Rising Powers and Interdependent Futures

"RISING POWERS AND INTERDEPENDENT FUTURES"

Research Grant Proposals

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Q: When will the callbe announced, open on J-eS and close for the applications?

A: The Call is announced on 7 April 2011on the ESRC website and closes at 4.00pm on 8 September 2011. NB. However, the call application form on J-eS does not go live until 19 April 2011. This is to ensure that the new ESRC data management requirements are incorporated in to the JeS application form. Please do not try to submit any applications before this date as the scheme will not be available.

Q: What is the earliest date that an application can start?

A: 1 May 2012

Q: Who can apply for the call?

A: All UK Research Organisations eligible for Research Council funding.

Q: Should the proposal complement other projects in Phase I and II?

A: Although there are excellent opportunities to complement previous research, you do not need to have been involved in these previous phases to apply. Please see successful Phase I and Phase II projects for further consideration – see below Appendix A.

Q: Whatshould be the focus of the Application?

A: Applications should address questions from the three themes as set out in Appendix Bat the bottom of this document.

Q: Is co-funding encouraged?

A: Yes, the ESRC encourages applicants to find co-funding, for example the RCUK lead agency agreement with the Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is applicable to this scheme. Applicants who wish to include researchers from the State of Sao Paulo are advised to consult the guidance available on the ESRC website.

Resources

Q: What is the maximum value I can apply for when applying to the ESRC for this scheme?

A: Between £200,000 and £750,000 at 100% fEC (The ESRC will award funding at 80% of this). The research organisation at which the Principal investigator is based will be required to fund the remaining 20% of costs associated with successful applications.

Q: What costs can be applied for under this scheme?

A: For a research proposal you can apply for Directly allocated costs - investigator time for investigators based at UK Research Organisations recognised by the ESRC. Estate Costs and Indirect Costs, Other Directly Incurred Costs including equipment and survey costs (up to first £50k), Dissemination costs including travel and subsistence for attending events relevant to the research can also be applied for. Travel and subsistence for international Co-Investigators. For full details please consult the ESRC funding guide.

Q: Can I apply for a Grant Linked Studentship to a research grant?

A: Yes, as long as the grant applied for is for 3 years or more; the Principal or Co-Investigators are approved to act as primary supervisors for PhD students; the student(s) will be located in an ESRC accredited Doctoral Training Centre (DTC) and they are studying on an accredited pathway.

Q: Is international collaboration allowed or encouraged?

A: Yes, overseas participation is encouraged and collaborations with the Rising Powers themselves are especially encouraged.

Q: Can I have an International Co-Investigator?

A: Yes. An international Co-Investigator can be added but will be subject to ESRC funding rules.

Q. Can I include a consultant on the Project?

A. Yes, but this must be fully justified in the Justification of Resources. The costs

should be included under Other Directly Incurred costs.

Q. Will the ESRC Research Directorate staff be able to advise on costings?

A. No, applicants need to talk to their Research Organisation Finance Office; there is usually a specific person who deals with ESRC awards who will be able to advise on costings. If they are unable to advise then your Finance Office should contact

Peer Review

Q. How will the application be Peer Reviewed?

A. Each application will be reviewed by three academicreviewers (one of which can be nominated by the applicant). The applicant will be given an opportunity to respond to the reviewer comments. These comments, reviewer comments and the application will then be assessed by two academic assessors and one user assessor from a expert Commissioning Panel. NB: Applications which utilise the RCUK FAPESP lead agency agreement will also be peer reviewed by experts nominated by FAPESP.

Impact Requirements

Q. I can see from the application form that the ESRC now require an impact summary. Why has this change been made and what should I cover in this section?

A. All proposals submitted on or after 17 February 2009 have been made on a revised application form, in which greater prominence is given to capturing information about the potential impacts of research, pathways to achieving those impacts, and the adoption of interdisciplinary and innovative approaches. Revisions included distinguishing societal and economic impacts from academic impacts. The new section entitled 'Academic Beneficiaries' is for applicants to outline potential impacts within academia and pathways to achieving these.

The section entitled 'Impact Summary' should be used to address the following questions in relation to beneficiaries outside of academia:

Who might benefit from this research?

How might they benefit from this research?

Q. I can see that ESRC also now require an Pathways to Impact as a mandatory

Attachment to the application form. What do I need to include in this Plan?

This attachment was originally entitled the ‘Impact Plan’ but is now named the ‘Pathways to Impact’ document. This revision was designed to more clearly reflect what the Research Councils expect applicants to address in this attachment and to emphasise that applicants are not expected to predict the impacts of their work. The information in your Pathways to Impact is primarily for detailing the activities which will help develop potential economic and societal impacts. In no more than two A4 sides, it should continue from the two questions addressed within your Impact Summary by addressing the following question:

What will be done to ensure that potential beneficiaries have the opportunity to engage with this research?

For more guidance please refer to the Impact, innovation and interdisciplinarity FAQs

Data Requirements

Q. Is a Data Management Plan required for this scheme?

A. Yes, as from 19 April 2011 it is an ESRC mandatory requirement to include this plan. The ESRC’s Research Data Policy can be found on the ESRC website. Please refer to the Je-S guidance specific to the Rising Powers Call on how to fill this plan in.

Other

Q: How do I apply?

A: Applications must be made through the J-eS RCUK electronic system by 4pm on the 8 September 2011. No applications will be accepted after this point

Q: Can a late submission be accepted?

A: Applications received after the call closing date will not be processed. The call cannot be reopened under any circumstances.

Joint Electronic Submission

Q. What font should the Je-S application be completed in?

A. All attachments must be produced in a minimum of font size 12.

Q. On the application form there is a character limit, does this include or

exclude spaces?

A. The character limit includes spaces, tabs and character returns.

Q. I'm having trouble accessing or using the Je-S system. Can you help?

A. If you have difficulty with the Je-S application form you can find guidance at the Je-S website or you can contact the Je-S Help desk on or 01793444164.

If you experience difficulties using Je-S or have questions regarding its use, Helpdesk staff can be contacted Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm UK time (excluding Bank holidays and other holidays).

Q. I am not sure how to fill out a particular section of the Je-S application form.

Can you help?

A. If you are unsure of the requirements for the Je-S application form or how to fillout a particular section, please refer to the ‘Guidance Notes for Applicants’ document which is listed under the ‘Supporting Documents’ heading on the Rising Powers webpage. This takes you through each section on the Je-S application form and what you need to fill in or attach under each heading.

Q. Who should I contact if I need further information regarding my application?

A. For further information regarding this scheme please email: Teresa Tucker, Project Manager and Andrew Telford at . For guidance on the RCUK FAPESP lead agency agreement, please contact

Appendix A

Rising Powers, Global Challenges and Social Change - Networks with embedded Visiting Fellowships - Already Funded

Title / Principal Investigator / Principal Research Organisation
Education, well being and the emergent economies of Brazil, Russia and South Africa. / Professor Harry Daniels / University of Bath
State strategies of governance in global biomedical innovation: The impact of China and India / Professor Brian Slater / Kings College London
India’s challenge in a globalizing healthcare economy: social science directions / Dr Susan Murray / Kings College London
Beyond the BRIC’s: The Emerging Middle and Global Poverty Reduction / Professor David Hulme / University of Manchester
China as the New ‘Shaper’ of Global Government / Dr Frauke Urban / Institute of Development Studies
Where Empires Meet: The border economies of Russia, China and Mongolia / Dr David Sneath / University of Cambridge
Rising Powers: The Social Bases of Economic Change / Professor Michael Keith / University of Oxford
The Rising Powers and Global Standards Research Network / Dr Khalid Nadvi / University of Manchester
Rising Powers in the Shadow of the Crisis: A New Global Governance / Dr Paola Subacchi / Chatham House

Collaborative Analysis of Micro Data Resources: Brazil – India Pathfinder Research Projects

Brazilian Manufacturing in the Face of Chinese Competition: Economic Restructuring, Competitiveness and Employment / Professor R Jenkins / University of East Anglia
Exchanging Data and Skills on 'Place Inequality': A UK-Brazilian Collaboration / Prof C Jeffery / University of Edinburgh
Inequalities in Access to Health Care in Brazil and India: Closing the Gap for the Poorest-Poor / Dr S Padmadas / University of Southampton
Gender and Ethnic Bias in Sentencing – A Study Using Brazilian Microdata / Professor B Francis / University of Lancaster
Economic Reforms and the Evolution of Productivity in Indian Manufacturing Firm s / Professor K Sen / University of Manchester
Women's Autonomy and the Nutritional Status of Children in India / Prof S Arulampalam / University of Warwick
The PBR-5 Network for the Interdisciplinary Analysis of the Brazilian Economic Restructuring Process / Prof N Campos / Brunel University
Employment and Occupational Outcomes: The Impact of Widening Access to Education in Brazil and India / Professor G Johnes / University of Lancaster
Urbanisation and Spatial Inequalities in Health in Brazil and India / Dr T Chandola / University College London
Social Inequality and Women's Response to Domestic Violence: A UK-Brazil Research Partnership / Dr C Watts / LSHTM
Firm Behaviour and the Introduction of New Products: Evidence Using a Firm Micro Data Set in Brazil / Dr X Cicera / Institute of Development Studies
Assessing the Impact of Higher Education Expansion on Economic Restructuring, Occupational Change and Access to Opportunities in Brazil and India / Prof K Purcell / University of Warwick

Collaborative Analysis of Micro Data Resources: China – South Africa Pathfinder Research Projects

The Relationship between Spatial Inequality and Attitudes to Inequality in South Africa / Mr D McLennan / University of Oxford
Return migrants and international knowledge flows: China and the UK (with supplementary funding from the NSFC) / Professor X Liu / Loughborough University
CEO Effects on Firm Performance in China: The Role of Incentives, Firm Governance Arrangements and CEO Human Capital (with supplementary funding from the NSFC) / Mr A Bryson / National Institute of Social & Economic Research
Poverty and Inequalities in Child Welfare Outcomes in South Africa: An analysis of panel data / Professor I Timaeus / LSHTM
Microfoundations of Access to Finance: Demand-side Perspectives in South Africa / Professor T Arun / University of Central Lancashire
The Impacts of Fall in Exports on Livelihoods in China: Urban Unemployment, Rural Poverty and the Welfare of Ruralurban Migrants / Professor L Song / University of Nottingham
Understanding Inequality in Elderly Well-being in China and the UK / Professor A Park / University of Oxford
Chinese Competition and the Restructuring of South African Manufacturing / Professor R Jenkins / University of East Anglia
Social mobility and social capital in China and Britain, a comparative study (with supplementary funding from the NSFC) / Professor Y Li / University of Manchester
Assessing the impact of internal labour migration on intergenerational support, health and income: the cases of China and South Africa / Professor J Falkingham / University of Southampton
Coping with the Urban Environment? Gender Disadvantage, Social Inequalities and Wellbeing of Economic Migrants in China / Dr S Padmadas / University of Southampton
School progression, school choice and travel to school amongst urban South African secondary school learners / Dr S Alvanides / Northumbria University

Appendix B

Illustrative Questions that might be addressed by the Projects.

This list is neither exhaustive nor exclusive and is intended to demonstrate the range of questions that the initiative is seeking to address. The ESRC is looking for proposals that are of outstanding quality, innovative and exciting research proposals addressing questions in the three themes. The Commissioning Panel will ensure that a spectrum of issues is covered with a range of successful applications. Note that these illustrative questions overlap the three themes and actual applications may wish to follow suit rather than be artificially constrained.

Sustainability and competitiveness

What will be the future drivers of growth and interdependence for the Rising Powers?
What role will consideration of their own environmental impact play in development of economic and security policies?
Will there be lasting effects from the 2008-9 financial crisis on the growth of the Rising Powers?
Will the differences between Rising Powers persist and if so, why?
How do regional differences reflect and impact models of economic growth in the Rising Powers?
What opportunities and challenges for UK export markets will exist in a) the Rising Powers themselves, and b) in other marketplaces?
In what ways could UK policy be employed to create alliances between the UK and the Rising Powers in particular industrial domains in order to maximise UK access to the global value chain of innovation?
What are the appropriate growth and competitiveness strategies for the developed and developing world in the new global context? How do these challenges differ within and between these groups? What are the particular challenges and opportunities for the UK?
What are the main economic, political and environmental challenges to the sustainability of future growth?
Will cultures of consumption and saving in the emerging markets change -and with what implications for growth, sustainability and wellbeing?
Do emergent economies structure the roles of states and markets in ways that distinguish them?
What are the changing self-perceptions of the Rising Powers as global and regional powers?
How are notions of interdependence changing within and between regional and global powers?
How will financial markets evolve within the Rising Powers?
What might be the effect of Rising Powers on interdependent global financial markets, capital flows, exchanges and banking systems?
What are the lasting implications of the role played by the Rising Powers in the financial crisis of 2008-9?
In challenging circumstances, will other countries withdraw, reduce or halt investments in Rising Powers or seek to sustain lower levels of engagement for long term benefit?
What are the implications of growing foreign direct investment from the Rising Powers in rich and poor economies? And how does this affect the future international division of labour?
What will global production systems look in the 21st century?
What are the major differences between the models of innovation employed by the Rising Powers and those of the OECD countries? What can the UK learn from them in its pursuit of the benefits of “open global innovation”?
What are the key challenges of sustainability, particularly relating to the environment, energy and climate change? What do they imply for competitiveness strategies?
How do emergent economies address the balances between demands of economic growth and ecological concerns?What are the key challenges for other forms of sustainability – financial, political and social?

Global Governance

How will the differing and changing forms of economic and political governance in the Rising Powers evolve in future?
What are the implications of the Rising Powers and interdependence for regional economic integration and governance?
What are the domestic determinants of the positioning of Rising Powers in global governance arenas?
How might the Rising Powers best participate in global economic governance to address interdependence?
What alliances based on mutual interest could the UK have with the Rising Powers as they seek to renegotiate the terms of existing global governance agreements?
How will the new challenges for global governance be met: global economic management (apparent persistent imbalances, trade negotiations and global financial stability, in particular)?
How best can the Rising Powers be integrated into negotiations on climate change, energy, food, water and military security?
What are the prospects for an orderly reworking of global governance and geopolitical institutions to reflect the changing global balance of power and interdependence between the powers?
What are the implications of the Rising Powers for the EU’s system of regional governance?
What should be the position of countries like the UK be with respect to reform of the UN and Bretton Woods economic institutions?
To what extent could the UK act as a source of policy learning as the Rising Powers introduce new forms of domestic governance and change existing ones?

Well-being and equity

How do the Rising Powers accommodate the new configurations of urban and rural populations, city growth and rural-urban migration?
How do flows of people both from countryside to city and internationally structure and impact economic growth in the Rising Powers?
What will the role of natural resources and energy, e.g., water, minerals and oil, be in patterns of development and what are the implications for future well-being and equity for the rising powers, existing large economies and developing countries?
What can be learnt about the Rising Powers interaction, influence or dependency on ‘resource rich’ nations e.g. China and Africa - mineral extraction, Brazil and Angola – Oil?
How can the Rising Powers respond to social challenges including social and economic inequality, health, human rights and access to education including Higher Education?
Education is approached and valued in different ways by different countries and communities. Can comparing the education systems across the Rising Powers and those of established powers be helpful in assessing if there are certain education systems and values that lead to a better educated workforce which can then help to enhance well-being and facilitate economic competitiveness?
What might be the role for information and communication technologies in addressing social challenges and inequalities in the Rising Powers?
What will be the impact of the Rising Powers as the rest of the world adjusts to the new global environment e.g. economic adjustment and its social consequences, global migration flows?
What are the implications of the newly emerging international division of labour for low-income and advanced economies?
What are the implications of the emergence of the Rising Powers for wellbeing and equity in the developed world e.g. economic adjustment and its social consequences, human resources for the new competitive environment?
What might be the changes in global migration patterns as a result of the Rising Powers?
What are the challenges for the developing world and Western development policy as a result of the new competitive challenges and new development roles being taken by the Rising Powers?
What are the implications of the influence of Rising Powers within the developing world e.g. South Africa, China?