Marie Curie Reintegration Grants
 The European Commission is calling for proposals for Marie Curie European
Re-integration Grants.
In order to be eligible for this type of grant, the researcher applying must be benefitting at the time of application or have previously benefitted from a training and mobility action under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) or one of the previous framework programmes. The duration of the action must be at least 18 months full-time or equivalent.
Applications will have to be submitted at the earliest one year before the end of the initial Marie Curie fellowship and not later than six months after its completion. Projects must be between 24 and 36 months.
The total indicative budget for this call amounts to EUR 32 million.
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ERAB calls for 'new renaissance' in Europe
The European Research Area Board (ERAB) has released its first annual report, highlighting the need for a new spirit to be instilled in European research by 2030. The overriding message in the publication is the need for the kind of fervour for change that swept through Europe during the Renaissance period in the 15th and 16th centuries. Today, an equivalent revolution in thought, society and science is needed to deal with the undeniable challenges that confront the soon-to-be world population of nine billion people.
'As an advisory body, we have a mandate to sketch a view of Europe's future in research, and to suggest ways to achieve it,' the board members explain. 'We believe it an important contribution to our common future to stimulate thought and action on these two basic questions: Where do we want to go, and how do we get there?'
ERAB has identified six broad policy areas where the 'new Renaissance' can be realised: (1) the creation of a united ERA; (2) solutions to grand challenges; (3) the interaction of science and society; (4) the collaboration of public and private sectors in open innovation; (5) the encouragement of excellence; and (6) the promotion of cohesion. For each topic, the board has also set milestones as indicators with which to measure progress.
The members note that, above all, trust needs to be reinstated between science and society, which they liken to the need for a social contract based on three 'Rs': rigour in decision making, respect for one another and the environment, and taking responsibility for our actions.
In his accompanying foreword to the report, EU Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik explains that no citizen can afford to bury their head in the sand when it comes to engaging with the consequences of the changes taking place around us.
'This holistic thinking and approach epitomised the first 'Renaissance', where scholars and artists moved relatively freely around Europe among the centres of learning and culture,' Commissioner Potocnik writes. 'While this privilege was the domain of a few at that time, it should be our ambition, in the new 'Renaissance', that this should be the expectation of all citizens, especially in the field of research and innovation.'
Chaired by Professor John Wood of Imperial College London in the UK, ERAB comprises 22 eminent members from the fields of science, academia and business who have been asked to provide independent advice to the European Commission on the realisation of the European Research Area (ERA).
The ERA vision was formally launched in 2000 with the aim of unifying research in Europe, so that joint, cross-border programmes could be developed, knowledge could be shared, and researchers could collaborate more effectively.
The report, 'Preparing Europe for a New Renaissance - A Strategic View of the European Research Area', represents the culmination of the board's first year of activity.
European Research Area:
http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.html
(As reviewed in European RTD Insight (October 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/)
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Financial Situation of the Guarantee Funds FP7
 This page contains all the relevant information concerning the FP7 Participants Guarantee Funds:
- Legal basis
- Implementing decisions of the EC
- The Manual of Procedures and
- The User Guide
The financial situation of the funds will be updated after the end of each quarter, unless significant changes to the fund's index require more urgent information.
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Synopsis of Fisheries and Aquaculture research in FP6
A summary of Fisheries and Aquaculture research conducted under FP6 has been released.
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CRIs benefit New Zealand
Annual Reports show diversity of ways in which the eight Crown Research Institutes are at the heart of New Zealand’s science effort, advancing ideas and delivering solutions.
The following Annual Reports can be accessed and downloaded by clicking on the CRI's name.
Scion Annual Report 2009
AgResearch Annual Report 2008-09
Industrial Research Ltd Annual Report 2009
NIWA Annual Report 2009
Plant & Food Research Annual Report 2009
GNS Science Annual Report 2009
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(As reviewed on http://www.sciencenewzealand.org (09/10/2009))
Kiwi wins top European physics prize
A young ex-pat Kiwi has been awarded a top Austrian physics prize for his research into quantum computing at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. Dr Andrew Daley has been named winner of the Boltzmann Prize – a highly-regarded scientific prize given to a physicist under the age of 35.
Awarded every two years by the Austrian Physical Society for an outstanding piece of research in theoretical physics, it’s believed this is the first time a non-European scientist has won the prize since it began in 1957.
Dr Daley, who left Auckland in 2002 after gaining a scholarship to undertake his PhD at the University of Innsbruck, was humbled by the award. The prize is worth €2200 and is considered the highest Austrian award for young physicists.
Dr Daley, who attended East Auckland’s Macleans College before completing his Masters in Physics (first class hons) at the University of Auckland in 2002, has been living in Austria for the past 7 years. He completed his PhD at the University of Innsbruck in 2005 and has been employed as a lecturer and researcher at the university since that time.
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FRENZ survey of European researchers
FRENZ has launched an online survey of New Zealand-based European researchers in order to gauge the metrics of existing Europe-New Zealand research collaboration; to achieve a better understanding of both the number and motivations for researcher mobility; and to identify further opportunities for cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
Titled EURAXESS-Links New Zealand, the initiative will mirror, where appropriate, the efforts of the European Commission’s (EC) existing EURAXESS-Links projects (EURAXESS-Links USA and EURAXESS-Links Japan), which work to build and maintain the EC’s links with European researchers abroad. EURAXESS-Links New Zealand will also establish an online tool to provide web-based information and services for researchers who wish to improve their contacts with other European researchers in New Zealand and/or Europe.
If you are a European researcher conducting research in New Zealand, we would ask you to please participate in this survey by clicking on the link below. It should take approximately 10 minutes to complete. Your input will help us provide you with a better service.
More information on EURAXESS-Links New Zealand
The EURAXESS-Links New Zealand online survey
New Calls
Fuel cells & hydrogen joint technology initiative
- Calls for proposals
The FCH JU published its first call for proposals on 8 October 2008. The call consists of 15 topics based on the 2008 Annual Implementation Plan. The call closed on 15 January 2009.
Click here to consult the call information for the 2008 call.
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Researchers Night
Identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2010-NIGHT
Publication Date: 13 October 2009
Budget: € 3 500 000
Deadline: 13 January 2010 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time)
OJ Reference: OJ C245 of 13 October 2009
Specific Programme(s): People
Theme: PEOPLE
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