College of Science, Engineering and Food Science

COST

COST was the first and is the widest European network for the coordination of nationally funded research activities.

COST brings together researchers and experts in different countries working on specific topics. COST does NOT fund research itself, but supports networking activities such as meetings, conferences, short term scientific exchanges and outreach activities. COST Actions are networks centred around nationally funded research projects in a particular field. Approximately 250 Actions are currently supported by COST. These are a good starting point for the development of consortia for FP7 projects, for instance.

The programme is divided into 9 Scientific Domains:

• Biomedicine and molecular biosciences

• Chemistry and molecular sciences and technologies

• Earth system science and environmental management

• Food and agriculture

• Forest, their products and services

• Individuals, societies, cultures and health

• Information and communication technologies

• Materials, physical and nanosciences

• Transport and urban development

Proposals should include researchers from a minimum of five COST countries. On average, grants are worth around €100,000 annually over four years.

Proposals are submitted on-line and are assessed in two stages. Preliminary Proposals (maximum 1 500 words/3 pages), should provide a brief overview of the proposal and its intended impact (for template go to http://www.cost.eu/opencall). Eligible Proposals will be assessed by the relevant Domain Committees and applicants of selected Preliminary Proposals will be invited to submit a Full Proposal. Full Proposals will be peer reviewed (for assessment criteria go to, http://www.cost.eu/opencall). The decision will normally be taken within six months of the collection date and the Actions should expect to start within three months thereafter. 

Collection dates for Preliminary Proposals are usually the last Friday in March and September. Up to 80 applicants will be invited to submit Full Proposals, of these up to 30 new Actions will be selected, subject to available budget.

EU innovation inducement prize - €2 million prize for a world class idea to change the way we deal with vaccines

The race to overcome weaknesses in the cold-chain for vaccine transport and storage is on! Many people in tropical and developing countries cannot benefit from life-saving vaccines because these vaccines are damaged during transport and storage. Many vaccines need to be kept at a cool and stable temperature to remain effective and this is difficult to ensure in these regions.

The European Commission is offering a EUR 2 million prize for innovations which can solve this global health problem.

No particular approach is prescribed. Solutions may include alternative ways of formulating, preserving or transporting vaccines. Whichever solution responds best to the competition criteria will win.

Take part in the competition and win this prestigious prize – the first of its kind!

The winner of the prize will be announced in the last quarter of 2013. Inducement prizes refer to a funding scheme where first a technological, social or scientific challenge is defined and an award promised for the delivered breakthrough solution. Compared with traditional funding tools, prizes reduce the entry barriers and help to mobilise new talents. The use of prizes to encourage scientific breakthroughs, which has a long history, could be expanded under Horizon 2020, the EU's funding programme for research and innovation after 2014.

Petroleum Infrastructure Programme Open Call for Project Proposals

Funding will be provided by the Irish Shelf Petroleum Study Group (ISPSG) of the Petroleum Infrastructure Programme (PIP).

The Petroleum Infrastructure Programme (PIP) was set up by the Petroleum Affairs Division (PAD) of the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR) in 1997.  The ISPSG Group, the successor to the joint industry Rockall Studies Group and Porcupine Studies Group, was set up in 2002 and concentrates on the regional exploration elements of the PIP objectives with an aim to address common industry problems anywhere in the Irish Offshore.

Project Proposals are sought under the following themes:

• Regional geological and geophysical data gathering and studies aimed at improving knowledge of petroleum systems and exploration potential;
• Special engineering studies to improve Exploration & Production cost effectiveness and recommendations on better procedures and practices;
• Environmental studies.

Proposal applications should be submitted by email to Laurena Leacy, PIP Secretariat at lleacy@pip.ie

Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)

Outgoing Fellowships are for researchers from EU Member States and Associated Countries. To apply, you must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years’ full-time equivalent research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate. More experienced researchers can apply and the higher level of experience will not affect their chances of obtaining an IOF.

IOFs fund advanced training. Funding covers a salary for the researcher and a contribution to research-related costs. Financial support can be given for up to 3 years in all. This includes an initial outgoing phase of 1-2 years in a Third Country and a mandatory reintegration phase in Europe.

The host organisation should be a university, research centre or enterprise established and located in a Third Country (for the outgoing phase) and in an EU or Associated Country (for the return phase).

The main activities should be based on a research project which should prepared by the applicant  in coordination with the European host organisation. An IOF should significantly develop and widen the applicant’s competences. In particular, it should strengthen their multi- or interdisciplinary expertise, inter-sectoral experience and complementary skills.

Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)

Incoming Fellowships aim to reinforce the research excellence of Member States and Associated Countries through knowledge sharing with incoming top-class researchers active in a third country (Other third countries are countries which are neither EU Member States nor third countries associated to FP7).

Applicants must hold a doctoral degree or at least 4 years’ full-time research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate. This is the minimum requirement and has the main focus of these is knowledge transfer, the more experienced the applicant, the greater the chances for success.

Funding is provided for a research project which will transfer knowledge into the host organisation and build or enhance collaborations between Europe and the rest of the world. Financial support is provided for 12-24 months (full-time equivalent). Funding may also cover a return phase of one year in the applicant’s country of origin. To qualify for a return phase, the applicant must be from must be from one of the International Cooperation Partner Countries.

Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development (IEF)

Researchers based in EU Member States or Associated Countries can apply for an IEF. They must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years’ full-time research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting them to embark on a doctorate. Generally, they  must carry out the project on the premises of a host organisation in an EU or Associated Country other than your own. Special consideration is also given to those returning to a research career after a break.

Funding is provided for advanced training. This may include the acquisition of new and/or complementary skills, and transnational mobility. The training is based on a personal career development programme agreed between the researcher and the supervisor at the host organisation. Funding covers a salary for the researcher and a contribution to research-related costs and is provided for a period of 12-24 months (full-time equivalent).  

BBVA Foundation Frontiers of Knowledge Awards

The BBVA Foundation invites nominations for its frontiers of knowledge awards. These recognise research and creative work that contributes to a better understanding of the natural, social and artificial or technological worlds. Eight categories are available:

•basic sciences (physics, chemistry, mathematics);

•biomedicine;

•ecology and conservation biology;

•information and communication technologies;

•economics, finance and management;

•contemporary music;

•climate change;

•development cooperation

Candidates may be one or more persons of any nationality. Agencies and organisations in the public and not-for-profit private sector are also eligible for climate change and development cooperation awards.

Nominations are accepted from: scientific or artistic societies or organisations; national or regional academies of the sciences or the arts; public or private research and development centres; university departments and schools, and university or research institutes; hospital departments and biomedical research centres; conservatories and schools of music; scholarly music and musicology journals; orchestras and orchestra associations; radio and television broadcasters running symphony or chamber orchestras; science museums; public agencies and international, national or regional organisations involved in a relevant field. Organisations may nominate more than one candidate but each candidate may only be nominated for one category. Awards in each category are worth €400,000.

L’Oréal & UNESCO Young Women in Science Fellowships

Since its inception in 1998, the For Women in Science partnership expands each year. To date, the L’Oréal-UNESCO Awards have distinguished 77 eminent women scientists at the height of their career, and the International Fellowships have supported 195 promising young women scientists to pursue doctoral and postdoctoral research projects.

In addition, a network of National and Regional Fellowship programs at the doctoral level, now in over 115 countries with new programs launching every year, has encouraged over 1200 young women to continue their scientific research studies within their country of origin.

To apply, please sign in to the “For Women in Science” Platform (www.fwis.fr). Should you experience any difficulty, do not hesitate to contact Dr. Raphaela Kitson Pantano (Raphaela.kitsonpantano@loreal.com).