Notices to be placed before 4:00 PM
REMINDER: NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION / NATIONAL NATURAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OF CHINA COLLABORATION
Print



NATIONAL RESEARCH FOUNDATION / NATIONAL NATURAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION OF CHINA COLLABORATION

CALL FOR PROJECT PROPOSALS (2014)

INTERNAL CLOSING DATE: 20 April 2014

On 30 September 2010, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the National Research Foundation (NRF) of South Africa. Following successful workshops held in China and South Africa on Nuclear Physics and Bioresources the NSFC and NRF are pleased to announce the 2014 joint call for research proposals, and herewith invite all interested parties to submit their applications, by a date no later than the indicated closing date.

Aims of the programme

· To contribute to scientific advancement in both countries through the funding of joint research activities in specified research fields;

· To provide an opportunity for young researchers in the two countries to engage;

· To support the advancement of basic research; and

· To contribute meaningfully to research capacity development.

Areas of cooperation

Proposals may be submitted in the following areas which have been designated as priority in the NSFC/NRF joint funded workshops:

· Fungal bioresources (taxonomy; biodiversity; culture collection and barcoding)

· Fungal ecology

· Fungal application (new bioactive compounds; new enzymes; new drugs; application in food; agriculture, and bioenergy)

· Fundamental and applied nuclear physics.

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.

Duration of projects

The projects will be supported for three years from October 2014 to September 2016.


Who may apply?

South Africa: This call is open to employed 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 (PIs), one in South Africa and one in China, 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 PI should possess at least a Master’s degree (preferably PhD). An application for the same research activity must in addition be submitted to the NSFC by the Chinese PI in order for joint funding to be considered.

China: Permanently employed researchers residing in China and affiliated with a recognised higher education or research institution which registers in NSFC. The Chinese applicant must possess an academic title of professor or associate professor and must be the PI of an on-going or completed NSFC research grant which duration is more than 3 yearsPlease read the Chinese version of the guidelines for details on the eligibility of Chinese applicants.

How do I apply?

South Africa: Applications must be submitted through an online application process to the National Research Foundation (NRF) by accessing the link: https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za/.

No hard copies will be accepted and will automatically be disqualified by the NRF. Only applications endorsed by the research office or its equivalent at higher education or research institutions will be accepted.

China: Application for Chinese applicants may be completed through the following website linkhttp://www.nsfc.gov.cn/e_nsfc/desktop/zn/0101.htm.

The onus is on the applicant to find their own research partner. Proposals must be received in both China and South Africa. Proposals which have only been received in either South Africa or China, but not both countries, will not be considered for funding. The call process is highly competitive therefore application does not guarantee funding. The evaluation of applications from both countries should have positive ratings before consideration for funding. Neither the NRF nor NSFC will be held responsible for non-submission of the application in the partner country.

Which activities may be included in the joint research project?

According to the NSFC-NRF agreement, funding will be made available for the following joint research activitiesundertaken as part of the joint research project:

· Joint workshops: holding meetings of equal numbers of researchers from each side alternately in China and South Africa.

· Joint research: this collaboration includes visits and exchanges of leading and young scientists, and experts on the above-mentioned areas of cooperation.

In the case of meetings, research visits and exchanges of scientists, personnel and experts, 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 side will be responsible for financing international travel, visas, medical insurance, and subsistence while the receiving party will be responsible for financing the accommodation and ground transport of their international partners. Local travel and fees relating to 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.

No reciprocal visits of a shorter duration of less than 15 days or a longer duration of more than 3 months per year will be funded.

The following may NOT be funded from the NRF allocation:

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

All other expenses, including operational running costs and research materials, may be financed from the NRF allocation accorded in terms of this call.

How much may I apply for?

South Africa: While NRF funding levels are not fixed the total amount of funding requested should preferably not exceed R600 000. Funding will be made available for a maximum of three years, to be paid in annual instalments(R200 000 per year) and exclusively for research activities commencing in 2014.

China: NSFC funding levels are up to RMB800 000 (approximately USD130 000). Funding will be made available for a maximum of three years, to be paid in two instalments (60%: 40%) including both research funds and funds for international cooperation and exchanges.

Note that both scientific and financial reporting on the project is an OBLIGATORY condition of funding in subsequent years.

How are applications evaluated?

Following the closing date indicated, applications will be submitted to both a postal and panel review by recognised experts. The experts will evaluate each proposal based on the following criteria:

· Scientific and technical merit

· Suitability and feasibility

· International significance

· Value addition by the collaboration / national priority

· Possible impact of the research / national priority

· Potential for promoting equity and redress / capacity building

· Student involvement.

Note that proposals demonstrating strong elements of capacity building, particularly among historically disadvantaged institutions, will be favourably regarded by the South African side.

Following local evaluation, a shortlist of projects to be funded will be constituted in consultation with the NSFC based on the results of the evaluations done in both countries. Please note that, although the NRF undertakes to execute the evaluation and selection process as quickly as possible so as to notify applicants of the results as soon as possible, the nature of the bilateral process requires the alignment of the commencement of each phase of the process with the foreign partners, whose schedule may differ significantly from that of the NRF. As such applicants are urged not to expect notification by a certain date, nor to make concrete logistical arrangements before having been thus notified.

As a general rule, no less than three months should be allowed for notification following the deadline for applications.

When is the closing date for applications?

Internal Closing Date - 20 April 2014

All South African and Chinese applications must be submitted by 28 April 2014 to the NSFC and NRF respectively.Applications received after this date will not be considered for funding.

Where can I obtain more information?

South Africa:

For programme related queries For grant related and technical queries

Mr Teuns Phahlamohlaka Ms Lee Anne Seymour

International Relations and Cooperation International Research Grants

Tel: +27 (0) 12 481 4385 Tel: +27 (0) 12 481 4121

Fax: +27 (0) 12 481 4044 Fax: +27 (0) 86 639 9571

Email: teuns.phahlam@nrf.ac.za Seymour@nrf.ac.za

China:

Prof Yongtao Zhang

Director of Division

Bureau of International Cooperation

National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC)

Tel: +86 10 62325449

Fax: + 86 10 62327004

Email: zhangyt@nsfc.gov.cn

 

 

For other queries: Sambulo Ntombela Ext 8431 (gombela@ukzn.ac.za) or Patricia Ngwenya Ext. 3273 (ngwenyap@ukzn.ac.za)

 

Issued by the University Research Office

Attachments
NSFC-NRF Call.doc
Notice Details
Category Research
Posted 17 April 2014
By Sambulo Ntombela
Tel
From UKZN
Audience
Howard College Staff  Edgewood Staff 
Medical School Staff  PMB Staff 
Westville Staff   
   
   
  •  
  • F.A.Q.
  •  
  • Quick Help
  •  
F.A.Q. (frequently asked questions)

Please use Firefox or IE to upload your notice.

Will I still be able to read my Notices from within my email?

In a manner of speaking yes. However you will not get the entire notice delivered to you in your email, instead you will get a daily digest which will list the subject of the notices, a short summary of each notice and hyperlinks that will take you to that notice on the web.

2. Who has access to notices?


Anybody can access the notice system, however you will not be able to place notices from off-campus.