Research Funding Opportunities in Estonia 2020 - How to Apply

Applying for research funding in 2020 17 February 2020 Tartu 19 February 2020 Tallinn

Previous call (2019) In call 2019, 114 new projects received funding, incl. 21 postdoctoral projects 23 start-up projects 70 team projects in total amount of 18,795,640 euros (See: Funded projects) but 479 applications in total amount of 78,223,207 euros were processed (success rate 24%). 2

In call 2020 you can apply for a postdoctoral grant (outgoing) (PJG, up to 3 years) start-up grant (PSG, up to 4 years) team grant (PRG, up to 5 years) you can compile and submit your application via the Estonian Research Information System (ETIS) from 1 March to 31 March at 17:00 p.m. 3

General principles of research grants The applicant must be the PI of the project Grants for capable researchers from all countries Employment contract with a positively evaluated Estonian R&D institution is obligatory Start-up and team projects have to be implemented in Estonia It is not allowed that the same person is the PI or a member of the senior research staff of several grant projects Fixed grant amounts are used 4

Who can apply for which grant? (1/2) A person can either apply for one grant OR be listed as a member of the senior research staff in a grant application. A person cannot apply for a grant if his/her application has failed to reach the qualification threshold in previous calls; he/she has failed to submit the report on a previous project or the report has not been accepted by the Council; the principles of research integrity have been violated. 5

Threshold Qualification threshold at least good /3 points or appropriate in each evaluated criterion (NB! except for the criterion of the grant type). A person cannot apply for a grant if his/her application has failed to reach the qualification threshold in at least one evaluation criterion in two consecutive calls; his/her application submitted during the previous call did not pass the qualification threshold in at least two evaluation criteria. Quality threshold the minimum final score of the application which enables the application to qualify for funding; no restrictions when it comes to submitting a new application. 6

Who can apply for which grant? (2/2) The applicant of a postdoctoral grant: has received his/her PhD not earlier than 01.01.2015; has received his/her PhD in Estonia; has worked/studied at least 1 year in Estonia before 31.03.2020. The applicant of a start-up grant: has received his/her PhD between 1.01.2014-1.01.2019; has gained research experience after the PhD (preferably abroad); has not been the PI of a start-up or exploratory project or the PI of an IUT topic. The applicant of a team grant is a researcher with a PhD degree NB! A person cannot apply for a team grant if he/she is the PI or a member of the senior research staff of a grant project which continues in 2021. 7

Who can participate in a grant project? (1/2) A PJG project is an individual project. In a PSGproject, other members of the (senior) research staff can participate if they have the necessary qualification for carrying out the tasks; they are working or studying at the same institution. NB! The salary of the PI and senior staff must be fully or partially covered from the grant. 8

Who can participate in a grant project? (2/2) In a PRGproject, it is obligatory to involve other members of the (senior) research staff: senior staff members have to have a PhD (or equivalent qualification); (senior) staff can work at another Estonian R&D institution; the salary of the senior staff must be fully or partially covered from the grant. The members of the other research staff can be students as well as academic and non-academic staff members without a PhD (or equivalent qualification) whose work is related to the topic of the project. 9

Important changes (1/2) The same person can be listed in only one application (either as the PI or as a member of the senior research staff). A person cannot apply for a grant if his/her application submitted during the previous call did not pass the qualification threshold in at least two evaluation criteria. In addition to being the PI of a grant project which continues in 2021, a person cannot apply for the team grant if he/she is a member of the senior research staff of a grant project which continues in 2021. The members of the other research staff can only be students as well as academic and non-academic staff members without a PhD or equivalent qualification. 10

Important changes (2/2) The applicant of a PJG project needs to have obtained his/her PhD no more than five years prior to 1 January of the year of the call (previously no more than five years prior to the closing date of the call). In justified cases, the PJG project can be implemented in Estonia up to a limit of 50%. The PJG project has to begin on 1 July of the year following the call (i.e., 1 July 2021) at the latest. 11

One-year grant The so-called bridge grant one-year grant for PSG/PRG projects with high scores (in call 2019 and 2020). The aim of the one-year grant is to minimise the ebb and flow of research funding. In call 2020, the recipients of the one-year grant in call 2019 can submit the application again. The applications based on a partially funded project will be prioritised. 12

Fixed grant amounts The fixed grant amounts consist of direct costs and overhead costs. The direct costs consist of staff costs and research costs. The grants are either small or large. Depending on the specifics of the research field, small and large grants are divided into experimental and non- experimental grants. Overhead costs make up 25% of direct costs in case of start- up and team grants, and 5% in case of postdoctoral grants. The applicant of a start-up or team grant has the right to request a smaller grant amount than the fixed grant amount. 13

Fixed postdoctoral grant amounts Postdoctoral grant Direct costs (per year) Overhead costs (per year) Total fixed grant amount (per year) Non- experimental 40,800 2,040 42,840 Experimental 43,200 2,160 45,360 The rates of the relocation allowance are as follows: For projects lasting up to one year 4,000 euros For projects lasting up to two years 5,500 euros For projects lasting up to three years 7,000 euros 14

Fixed start-up grant amounts Direct costs (per year) Overhead costs (per year) Total fixed grant amount (per year) Start-up grant Non- experimental small 48,200 12,050 60,250 Non- experimental large 77,100 19,275 96,375 Experimental small 52,100 13,025 65,125 Experimental large 83,600 20,900 104,500 15

Fixed team grant amounts Direct costs (per year) Overhead costs (per year) Total fixed grant amount (per year) Team grant Non-experimental small 135,000 33,750 168,750 Non-experimental large 190,300 47,575 237,875 Experimental small 146,600 36,650 183,250 Experimental large 205,700 51,425 257,125 16

Tips for applicants (1/3) The call will open on 1 March and close on 31 March at 17:00 p.m. (Estonian time). NB! The application is submitted only after the institution has confirmed it via ETIS. Please follow the deadlines of your institution. Write the application yourself. If using texts from other authors, cite them properly. Update your ETIS CV check your employment data and projects, indicate your research experience clearly (e.g., postdoc), etc. Clearly bring out your contribution to the research articles and projects attached to the application. 17

Tips for applicants (2/3) Calculate a realistic budget and justify the requested grant amount. When approving grant applications, no changes will be made regarding the applied grant amounts. This means that, e.g., an application for a large team grant will be either approved or not approved. Do not apply for a large grant because you believe that the amount will be reduced anyway. Requesting a different amount than the fixed amount is reasonable if it is significantly smaller or larger than the prescribed fixed amount of this grant type. Take the questions on research ethics, data management and dissemination seriously. 18

Tips for applicants (3/3) Use the text boxes provided in the application form to add all relevant comments. Add only the files which are allowed and only as PDFs. If necessary, add the applications for making exceptions. While writing the short summary of the project, please keep in mind that it is meant to be understandable to the wider public as well. Describe the importance for Estonian culture, society, and/or economy. Read the Guidelines for Evaluating Grant Applications very carefully. Put on the reviewer hat before confirming your application. Once the application has been submitted, no changes can be made and no additional (scientific) information can be provided. 19

The evaluation process Six research fields (the OECD Frascati 2015 Manual): Medical and health sciences Humanities and the arts Natural sciences Agricultural and veterinary sciences Social sciences Engineering and technology Indicative timeline: Checking the technical details of applications: April Evaluation: May-September Expert Panel and Evaluation Committee meetings: October Preliminary funding decisions: November Final funding decisions: December 20

More information (1/2) Regulations and guidelines, incl. FAQ, Ethics Guidelines, recommended DMP form, bibliometric background information 21

More information (1/2) General info: Siret Rutiku (siret.rutiku@etag.ee, tel 731 7381) Medical and Health Sciences; Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences: Ade Kallas-Kivi (tel 731 7366, ade.kallas-kivi@etag.ee) Bio and Environmental Sciences: Lairi Bakhoff (tel 731 7363, lairi.bakhoff@etag.ee) Social Sciences; Engineering and Technology: Raili Torga (tel 731 7358, raili.torga@etag.ee) Humanities and the Arts: Hele Priimets (tel 730 0326, hele.priimets@etag.ee) Exact Sciences: Anni Mandel (tel 731 7367, anni.mandel@etag.ee) 22

Thank you for your attention! Any questions?