Transcript Document

Writing international research
proposals and securing research
funding
Professor Steven Mithen
Pro-Vice-Chancellor, University of Reading UK
Who am I?
Steven Mithen, BA, MSc, PhD, FBA
• Pro-Vice Chancellor for International and External
Engagement since 2010
• Dean of the Faculty of Science 2008-2010
• Head of the School of Human & Environmental
Sciences, 2003-2008
• Professor of Archaeology
• PI on major research grants from AHRC, NERC,
Leverhulme Trust, British Academy, EU
• Been assessor for many grant awarding bodies and
schemes
University of Reading
• UK university in world top 200 University in THE
rankings
• Annual income of £225 million
• 20th in UK for research council grants awarded
• One third of research income from industry
• Research excellence in Humanities, Social Science,
Life Sciences and Science
• Particular strengths in climate change, agriculture,
construction, environmental science, business,
biodiversity
• Teaching and research partnerships throughout the
world
University of Reading
• Wishes to expand its teaching partnerships and
research collaborations throughout SE Asia
• Establishing a campus in Malaysia, to initially teach
Business, Law, Construction, English Language and
Pharmacy and related subjects
• A delegation visiting Vietnam in February 2012
• Has appropriate subject mix to develop research
collaborations with Indonesian Universities and to
support capacity building in research
My presentation
1. Sources of funding in the UK that might
support research collaborations with
Indonesian Universities
2. Comments on how to prepare successful
proposals
3. University of Reading case studies
1. Sources of research funding
UK Research Councils
• 7 UK Research Councils spanning all disciplines
• Economic and Social Science Research Council
(ESRC) allows international co-investigators on all
schemes
• For other RCs, Indonesian Universities can be
collaborators, partners, sub-contractors
• MRC allow co-investigators with specific approval
• All RCs now have more schemes with international
focus and participation. Recent examples BBSRC/DFID; EPSRC/Brazil; NERC/ESPA;
ESRC/Hong Kong Bilateral
• Most RCs have international exchange schemes to
UK Charities
• Leverhulme Trust
– International networks – for a PI based in the UK to lead a
research project where its successful completion is dependant
on the participation of relevant overseas institutions
– Study Abroad fellowships and studentships - designed to
support a period overseas in a stimulating academic
environment
• Wellcome Trust
– Public health and tropical medicine fellowships - support
specifically for researchers in low- and middle-income countries.
Schemes ranging from Master’s to Senior
– Global health trials scheme - funding late-stage trials of
interventions that will help improve health in low- and middleincome countries
UK academic societies and other
• Royal Society
– International Exchanges Scheme - for scientists in the UK
who want to undertake a collaboration with scientists
overseas through either a one-off visit or bilateral travel. Can
use to build up a relationship. Up to £12,000 for 2 year
project.
• British Academy
– Small grants – can apply for up to £6000 to support visits by
overseas scholars to the UK to undertake a programme of
work
– International Partnership Scheme – can apply for up to
£10,000 p.a. for 3 years, to involve capacity building and
exchange of expertise
• British Council
UK Government
• Department for International Development (DFID)
– Funds research into international development which directly
improves people’s lives
– Research in the following areas:
•
Agriculture
•
Climate and Environment
•
Human Development, including Health and Education
•
Growth
•
Governance, Conflict and Social Development
– Main programme focus is on Africa, India and Afghanistan but
DFID do fund work in Asia – and have funded various projects
in Indonesia
UK Government
• Department for Environment and Rural Affairs (Defra)
– Darwin Initiative
– Assists countries that are rich in biodiversity but poor in
financial resources to meet their objectives under one or more
of the three major biodiversity conventions through the
funding of collaborative projects which draw on UK
biodiversity expertise
– Provides funding for UK and overseas partners to undertake
joint research projects for up to 3 years.
European Framework Programme
• EU framework programme – FP7 – funding research
across the EU and beyond from 2007 to 2013
• Funds available during FP7 are over €50 Billion
• Any country in the world can participate (but generally
have to be led by Member State or Associated
Countries)
– Many can receive funding apart from highly industrialised
countries
– Low to middle income countries are international co-operation
partners countries (ICPCs) and can receive funding in the
same way as MS or AC
FP7 Specific Programmes
Co-operation – Collaborative Research €32bn
Ideas - European Research Council €7.5bn
People - Marie Curie Actions
Capacities – Research Capacity
€4.7bn
€4bn
FP7 schemes
• Co-operation programme
– For collaborative research– grants support teams of
researchers
– Have to have min. of 3 partners from MS or AC
– EU issues annual calls for proposals for specific topics within
10 thematic areas
– Many topics have international dimension, not just EU focussed
– Grants from €1.5M to €9M
• European Research Council (ERC)
–
–
–
–
Schemes designed to support excellent individual researchers
Topic of applicants choosing
Starting grants (2-12 years post PhD) and advanced grants
Any nationality can apply but grants to be hosted in a MS or AC
FP7 schemes
• Marie Curie
– Key feature of the programme is mobility - all fellows funded
under the programme will be expected to undertake mobility from
one country to another
– Number of fellowship and other schemes to support individuals
moving across the EU (and beyond) for training
– International incoming fellowships schemes to bring
researchers from third country to a MS or AC. Can have return
phase to some countries to bring back knowledge to originating
country
– Other schemes such as Initial Training Networks (ITNs) and
IRSES (international research staff exchange scheme) for
training of researchers in consortia of research organisations
International charities and other
• Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
– 2 main international programmes • Global Development
• Global Health
– Make awards (often very large) to any tax-exempt
organisations in response to applications for funding
• Human Frontier Science Programme (HFSP)
– Funds novel and interdisciplinary basic research focused on
the complex mechanisms of living organisms
– Grant schemes for collaborative teams of researchers from
anywhere in the world (led by HFSP country e.g UK)
– Also fund fellowships – fellows can come from any country but
has to work in HFSP country
2. Preparing proposals
Have a good idea!
Address the key global challenges:
• Climate Change
• Biodiversity
• Food Security
• Health
• Energy
• Poverty alleviation
Have the right partners
• World class research projects extend beyond the limits
of single institutions
• Select partners that provide the required expertise and
have track record of funding – both individual
academics and institutions
• Research collaborations require nurturing to build
understanding and confidence
• Agree about outcomes, such as co-authorship of key
publications, in advance
Identify the most appropriate
funding body
• Attend to the mission statement of the funding body
• Identify the most appropriate scheme within the
funding body
• Explore the types of projects that have recently been
funded
• Informally discuss your project with the funding body
prior to preparing an application
• Pay meticulous attention to the requirements of the
funding scheme
Get the inside track
• Read the sponsors strategy
• Speak to members of staff at funding agencies
• Make use of staff at your university who have worked
with the sponsor
• Network with peer group at conferences
• Attend sponsor meetings – network with those with
influence
Be honest and realistic
• Do not exaggerate what can be achieved within the
requested resource and time period
• Ensure you have the appropriate level of expertise,
technical support and all facilities
• Be meticulous about the costing – justify every cost
• Do not be too ambitious too early in your career:
building a track record of successful project
completion is essential
Take your time
• Research applications need to be meticulously
prepared and carefully written
• Allow sufficient time to consult with your partners
• Allow sufficient time for the administration of your
applications within partner institutions
• Draw on the support from your institution: finance, HR,
senior academics
• Undertake your own internal peer review of
applications
Measurable outcomes
• Who will benefit from the research?
• Contributions to knowledge
o Networks
o Publication
• Impact
o Economic
o Societal
o Policy
o Public engagement
If funded, then keep to the plan
• Undertake the research
• Inform the funding body should you need to make
amendments to your project plan
• Deliver the outputs
• Publish
• Building a track record is essential
3. University of Reading
case studies
University of Reading case Study
: Legume PLUS
• FP7 Marie Curie Initial training network, UoR is lead.
• 4 year project entitled “Optimising plant polyphenols in
legumes for ruminant nutrition plus health plus
environmental sustainability”
• Aim is to enable integrated multidisciplinary and
intersectoral research training to address the topic
• Will train 14 PhD students and 2 fellows
• 10 partners – 8 Universities/Research orgs and 2
companies from across Europe (inc. UK, France,
Switzerland, Denmark)
• Value of grant is 4.1Million Euros
University of Reading case study:
EATWELL
• FP7 Co-operation programme, UoR is lead
• 4 year grant entitled “Interventions to promote healthy
eating habits: evaluation and recommendations”
• Aims to gather data on healthy eating interventions,
research which are most acceptable and to
recommend most appropriate interventions for the EU
• 9 EU organisations involved – 5 Universities/research
orgs, 1 multinational company, 2 policy and
communication bodies
• Value of grant is 2.51 Millions Euros
University of Reading case study:
ETIS
• Defra Darwin initiative grant
• 3 year project entitled “Enhancing the Elephant Trade
Information System to guide CITES policy”
• Aim is the enhancement of a global monitoring system
which records the illicit trade in ivory
• UoR is the lead organisation and project partner is an
NGO in East/Southern Africa
• UoR provided specific expertise in statistics and
programming for the database, partner provided in
country training and implementation
University of Reading case study:
UKIERI
• UoR is lead organisation with 4 Indian organisations
and 3 UK meteorological organisation (inc Met Office)
• 4 year collaborative research programme entitled
“Science of regional climate change, variability and
impacts”
• Aims is to accelerate the development in India of a
world class capability in predicting regional climate
variability and change via a joint programme of
research
• Involves many visits between all of the partners to
work on the research and aid knowledge exchange
Finally …
• There are many opportunities and enormous
willingness from the UK to build research links with
Indonesia
• Find the right partner – institution and academic
• University of Reading is keen to engage in research
collaboration with universities in Indonesia
• University of Reading research packs available
Contacts: [email protected]