NRF Joint Call for Proposals

NRF Joint Call for Proposals

NRF Joint Call for Proposals

SOUTH AFRICA - MEXICO

JOINT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH COLLABORATION

Please direct all queries to Jacqueline Sylvester at

UCT’s internal and NRF closing date: Friday 28 July 2017 at 23h59

A maximum of 4 joint projectswill be funded for this call

Joint research proposals may be submitted in the following prioritised thematic areas:

  • Advanced Manufacturing
  • Astronomy
  • Oceanography

In terms of human capital development, South African applications from historically disadvantaged individuals are encouraged, as is the involvement of historically disadvantaged higher education and research institutions.

ELIGIBILITY

South African PI must be in possession of a PhD.

UCT researchers based in South Africa are eligible to apply as the principal investigator. If on contract, the contract should be for at least the duration of the funding period.

FUNDING

The total amount of funding requested from the NRF should not exceed R2.5 million. Funding will be made available for a maximum of three years, to be paid in annual instalments (R830 000 per year) and exclusively for research activities commencing in 2018.

The purpose of this call is to support the research by senior researchers, scientists, postdocs and short-term research placements of doctoral students between the two countries. In this regard, funding will be made available for visits and exchanges of leading and young scientists, technical personnel or other experts conducting joint research within the above-mentioned thematic area of cooperation. Support will be provided for collaborative basic, applied and innovation research projects. Funds can be used to cover the following costs:

  • Research-related costs - activities to be supported may include expenses relating to field work such as conducting interviews, research-related trips, and research equipment (small equipment). The funds can also be used for consumables, accessories, publication related costs, etc.
  • Exchange programmes - short term mobility or travel expenses (i.e. transport and accommodation costs) of the research teams between the two partnering countries
  • Doctoral and Postdoctoral Research Placements - The placements should enable young researchers to (1) learn valuable new skills or techniques; (2) access facilities or resources not readily available at home; (3) build relationships with potential new collaborators; and (4) advance complementary collaborative research. The duration of each placement is expected to be 3-6 months; with flexibility to split the placement into several shorter visits. Longer placements may be undertaken where this would add value and these should be justified within the application. Placements must enhance, not replace, the standard training and study support that both the doctoral and postdoctoral researchers receive.
  • Knowledge sharing costs - In support of activities organised by the consortium, such as joint workshops, seminars, conferences, symposia, lecture presentations, capacity building sessions, meetings, local/regional dissemination of results aimed at involving stakeholders, and/or end users from outside the consortium with a minimum of 10% of the grant budget.

The PhD placements must be managed to fit within the original funded period of the studentship. Additional funding will not be made available through this call or by the funders to support studentship extensions for those undertaking international placements. Applicants should include information about how these exchanges will be managed within their proposal.

In the case of meetings, research visits and exchanges of scientists, personnel, experts and students, as well as reciprocal visits undertaken as part of joint research projects and the attendance of seminars, symposia and other meetings funded under this agreement, the sending Investigator will be responsible for financing international travel, visas, and medical insurance.

Fees relating to accommodation, ground transport, living expenses, and the organisation of events (venue, catering, audio-visual equipment etc.) will be the financial responsibility of the host investigator which is to be paid from his / her allocation of the joint funding.

The following may NOT be funded from the funds allocation:

  • Consultant’s fees
  • Educational expenses (scholarships and/or bursaries, etc.)
  • Large equipment
  • Project management fees
  • Salaries and temporary staff fees.

APPLICATION PROCESS

Applications must be submitted through an online application process, via

  • Register / Login using your ID number and password;
  • Select ‘create new application’ from the list of existing calls;
  • Select ‘Mexico/South Africa Joint Science and Technology Research Collaboration 2018’
  • Please attach the necessary documents in pdf file in the following order:
  • CV of partner (i.e. ‘Partner Principal Investigator’s CV’ in the application form);
  • Budget of partner (i.e. ‘Partner Country’s Budget’ in the application form); and
  • Signed support letter of the partner (i.e. ‘Support letter from Partner Principal Investigator’ in the application form).
  • work plan and,
  • student exchange programme plan

Complete applications will go to the UCT Research Office for verification, and will be endorsed and forwarded to the NRF. Please submit your applications no later than Friday 28 July 2017 at 23h59.

The NRF system closes on Friday 28 July2017 at 23h59, and no applications can be submitted after this point.

It is of utmost importance that you consult the call guide for more information: (Click the + sign next to ‘Mexico/South Africa Joint Science and Technology Research Collaboration 2018’ under Open Calls.)

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