What will the split be between European and NZ scientists in the Sandpit? 

What expertise are you looking for - just freshwater researchers?

How are participants selected and how can you be sure the right people are in the room? 

Who will the director and mentors be? 

Is this a FRENZ activity, or a Foundation one? 

How broadly should the second research theme (identify methods for freshwater allocation that take account of the environmental, socio-economic and cultural aspects of water use) be interpreted? For example, broad interpretation could encompass groundwater & surface water, but a more narrow interpretation might consider groundwater to align with the first theme. 

What do FRENZ and the Foundation each expect to achieve by running the Sandpit process? 

Do all Sandpit participants get something out of this? Will all the participants be involved in the final proposal(s) or project team(s)? 

Will the research team involve EU scientists? 

How many researchers from each organisation will participate? 

Will Sandpit participants have to know about the availability of researchers in their organisation to be involved with the resulting funded project? 

How is the research team selected during the Sandpit? How do you know that this is the best team? 

Are there any base-line criteria for a project proposal to be successful, i.e. funded?

Has the EU launched a separate call for European participants for this Sandpit?

How will the research project developed in the Sandpit be funded, and how will the contracting party or parties be determined?

What is the incentive for European scientists to apply for participation in the Sandpit?

How will stakeholder views about water research needs be reflected in the Sandpit process?  Will the director and mentors include stakeholders, or are they selected primarily for facilitation and research expertise?

Are projects arising from the Sandpit expected to link with existing or new FP7 projects, with EU funding? Or is the objective simply to develop projects within the NZD2.26m of Foundation funding?

How many projects will be funded?

How will the research investments be decided?

How does the CV information requested relate to the Foundation CV template? 

Can the deadlines for the Expressions of Interest be extended? 

This is the first time FRENZ has run a Sandpit with a New Zealand funding agency. Will the newly formed New Zealand Ministry of Science and Innovation (MSI) use this system for other investment rounds in the future?