Transcript RSFP 2006 SEMINARS - University of Limerick

RESEARCH STIMULUS FUND
2007 Call Briefings
Richard Howell
Research, Food & Codex Coord. Div
PRESENTATION FORMAT
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RSFP – BACKGROUND, AIMS & FEATURES
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SCOPE OF CALL
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APPLICATION FORM
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EVALUATION PROCESS
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QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
RSFP – PREVIOUSLY FUNDED
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€4m in 2001 / 2002 Open Calls (full duration cost)
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€4.5m in 2005 Targeted Call (full duration cost)
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28 Small scale projects
Agri-Env – 5 projects @ €2.6m
Non-Food Crops – 4 projects @ €1.3m
Agri-Food Economics – 3 projects @ €0.6m
€18 m in 2006 Open Call (full duration cost)
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Animal Bioscience – 15 projects @ €8.4m
Plant Bioscience – 5 projects @ €1.9m
Non-Food Land Uses – 2 projects @ €0.6m
Agri-Environment - 8 projects @ €6.1m
Agri Economy & Policy – 5 projects @ €0.9m
SSTI – Public Sector Reserach
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Aim to build knowledge economy in agri-food
Agr – multifunctional role; sustainable on renew. res
Optimise links between institutes & with industry
Agr. Research focus – new systems & technologies to
support efficient farming & diversify land use
DAF to link with Environment, Energy (& Health)
sectors & foster North-South collaboartion
DAF-DEHLG-DCMNR discussions at end 2006 –
bid to IDC - €13.67m allocated to DAF from
Competitive Fund for Linked Public Sector Research
2007 CALL FUNDING
DAF Under NDP
Themes €m
Plants
2
(2007)
&
Agri Econ.
SSTI – DAF Allocation for
Linked Public Sector Reserarch
Theme €m (2 yrs) Partner
Env
5.75
DEHLG/EPA
Energy 1.5
DCMNR
NATURE OF RSFP
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“RESEARCH” -NEW KNOWLEDGE / USES
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Basic / Fundamental /Applied / Pre-Commercial
BENEFIT PRODUCTION AGR. - in/direct
“PUBLIC GOOD” – disseminate subject to IPR
GAPS - NOT CORE TEAGASC PROG.
NOT FOOD / FISHERIES
COMPLEMENT OTHER PROGRAMS / FUNDERS
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FIRM, EPA, SEI, D/CRAGA, etc.
PURPOSE OF RSFP
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SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE & COMPETITIVE
AGR. PRODUCTION PRACTICES & POLICIES
 Compete - CAP, WTO, celtic tiger, etc.
 Comply with regs. - environment, welfare, etc
 Renew - energy sources, farm by-products, etc
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BUILD RESEARCH CAPACITY
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Enable Irl. to compete for EU FP in future
PARTNERSHIP
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COLLABORATION - Teag./Uni/IT/DAF/NI
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IF NOT - JUSTIFY WHY GOING ALONE
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OTHER PARTNERS WELCOME - Self-Finance
 Irish Industry - but no exclusive rights to results
 Other Irish Bodies - relevance
 Overseas Research Institutes – if beneficial to Irl
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Paid Contract Foreign Expertise – for specific
task/job & only if skill not available in Ireland
THEME AREAS
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“TARGETED” CALL – excl. animal bioscience
SUPPORT SUSTAINABLE AGR
PRODUCTION - in its broad sense +
FOCUS ON DEVELOP / APPLY
BIOSCIENCES
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Underpin advice for regl. compliance & farm mgt
Improve productivity / quality, etc - breeding
New agri products & land uses
1. Agri Energy – use farm-based materials
Energy Crop Production Studies
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Genetics to select most suitable varieties
Develop efficient production, mgt & harvest systems
Response – diff nuts / sources / soils
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GHG emissions – N2O, soil carbon, transport/process.
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Energy from Agr. Products/by-products
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On-farm AD for biogas from intensive livestock
Feasibility of AD using crop prods / by-prods. in Irl.
Manure processing
Feasibility of Tech. Prog. for 2nd generation biofuels
2. AGRI-ENVIRON – Soils & Water
Farming
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Nut loss – sources, paths, mgt., soil attenuation
Impact of pig manure on agrochemical efficacy
Use of urease & nitrification inhibitors
Pesticides – predictive & risk ass / mgt tools.
Forestry
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Critical loads & acid sensitivity
Biogeochemical cycles
Design ripriarian woodlands
Sediment & suspended solids management
2. AGRI-ENVIRON – Gas Emissions
Methane mitigation strategies for dairy
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Dietary manipulation incl milk quality impact
Strategies for grazing animals
Integration with GHG inventories & models
Methane & N2O emissions from stored manure
Emissions from different chemical N sources
Eco-Tillage
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Impact on soil carbon, fuel usage, yield & crop
mgt., nutrient use & loss
Relavance of animal manures
2. AGRI-ENVIRON – Biodiversity & GM
Farming Aspects of Biodiversity
Monitor bio-div loss for arable & uplands
 Impact of different grazing systems
 Measures to optimise agri-env. instruments
 Criteria to select / maintain HNV landscapes
 Land managers attitudes, motive & behaviour
Co-existence of conventional, organic & GM crops
 Review situation + lab. work but not field trials
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Production methods & management practices
Economic aspects – of major interest
3. PLANT BIOSCIENCE
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Production – efficiency & quality incl organic
Breeding – use of ‘omics’ to develop uses
Plant Health & Disease Control
Novel Plant Applications & Technologies
Other Agr/Hort Novel Systems &
Technologies for high added value Non-Food
Land Uses
4. ECONOMY & POLICY
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Changes in agr. policy/ trade/ support/ regl.
Produvtivity & Competitiveness
Impact of socio-economic adjustments
Public goods – tourism, forestry, etc.
Options post decoupling – KBBE, etc.
ICT uptake on farm – obstacles & triggers
HOW TO GET FUNDED
HOW TO GET FUNDED
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‘TENDERS’ DAF WEB (www.agriculture.gov.ie)
READ THE GUIDELINES
PICK RESEARCH TEAM – can incl. N.Irl partners
PROVIDE ALL INFO. BUT CONCISELY
USE TABLES, CHARTS, DIAGRAMS
PROVIDE BACK-UP: CV, PUBS., ETC
SUBMIT ON TIME – signed original + 5 copies
copies + CD + email by Thursday 26th July
Section 1
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Theme areas – tick one or more as appropriate. If
more than 1, indicate main.
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Principal Investigator – the person who is
responsible for the research activities in your area
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Project Co-ordinator – (a) Permanant OR (b)
Contract Researcher with PhD & a contract beyond
lifetime of project. Has overall responsibility for
project and sole point of contact with DAF.
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Dates, contact details, whether submitted to others
now or in past & point on research continuum
SECTION 2
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2.1 Abstract: 200 words - used in ESR / to Cttee.
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2.2 Context: 400 words – why needed & why RSFP ?
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Describe current knowledge & demo area well understood
Reference all related research at home & abroad
Justify need and rationale for approach taken.
2.3 Introduction: 400 words – what’s involved + use
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Objectives, Methods & why chosen approach v another
Use/Benefits – policy/farming/commerce/innovation.
SECTIONS 3 & 6
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6.1 SUB-PROJECTS ? Only if necessary
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e.g. big size, different locations/elements/sectors
NOT smokescreen for artificial collaboration
6.2 SP link with other SP’s & Overall. Intro as per 2.3
3 / 6.3 TASKS: Building blocks of all projects
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Number varies. Sizeable self-contained elements
Objective / Institutions / Lead / Duration (in months)
Milestones - interim outputs on way to main goal
Deliverables - tangible outputs / judge success. NB
Dissemination task - pubs., workshops, demos, etc.
Section 4
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4.1 Co-ordination of both work & team
4.2 Scientific / Mgt. Expertise of Principals
4.3 Staff – type, location & responsibility
4.4 Existing facilities – demo capability
4.5 Describe existing IPR – demo track record of
mgt. IPR & show proposed work not in conflict
4.6 Path to commerce –unlikely but if applies demo
mkt relevance, IPR awareness & commerce support
4.7 Risk Proofing – demo Plan B exists
4.8 Dissemination – elaborate on dissemination task
Section 7: Relevant Publications
Required as back-up’ for:
 Section 2.1 (Project Context) & 2.2 (Intro.
To the Reserach)
 Resume of principal researchers
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Relevant recent pubs. only – NOT bibliography
‘Other’ - cited publications, media articles,
etc. mentioned throughout form
SECTION 8: BUDGETS
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COST: Typically €100k - €700k for 2/3/4 years
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RSFP funds 100% ELIGIBLE COSTS
USUAL CATEGORIES
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Higher/Longer if required – Must Justify
Flexible except Total, Equipment & Overheads
Penalties will be applied if rules broken
ENSURE ALL FIGURES RECONCILE
TABLES 3 & 4 – Other Financial & nonfinancial contributions
BUDGETS: Table 2
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STAFF: fund non-permanent only
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all types but especially Masters/Ph.D. students
CONS: lifeblood but must be used on project
T&S: If appropriate - careful with foreign
EQUIP: Depreciate as per formula. Usage ?
O/H: max. 30% (25) direct costs excl. equip.
OTHER: Describe in detail
SECTION 8.2: Justify costs. Experts scrutinise
DECISION MAKING PROCESS
Stage 1
Preliminary Assesssment by DAF
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Time & Completeness check
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Verification of proposal eligibility
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Assignment to expert evaluation panel
Stage 2
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3 Person Expert Panel per Theme
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1 Foreign – usually academic
Remote reading by Experts
Expert Panel meets in Dublin
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Facilitated by DAF Moderator
Agree a consensus mark
Recommend / suggest changes
Rank Proposals
Stage 2: Evaluation Criteria
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Relevance – to RSFP & needs of Production Agr.
Familiarity with R & D
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Scientific & Technical Quality
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Demo progress > state-of-the-art. Feasibility.
Management & Partnership – critical mass
Potential Exploitability & Economic Impact
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Demo know current state – biblio / refs.
Demo Nature of and path to exploitation
Cost & Value for Money – function of size/length
Equal Weight Criteria: Marks 0–5 each
Stage 3
RSFP Committee –X-section main stakeholders
 Proposals
achieving B+ (60%) and above will
be considered by RSFP Committee
 Committee
determine indicative levels of
funding
 Recommend
 Award
funding of successful proposals
negotiation – DAF/Co-ordinator
Success
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v’s
Failure
Research within Scope of
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Not within the scope
Programme
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Insufficient Description of
Builds-on / Adds to existing
Tasks – Say what you will do,
research
and also HOW you plan to do it
Includes New Ideas & Avoids
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Over Ambitious
Duplication
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Lacking Innovation, No new
Science
Application Form Complete,
Information on Tasks, Milestones,
Deliverables, Responsibility
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Rehashing old research
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Team lacking some expertise
FURTHER INFORMATION
General
Mary Cullinan
Crops Policy & State Bodies Div
Agriculture House, 3W
Kildare St. Dublin 2
Tel:01 - 607 2037
[email protected]
Technical
Richard Howell, Agr. Inspector
Tel: 01 – 607 2572
[email protected]
DONT BE LATE
Closing Date for Applications
Signed Original + 5 Hard Copies +
CD by Thursday 26 July 2007 at the
latest. Identical Email version.