Call for proposals

Horizon 2020 – Excellent Science – “Policy and international cooperation measures for research infrastructures” – INFRASUPP-01-2018-2019

 

Objective and description

New topics have been opened for submission of proposals under the Horizon 2020 Programme within the pillar “Excellent Science”, under the work programme “European Research Infrastructures”, within the call for proposals “Policy and international cooperation measures for research infrastructures” – INFRASUPP-01-2018-2019.

 

High-quality, accessible research infrastructures are at the heart of the knowledge triangle of research, education and innovation. They enable tens of thousands of researchers in academia and industry to develop innovative ideas, products and services that foster European competitiveness and help tackle societal challenges facing our continent. They enable tens of thousands of researchers in academia and industry to develop innovative ideas, products and services that foster European competitiveness and help tackle societal challenges facing our continent. However, ensuring the availability of state-of-the-art facilities requires multi-billion Euro long-term investments across the European Research Area.

 

In the context of implementing the ERA Roadmap, the focus of this action is to set the conditions for effective investment and optimise the use of research infrastructures of European interest.

 

International cooperation for research infrastructures is needed with a number of key partners located in third countries/regions seen as strategic both for the development, exploitation and management of world-class research infrastructures and for ensuring the necessary complementarities on the international scene required to address research challenges with a global dimension by optimising the use of the available resources.

 

Proposals will address one of the following sub-topics:

 

Research and Innovation actions for the 2018 deadline

·         Sub-topic (a):

This sub-topic aims to support the development and installation of a dedicated beam-line in SESAME. The proposal should help strengthening the links to the European network of analytical facilities with particular reference to new synchrotrons currently under development. The consortium will work with the SESAME Scientific Advisory Committee to define the scope of the beam-line more appropriate for the scientific community of reference.

Coordination and Support actions for 2018 deadline

·         Sub-topic (b1): ERIC network:

This sub-topic aims to achieve a more formal and structural collaboration and coordination between European Research Infrastructure Consortia (ERICs) that would allow for a more effective approach and mutual benefit for addressing common hurdles.

·         Sub-topic (b2): International visibility of European research infrastructures:

This sub-topic aims to improve the international visibility of European research infrastructures (ERICs) and of their service.

·         Sub-topic (b3): Catalogue of research infrastructure services:

This sub-topic aims to develop an on-line dynamic catalogue of relevant research infrastructure services at national and European levels, starting from the ones offered under Horizon 2020 grants.

·         Sub-topic (b4): Support to ESFRI:

This sub-topic aims to support partnerships between policy makers, funding bodies and the scientific community in the context of the European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) to foster the priority setting and implementation of pan-European research infrastructures. The proposal should demonstrate the added-value of the activities proposed, in comparison with the activities and responsibilities of national ESFRI delegations as well as previous EU grants, such as CoPoRi and STR-ESFRI.

·         Sub-topic (b5): Support to the e-Infrastructure Reflection Group (e-IRG):

This sub-topic aims to support the activities of the e-Infrastructure Reflection Group (e-IRG) aiming to foster the integration of pan-European e-Infrastructures within the European Research Area. To best enable the realisation of the above activities, the independence of the e-IRG group members is paramount. Therefore, proposals should also demonstrate independence and absence of conflict of interest in the membership of the e-IRG group receiving support.

 

Eligible applicants

For Research and Innovation Actions eligible are at least three legal entities. Each of the three must be established in a different EU Member State or Horizon 2020 associated country. All three legal entities must be independent of each other.

 

For Coordination and Support Action eligible is at least one legal entity established in an EU Member State or Horizon 2020 associated country.

 

Budget

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of Research and Innovation Actions is estimated at EUR 6,000,000.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR 6 million would allow this activity to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

 

The total budget earmarked for the co-financing of Coordination and Support Actions is estimated at EUR 6,600,000.

The Commission considers that proposals requesting a contribution from the EU of up to EUR 1.5 million for the first four sub-topics and of EUR 0.6 million over a duration of up to 30 months for sub-topic (b5) would allow these activities to be addressed appropriately. Nonetheless, this does not preclude submission and selection of proposals requesting other amounts.

 

Funding rates:

RIA Research and Innovation actions: 100%.

Coordination  and Support Actions: 100%

 

Deadline for proposals’ submission

The deadline for this call of proposals is 22 March 2018, 17:00 Brussels time.

 

Applicants must submit their proposal electronically, following the link on the submission service.

 

Further information

You can find more information and the call documents at the following link: https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/infrasupp-01-2018-2019.html

 

Kind regards,

Flora

 

Flora Stavropoulou
Junior Officer

European Office of Cyprus

Rue du Luxembourg 3, 2nd floor

B-1000, Brussels

Tel/Fax: +32 (0) 2 280 22 85

E-mail: eoc.brussels2@ucy.ac.cy

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE GREEK TRANSLATION IS PROVIDED AT REQUEST OF ANY INTERESTED MEMBER (based on the decision of 22.12.2016 of the EOC Administrative Council).