Call for Proposals 2008

International Scientific Seminars: Switzerland/South Africa

The Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) – in co-operation with the South African National Research Foundation (NRF) – invites scientists in Switzerland to submit proposals for

Joint Swiss-South African Scientific Seminars

to be held either in Switzerland or in South Africa between
01 June 2009 and 31May 2010

(hereafter "the seminars")

Introduction

The seminars generally aim at strengthening the ties between Swiss and South African scientists. They provide for a platform for the creation of new Swiss-South African networks which should subsequently result in intensified Swiss-South African research co-operation.

The seminars are targeted at the leading Swiss and South Africanscientists in possession ofa PhD (in South Africa) in any scientific field, who join each other from the various Swiss and South Africanresearch institutions that undertake relevant research activities in their field. Thus, the seminars are not a funding mechanism for local undertakings (e.g. no funding of a local colloquium with foreign partners).

The SNSF and the NRF may select for funding up to three seminars from amongst the proposals submitted, on a competitive basis. The following criteria will be considered for evaluation:

  • Scientific competence of the participants
  • Extent to which the Swiss delegation represents the leading Swiss research groups in the field
  • Scientific relevance of the seminar’s overall topic
  • Potential of the seminar to enhance Swiss-South African research co-operation in a medium- and long-term perspective.

As the seminars are seen as an incentive to create new Swiss-South African networks and research co-operations, they will be funded only on an individual basis (no funding of multi-annual series of seminars, applicants can submit only a proposal for one seminar per call). However, SNSF and NRF may consider the possibility to support an existing Swiss-South African network with a second seminar being held on the same overall topic in the other country than where the first one took place.

Application

The application for a Seminar shall be drawn up jointly by the Swiss co-organiser (Swiss applicant) and by the South African co-organiser (the South African applicant).

Corresponding versions of the application shall be submitted to both organisations, the SNSF and the NRF, whereas the Swiss applicant shall be responsible for the submission to the SNSF and the South African applicant shall be responsible for the submission to the NRF.

Deadline for Swiss and SA applicants : 25 November2008

Please note that applications to SNSF can only be submitted electronically via:

To access mySNF, a user account is necessary. You can request an account here. The login information will then be sent to you by post. Important: for SNSF to be able to guarantee mySNF access, new user accounts must be requested five working days before a deadline at the latest (from abroad: 2 weeks before the deadline).

For submission to NRF

A corresponding version of the proposal in electronic format (specifically MS Word) via e-mail (if the size of the document is less than 2 MB) or on CD ROM, as well as a signed hard copy mustbe submitted for the same deadline by the South African co-organiser to:

and

National Research Foundation
P. O. Box 2600
0001 Pretoria
South Africa

For attention Ms Lee-Anne Seymour

Information on the outcome of the selection process may be available by the end ofMarch 2009.

Further information

SNSF:International Co-operation, phone: +41-31-308 22 22, e-mail:

NRF: International Research Grants, phone: +27 (0)12 481 4121 / +27 (0)12 481 4054,

e-mail:

Swiss National Science Foundation | 1