x country coefficient
Category 3: Contribution to Research, Τraining and Transfer of Knowledge
- € 800 per researcher month
- Flat-rate cost category
Category 5: Overheads (and management)
- € 700 per researcher month x country coefficient

21. Career Integration Grants (CIG) 1
Objectives
To reinforce the ERA by encouraging researchers to establish themselves in a MS or AC
To attract and retain the best researchers in Europe
Expected impact
Provide researchers with opportunities for long term research position in Europe
Reinforcement of the human research potential in the ERA
Increase knowledge transfer and trans-national cooperation for EU research organisations 21

22. Career Integration Grants (CIG) 2
For Experienced Researchers
Must have a PhD or at least 4 years of research experience
Researchers can be of any nationality
Researchers must move country to take up research job (must comply with Mobility Rule)
No nationality requirement => Possible to return to home country
Duration of CIG: 24 – 48 months.
Host must offer full time research post for at least the duration of the CIG grant.
EU contribution: €/year (lump sum)

23. Career Integration Grants (CIG) 3 e Host perspective
CIG can not be combined with
other Marie Curie Grants
other ”personal grants” (e.g. ERC grants)
CIG funding as lump sum => for any type of costs of the proposed project
Part of salary of Researcher (or other people working on project)
Equipment, consumables, travel
Overhead, management costs
Etc

24. Call identifier Deadline in 2012 Budget FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IEF 16 August
120 M€
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IOF
40 M€
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IIF
FP7-PEOPLE-2012-CIG
18 September
20 M€
Deadline 17:00

25. Marie Curie success rates
MC Calls 2011
Success rates
IEF
18%
IIF
16%
IOF
19%
CIG
 30% & 28%

26. Evaluation criteria IxF (1)
Science and Technology quality-IxF- (3) Threshold 3, Weighting 25% - S&T quality, Research methodology, Originality and innovation, Timeliness and Relevance of the project, Host Expertise and Quality of supervisors
Training -IEF, IOF- (2): Threshold 3, Weighting 15%
- Clarity and quality of research training objectives, Relevance and Quality of additional scientific training, Host expertise in training experienced researchers
Transfer of Knowledge -IIF- (2): Weighting 15%
- Potential of transferring knowledge, Clarity and quality of the transfer of knowledge objectives
Researcher –IxF- (1): Threshold 4, Weighting 25%
- Research experience and results, Leadership, Match, Potential

27. Evaluation criteria IxF (2)
Implementation -IxF: (5)Weighting 15%
- Feasibility and credibility of the project, Workplan, Infrastructure, Administration
Impact - IxF-: (4)Weighting 20%
- Potential to acquire competences, Contribution to career development, Long-term collaboration, Contribution to REA and EU competitiveness

28. Evaluation criteria CIG
Science and Technology Quality (2) Threshold 3, Weighting 30% - S&T quality, Research methodology, Originality and innovation, Timeliness and Relevance of the project
Researcher (1): Threshold 3, Weighting 30%
- Research experience and results, Leadership, Match, Potential
Implementation (4): Weighting 15%
- Quality of the host, Feasibility and credibility of the project, management
Impact - IxF-: (3)Weighting 25%
- Potential of the long term professional integration, Transfer of knowledge, Capacity to develop long-term collaboration, plans for dissemination and outreach activities

29. Hints for a successful proposal (1)
The evaluators may not all be world experts in exactly the area of your proposal – avoid using very specific jargon and acronyms
Provide the evaluators with evidence for your claims, but avoid external resources (links to websites etc.)
Graphics and charts can be very helpful, but don’t overdo it! Make sure they are readable in black & white.
Take also note of the following…

30. Hints for a successful proposal (2)
Always read the Guide for Applicants when applying, follow the given template
Ensure you meet the minimum eligibility requirements
Good match between fellow(s) and Host
Very good Research Project/Programme (+ Training/Transfer of Knowledge…)
Structure and organize the information well
Be precise, less is sometime more…
Impartial view…ask your colleagues, friend to read it before…
Start with EPSS as soon as possible
administrative data (part A forms)
first draft of proposal (part B)

31. Greek participation in MCA
Number of Greek researchers funded in Marie Curie Actions ( ): 465
EU budget allocated so far to Greek institutes ( ): € 50.3 million
Number of Greek institutions participating in Marie Curie Actions ( ): 287

32. Participation of Aristotle University in MCA 24 projects
5 ITN (Initial Training Netwworks)
4 IRSES (International Research Staff Exchange Scheme
1 IAPP (Industry-Academia Partnerships and Pathways)
1 IEF (Intra-European Fellowships)
2 IIF (Incoming Internaional Fellowships)
6 Reintegration grants
Total budget: €

33. Participant portal (calls, submission…)
Marie Curie Actions
Advise (EL NCP):
FAQ:
Jobs supported - Euraxess:
Registration of experts - evaluators:

34. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION34
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION 34 34