Marie Curie Initial Training Networks Workshop at University of Limerick, 5 June 2008 Dr. Dagmar M. Meyer Marie Curie National Contact Point

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation2 Outline of the presentation Introduction to the Marie Curie Initial Training Networks –What are ITNs, who can participate, how does it work? Hints for the proposal preparation –Evaluation process and criteria –Things to keep in mind

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation3 Part 1 Marie Curie Initial Training Networks –Background, budget and general principles –Participants and their roles –Eligible researchers –ITN activities –Financial aspects

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation4 People Programme in FP7 (2007 – 2013) FP7 overall budget € 48bn People (Marie Curie) Programme € 4.727bn –On average € 675m per year (in FP6: € 425m) –Ireland’s success in FP6: € 59m = ~30% of FP6 total for a programme of 9% of total budget European Research Council € 7.5bn

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation5 Overview of the Marie Curie Actions Initial training of researchers Marie Curie Initial Training Networks (ITN) Life-long training and career development Marie Curie Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) European Reintegration Grants (ERG) Co-funding of regional/national/international programmes (COFUND) Industry-academia pathways and partnerships MC Industry-Academia Pathways and Partnerships Scheme (IAPP) International dimension MC International Outgoing and Incoming Fellowships (IOF / IIF) MC International Reintegration Grants (IRG) International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) Specific actions Researchers’ Night (NIGHT), other specific actions

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation6 Budget breakdown for 2008 Calls on 2008 budget, total € m : * ITNs: plus € 145 m (?) from the 2009 budget

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation7 Objectives of the ITNs Directed at Early Stage Researchers –Strengthen and structure initial training of researchers at European level –Attract students to scientific careers –Improve career perspectives by broad skills development (including private sector needs)

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation8 Main features International network of participants Joint Research Training Programme: –Training through research –Complementary competences modules –Exposure to both public and private sectors Industry involvement Mutual recognition of the quality of the training Grant agreements with Commission for four years, max. duration of fellowships 3 years

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation9 Research areas Bottom-up approach Evaluation carried out in panels (data 2007): –Chemistry (13%) –Social and Human Sciences (9%) –Economic Sciences (2%) –Information Science and Engineering (20%) –Environmental and Geo-sciences (10%) –Life Sciences (26%) –Mathematics (3%) –Physics (17%)

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation10 Who are the participants? Organisations that are actively involved in research and/or research training: –Universities/Institutes of Technology –Private and public research institutes –Companies big and small –International Organisations (CERN, UNESCO, …) –The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre –NGO’s –Etc.

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation11 Which countries can they come from? 27 Member States (MS) 11 Associated Countries (AC) –Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Israel, Switzerland, Croatia, FYR Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Albania, Montenegro Third Countries (TC) –More than 140 International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC) – can receive funding –Other Third Countries (OTC) – normally self funded

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation12 Types of ITNs No more than 40% of the total EC contribution may be allocated to the benefit of organisations within one country in Multi-site ITNs. ≥3 Participants from 3 different countries (MS or AC) - Additional Participants: MS, AC, ICPC or OTC* * Funded only if a special agreement between the country and the EU or in very exceptional casesMulti-siteITN Country of ParticipantsType of ITN

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation13 Types of ITNs Well- established transnational collaboration 1 Participant from MS or AC Mono-site ITN 2 Participants from 2 different countries ( MS or AC) Twinning ITN Country of Participant(s)Type of ITN

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation14 Partner status Level 3 Level 2 Level 1 Members of the Supervisory Board: definition of skills requirements for targeted researchers Provide research training, complementary skills courses, (communication, enterprise cycles, innovation, IPR, …) secondments Offer research training & recruit eligible researchers Associated Partners Full Network Partners

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation15 Private sector participation At the highest possible level Expected minimum involvement of industry - Level 3 Clear evidence of the commitment of industry to be included in proposal

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation16 Eligible researchers ≥ 1 month Multiple stays Experienced researchers (experience >> 4 years) with outstanding stature in international training and collaborative research Visiting scientists (a limited number) 3-24 months PhD or at least 4 years of research experience & Research experience ≤ 5 years Experience d researchers 3-36 months 0 ≤ Research experience ≤ 4 years No PhD Early stage researchers (≥ 80%) Duration of appointments Eligibility Criteria at the time of recruitment INITIAL TRAINING Transfer of NEW COMPETENCES

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation17 Transnational mobility Researchers can be nationals of any country other than the country of the premises of the host institution Nationals of Third Countries can only be recruited by hosts located in MS or AC Researchers must not have resided or carried out their main activity in the country of the host for more than 12 months in the 3 years immediately prior to their recruitment Special rules in case of: –Dual citizenship –European researcher returning from a third country –Third Country researcher having resided in Europe for a long time –International organisations as host institutions

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation18 Role of visiting scientists Complement the network’s capacity to transfer new knowledge Strengthen supervision of the network-wide training activities Exceptional and duly justified, with explicit reference to the punctual training events he/she will provide or organise Reasonable duration of appointment

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation19 Typical ITN activities Training Networking International conferences open to external researchers

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation20 Training activities Training on scientific and technological knowledge through research: individual personalised projects within the framework of the research topics defined by the network Provision of structured training courses: tutoring, lecture courses, teaching –Available either locally or from another participant of the network –Local training programmes to be coordinated to maximise added value

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation21 Training activities Intersectorial visits and secondments Development of network-wide training activities : workshops, summer schools –Exploitation of the interdisciplinary and intersectoral aspects of the project –Exposure of the participants to different schools of thought –Provide complementary training in IPR, project management, presentation skills, language courses, ethics, communication, entrepreneurship, proposal writing, task coordination… –Coordinated by a clearly identified Supervisory Board

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation22 Training activities Personal Career Development Plan –For researchers recruited for ≥ 6 months Early Post-Docs –Intersectoral or interdisciplinary Transfer of Knowledge –Taking part in the management of the research project –Organisation of training events Training objective: to make them more independent and to provide them with the skills to become team leaders in the near future

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation23 Networking activities Organisation of scientific/managerial network meetings Invitation of external experts Attendance at international conferences and workshops Electronic networking Collaboration with other ITNs Organisation of a final network conference

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation24 Events open to external researchers International conferences, workshops, seminars, summer schools, etc. Should provide an opportunity to –exchange knowledge with more experienced researchers –disseminate the skills and knowledge of the network

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation25 Supervisory Board Clearly identified Ensures that scientific and technological training is balanced with complementary skills training Composed of representatives of each of the participants in the network as well as external representatives Industry involvement

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation26 Community contribution Eligible expenses for the activities carried out by the recruited researchers Managed by the host institution Managed by the researchers Visiting scientists D Participation to training / networking activities -300€/researcher- month: non laboratory projects -600€ /researcher- month: laboratory projects C Career Exploratory allowance 2000€ for each researcher with a stay of at least 1 year B Travel allowance Based on direct distance between place of origin and host institution A * Monthly living and mobility allowance Allowance rates adjusted by applying a country correction factor ESR and ER *Budget category, see Work Programme 2008

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation27 Living, mobility and travel allowances Living allowance (including all mandatory deductions) – basic rate submitted to country-specific coefficient (IE:113.3, UK:109.2, FR:104.4, DE:101.5, ES: 95.5, …) Experience levelEmployment contract (€/year)Stipend (€/year) Early Stage researcher34,50017,250 ER with < 5 years exp.53,00026,500 Visit. Scient. with up to 10 years exp.68,90034,450 Vist. Scient. with >10 years exp.103,35051,675 Mobility allowance (€500/€800 monthly, depending on family situation at recruitment; country coefficient applies) Travel allowance (€250 - €2500 every 12 months, depending on distance)

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation28 Community contribution Eligible expenses for the activities carried out by the host organisations: –Contribution to the research/training/Transfer of Knowledge programme expenses (E) Fixed amount of 600€ / researcher-month –Contribution to the organisation of international conferences, workshops and events (F) Fixed amount of 300€ / researcher-day for researchers from outside the network and for the duration of the event –Management activities (G) 7% of the total EC contribution for Multi-site ITN 3% of the total EC contribution for Mono-site and Twinnings ITN –Overheads -10% of direct costs (except subcontracts) (H)

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation29 Indicative timetable for Initial Training Networks Publication of call4 April 2008 Submission deadline2 September 2008 Evaluation of proposalsOctober-November 2008 Evaluation Summary Reports sent to proposal coordinators January 2009 Invitation for contract negotiationsJanuary 2009 Letter to unsuccessful candidatesFrom January 2009 Signature of first Grant AgreementsFrom March 2009

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation30 Success rates in first Marie Curie ITN call in 2007 Stage 1 –Proposals submitted: 905 (104 Irish participations in 86 distinct proposals, 14 as coordinators) –Proposals invited to Stage 2: 197 (14 proposals with 1 Irish participant each, none as coordinator) Stage 2 –Proposals submitted: 196 (14 Irish participations in 14 distinct proposals) –Proposals on the ranked list: 68 (7 proposals with 1 Irish participant each) Overall success rate: 7.5 %

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation31 More information Official website of the FP7 “People” (Marie Curie) programme on CORDIS (information on calls, work programme, guide for applicants, etc.):

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation32 Key contacts IUA Marie Curie Office – National Contact Point Dr. Dagmar Meyer Dr. Conor O’Carroll Enterprise Ireland – National Contact Point Focus on Industry - Bill Kee

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation33 Part 2 Hints for the proposal preparation: –Evaluation process and criteria –Things to keep in mind

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation34 Proposal preparation – first steps Download all the necessary documentation Do your homework – background reading! (Rules of the programme but also some policy background) Choose your consortium carefully – what kind of research and training expertise is needed? Exploit complementarities and synergies! Establish contacts with chosen partners well ahead of time (financial support for preparatory meetings etc. available from Enterprise Ireland)

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation35 Submission procedure Only electronic submission using EPSS (Electronic Proposal Submission Service) Proposal has two parts: –Part A: administrative information about proposal, applicant and host institution (prepared forms) –Part B: free text covering a number of predefined aspects of the project, limited number of pages (prescribed font size and margins), limited size of pdf-file Deadline is STRICTLY enforced

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation36 Evaluation criteria – basic principles Evaluation according to criteria provided in the Guide for Applicants Different criteria carry different weights Thresholds for some evaluation criteria Overall threshold is 70% All issues need to be addressed! Competition is fierce – don’t waste your chances. Always keep in mind the objectives of the activity!

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation37 Evaluation process All proposals undergo initial eligibility check Evaluation by at least three experts from an international pool (not all experts are exactly from your field of speciality!!) Proposals that miss a threshold are rejected Remaining proposals are ranked within each panel All applicants receive evaluation summary report (very useful for re-submission!!) Distribution of funding to different panels in proportion to proposals submitted Reserve lists in case of late withdrawal etc.

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation38 Initial Training Networks – Part B Evaluation criteria and thresholds (overall threshold 70%): criterionweightthreshold S & T Quality30%3/5 Training30%4/5 Implementation20%3/5 Impact20%none

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation39 Initial Training Networks – S&T Quality S&T objectives of the research programme, including in terms of inter/multi-disciplinary, intersectoral and/or newly emerging supra- disciplinary fields Scientific quality of the research programme Appropriateness of research methodology Originality and innovative aspects of the research programme. Knowledge of the state-of the-art. Weight: 30%, Threshold: 3/5

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation40 Initial Training Networks – Training Quality of the training programme. Consistency with the research programme. Complementary skills offered: Management, Grant Writing, Communication, Ethics, Commercial exploitation of results, Research policy, IPR, Entrepreneurship, etc. Importance & timeliness of the training needs (e.g. multi- disciplinary, intersectoral and newly emerging supra- disciplinary fields) a) For multi-site proposals: Adequate combination of local specialist training with networkwide training activities. b) For mono-site proposals: Adequate exploitation of the international network of participants for the training program Appropriateness of the size of the requested training programme with respect to the capacity of the host Weight: 30%, Threshold: 4/5

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation41 Initial Training Networks – Implementation Capacities (expertise/human resources/facilities/ infrastructure) to achieve research; adequate task distribution Appropriateness of industry involvement Adequate exploitation of complementarities & synergies among partners in terms of research and training How essential is non ICPC Third Country participation, if any, to the objectives of the research training programme Plans for the overall management of the training programme (demarcation of responsibilities, recruitment strategy etc) Networking and dissemination of best practice among partners. Clarity of the plan for organising training events (workshops, conferences, training courses) Weight: 20%, Threshold: 3/5

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation42 Initial Training Networks – Impact Contribution of the proposed training programme to the improvement of the career prospects of the fellows Provision to establish longer term collaborations and/or lasting structured training programme between partners' organisations, including private & academic partners Where appropriate, justification of the training events open to external participants and their integration in the training programme Where appropriate, mutual recognition of the training acquired by multipartner hosts Where applicable, relevance of the role of visiting scientist with respect to the training programme. Weight: 20%, Threshold: none

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation43 Hints for a successful proposal Follow the guide for applicants and address all issues mentioned in the explanatory notes Plan your writing - focus on one section at a time, but keep the “overall picture” in mind Don’t be repetitive – the same issue may appear in various sections, but from different perspectives, so don’t simply cut-and-paste! Be concise and observe the page limit

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation44 Hints for a successful proposal Stick to the structure suggested in the guide for applicants – keep the evaluators happy! The evaluators may not all be world experts in exactly the area of your proposal – avoid using very specific jargon and acronyms Provide the evaluators with evidence for your claims, but avoid external resources (links to websites etc.) Graphics and charts can be very helpful, but don’t overdo it! Make sure they are readable in black & white.

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation45 Hints for a successful proposal Get a colleague to read through your proposal and do a “mock evaluation” If in doubt, ask your National Contact Point for clarification! If you want to avail of our pre-submission proposal check, allow enough time for feedback. Regularly upload preliminary versions of your proposal, and don’t forget to hit “submit”! Keep the deadline - 5pm Brussels time means 4pm Irish time!!

Thursday, 5 June 2008An Irish Universities Association Presentation46 And finally…. Good luck!!!