SOUTH AFRICA / ROMANIA JOINT SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH
 FIRST CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS (2008) 

In 2004 South Africa and Romania signed an inter-governmental bilateral agreement on cooperation in the fields of science and technology to be jointly implemented and administrated by the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa and the National Authority for Scientific Research (ANCS), under the aegis of the Romanian Ministry of Education, Research and Youth, in Romania. In terms of this agreement, we are pleased herewith to announce the first ever call for joint research project proposals between South African and Romanian researchers, and invite all local researchers wishing to participate to submit their proposals by the due date indicated below.

Who may apply?

This call is open to working researchers residing in South Africa and affiliated with a recognised higher education or research institution such as a university, university of technology or science council. An application must designate two principal investigators, one in South Africa and one in Romania, who will bear the main responsibility for the project, including its technical and administrative coordination as well as scientific and financial reporting. The South African applicant must be in possession of a PhD.

On the Romanian side the applicants could be research institutions and universities, accredited or established, according to the legislation into force.

How do I apply?

Application forms for South African applicants may be downloaded electronically from the NRF website (www.nrf.ac.za). In Romania, applications may be obtained from the website of the ANCS (www.mct.ro). A hard copy of the South African application should be submitted to: Mr Raven Jimmy, National Research Foundation, GMSA (ISC-G), PO Box 2600, Pretoria, 0001

A hard copy of the Romanian application should be submitted to: Mr Vasile Lungu, Department of European Integration and International Relations, National Authority for Scientific Research, Ministry of Education, Research and Youth, 21-25, Mendeleev Str.; 010362 Bucharest

Only applications endorsed by the research office or its equivalent at higher education or research institutions will be accepted.

Which activities may I apply for?

According to a determination made at the first South Africa-Romania Joint Committee meeting held in November 2007, funding for this round will only be made available for the conducting of joint research projects, and only in the following priority areas:

·         Biotechnology (including agriculture, the environment and food technology);
·         Information and Communication Technology;
·         Climate Change and Energy;
·         Applied Physics (including laser technology);
·         New Materials and Technologies (including nano-materials);
·         Social Science and the Humanities (including health sciences);
·         Space Cooperation.  

Funding will be available for a maximum of three years, starting in 2008, with funds exclusively to be used for researcher and student mobility and/or the organisation of joint scientific events such as workshops and conferences. In all cases (whether single visits or event attendance) mobility undertaken as part of joint research projects must be limited to the following:

·         One short visit (maximum of 14 consecutive days) per year in Romania by South African experts taking part in the project and a reciprocal visit to South Africa by Romanian experts taking part in the project; and,

·         One long visit (1-3 months) per year in Romania by South African experts taking part in the project and a reciprocal visit to South Africa by Romanian experts taking part in the project.

In the case of reciprocal visits and the attendance of workshops and conferences organised as part of joint research projects funded under this agreement, the sending party will be responsible for financing international travel, while the receiving party will be responsible for financing the accommodation and subsistence of their international visitors. Local travel and fees relating to the organisation of joint scientific events (venue, catering, audiovisual equipment etc.) will be the financial responsibility of the investigator representing the country in which the event is held, to be paid from his/her allocation of the joint funding accorded.

On the Romanian side the applicants may apply according to the new provision of the National Plan II, Module 3.

How much should I apply for?

On the South African side while funding levels are not fixed, a suggested maximum of R300 000 per project may be used as a general indicator of available funds (i.e. R100 000 per year). Note that both scientific and financial reporting on the project is an obligatory condition of funding.

On the Romanian side provisions mentioned in the National Plan II, Module 3, will be applied. The grant may amount to a maximum of 42,000 EUR per project, per year, not exceeding the limits per category of costs set out by the Romanian legislation and provisions into force.

How are applications evaluated?

Following the closing date indicated below applications will be submitted to both a postal and panel review by recognised local experts in the various fields of research represented by the proposals received. These experts will evaluate each proposal based on the following criteria:

·         Scientific and technical merit
·         Suitability and feasibility
·         International significance
·         Budget
·         National priority

(Note that proposals demonstrating strong elements of capacity building, particularly among previously disadvantaged socioeconomic population groups, will be favourably regarded).

Following local evaluation a shortlist of projects to be funded will be constituted in consultation between NRF and ANCS based on the results of the evaluations done in both countries. Proposals which have only been received in either South Africa or Romania, but not both, will not be evaluated or considered for funding. Note further that funding will only become available once both funding agencies have completed their respective operational processes, and applicants should allow at least three months for the final result of the selection to be disseminated.

When is the closing date for applications?

All South African and Romanian applications must be submitted by 15 April 2008.

Applications received after this date will not be considered for funding.

Where can I obtain more information?

For further information, for the South African side, please contact:

Mr Raven Jimmy, Tel: 012 481 4069, Fax: 012 481 4044, Email: raven@nrf.ac.za.

For further information, for the Romanian side, please contact:

Mr Vasile Lungu, Tel: 318. 3065, Fax: 318 3053, Email: vlungu@mct.ro.