Title: Marie Curie Individual Actions in FP7
1Marie Curie
Individual Fellowships (IEF, IOF, IIF) and
Reintegration Grants (RG) Dr Dagmar Meyer Marie
Curie National Contact Point
NUI Galway, 6th May 2009
www.iua.ie
2Outline of the presentation
- Marie Curie Actions
- Individual actions in FP7
- Other opportunities within the Marie Curie
programme - Hints for the proposal preparation
- Evaluation criteria
- Things to keep in mind
3Overview of the Marie Curie Actions
Initial training of researchers Marie Curie
Initial Training Networks (ITN)
Life-long training and career development Marie
Curie Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) European
Reintegration Grants (ERG) 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),
other specific actions
4Individual Fellowships and Grants
- Life-long Training and Career Development
- Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development
(IEF) - European Reintegration Grants (ERG)
- International Dimension
- International Outgoing Fellowships (IOF)
- International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)
- International Reintegration Grants (IRG)
- Next deadline / cut-off date
- Fellowships 18 August 2009
- Reintegration Grants 8 October 2009
5General principles
- Focus is on the researchers career development
(exception IIF transfer of knowledge to European
host institution) - 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 - No age limits what counts is level of
experience - Provisions for appropriate work/life balance
(split stays, maternity/parental leave etc.)
6Basic definitions 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 - Grant agreement between Commission and host
institution, for fellowships then work contract
(or stipend agreement) between host and fellow - Fellowship/grant bound to individual (no
replacement)
7Basic definitions level of experience
- Experienced Researcher (ER)
- either in possession of a doctoral degree
- or at least 4 years of research experience
(full-time equivalent) since degree qualifying
them to embark on a doctorate - All Marie Curie Individual Actions are for
Experienced Researchers only! Relevant date is
deadline for submission of proposals.
8Basic definitions MS/AC/TC
- 27 Member States (MS)
- 12 Associated Countries (AC)
- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Israel,
Switzerland, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Serbia,
Turkey, Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia-Herzegovina - Third Countries (TC)
- More than 140 International Cooperation Partner
Countries (ICPC) - Other Third Countries (OTC)
9Basic definitions host institutions
- Organisations that are actively involved in
research - universities/Institutes of Technology
- private and public research institutes
- companies big and small
- international Organisations (CERN, UNESCO, )
- the European Commissions Joint Research Centre
- NGOs
- etc.
10Basic definitions mobility requirements
(fellowships)
- Fellow has not been resident in the host country
for more than 12 months within the last 3 years - There are no nationality restrictions anymore
in particular, researchers who have been outside
their country of nationality for a number of
years (so they fulfil the mobility requirement)
can apply for a fellowship in their native
country. - Benefit of the mobility to the European Research
Area is now an evaluation criterion.
11Intra-European Fellowships
- For the career development and competence
diversification of experienced researchers (with
or without PhD, from post-doc to senior
researcher) - Open to researchers of any nationality who are
based in a MS/AC. - Any topic, any host institution in a MS/AC (could
be a company!) - Mobility from one MS/AC to another MS/AC is a
must. - Duration 1 2 years
12International Outgoing Fellowships
- To reinforce the international dimension of the
career of experienced researchers who are
nationals of a MS/AC based in 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 a MS/AC for
reintegration and knowledge transfer - Grant agreement is with the return host
(responsible for return of the fellow) - Mobility from a MS/AC to a TC is a must.
13International Incoming Fellowships
- To reinforce scientific excellence of MS/AC by
attracting top-class experienced researchers of
any nationality based in a Third Country - Enhance possibility for future collaborations
- One or two phases
- incoming phase (1 2 years) in any MS/AC
(fellowship) - optional return phase in country of origin (max 1
year) if researcher returns to an ICPC country
(15,000/year towards reintegration costs) - Grant agreement with European and return host
- Mobility from a TC to a MS/AC is a must
14European Reintegration Grants
- Following a Marie Curie fellowship of at least 18
months duration (could be a host fellowship, but
IOF is excluded) application up to 6 months
after end of initial fellowship - For ERs of any nationality.
- 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
15International Reintegration Grants
- For ERs from MS/AC who have spent at least three
years outside MS/AC and not more than 12 months
within last three years in MS/AC - Grants provide support to the longer-term
(re-)integration in any MS/AC institution - Contribution to the research and/or salary costs
during 2 4 years (25,000/year) - Host institution must provide evidence that
researcher gets effectively reintegrated - Researcher should normally not yet have returned
to research in MS/AC (exceptions in well
justified cases)
16Work-life balance
- Split stays are possible
- 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
only if payments mandatory under national law) - 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)
17Success rates in first Marie Curie calls in FP7
- Intra-European Fellowships 2007 25.3 2008
26.6 - Internatl. Outgoing Fellowships 2007 30 2008
24.9 - Internatl. Incoming Fellowships 2007 23.3
2008 21.2 - European Reintegration Grants
- First cut-off 2007 93.5, second cut-off 2007
93.6 - First cut-off 2008 88.9, second cut-off 2008
88.9 - International Reintegration Grants
- First cut-off 2007 89.8, second cut-off 2007
43.1 - First cut-off 2008 50.8, second cut-off 2008
48.1 - IRG and ERG have a joint budget now success
rates for both actions should become similar.
18Allowances to the researchers (fellowships)
- Living allowance (including all mandatory
deductions) basic rate submitted to
country-specific coefficient (IE113.3,
UK109.2, FR104.4, DE101.5, ES 95.5, EL90.1,
,US103.1, CA92.7, MX 74.4)
- Mobility allowance (500/800 monthly, depending
on family situation at deadline country
coefficient applies) - Travel allowance (250 - 2500 every 12 months,
depending on distance) - Career exploratory allowance (2,000 once, only
for IEF)
19Contribution 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-month for non-laboratory based
projects - 800 per fellow-month for laboratory based
projects - does not apply to reintegration grants and return
phase of IIF
20Contributions to the host institutions
(fellowships)
- Management activities and overheads
- no separate budget lines anymore but one combined
fixed-amount contribution - fixed-amount of EUR 700 per researcher-month to
which the country correction factor is applied
(total amount cannot exceed 20 of the total
direct costs excluding sub-contracting)
21Indicative timetable for Individual Fellowships
22Indicative timetable for Reintegration Grants
23More information
- Official website of the FP7 People (Marie
Curie) programme on CORDIS - (information on calls, work programme, guide for
applicants, etc.) - http//cordis.europa.eu/fp7/people/
24Opportunities from FP6
Many projects from FP6 are still running
Transfer of Knowledge,
Research Training Networks, Early Stage
Training, Excellence Teams, For vacancies
visit http//mc-opportunities.cordis.lu
or http//ec.europa.eu/euraxess
25COFUNDed programmes
- Funding organisations from across Europe have
applied for cofunding of their schemes by Marie
Curie COFUND action - Three Irish fellowships programmes have been
selected, one by IRCSET, one by HRB, and one by
NBIPI. - NBIPI currently has an open call deadline on 3
June 2009. For details see http//research1.rcsi
.ie/BIP/Career_Enhancement_Mobility_Programme_(CEM
P) - For other COFUNDed opportunities see
http//cordis.europa.eu/fp7/people/cofund_en.html
26Key contacts
- IUA Marie Curie Office National Contact Point
- Dr. Dagmar Meyer (dagmar.meyer_at_iua.ie)
- Dr. Conor OCarroll (conor.ocarroll_at_iua.ie)
- mariecurie_at_iua.ie
- 01 676 4948
- Enterprise Ireland National Contact Point
- Focus on Industry - Bill Kee
- bill.kee_at_enterprise-ireland.com
- 01 727 2277
27Proposal preparation
- Hints for the proposal preparation
- Evaluation process and criteria
- Things to keep in mind when writing your proposal
28Proposal preparation first steps
- Download all the necessary documentation
- Do your homework background reading! (Rules of
the programme but also some policy background) - Establish contacts with your chosen host
institution / supervisor well ahead of time
(financial support (travel grants) 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
29Submission 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
30Evaluation 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 dont waste your chances. - Always keep in mind the objectives of the
activity!
31Evaluation 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 (fellowships) - Reserve lists in case of late withdrawal etc.
32Individual Fellowships Part B
- Evaluation criteria and thresholds
(overall threshold 70)
33Individual fellowships ST 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 - Timeliness and relevance of project
- Host scientific expertise in the field
- Quality of the group/supervisors
- Weight 25, Threshold 3/5
34Individual fellowships Training (IEF IOF)
- Clarity and quality of the research training
objectives for the researcher - Relevance and quality of additional scientific
training as well as of complementary skills
offered - Host expertise in training experienced
researchers in the field and capacity to provide
mentoring / tutoring - Weight 15, Threshold 3/5
35Individual fellowships Transfer of Knowledge
(IIF)
- Potential of transferring knowledge to European
host and/or bring knowledge to Europe - Clarity and quality of the transfer of knowledge
objectives - Weight 15, Threshold none
36Individual fellowships Researcher (IEF IOF)
- Research experience
- Results including patents/publications/teaching
etc. taking into account the level of experience - Independent thinking and leadership qualities
- Match between the fellows profile and project
- Potential for reaching a position of professional
maturity - Potential to acquire new knowledge
- Weight 25, Threshold 4/5
37Individual fellowships Researcher (IIF)
- Research experience
- Results including patents/publications/teaching
etc. - Independent thinking and leadership qualities,
and capacity to transfer knowledge - Match between the fellows profile and project
- Weight 25, Threshold 4/5
38Individual fellowships Implementation
- Quality of infrastructure/facilities and
international collaborations of host - Practical arrangements for the implementation and
management of the scientific project - Feasibility and credibility of the project,
including work plan - Practical and administrative arrangements, and
support for the hosting of the fellow - Weight 15, Threshold none
39Individual fellowships Impact (IEF IOF)
- Potential of acquiring competences during
fellowship to improve the prospects of reaching
and/or reinforcing a position of professional
maturity, diversity and independence, in
particular through exposure to complementary
skills training - Contribution to the career development, or
re-establishment, where
relevant - Contribution to European excellence and
competitiveness - Benefit of the mobility to the European Research
Area - IOF Potential for creating long-term
collaborations and mutually beneficial
co-operation between Europe and the third country - Weight 20, Threshold none
40Individual fellowships Impact (IIF)
- Potential for creating long-term collaborations
and mutually beneficial co-operation between
Europe and the third country - Contribution to European excellence and
competitiveness - Contribution to the socio-economic development of
the Developing Countries or emerging and
transition economies by transfer of knowledge and
human capacity building (where relevant) - Benefit of the mobility to the European Research
Area - Weight 20, Threshold none
41Reintegration Grants Part B
- Evaluation criteria and thresholds
(overall threshold 70)
42Reintegration Grants ST 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
43Reintegration Grants Researcher
- Research experience
- Scientific and technological quality of previous
research (for ERG during the Marie Curie
Fellowship) - Independent thinking and leadership qualities
- Match between the fellows profile and project
- IRG Benefit to the career of the researcher from
the period of reintegration - Weight 30, Threshold 3/5 (only for IRG)
44Reintegration 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 project - Weight 20, Threshold none
45Reintegration Grants Impact (ERG)
- Benefit to the career of the researcher from the
period of reintegration - Capacity to develop lasting cooperation with
previous country of the Marie Curie Fellowship
(if relevant) - Potential of transferring knowledge to host
- Potential and quality of lasting professional
integration (expected length of work contract,
expected career development) - Weight 20, Threshold none
46Reintegration Grants Impact (IRG)
- Potential of transferring knowledge to host
- Capacity to develop lasting cooper. with 3rd
country - Contribution to scientific excellence by
attracting a 1st class researcher in exceptl.
case where res. has already gained employment in
Europe, significant improvement in career
prospects - Contribution to Europ. excellence
competitiveness - Potential and quality of lasting professional
integration (expected length of work contract,
expected career development) - Weight 20, Threshold none
47Hints for a successful proposal (I)
- Work closely with your chosen supervisor /
scientist in charge this is a JOINT application - Follow the guide for applicants and address all
issues mentioned in the explanatory notes - Plan your writing - focus on one section at a
time, but keep the overall picture in mind - Dont be repetitive the same issue may appear
in various sections, but from different
perspectives, so dont simply cut-and-paste! - Be concise and observe the page limit
48Hints for a successful proposal (II)
- Stick to the structure suggested in the guide for
applicants keep the evaluators happy! - 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 (no links to
websites etc.) - Graphics and charts can be very helpful, but
dont overdo it! Make sure they are readable in
black white.
49Hints for a successful proposal (III)
- Get a colleague to read through your proposal and
do a mock evaluation - If in doubt, ask your National Contact Point for
clarification! - If you want to avail of our pre-submission
proposal check, allow enough time for feedback. - Regularly upload preliminary versions of your
proposal, and dont forget to hit submit! - Keep the deadline - 5pm Brussels time means 4pm
Irish time!!
50EI support for FP7 applicants travel grants
- Enterprise Ireland travel support
- for researchers in higher education / publicly
funded institutions - for researchers in Ireland to go abroad and meet
potential partners or attend 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) - for details see the Irish FP7 portal at
http//www.fp7ireland.com/Page.aspx?SP225
51And finally.