« Interdisciplinarity » call for projects - 2016
Principles of the « Interdisciplinarity» call for projects:
The most important knowledge breakthroughs often arise at the interface of several disciplines. Aix-Marseille University (AMU) and its partners cover the entirety of disciplinary fields, as illustrated by A*MIDEX five priority themes[1], in perfect coherence with the 5 inter-sectorial and interdisciplinary research groups (PR2I) that have been set up by AMU in full agreement with its partners on the site(CNRS, Inserm, CEA, IEP-Aix, ECM, IRD, APHM).
Definition of interdisciplinarity:
It refers to aset of coordinated and simultaneous scientific approaches of a research problem, crossing the points of view of several disciplines. An interdisciplinary approachis characterized by theformulation of an issueand a summary both concerted, crossedand of common interest.[2]
There is an important distinction between multidisciplinarity and interdisciplinarity.
In interdisciplinary research, insights and methods from different scientific disciplines are integrated and used to investigate a jointly defined research problem through a joint research effort.
By contrast, in multidisciplinary research, related research problems are investigated from different disciplines. The extent to which researchers from the different disciplines communicate with and draw inspiration from each other may differ, but there is no real integration of insights and methods from the participating disciplines.
Another important difference between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research is their effect on the research fields they bring together. In multidisciplinary collaboration, researchers from different disciplines work on a common problem and split apart unchanged once their task has been accomplished. Interdisciplinary collaboration, however, has the potential to forge new research fields or disciplines[3].
The conditions within AMU are currently optimal to favor the spring-up of interdisciplinary research projects[4], while orienting the latter towards the societal challenges defined in the framework of European, national and regional scientific policies. Indeed the primary mission of the PR2I is to work with all the players of the Aix-Marseille site, so that they identify priority actions, in order to address in particular societal challenges of today and tomorrow.
The purpose of this “Interdisciplinarity” call for projects (CFP) is to answer to this need. It aims at acknowledging and fostering innovating interdisciplinary approaches within the PR2I, in order to position quickly and effectively the Aix-Marseille site in preparation for the next national (ANR…) European (H2020…) and international CFPs.
The projects may deal with fundamental or more applied research, but also with works leading to innovations (especially disruptive ones), in association with socio-economic and socio-cultural partners. They should involve, within a PR2I or more, at least two disciplinary fields of Aix-Marseille University.
First-time collaborations between different disciplinary fields, on new topics, are particularly expected.
This “Interdisciplinarity” CFP is intended for the scientific community of Aix-Marseille University and its A*MIDEX partners on the Aix-Marseille site.
The objectives of the “Interdisciplinarity” CFP are the following:
- Selecting and supporting interdisciplinary research projects with a strong added value and addressing societal challenges
- Promoting scientific daring and solving new issues through interdisciplinarity
- Encouraging the production of innovative knowledge that may be potentially fruitful
- Energizing the sharing of knowledge and promoting research works through mediation initiatives towards non-academic partners
- Maximizing the impact on the Aix-Marseille site in terms of knowledge progress and of importance of the results targeted by supported research projects
- Improving the positioning of the projects of AMU and its partners in national and European programs, in particular in the ERC and more generally in the European Framework Program and international programs.
Field of the « Interdisciplinarity» call for projects:
- All scientific fields, all interdisciplinary themes,
- Basic or applied research.
Grant:
The funding awarded to laureate projects will depend on the decision of the Steering Committee, and its amount may be adjusted according to the scientific justification of requested means and the priority goals of each project. Other funding sources requested for or granted to the project will be taken into account.The following expenses are eligible: contract staff (for doctoral and post-doctoral contracts hired on behalf of the project, they should be external to the Aix-Marseille site), operating costs, missions and investment in research equipment.
A yearly evaluation will be scheduled, with an operational start 12 months after the labeling of the project, in order to explore the relevance of the approach and to assess whether it should be pursued, reoriented or broadened, or shall be stopped.
Term of the funding: Up to 3 years.
Selection process:
International experts will be called upon to assess and rank submitted proposals.
The A*MIDEX Steering Committee will select the laureates taking into account the experts’recommendations and A*MIDEX strategic objectives.
Admissibility criteria:
On-line submission of the complete file, conform to the model of application, on the A*MIDEX website, before the deadlines. No addition will be accepted after the closing of the submission website at the specified time.
Eligibility criteria:
- Each application should be managed by a faculty member belonging to Aix-Marseille University or its A*MIDEX partners on the Aix-Marseille site
- Application file involving several disciplinary fields
- Letter of PR2I manager(s) confirming being aware of the application and coming with a description of its interdisciplinary dimension.
Selection criteria:
- Potential impact of the project, fundamental and/or applied, considering the targeted societal challenges
- Novelty of the approach and/or the issue, considering in particular the players of the various disciplinary fields involved in the project
- Relevance and added value of the project for Aix-Marseille University and its partners to position the Aix-Marseille site on strategic societal challenges
- Priority given to new projects. Possibility to apply for a renewal, provided that 50% of the project is co-funded (salaries of permanent staff not included).
Calendar of the call for projects:
-Launch of the call for projects: 19th October 2016 at 12.00
-Deadline to submit a letter of intent: 30th November 2016at 12.00 on the A*MIDEX website (
-Deadline to submit an application: 1stMarch 2017 at 12.00 on the A*MIDEX website (
-Expertise of the applications: March-June 2017
-Labeling of the laureates: July 2017
-Provisional start of the projects: September 2017
Application procedure:on-line submission of the complete application (pdf file) on the website
The application includes two parts: a letter of intent which describes briefly the project in one page, and a final application (model in annex).
For more information:
Model of application
A*MIDEX – 2016 Interdisciplinarity CFP
Letter of intent (1 page, the text must be in size 11 font, with 1,5 spacing, normal margins, A4 format).
Project title:
Name of Project PI (and co-PI if applicable):
Involved partners (internal and external):
Summary of the project highlighting its interdisciplinary aspects and its goals:
Key words(concerned disciplines):
Model of application
A*MIDEX – 2016 Interdisciplinarity CFP
Important: Apart from the letter of intent (1 page), this document should not exceed 25 pages (the text must be in size 11 font, with1,5 spacing, normal margins, A4 format), and should be written in English for the international experts.
Cover of the application form:
The first page of the file should display the following information:
I/ Acronyme du projet/ Acronym of the projectII/ Titre du projet/ Project title
III/ Coordinateur du projet/ Project PI
Prénom-Nom-Courriel-Adresse postale/ First name-Last name-Email- postal address
IV/ Partenaires impliqués dans le projet/ Partners involved in the project
V/ PR2I concerné(s)/ Involved PR2I / Pôle Energies (Sources, Usages, Territoires, Politique et Sécurité Energétiques)/ Energies (Sources, Uses, Territories, Energy Policy and Safety)
Pôle Environnement (Hommes, Milieux, Sociétés)/ Environment (Humans, Environments, Societies)
Pôle Santé & Sciences de la Vie (Innovations Biologiques & Biomédicales, Enjeux sanitaires et sociaux)/ Health & Life Sciences (Biological and Biomedical Innovations, sanitary and social Challenges)
Pôle Sciences & Technologies
Pôle Echanges et Dynamiques Transculturelles (diversité des langues, des cultures, des économies et des sociétés)/ Crosscultural Exchanges and Dynamics (diversity of languages, cultures, economies and societies)
VI/ Champs disciplinaires impliqués/ Concerned disciplinary fields
VII/ Financement demandé sur 2 ans / Requested funding for 2 years
VIII/ Facultatif: Experts suggérés et non-souhaités (avec justification pour les experts non souhaités)/ Optional: Experts suggested and excluded at request of an applicant (with justification for the excluded experts)
Content of the application file:
I/ Sommaire/ Table of contents
II/ Résumé non-confidentiel de la proposition/ Non-confidential executive summary (1 page)
II/ Contexte, positionnement interdisciplinaire et objectifs du projet/ Context, interdisciplinary position and objectives of the project
III/ Programme scientifique et technique, Organisation du projet / Scientific and technical program, project organization: Programme, management, tâches, calendrier des tâches, livrables et jalons/ Scientific program, management, tasks, tasks schedule, deliverables and milestones
IV/ Description des équipes impliquées/ Description of the teams involved
V/ Stratégie de valorisation (le cas échéant)/ Exploitation of results (if necessary)
VI/ Impact potentiel du projet pour le site/ Potential impact of the project for the site
VII/Justification des moyens demandés (cf. annexe budgétaire)/ Scientific justification of requested means (cf. budgetary annex)
VIII/ Courrier précisant que les PR2I ont eu connaissance du projet et ont exprimé un avis sur la dimension interdisciplinaire/ Letter confirming that PR2I are aware of the application and expressed an opinion about its interdisciplinary dimension
IX/ Références bibliographiques/ Bibliographical references
The CV of the PIs of the teams involved as well as complementary elements may be added if necessary in an annex. This document should be of reasonable dimensions and should not exceed the length of the file itself limited to 25 pages.
Budgetary annex
Table 1.a: Estimated budget from A*MIDEXPlease define an estimated budget of expenditures for the years ………………..
The eligibility date for expenditure is ……………..
You should try to be as precise as possible in order to receive a grant that will cover your needs as accurately as possible.
All the staff costs are calculated according to the rules of the human resources vademecum, please have a look at
Type of expenditures / A*MIDEX total requested grant (€) / A*MIDEX grant
1 / A*MIDEX grant
2
/ A*MIDEX
grant
3
/ Comments
Investment costs
Operating Costs
Staff costs
TOTAL (€)
Table 1.b: Estimated budget for other funding source
Beneficiary of the funding / Co-founder / Name of the Cofounder / Nature of the cofunding* / Amount committed by the cofounder for the project duration (€) / Amount collected (€)
** / Choisissez un élément.
* Nature of the cofunding: please specify whether the funding is monetary, a contribution in kind (ex: premises, facilities…) or human resources.
- ForFEDER funds,pleaseallocatethe amounts between"PUBLIC – LOCAL AUTHORITY” and "INTERNATIONAL – EUROPEAN COMMISSION «depending to the source of the funds.
- For CPER funds, please allocate the amounts between “PUBLIC – LOCAL AUTHORITY’ and “PUBLIC –LOCAL GOVERNMENT” depending to the source of the funds.
**Please insert additional rows as necessary.
TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE PROJECT: …………………………..€A*MIDEX requested grant: …………………………..€
[1] Energy – Environment– Health and Life Sciences – Sciences and Advanced Technologies – Humanities
[2]Alain Pavé, CNRS, 2011.
[3]Thinking across disciplines, 2008, DEA/Danmarks Erhvervsforsknings Akademi
[4] Edgard Morin presented principles about relations between disciplines, where the issue of paradigm is clearly addressed. A very brief and accessible report can be found in the Journal du CNRS, «L’indispensable rencontre des savoirs», number255, April 2011, p. 18-19.