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REMINDER: SOUTH AFRICA - ROMANIA : JOINT CALL FOR THEMATIC COOPERATION PROPOSALS
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SOUTH AFRICA - ROMANIA

 

JOINT CALL FOR THEMATIC COOPERATION PROPOSALS

 

INTERNAL CLOSING DATE: 09 May 2014

 

 

Background

 

Governed by the Agreement on Scientific and Technological cooperation signed between the Government of the Republic of South Africa and the Government of Romania, signed on 15 September 2004 in Bucharest, Romania, a call for joint thematic cooperation proposals between South African and Romanian researchers is announced. Local researchers are invited to submit proposals by the due date indicated below.

 

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

 

Joint proposals may be submitted in research areas of

  • Information and Communications / Computer Technology (ICT);
  • Bio-economy;
  • New Materials;
  • Human and Social Sciences.

 

NB. 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 two years, i.e. 2014 to 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 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 PI should possess at least a Master’s degree (preferably a PhD). An application for the same research activity must in addition be submitted to Romania by the Romanian PI in order for joint funding to be considered.

Romania: R&D organisations are invited to submit joint proposals. The projects will be implemented by means of exchange of scientists and information.

 

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.

 

Romania: The Romanian scientists should submit two (2) hard copies and 1 CD of their proposals to UEFISCDI, using the application forms posted on the UEFISCDI website: www.uefiscdi.ro.

 

The onus is on the applicant to find their own research partner. Proposals must be received in both South Africa and Romania. Proposals which have only been received in either South Africa or Romania, but not both, will not be considered for funding. The call process is highly competitive; therefore submission of an application does not guarantee funding. The availability of funds and the evaluation of applications from both countries should be positive for them to be considered for funding. The NRF will not be held responsible for non-submission, administration or evaluation of the application in the partner country.

 

Which activities may be funded?

 

Funding will be exclusively used for researcher mobility. In all cases (whether single visits or event attendance) mobility undertaken as part of joint research projects must be limited to a maximum of 45 days per year. 

 

Funding Modalities

 

The sending party will take care of international travel costs and medical insurance, while the receiving party will take care of subsistence, accommodation and ground transport. The total length of stays within partner country per project shall not be longer than 45 days per year.

 

Note for South African researchers: South African researchers are allowed to make use of their allocations for organisation of joint scientific events such as seminars, workshops and conferences. Local travel and fees relating to the organisation of these joint scientific events (venue, catering, audiovisual equipment etc.) will be the financial responsibility of the South African investigator and paid from his/her allocation of the joint funding accorded. 

 

How much should I apply for?

 

South Africa: The total amount of funding requested should not exceed R250 000. Funding will be made available for a maximum of two years, to be paid in annual installments (R125 000 per year). Note that a commitment to both scientific and financial reporting on the project following its completion is an obligatory condition of funding.

 

How are applications evaluated?

 

Following the closing date indicated below, applications will be submitted to both a postal and a panel review. The panel will include 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 of the project

-          Methodology

-          Added value to bilateral cooperation

-          Addressing the national priorities in each country

-          Capacity Building elements

 

Note: For South African applicants, excellent research proposals demonstrating strong elements of capacity building, particularly among previously disadvantaged socio-economic population groups, will be favourably considered.

 

Following local evaluation a shortlist of projects to be funded will be constituted in consultation with the NRF and Romania, 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, the nature of the bilateral process requires the alignment of the commencement of each phase of the process.

 

 

 

Closing date for applications

 

Applications for both South Africa and Romania must be submitted by 16 May 2014 and validated by institutional DAs by 20 May 2014.   Applications received after this date will not be considered for funding.

 

Please note that the NRF will not be held responsible for applications that were not submitted in time.  Researchers are also advised to ensure that their research partners’ applications are submitted and have also been received in Romania.                              

 

Where can I obtain more information?

 

South Africa:

Mr. Teuns Phahlamohlaka               

Professional Officer: Overseas Cooperation                

National Research Foundation                       

Tel: +27 12 481 4385                                        

E-mail: teuns.phahlam@nrf.ac.za                     

 

Romania:

Mrs. Claudia MUREA

Project Officer

Executive Agency for Funding of the Higher Education, Research, Development and Innovation (UEFISCDI)

Department for Management of CAPACITY Program

21 – 25 Mendeleev STR.

010362 Bucureşti,

Tel / Fax: +40 21 302 38 64; +40 21 311 59 92

E-mail: claudia.murea@uefiscdi.ro

 

For further queries please contact: Sam Ntombela Ext 8431 (gombela@ukzn.ac.za) or Pat Ngwenya Ext 3273 (ngwenyap@ukzn.ac.za)

 

Issued by the University Research Office  

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 
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