Baza natječaja

Ministry of Science, Education and Sports
announces the
Second Call for Proposals
for the
NEWFELPRO PROGRAM Grant 2013

I. INTRODUCTION
The new International Fellowship Mobility Programme for Experienced Researchers in Croatia – NEWFELPRO is a fellowship project of the Government of the Republic of Croatia and the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (MSES). The project is co-financed through the Marie Curie FP7-PEOPLE-2011-COFUND program. Its total value is 7 million euros, of which 60% is financed from national sources. The project duration is from 2013 until 2017.

II. ABOUT NEWFELPRO
The long-term objective of the NEWFELPRO fellowship project is to raise the presence of research-qualified individuals by providing them with new opportunities to gain relevant international experience, and thus contribute to the further development of international scientific networks.

Strategic objectives:

• Providing new impulse to national research programmes for foreign researchers, encouraging incoming mobility of experienced researchers from abroad to Croatia (new incoming fellowship scheme, duration of 12 or 24 months);
• Facilitating additional mobility of the Croatian research community by increasing outgoing mobility of Croatian scientists abroad (new outgoing fellowship scheme, duration of 16 or 36 months);
• Reversing the ’brain drain’ process by encouraging outstanding Croatian researchers to develop their careers in Croatia and also inviting them to return to Croatia (new reintegration fellowship scheme, duration of 24 months);
• Internationalizing research developed in all Croatian universities by fostering competitiveness and exchanging ideas with the best international research institutions (all schemes);
• Supporting the development of an effective labour market for researchers in Croatia by linking industry and academia and public and private research institutions and industrial laboratories, enhancing the transfer of knowledge and creating better employment opportunities for researchers with particular emphasis on innovative processes in SMEs (all schemes).

III. ORGANISATIONS AND THE PEOPLE INVOLVED
The proposals for NEWFELPRO involve two host institutions established in a Member State, Associated Country or Third Country1. The project proposals are submitted by experienced researchers or senior researchers in liaison with the host organisations, which are represented by the legal representative in charge.
A proposal should be submitted by the experienced researcher and senior researcher provided that he/she has the approval of the host organisation.
1. Applicant/project leader
Experienced researcher or senior researcher applying for the outgoing, incoming or reintegration scheme.2
2. Host company/institution
Company/institution to administer the funding for the outgoing, incoming or reintegration scheme.
3. Return host company/institution
Company/institution to administer the funding for the outgoing scheme in the return phase of the project.
4. Scientist in charge
Person responsible for supervising and mentoring the researcher at the host institution.

IV. CONTRACT MODALITIES AND DURATION
If a proposal is successfully evaluated and proposed for funding, a Grant Agreement will be concluded between the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, the host institutions and the project leader, while a Hosting Agreement will be concluded between host institutions and the project leader. All projects have to be completed by 31 October 2017.
NEWFELPRO Fellowships have a fixed duration:

• Outgoing scheme

The duration of the project in full months can be 16 or 36 months only.

The project lasting 16 months consists of a research stay abroad in the total duration of 12 months and an obligatory return phase in Croatia in the total duration of 4 months.
The project lasting 36 months consists of a research stay abroad in the total duration of 24 months and an obligatory return phase in Croatia in the total duration of 12 months.

• Incoming scheme

The duration of the project in full months can be 12 or 24 months only.

• Reintegration scheme

The duration of the project in full months can be 24 months only.

V. THE TOPIC OF THE PROJECT
In all calls and schemes, research fields are chosen freely by the applicants. Projects that can be covered by the Euratom Treaty are excluded from funding.
All research carried out under the NEWFELPRO project must adhere to fundamental ethical principles and meet the requirements set out in the text of the 'People' Specific Program.

VIII.1. THE HOST ORGANISATION
Participants are legal entities established in Member States or Associated Countries or Third Countries.
The European Union Member States are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and United Kingdom.
The Associated Countries are: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Faroe Islands, FYR Macedonia, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, and Turkey.

Third Countries are neither countries that are EU member states nor third countries associated with FP7.

VIII.2. RESEARCHERS

NEWFELPRO Fellowships are intended for experienced researchers and senior researchers, namely those who either:
i. have at least 4 years of research experience4 (full-time equivalent) after obtaining a degree which would formally entitle them to embark on a doctorate either in the country in which the degree was obtained or in the country in which the research training will be provided; or ii. are already in possession of a doctoral degree (PhD) – EXPERIENCED RESEARCHERS;
ii. have more than 10 years of research experience (full-time equivalent) – SENIOR RESEARCHERS.
The time limit in fulfilling one of these conditions is the deadline for submitting the proposal for the relevant call. The required research experience does not include breaks during the research career of a researcher, irrespective of the reason (e.g. family reasons, etc.).

IX. EVALUATION CRITERIA
There will be three main evaluation criteria each consisting of sub-criteria. Marks will be given based on sub-criteria. The mark for each evaluation criterion is calculated as an average of the marks given for the sub-criteria. Half marks can be given.

Scientific/technological quality of the project:

• Scientific/technological significance and originality of the proposed project;
• Clarity and measurability of the goals and the prospect of achieving them;
• Feasibility of the project and suitability of the methods – including work plan and budget.

Scientific/innovation and leadership potential of the applicant:

• Previous successes demonstrating innovativeness and overall career development of the applicant taking into consideration years of research experience;
• The applicant’s potential for professional development and future excellence.

Quality of the host institution:

• Infrastructural capacity of the host institution for project implementation and compliance with the relevant documents;
• Support provided by the host institution for the implementation of the proposed project;
• Scientific expertise of the host institution in the field of proposed project;
• Experience of the scientist in charge in the field of the proposed project.

The evaluation is done remotely. Experts review the proposals individually without discussing the project with the other experts. The Selection Committee calculates the overall average mark, taking into account the individual evaluations of each expert.
If the difference in marks for any criterion is 2 or more, the Selection Committee convenes a phone or video conference to determine a consensus mark. Only projects that have obtained an overall mark of 3.5 or more will be considered for financing.

The proposal is to be submitted on the official forms available on the NEWFELPRO website:
 

1. Part A – Online application is to be completed using the NEWFELPRO login portal;
2. Part B – Project proposal;
3. CV of the applicant/project leader;
4. CV of the scientist in charge7;
5. Letter of commitment of the host institution;
6. Letter of commitment of the return host institution.

NOTE: Two letters of recommendation are to be completed online by the referees using the NEWFELPRO login portal.

The online application, annexes and the letters of recommendation must be submitted using the NEWFELPRO login portal, which is available on the NEWFELPRO website www.newfelpro.hr by 4 March 2014 at 16:00:00 CET. Annexes need to be electronically signed or signed, stamped and scanned and submitted in the .pdf format (NOT as JPEG).

All inquiries should be addressed to the contact person at the NEWFELPRO Secretariat:

Aleksandra Čolić Kovač, Project Manager, or Damir Šoh, Project Assistant; e-mail: newfelpro@mzos.hr; address: Ministry of Science, Education and Sports, Donje Svetice 38, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.

More information you can find in the documents below and on the official page NEWFELPRO.

Materials

Call for Proposals_Second Call (564 kb)
Annex 1_Timetable and Specific Information_Second Call (197 kb)
Annex 2_NEWFELPRO 2013 Guidelines for Evaluators and Evaluation Procedure_Second Call (409 kb)
Annex 3_NEWFELPRO 2013 Instructions for Applicants_Second Call (971 kb)
NEWFELPRO 2013_Draft Grant Agreement (245 kb)
Letter of Commitment_Host Institution_Second Call (17 kb)
B - Project Proposal_Second Call (269 kb)
Letter of Commitment_Return Host Institution_Second Call (17 kb)
Template CV_Project Applicant_Second Call (251 kb)
Template CV_Scientist in Charge_Second Call (251 kb)