http://www.frenz.org.nz Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 Important news and updates from FRENZ frenz.org.nz173 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/competitive-calls_en.html. Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The EC's CORDIS information site has launched a new website to highlight competitive calls to bring additional partners into existing projects. Such calls - normally limited to large scale Integrated Projects (IP) and Networks of Excellence (NoE) type projects where additional activities would have been envisaged at the proposal submission - allow groups from anywhere in the world to apply to deliver the additional activities, and request budget for these activities according to the normal FP7 funding rules. Such a mechanism was used once, successfully, by a NZ research group, in FP6. At present, two ICT projects are seeking additional partners: COSMIC and HAPTIMAP, however the site will have the calls for ALL parts of FP7, not just ICT. the website can be found at http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/competitive-calls_en.html. frenz.org.nz172 http://www.scce.gr/2010 Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Energy (LFME), University of Patras, Greece, is organizing the 4th International Conference from Scientific Computing to Computational Engineering (4th IC-SCCE) to be held in Athens, Greece, from July 7th to July 10th, 2010. The Chairman of the 4th International Conference from Scientific Computing to Computational Engineering (4th IC-SCCE), Professor Demos T. Tsahalis, also Director of LFME, invites all scientists and engineers from the academic, scientific engineering and industrial sectors to participate in the Conference and to contribute both in the promotion and dissemination of the scientific knowledge. Contribution related to any aspects from Scientific Computing to Computational Engineering and Numerical Analysis is enthusiastically encouraged. The contributions will be published in the Conference Proceedings, which will have an ISBN number. Abstracts of papers proposed for oral or poster presentation at the 4th IC-SCCE should be approximately 200 words in length and must be submitted together with the abstract cover sheet (please refer to Conference’s website). Before acceptance, all contributions will be assessed by experienced reviewers. Deadline for the submission of Abstracts: April 19th, 2010, Notification of Acceptance: May 10th, 2010, Deadline of full paper submission: May 31st, 2010. frenz.org.nz171 http://www.eurosfaire.prd.fr/7pc/manifestations/090310-form-ict.php Tue, 23 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 ARTEMISIA Association and UBIFRANCE are delighted to invite you to the ARTEMIS 2010 Information day and Networking workshop which will be held in Paris on 09 March 2010. This event will introduce the complete overview of the next ARTEMIS JU call for proposal (ARTEMIS Call 2010-1). Moreover, the participants will have an unique opportunity to familiarize themselves on the best way to prepare a good proposal (rules / hints). At the end of the Information Day there will be also a possibility for presentation of project ideas/skills and consultation of projects. This event is free of charge and will be held in Paris at UBIFRANCE (map). The language of the event is English. We would be pleased to welcome you to this event and kindly ask you to register via the following link http://www.eurosfaire.prd.fr/7pc/manifestations/090310-form-ict.php where you will find more information about this event, the programme and the registration form. frenz.org.nz170 http://www.cead.org.nz Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:10:00 +1200 Deadline 16 April 2010. Researchers and practitioners from across the disciplines of law, anthropology, education, health, management, business, psychology, sociology, gender studies and any discipline where contemporary ethnography advances our understanding of the way groups and individuals interact and live their lives are invited to submit papers for the Contemporary Ethnography Across the Disciplines Conference. Submissions should contribute to one of three key themes for the conference and hui - emerging methods, practice and advocacy, social justice and transformation. Submissions should be made via the conference website at www.cead.org.nz. frenz.org.nz169 http://www.stuff.co.nz/dominion-post/national/3323323/NZ-may-put-up-30m-to-join-outer-universe-study Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The race to find aliens and discover the origin of the universe is gathering pace, as a joint Anzac bid to host the world's biggest science project takes shape. New Zealand is likely to spend more than $30 million if a bid with Australia beats that of South Africa to build a $4 billion series of radio telescopes. frenz.org.nz168 http://tvnz.co.nz/business-news/nz-active-in-bioscience-sector-3365933 Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 Over 150 New Zealand bioscience-related companies - more than half those working in the field - expect to bring a new product onto the market within two years, Statistics New Zealand says. The most popular areas of research and development were in food and nutrition and drug discovery for humans, with 117 to develop products including new health supplements and nutriceuticals. frenz.org.nz167 http://www.sislab.no/intercloud/ Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The First International Workshop on Cloud Computing Interoperability and Services (Intercloud 2010) will be held in Caen, France from 28 June to 2 July 2010. The event will focus on techniques, experiences and lessons learned for interoperable services in the area of cloud computing. The aim is to provide a forum which will bring together researchers for sharing and exchanging cloud computing-related research, technologies, experience and best practices for building clouds of interoperability, coordination capabilities and services. frenz.org.nz166 http://www.evimalar.org Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The European Virtual Institute of Malaria Research (EVIMALAR) network has issued a call for letters of interest from European and African scientific teams interested in conducting collaborative research with the EVIMALAR consortium as full members. The research interest of applicants should be centred on studies in the biology and pathology of the malaria parasite. frenz.org.nz165 http://fun2010.dia.unisa.it/call.html Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The Fifth International Conference on Fun with Algorithms (FUN 2010) will take place on Ischia Island, Italy from 2 to 4 June 2010. FUN 2010 is dedicated to the use, design and analysis of algorithms and data structures, focusing on results that provide amusing and witty, but nonetheless original and scientifically profound, contributions to the area. frenz.org.nz164 http://www.propulsion2010.com Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 A four-day forum entitled 'Space propulsion 2010' will be held in San Sebastian, Spain from 3 to 6 May 2010. The forum is also making a special bid to attract students who may wish to pursue a career in the field of space propulsion. frenz.org.nz163 http://www.trust-researchers.eu/ Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 A group of experienced European actors have launched a declaration requesting the significant simplification of the administrative burden and the financial framework of European research funding. This is in line with the recommendations and conclusions of many European expert groups. The key message of this recent and bottom- up declaration is that funding of European research should be based on trust and responsible partnering. Research has to be funded according to the nature of research while at the same time ensuring an appropriate level of accountability. This declaration is for the attention of the European Council of Ministers and the Parliament. frenz.org.nz162 http://www.haptimap.org/competitive-call.html Fri, 19 Feb 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The HAPTIMAP ('Haptic, audio and visual interfaces for maps and location-based services') project has issued a call for a new commercial partner. The project receives financial support from the European Commission in the Seventh Framework Programme, under the Cooperation Programme ICT - Information and Communication Technologies. The subject of this call is to find an additional commercial partner that can develop a map or location-based service that uses haptic, audio and/or visual information for user interaction. This service will illustrate the use of the HAPTIMAP toolkit and important HAPTIMAP concepts. An acceptable alternative would be for the new partner to use HAPTIMAP concepts and the toolkit to enhance a pre-existing service. To ensure good communication between the toolkit developers and the location-based service developers, the project expects a limited part of the new partner's effort to be used for participating in the toolkit development. The developed location-based service is expected to be an important channel for commercial exploitation in the project. The new partner will also be expected to support (or participate) in the planned training and demonstration of the developed service. frenz.org.nz161 www.emrponline.eu Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:30:00 +1200 EURAMET e.V. announces the launch of the 2010 call for the following topic areas within the European Metrology Research Programme, jointly funded by the European Commission and the participating countries: Metrology for Industry, Metrology for Environment. The call encompasses a two-stage process for joint research projects and includes opportunities for researcher grants: Stage 1 of the call is for potential research topics and is open to any interested party, and opens on 12 February 2010: Deadline 23:59 CET, 28 March 2010, Stage 2 of the call is for joint research projects and associated researcher grants and is subject to eligibility criteria, and opens on 21 June 2010: Deadline 23:59 CET, 11 October 2010. Details are available on the dedicated website www.emrponline.eu. Contact: EMRP Programme Manager, emrpA169@npl.co.uk frenz.org.nz160 www.ictspring.com Mon, 15 Feb 2010 12:30:00 +1200 We are pleased to invite you for the first edition of ICT Spring which will take place in Luxembourg, on March 15th and 16th, 2010. Two days of conferences, workshops, business speed-dating sessions and high-level meetings to explain the latest technological evolutions, essential for the development of international players. 1,000 European Business and Technical decision Makers are expected during ICT Spring 2010. The majority will be CEOs and CIOs of banks and big companies, in industry and services areas, looking for new ideas, new business models and disruptive innovations in ICT field. Elitist, international, business-oriented and centered around the strongest sectors, ICT Spring invites you to: Be at the very heart of business trends ICT Spring is as much business as technology oriented and explains the environments in which excelling could make all the difference: eCommerce, Intellectual Property, telecoms, Financial IT, resilience…, Establish essential and international contacts, If you want to be seen, form alliances, meet prescriptors and potential European clients, be at the centre of the community and increase your visibility on the market, Luxembourg will be a key step in your development in 2010. Discover best European practices, revealed by esteemed users Business and Technical Decision Makers are taking the floor, so the themed workshops and conferences unveil European best practices. Luxinnovation, the Luxembourg National Agency of Innovation and Research has the pleasure to send you the attached invitation with personal code for a free of charge registration. Don’t hesitate to forward this email to relevant ICT business stakeholders in your country. Looking forward to meeting you in Luxembourg. frenz.org.nz159 http://www.emrponline.eu Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:56:00 +1200 EURAMET e.V. is going to launch a call within the EMRP (European Metrology Research Programme) addressing the topic areas 'Metrology for Industry' and 'Metrology for Environment'. The EMRP 2010 call for the following topic areas within the European Metrology Research Programme are jointly funded by the European Commission and the participating countries. The call encompasses a two-stage process for joint research projects and includes opportunities for researcher grants. Stage 1 of the call is for potential research topics and is open to any interested party, and opens on 12 February 2010: Deadline 23:59 CET, 28 March 2010. Stage 2 of the call is for joint research projects and associated researcher grants and is subject to eligibility criteria, and opens on 21 June 2010: Deadline 23:59 CET, 11 October 2010. Details are available on the dedicated website www.emrponline.eu. Contact: EMRP Programme Manager, emrpA169@npl.co.uk frenz.org.nz158 http://www.echord.info/wikis/home-wiki/home Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +1200 ECHORD (European Clearing House for Open Robotics Development) is a new EU-funded project aiming to strengthen the cooperation between scientific research and industry in robotics. It is currently planning an Info Day for 23rd February in Toulouse at LAAS. It will include talks by several companies active in the field of robotics (e.g. Aldebaran, Kineo CAM) and presentations by ECHORD on the second Call for Experiment Proposals. There will also be a Q and A session during which proposers can ask questions related to writing and submitting proposals. frenz.org.nz156 http://www.nutrigenomics.org.nz Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +1200 21 February 2010 to 26 February 2010. Venue: Lecture Theatre 732-201, Tamaki Campus, The University of Auckland. The 4th Asia Pacific Nutrigenomics Conference, from Sunday 21 to Wednesday 24 February, will be followed by workshops on Thursday 25 and Friday 26 February. The conference will address issues relevant to a wide range of interest groups including scientists, nutritionists, dieticians, gastroenterologists, nurses, food scientists, members of the food Industry from managers to technologists, food regulators. frenz.org.nz155 http://www.sciencenewzealand.org/corporate/science_a_priority_says_pm Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +1200 Science New Zealand welcomes Prime Minister’s commitments on science and innovation Science New Zealand welcomes the remarks on science and innovation in the Prime Minister’s Opening Address to Parliament today. frenz.org.nz154 http://mescal.imag.fr/membres/pcgrid2010/index.html Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +1200 The Fourth Workshop on Desktop Grids and Volunteer Computing Systems (PCGrid 2010) will be held on 17-20 May 2010 in Melbourne, Australia. Desktop grids and volunteer computing systems utilise free resources available in intranet and Internet environments to support large-scale computation and storage. The event will provide a forum for discussing recent advances and identifying open issues for the development of scalable, fault-tolerant and secure desktop grid systems. This year's workshop will have special emphasis on the interaction of clouds and desktop grids. frenz.org.nz153 http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +1200 The EU is supporting a new investigation into the performance of health care systems across its Member States. The EUR 3.99 million study will first be carried out in 7 EU countries, with more expected to follow during the project's 4-year lifespan. The EUROHOPE ('European health care outcomes, performance and efficiency') project received EUR 3 million in funding under the Health Theme of the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and is being coordinated by the Centre for Health and Social Economics at Finland's National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). frenz.org.nz152 http://www.future-internet.eu/events/eventview/article/the-future-internet-assembly-fia-workshop.html Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +1200 In the last few weeks, Directorate F and Directorate D made significant progress in the implementation of the Communication "A public-private partnership on the Future Internet", adopted last October. At the heart of the PPP are the technological developments of Internet and their concrete use to support smart infrastructures. The PPP will be implemented as a specific research Objective within the next ICT Work Programme (2011-12). Intensive consultations with industrial representatives, research centres, and users are held in February and March. On 12 March 2010, in Nice, a constituency building day will be open for all interested participants to get updated information on the PPP. Finally, the PPP will be formally announced during the Future Internet Assembly in Valencia, 14 April 2010. The launch of the first call for proposals is scheduled for the summer of 2010. frenz.org.nz151 http://www.efibforum.com Wed, 10 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +1200 EuropaBio and IntertechPira are pleased to announce that preparations are under way for another edition of your favourite event, European Forum for Industrial Biotechnology 2010. In 2010, EFIB will move from Portugal to the beautiful historic city of Edinburgh. The UK is highly supportive of industrial biotechnology; therefore our meeting in Scotland will provide an ideal place to meet your fellow colleagues to discuss key issues affecting the industry. Call for papers: for more information or to submit an abstract, please contact Ciaran Little on +44 (0)1372 802063 or at ciaran.little@pira-international.com frenz.org.nz150 http://spie.org/photonics-europe.xml Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +1200 Event date:2010-04-12. A five-day conference on photonics, optics, lasers and micro/nanotechnologies will be held in Brussels, Belgium from 12 to 16 April 2010. Photonics Europe will host nineteen conferences, special forums; events; courses and workshops and exhibitions. The conferences include keynote presentations from international experts and academics. Plenary, technical; networking, professional, and student events are also scheduled. frenz.org.nz149 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm Tue, 2 Feb 2010 12:00:00 +1200 Publication Date: 29 January 2010, Budget: € 18 810 000, Deadline: 27 April 2010 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time), OJ Reference: The SP1-JTI-CS-2010-01 call for proposals is not published in the OJ, Specific Programme(s): Cooperation, Theme: Joint Technology Initiatives (Annex IV-SP1). frenz.org.nz148 https://www.epss-fp7.org/epss/welcome.jsp Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPSS) is now open for ICT Call 6: FP7-ICT-2009-6 , closing date 13 April 2010. frenz.org.nz147 https://www.epss-fp7.org/epss/welcome.jsp Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPSS) is now open for Marie Curie Co-funding of Regional, National and International Programmes (COFUND): FP7-PEOPLE-2010-COFUND , closing date 18 February 2010. frenz.org.nz146 https://www.epss-fp7.org/epss/welcome.jsp Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPSS) is now open for Clean Sky JTI 2009-02 Call:SP1-JTI-CS-2009-02 , closing date 23 February 2010. frenz.org.nz146 https://www.epss-fp7.org/epss/welcome.jsp Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPSS) is now open for Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES): FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IRSES Call, closing date 25 March 2010. frenz.org.nz145 http://www.frenz.org.nz/framework_open_calls.html Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 Call information for Clean Sky JTI 2009-02 has been updated. frenz.org.nz144 http://www.frenz.org.nz/framework_open_calls.html Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 Call information for the Innovative Medicines Initiative Joint Undertaking IMI-JU-2009 has been updated. frenz.org.nz143 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100121092005.htm Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:30:00 +1200 The southern hemisphere supercontinent known as Gondwana formed around 180-200 million years ago (mya) during the breakup of Pangaea and then began to split apart about 167 mya. As scientists reconstruct the history of these land masses and life during this period, many questions arise. For example, is the current flora of New Zealand derived from plants that grew on Gondwana before its breakup, or derived from plants that more recently dispersed to New Zealand? frenz.org.nz142 http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:30:00 +1200 CORDIS would like to inform users that all CORDIS communications channels will be frozen for technical reasons between 17h00 CET on Friday 22 January 2010 and 08h00 CET on Tuesday 26 January 2010. During this time, all information input interfaces (e.g. registration, Forums, Partners Service, Wire, e-mail notifications and on-line forms) will be temporarily blocked. News and events on CORDIS that would be normally published on Monday 25 January will be suspended, and normal operations will resume on Tuesday 26 January. Normal navigation in CORDIS content will be unaffected. The management of CORDIS apologises for any inconvenience that this may cause. frenz.org.nz141 http://www.congrex.nl/10c06/ Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:30:00 +1200 A three-day workshop on cold regions and hydrology will be held in Innsbruck, Austria on 28-30 April 2010. This scientific symposium will review and assess the latest developments in observation and modelling of the water cycle and runoff in areas exposed to snow and glaciers. The event will also aim to provide guidance in future data assimilation techniques, modelling and observation systems. frenz.org.nz140 http://www.oceanologyinternational.com/page.cfm/Link=1/t=m/goSection=1 Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:30:00 +1200 Oceanology International 2010 is being held in London, UK on 9-11 March 2010 The event will highlight the latest developments and technologies related to marine science and ocean technology. Alongside several networking events, the conference will host over 6,600 participants from 89 different countries. frenz.org.nz138 http://www.science.auckland.ac.nz Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The global population is expected to increase by another 3 billion by the middle of the 21st century. The amount of arable land had changed relatively little over the past half century and is not likely to increase much in the future. Water scarcity is already a critical concern in parts of the world and climate change is already impacting agriculture. Dr Nina Federoff says that gains can be made in the short run by bringing up-to-date agronomic and food science technology and know-how to more people, but that future gains will require increasing productivity on land already farmed, while decreasing the environmental impact of agriculture. She argues that this will require progress in the acceptance of molecular genetic modification of plants and may well require the development of new types of farming systems, particularly in arid regions. Dr Fedoroff is Evan Pugh Professor of Biology and Willaman Professor of Life Science at Pennsylvania State University. Her research focuses on the molecular biology of plant genes, particularly the response of plants to stressful environments. In 2007, Dr Fedoroff was appointed as Science and Technology Adviser to then US Secretary of State, Condoleeza Rice, a position she still holds for the current Secretary, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Dr Fedoroff is in New Zealand for the New Zealand-US Joint Commission Meeting, hosted by the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. Her public lecture in Auckland is co-hosted by Faculty of Science and Plant and Food Research. 27 January 2010, 3pm - 4pm, Venue: University of Auckland Conference Centre, 22 Symonds St, Host: Co-hosted by the Faculty of Science and Plant and Food Research, Cost: Free. frenz.org.nz137 http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/docs/inspiring_researchers_en.pdf Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 Marie Curie Actions: Inspiring Researchers frenz.org.nz136 http://www.bps.org.uk/ac2010/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The British Psychological Society Annual Conference 2010 is taking place in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom from 14 to 16 April 2010. frenz.org.nz135 http://www.e2c-2010.org/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 The European Energy Conference will be held in Barcelona, Spain from 20 to 23 April 2010. The European Energy Conference aims to promote cooperation and thereby stimulate communication and synergy in the fields of physics, chemistry and material sciences, to support technology and engineering in responding to the urgent requirement of secure, ecologically acceptable and sustainable energy systems. frenz.org.nz134 http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100117150835.htm Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 ScienceDaily (Jan. 18, 2010) — The remarkable feat of tying light in knots has been achieved by a team of physicists working at the universities of Bristol, Glasgow and Southampton, UK, reports a paper in Nature Physics this week. frenz.org.nz133 http://cordis.europa.eu/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 EU-funded researchers at the University of Leicester in the UK are exploring alternatives to the use of harmful toxic acids inherent in many manufacturing processes. One of the aims of their research is to improve the working conditions of those exposed to carcinogenic toxic acids and electrolytes that are used in some processes today, such as those relating to commercial metal finishing and energy storage. frenz.org.nz132 http://cordis.europa.eu/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 Policymakers seeking to cut greenhouse gas emissions must focus on what needs to be achieved by 2050 if we are to keep options viable for all possible climate change scenarios, says new research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). frenz.org.nz131 http://cordis.europa.eu/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 frenz.org.nz130 http://ec.europa.eu/research/evaluations/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 This archive contains the evaluation and monitoring reports of successive Framework Programmes, as well as the individual evaluation studies on thematic and other research activities within these Framework Programmes which were carried out by the Directorate-General for Research at the European Commission. frenz.org.nz129 http://ec.europa.eu/research/fch/ Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 Information on projects funded under the Call for Proposals 2008 now online. frenz.org.nz128 http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index.cfm Fri, 22 Jan 2010 11:00:00 +1200 Researchers partially supported by the European Union have come up with a framework for the development of an integrated monitoring and evaluation system which aids in the effort to combat neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Published online in The Lancet, the research team compared disease-specific protocols for mapping, monitoring and surveillance; they also examined the integration of mitigation efforts and detailed innovative solutions being proposed, and offered a conceptual framework. frenz.org.nz127 http://www.sciencemediacentre.co.nz/2010/01/06/new-zealand-australia-experienced-warmest-decade-on-record/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 New Zealand and Australia experienced their warmest periods in the decade just closed since records began according to data released by NIWA and Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology. frenz.org.nz126 http://www.oecd.org/sti/scoreboard Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 A new report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) draws on information on patents, research papers, researcher mobility and technology transfer to highlight the increasingly international nature of research. The number of foreign students in OECD countries has tripled since 1980, and the mobility of doctoral students is also on the rise, with foreigners now making up over 40% of the doctoral population in New Zealand, Switzerland and the UK. frenz.org.nz125 http://www.eu2010.es/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 Spain has pledged to drive forward the realisation of the European Research Area (ERA) during its six-month Presidency of the Council of the EU, which started on 1 January. Innovation and equality are at the heart of the Spanish Presidency programme, explains Science and Innovation Minister Cristina Garmendia on the Spanish Council Presidency pages on CORDIS. Promoting the construction of the ERA is key to the success of this programme, she underlines. frenz.org.nz122 http://www.hmsportugal.org/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 A workshop on ribonucleic acid (RNA) therapeutics will be held in Lisbon, Portugal on 4 to 5 March 2010. The workshop is intended for a wide audience of biomedical scientists from academia as well as industry. Students and post-docs enrolled in MD/PhD or translational research programs are particularly welcome. frenz.org.nz123 http://ec.europa.eu/research/transport/news/article_9912_en.html Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative held an 'Information Day' in Brussels on 15 December 2009, aimed at helping researchers respond to the second Clean Sky call for proposals. Key speakers outlined details of research topics up for new funding and explained how to apply. frenz.org.nz124 http://ec.europa.eu/research/infocentre/article_en.cfm Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The European Commission's Joint Research Centre (JRC) recently issued a report outlining how the EU would lose between EUR 20 billion and EUR 65 billion if we were to experience the climate projected for the 2080s today, with a temperature rise of between 2.5° Celsius to 5.4° Celsius. frenz.org.nz121 http://www.seacase.org/workshop.html Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The EU-funded SEACASE ('Sustainable extensive and semi-intensive coastal aquaculture in Southern Europe') project is organising its final workshop on 20 and 21 January 2010 in Tavira, Portugal. Centred on issues related to sustainable coastal aquaculture in Southern Europe, a combination of presentation and poster sessions will address the following topics: semi-extensive nurseries; extensive systems in ponds and lagoons; semi-intensive systems; an integrated system; technical improvement; product quality and certification; the current status of extensive and semi-intensive aquaculture and socio-economic assessment. frenz.org.nz120 http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 Transnational mobility opens up new horizons for researchers. The attractiveness of Europe for the best researchers and their career development has become a major concern for European competitiveness. The €140 million, injected by the European Commission during 2008 and 2009 as part of a new action will generate about 3.400 fellowships for researchers. By 2013, the end of the Seventh RTD Framework Programme, it is expected that 14.000 researchers will have benefitted from this action. frenz.org.nz119 http://ec.europa.eu/research/index.cfm Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 Since 2004, the European Union has funded over 130 climate-related and climate-focused projects to the tune of more than €540 million. In the 7th Framework Programme nearly €1.9 billion is earmarked for research on the environment for the period from 2007 to 2013 alone. Each year, on average about €886 million is devoted exclusively to low carbon energy research including the international fusion project ITER. Other research areas such as transport and agricultural research are also involved. frenz.org.nz118 http://www.esf.org/activities/esf-conferences/details/2010/confdetail323.html Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The European Science Foundation (ESF) and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) will hold a symposium on 'B cells and protection: back to basics' from 18 to 23 April 2010 in Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain. Microbes populated the earth long before any eukaryotic cell. Therefore, in order to survive, mono and multi-cellular organisms had to develop mechanisms of adaptation, cohabitation and defence against bacteria, fungi and viruses. One of these mechanisms is mediated by immunoglobulins in the serum and at mucosal surfaces. frenz.org.nz117 http://www.isunet.edu/index.php Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The next International Space University (ISU) symposium will take place from 16 to 18 February 2010 in Strasbourg, France. Under the title 'The public face of space', the event will address space education and outreach in a very broad way. 'Education' should be seen here as developing the full human potential of the broader population, not just attracting young people into studying mathematics and science for the nation's technical and economic benefit. frenz.org.nz116 http://www.nkth.gov.hu/english/cornet/cornet-project-partnering Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The National Office for Research and Technology of Hungary is organising a partnering event entitled 'Creating proposals for transnational research projects - establishing partnerships' on 14 January 2010 in Gyor, Hungary The event is a CORNET ('ERA-Net collective research - technological innovation for SMEs') proposal building partnering event, targeting collective research projects. Participants (associations, professional federations, clusters and trade organisations, research performing organisations and small and medium-sized enterprises) will have the opportunity to present project ideas and to discuss them with potential partners. frenz.org.nz115 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The simplification of research programmes in Europe was the focal point for the research ministers of the 27 European Member States at the 2982nd Competitiveness Council meeting on 3 December in Brussels. They also discussed the goals to be set out in the post-2010 Lisbon Strategy, and interaction between research and research-based innovation. 'Issues relating to research and innovation are fundamental for Europe's competitiveness,' said Swedish Minister for Higher Education and Research, Tobias Krantz, who chaired the meeting together with the Swedish Minister for Consumer Policy, Nyamko Sabuni. 'Today's research is tomorrow's prosperity.' frenz.org.nz114 http://www-pub.iaea.org/mtcd/meetings/Announcements.asp?ConfID=38090 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is organising an international conference on human resource development for introducing and expanding nuclear power programmes from 14 to 18 March 2010 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The objective of the conference is to provide participants with practical tools that can be used at organisational, national, and international levels to develop and maintain the human resources needed to support the safe and sustainable introduction and expansion of nuclear power programmes. frenz.org.nz113 http://www.apre.it/Eventi/giornata.asp?id=922 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The new EU-funded project CHARISMA ('Cultural heritage advanced research infrastructures: synergy for a multidisciplinary approach to conservation/restoration') will hold a launch event on 10 and 11 December 2009 in Paris, France. The event programme includes presentations and group sessions on the following topics: common research infrastructures under the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7); the involvement of European museums in research projects; lessons and best practices from EU-funded cultural heritage research projects; management and governance issues; and methodological and research issues. The CHARISMA project offers grants for access to a series of high-performance infrastructures for conducting advanced research, independently of the location of the user and of the resources. frenz.org.nz112 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 European Union industry ministers at the 2,982nd meeting of the Competitiveness Council on 4 December unanimously adopted new conclusions on the main elements of the European Union Patent and a single European Patent Court. According to both Council and European Commission representatives, the agreement represents 'a political breakthrough' in the issue of a common EU patent. The conclusions emphasise that 'an enhanced patent system is a vital element of the Internal Market and that it should be based on two pillars', namely an EU patent and 'an integrated specialised and unified jurisdiction for patent-related disputes, thus improving the enforcement of patents and enhancing legal certainty'. frenz.org.nz111 http://www.nanocharm.org/index.php Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The EU-funded NANOCHARM ('Multifunctional nanomaterials characterisation exploiting ellipsometry and polarimetry') project is organising its third winter school on ellipsometry from 27 February to 5 March 2010 in Bad Hofgastein, Austria. Under the title 'Fundamentals and applications in nanoscience and nanotechnology', the winter school will offer basic and advanced lectures with a special focus on plasmons and negative refraction structures. frenz.org.nz1010 http://www.vinnova.se/en/Press/Calendar/Upcoming-calendar-events/100120-Global-Links/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 The Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems (Vinnova) and the COMPERA ('ERA-NET on national and regional programmes and initiatives dedicated to the creation and support of competence research centres') network will hold a conference on 20 January 2010 in Stockholm, Sweden. When adapting to global competitiveness, Europe faces both challenges and opportunities. The event will focus on the opportunities and present strategies to meet the challenges. Experiences gained from the internationalisation of research clusters worldwide will also be presented. frenz.org.nz109 http://www.sciencebusiness.net/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 Research and industry experts have called on the European Commission and the European Parliament to initiate a radical change to research and innovation policy in Europe. In a joint statement presented on 7 December on the premises of the European Parliament, they emphasised the need not only for improvements, but also for better long-term planning so that the EU can maintain a competitive edge. Choosing the transition to a new Commission and the coming into force of the Lisbon Treaty as an opportunity to voice their concerns, the experts made a set of recommendations that - from their point of view - would help the EU weather current and future challenges. frenz.org.nz108 http://www.enterprise-europe-network.ec.europa.eu/public/bemt/home.cfm?EventID=2203 Wed, 16 Dec 2009 12:30:00 +1200 An innovation workshop on novel food packaging will be held on 4 March 2010 in Brno, Czech Republic. The innovation workshop will consist of two sessions: lectures on novel technologies and consumer acceptance in the morning and a brokerage event in the afternoon. frenz.org.nz107 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.FP7CallsPage Tue, 15 Dec 2009 13:30:00 +1200 Identifier: IMI-JU-2009, Specific programme: Cooperation, Theme(s): Joint Technology Initiatives (Annex IV-SP1), Type: Call for Proposal, Publication date: 2009-11-27, Deadline: 2010-02-08 17:00:00 (Brussels local time), Budget: 76,800,000 €. frenz.org.nz106 http://www.ltnetwork.org/pooled/articles/BF_EVENTART/view.asp?Q=BF_EVENTART_315762 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 Event date:2010-01-20. A conference on 'The hydrogen economy: generation, storage and infrastructure' will take place in London, UK on 20 January 2010. The United Kingdom has a leading role in the race to develop low-carbon technologies. The emergence of the hydrogen economy has been championed as future-proofing society against the current energy deficit and climate change. Many obstacles still remain, though, and both academia and industry now must work together to overcome them. The aim of this event is to provide a forum for industry and academia to interact and explore potential business opportunities, and to learn about the latest innovations within hydrogen technologies including hydrogen generation, materials science for storage and building future low-carbon infrastructures. frenz.org.nz105 http://www.ltnetwork.org/pooled/articles/BF_EVENTART/view.asp?Q=BF_EVENTART_315762 Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 Event date:2010-01-20. A conference on 'The hydrogen economy: generation, storage and infrastructure' will take place in London, UK on 20 January 2010. The United Kingdom has a leading role in the race to develop low-carbon technologies. The emergence of the hydrogen economy has been championed as future-proofing society against the current energy deficit and climate change. Many obstacles still remain, though, and both academia and industry now must work together to overcome them. The aim of this event is to provide a forum for industry and academia to interact and explore potential business opportunities, and to learn about the latest innovations within hydrogen technologies including hydrogen generation, materials science for storage and building future low-carbon infrastructures. frenz.org.nz104 http://www.tudelft.nl/ Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 The European Research Council (ERC) has awarded a prestigious EUR 2.5 million Advanced Grant to the Institute of Nanoscience at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands (TU Delft) for its work in bio-nano research. The ERC, funded under the 'Ideas' Theme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), is the first EU funding body set up to support challenging new research and advance excellence in creative scientific thinking. It also seeks to encourage scientists to identify new opportunities and challenges rather than having their research led by governments and policy makers. Nanotechnology is one of these frontier areas of research, and the recipient of the ERC Advanced Grant, Professor Cees Dekker from the Institute of Nanoscience at TU Delft, said, 'We want to use the power of nanofabrication [...] to find out more about big biological questions such as the precise working of processes within cells.' In the first part of his research project, Professor Dekker and his team will study the evolution and adaptation of bacteria. 'Nanofabrication techniques allow us to build precisely defined landscapes on a chip, in order to study the adaptation and evolution of bacteria,' he explained. frenz.org.nz103 http://web.micinn.es/wire/ Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 Event date:2010-03-17 The European Week of Innovative Regions in Europe (WIRE 2010) will take place from 15 to 17 March 2010 in Granada, Spain. Under the aegis of the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union in the first half of 2010, the Spanish government will take the opportunity to focus the attention of political leaders and social stakeholders on the competitiveness of European regions. In particular, the event will concentrate on the use of the resources devoted to research and development (R and D), specially the Structural Funds (SF) and their potential synergy with the EU's Framework Programmes (FPs) and the Innovation and Competitiveness Framework Programme (CIP). The European Week of Innovative Regions will encompass three different events: a conference on the efficient and effective use of the budget earmarked in the Structural Funds for research and technology development (RTD) and innovation, including their synergies with the FPs and the CIP; a conference on research potential, which focuses on the assessment of the results and identification of best practices of the Research Potential (REGPOT) calls within the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) 'Capacities' Programme, aimed at the increase of the research capabilities of the best research centres of the European regions; a 'Regions of Knowledge' conference, which deals with the assessment of the results and the identification of best practices of the Regions of Knowledge (REGIONS) calls within the FP7 'Capacities' Programme. frenz.org.nz102 http://www.cse.psu.edu/popl/10/ Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 Event date:2010-01-20 The annual Symposium on Principles of Programming Languages (POPL 2010) will be held in Madrid, Spain from 20 to 22 January 2010. Programming languages are tools used to create software programmes which can process information and control the physical and logical behaviour of machines. Programming languages support countless everyday processes in not only computers but also mobile telephones, home appliances, cars and elsewhere. The symposium will be a forum for the discussion of all aspects of programming languages and systems, with an emphasis on how principles underpin practice. frenz.org.nz101 http://www.cleansky.eu/ Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 The Clean Sky Joint Undertaking (JU) is now 'flying solo'. On 19 November, the European Commission granted the 'greening aeronautics' initiative administrative and operational autonomy, so that it can implement its own budget and execute its own work plan from now on. 'Today, the Clean Sky Joint Technology Initiative [JTI] leaves the nest,' said European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik. 'As one of the parents, the Commission is proud to let it fly solo. Clean Sky is one of the five public-private partnerships for research we hatched two years ago in areas of promising technologies. I am confident Clean Sky will help Europe to keep EU research on clean technologies in the lead and to move towards a competitive 'green' economy. The JTIs will set the example for many more public-private partnerships at European level.' frenz.org.nz99 http://www.embl.de/training/courses_conferences/course/2010/EMP10-01/index.html Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 Event date:2010-01-22. The European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) is organising a course entitled 'Exploring modular protein architecture' from 19 to 22 January 2010 in Heidelberg, Germany. Over the last few years, the scientific view of Eukaryotic regulatory proteins has fundamentally changed. The course will introduce new biological concepts and provide extensive hands-on training on the relevant bioinformatic tools with appropriate example proteins. The capabilities, as well as the limitations, of the software currently available will be examined. frenz.org.nz100 http://www.congrex.nl/10m04/ Wed, 09 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 Event date:2010-02-04. The European Space Agency and European Space and Technology Centre (ESTEC) will hold the 'Mechanisms' final presentation days 2010' conference on 4 and 5 February 2010 in Noordwijk, the Netherlands. The main purpose of the event is to give to European entities (industries/companies/institutions/universities) the opportunity to present and discuss their latest space mechanisms and tribology technology developments undertaken with ESA Technology Programmes and projects funding. The conference is also intended to highlight new technology performances and potential applications, and promoting European entity competence in the field of space mechanisms and tribology. frenz.org.nz98 http://www.frenz.org.nz/events.asp Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 The first event of the recently launched FRENZ training programme took place last week, with five participants undertaking the FP7 for Research Managers course. Feedback for this interactive course, that seeks to apply the knowledge gained in one day to a mock case study proposal from initial conception to budget, has been very positive and it is hoped that many others will travel to Rotorua in the coming months to learn more about FP7 engagement. Courses available are: FRENZ1: FP7 for research managers; FRENZ2: FP7 administrative issues; FRENZ3: A researchers guide to FP7; FRENZ4: Proposal writing for IRSES; FRENZ5: Marie Curie Incoming and Outgoing International Fellowships; FRENZ6: The 2011 Call for proposals. All events, except FRENZ1, take place between 10am and 4pm and are normally held on the last Thursday of the month. Participation is free. To register for any of these events, see the FRENZ Training page. To suggest other training, please contact FRENZ directly. frenz.org.nz97 http://eur-lex.europa.eu Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 Each year, the EC produces an annual report providing an overview of the EU’s research and technological development activities. The 2008 version of the report includes information on policy developments relating to the European Research Area (ERA), the implementation of Framework Programmes and trends in public and private research investment. The document reports that in 2008, the second year of FP7, over 14,000 proposals were received in response to 55 calls for proposals, of which approximately 2,500 were retained for funding. The year also saw the establishment of two new executive agencies: one to manage the activities of the European Research Council and the other to manage the research proposal evaluation and project management activities on behalf of the EC Directorates General for Research, Enterprise, Information Society and Media and Energy and Transport. Policy activity included the launch of the second cycle of the revised Lisbon strategy in the spring, which reaffirmed research and knowledge as one of four key priorities. As part of the Ljubljana process, five ERA initiatives were also launched in 2008: these focus the on mobility of researchers; the exploitation of research; joint programming; a new legal framework for research infrastructures; and a new strategic framework for international science and technology co-operation. The report ends with an analysis of trends in research policies, finding that increasing the quality and efficiency of the public research base continues to be a key aspect of R and D policy reform in many Member States. frenz.org.nz96 http://europa.eu/rapid/ Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 E President, José Manuel Barroso, has announced the portfolio allocations for his proposed new College of Commissioners, who will serve until 31 October 2014. The College includes a new Commissioner for Research, Innovation and Science, Maire Geoghegan-Quinn of Ireland, currently serving on the European Court of Auditors. The former Research Commissioner, Janez Potoçnik of Slovenia, moves to take responsibility for the Environment portfolio. New portfolios – with potential FP7 interest - within the EC include: ‘Climate Action’, which will be the responsibility of Connie Hedegaard of Denmark; ‘Justice, Fundamental Rights and Citizenship’, which will be headed by Viviane Reding of Luxembourg, currently Commissioner for Information Society and Media. However, the most significant change with respect to FP7 is the shift of the Marie Curie Programme Units from Research to the Education and Culture portfolio. The proposed new College must win approval from the European Parliament (vote of consent on 26 January 2010), before the new EC can be appointed, by the European Council. frenz.org.nz95 http://www.consilium.europa.eu/App/NewsRoom/related.aspx Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 The European Council has appointed its first ever President and High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. The position of President has gone to Herman Van Rompuy who is the current Prime Minister of Belgium. Baroness Ashton, who is currently the UK’s EU Commissioner, responsible for Trade, will take on the role of ‘Foreign Minister’. Provision for the two new posts can be found in the recently ratified Lisbon Treaty, which comes into force on 1 December 2009. The President of the Council will have responsibility for preparing and chairing the European Council's meetings. This role will replace many of the responsibilities currently undertaken by the EU Member State holding the rotating Presidency of the EU. Mr Van Rompuy has a mandate for two and a half years, renewable once. The High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy will be responsible for chairing the meetings of the Foreign Affairs Council. This post also combines the role of Vice-President of the European Commission. The European Council has produced factsheets on both posts. frenz.org.nz94 http://www.yellowwindow.be/genderinresearch/ Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 During a recent visit to Brussels, Carole Glynn attended training on the issue of Gender in Research. The workshop considered both the equal opportunities aspect of carrying out a research activity and also the potential gender sensitive issues within research activities themselves. The workshop was useful in that the EC demands that gender issues be addressed within FP7 projects. However, experience has shown that references to gender in proposals frequently consider only opportunities to increase the profile of women in research and even then in fairly vague terms. Therefore, the Gender Toolkit provided during the workshop provides an excellent resource to understand how to better integrate gender issues into research activities, with case studies in several areas to help researchers to understand that this is not just an issue of political correctness: it could be the way to differentiate your project from the rest. frenz.org.nz93 http://www.imi.europa.eu Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 During a recent meeting of the Member and Associated State representatives on the FP7 Cooperation “Health” committee, FRENZ has learned that savings in the negotiation of the 2009 call for proposals has meant that two additional projects are to be funded. These projects, from area 2.4 TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH IN OTHER MAJOR DISEASES, (acronyms EFACT and NIMBL) would have been previously indicated as ‘reserve’ projects. At this moment, no further information on these projects is available. Two stage: 460 proposals were received in response to the first stage of the Health-2010-two-stage call, which closed 29 October 2009. The area of diagnostics was most heavily oversubscribed. The first-stage evaluation is expected to be complete by 8 December, with letters inviting successful applicants to submit full proposals sent by email by 11 December. It is expected that under 100 proposals will proceed to the second stage, with the deadline for full submissions scheduled for 11 February 2010. One stage: 244 proposals were received in response to the Health-2010-single-stage call, which closed 19 November. The EC commented that this is fewer proposals than expected, and could, in part, be due to the large number of topics using either large funding schemes (IPs and NoEs) or very small ones (CSA); both of which tend to generate fewer proposals. Consequently, the overall success rate is likely to be around 30%: slightly higher than normal. Influenza call: 13 proposals were received in response to the targeted call on Influenza. The evaluation process should be complete by 11 December 2009, with coordinators receiving feedback before the end of January 2010. It is expected that 2 projects will be funded from the indicative budget. Launch of 2nd IMI call: The EC highlighted that the second call for the Innovative Medicines Initiative was launched on 27 November 2009. This activity is a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the pharmaceutical industry and the European Commission. The IMI's overall goal is to make Europe again the world leader in pharmaceutical research for the benefit of the economy and society, by removing research bottlenecks in the current drug development process. Whilst the activities of the IMI fall under the FP7 umbrella, some of their rules for participation are slightly different. Expressions of interest, for this second call, should be submitted between 8 January and 8 February 2010. frenz.org.nz92 http://www.frenz.org.nz//newsletters/decembernews/2009RG.pdf Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 European researchers who used the 2009 call for FP7 People Programme ‘Reintegration Grants’ as an opportunity to re-establish their career in Europe will begin to hear feedback on their proposals in the coming weeks. The EC has announced that 221 proposals were received for the Marie Curie International Reintegration Grants (IRG) call. These grants allow European researchers who have been based outside of Europe for more than 3 years to apply for a grant of up to 25000 euros per year, for up to four years, to help them develop their research group in Europe. A further 100 proposals were received in response to the Marie Curie European Reintegration Grants (ERG) call. These grants allow researchers - who have already been in receipt of Marie Curie grant - to apply for a new grant of up to 15000 euros per year, for up to three years, to build on the experience of their initial period of trans-national mobility and further enhance their research career. Signature of the first grant agreement is expected around 1 March 2010. The 2010 Marie Curie Reintegration call FP7-PEOPLE-RG-2010 opened on 9 October 2009. The first cut-off for this new call is 9 March 2010. frenz.org.nz91 http://www.frenz.org.nz//newsletters/decembernews/IEF.pdf Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 The evaluation of the 2009 Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowship, International Outgoing Fellowship, and Intra-European Fellowship calls has been completed and researchers are already beginning to receive their Evaluation Summary Reports (ESRs). Further, the EC has launched a list of proposals (by acronym) with a statement as to whether proposals are above or below the threshold for funding (lists attached). Research managers who know the acronym of proposals involving their researchers can check the relevant list but should be aware that whilst the coding of ‘above’ means that the proposal has met the minimum threshold required for funding, this does not necessarily mean that the proposal has been ‘successful’ or that it will proceed to negotiation. From this preliminary information, it is clear that the quality of proposals is again very high, with at least 70% of proposals exceeding the minimum threshold for funding of 70%. In previous rounds, this has sometimes resulted in proposals scoring >85% not scoring highly enough to reach the main list for funding. Patience is recommended until the EC provides the ranked list of proposals, where: A = proposals to go forward to negotiation (mainlist); B = proposals held in reserve, in case additional funds are available; C = proposals above the minimum threshold but no funding is available; D = proposals that were below the minimum threshold (70%); E = ineligible proposals. It is expected that the first grant agreements with successful applicants will be concluded by 1 February 2010. The 2010 call for these Marie Curie Fellowships is expected in March 2010, with a deadline in August 2010. However, since the proposal structure is virtually identical year to year, researchers interested in developing a proposal for the 2010 deadline could use the 2009 Guide for Applicants as a provisional template prior to the call launch. frenz.org.nz90 http://www.frenz.org.nz/contact.html Thu, 03 Dec 2009 11:30:00 +1200 Deadline: 25 March 2010. The European Commission (EC) launched, on 25 November 2009, their call for proposals for the International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES). This scheme aims to facilitate the development of stronger organisational links between research groups in Europe, and its certain ‘preferred’ countries; including New Zealand. The IRSES programme differs from most other Marie Curie activities in that it focuses on embedding links at organisational, rather than individual, level. IRSES is a secondment scheme to link at least two independent (not linked) organisations in different European countries (Member and Associated States) with at least one in a third country (e.g. NZ). Several individuals should be exchanged between Europe and NZ over the duration of the project (3-4 years), with each individual moving for 1-12 months. Although mainly intended for research staff, it is also possible to exchange technical and management staff, where appropriate. The programme is open to all areas of research related to the Framework Programme. As a secondment activity, there is no funding from either the EC or NZ for salaries or research costs. These are expected to be borne by the host organisations in a demonstration of their commitment to a sustainable research partnership. The EC provides funding to support researchers to come to NZ from Europe; and a NZ (MoRST/RSNZ) counterpart budget provides travel and subsistence funds to researchers going from NZ to Europe. Overall, the exchange between Europe and NZ should be balanced. Transfers between the European groups are not funded at all from this scheme. The information package for this call for proposals can be downloaded from the EC’s calls web page, or from the FRENZ website. The most important document that you will require is the Guide for Applicants, as this illustrates the format of the proposal, gives an indication of the evaluation process and also outlines the rules for the partnerships. Templates for the proposal may be downloaded from the Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS) shortly after the European Coordinator has registered the proposal online. The proposal must be submitted by one of the European partners as the co-ordinator, not NZ. All proposals will be subject to the EC’s proposal evaluation process. Further information on the process for NZ funding will be made available shortly. Researchers interested in this programme should contact their research office, and FRENZ, at the earliest opportunity. frenz.org.nz891 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.FP7DetailsCallPage Mon, 31 Nov 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-Fission-2010, Publication Date: 13 November 2009, Budget: € 49 799 000, Deadline: 08 April 2010 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time), OJ Reference: OJ C284 of 25 November 2009, Specific Programme(s): Euratom. frenz.org.nz88 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.FP7DetailsCallPage Mon, 31 Nov 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-ICT-2009-6, Publication Date: 24 November 2009, Budget: € 286 000 000, Deadline: 13 April 2010 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time), OJ Reference: OJ C283 of 24 November 2009, Specific Programme(s): Cooperation, Theme: Information and Communication Technologies. frenz.org.nz89 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.FP7DetailsCallPage Mon, 31 Nov 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-NMP-2010-EU-USA, Publication Date: 24 November 2009, Budget: € 6 000 000, Deadline: 28 January 2010 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time), OJ Reference: OJ C177 of 30 July 2009, Specific Programme(s): Cooperation, Theme: Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies, Identifier: FP7-Fission-2010, Publication Date: 13 November 2009, Budget: € 49 799 000, Deadline: 08 April 2010 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time), OJ Reference: OJ C284 of 25 November 2009, Specific Programme(s): Euratom, Theme: Nuclear Fission and Radiation Protection. frenz.org.nz87 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.FP7DetailsCallPage Mon, 31 Nov 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Identifier: SP1-JTI-CS-2009-02, Publication Date: 25 November 2009, Budget: € 8 377 700, Deadline: 23 February 2010 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time), OJ Reference: The SP1-JTI-CS-2009-02 call for proposals is not published in the OJ, Specific Programme(s): Cooperation, Theme: Joint Technology Initiatives (Annex IV-SP1). frenz.org.nz86 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.FP7CallsPage Mon, 31 Nov 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2010-COFUND, Publication Date: 18 November 2009, Budget: € 75 000 000, Deadline: 18 February 2010 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time), OJ Reference: OJ C278 of 18 November 2009, Specific Programme(s): People, Theme: PEOPLE. frenz.org.nz85 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.FP7CallsPage Mon, 31 Nov 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2010-IRSES, Publication Date: 25 November 2009, Budget: € 30 000 000, Deadline: 25 March 2010 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time), OJ Reference: OJ C284 of 25 November 2008, Specific Programme(s): People, Theme: PEOPLE frenz.org.nz84 http://www.comsdev.canterbury.ac.nz/news/2009/091124b.shtml Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:00:00 +1200 Professor Peter Steel (Chemistry) was presented with the prestigious Hector Medal for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of the chemical sciences. Professor Matthew Turnbull (Biological Sciences) was awarded the Roger Slack Award in Plant Biology for his outstanding contribution to the study of plant biology. Also honoured at the awards held in Auckland on 18 November was UC alumnus Dr Richard Garland, Managing Director of New Zealand Pharmaceuticals Ltd who received the Thomson Medal for outstanding and inspirational leadership in the management of science. frenz.org.nz83 http://www.victoria.ac.nz/home/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 11:15:00 +1200 To celebrate the vibrant state of scientific cooperation between New Zealand and Germany the German Embassy, MORST and Victoria University cordially invite you to the First New Zealand – German Science day. An illustrious group of scientists will be presenting their science and their experience with the scientific cooperation between both countries. Time: Thursday 19 November 2009 from 2 till 7 p.m. Venue: MacLaurin Lecture Theatre 101, Victoria University Wellington, Kelburn Parade Introductionary remarks by H.E. Ambassador Thomas H. Meister and Dr. Wynn Ingram, General Manager, MORST Speakers:Professor Dr. F. Ekkehard Hahn Chair of Inorganic Chemistry, University of Münster and Julius-von-Haast Fellow “Natural Chemistry - Reactions with Air, Mineral Water and Orange Juice”; Professor Dr. Tim Naish Director of the Antarctic Research Centre, Victoria University “The behaviour of the Antarctic Ice Sheets in a warming world”; Professor Dr. Katrin Huhn Chair of INTERCOAST, University of Bremen “The new International Research Training Group INTERCOAST 'Integrated Coastal Zone and Shelf-Sea Research' - in collaboration between Germany and New Zealand”; Professor Dr. Brigitte Boenisch-Brednich Cultural Anthropology Programme, Victoria University “Migrants on Campus: A German perspective on New Zealand Universities as global workspaces”. Refreshments will be served following the lectures. Email rsvp@vuw.ac.nz with ' Science Day' in the subject line (acceptance only) or contact the Information desk on (04) 463 6700 to register your interest in attending by November 16. frenz.org.nz82 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/calls/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 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. frenz.org.nz81 http://ec.europa.eu/research/erab/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 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. frenz.org.nz80 http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/index_en.cfm Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 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. frenz.org.nz79 http://ec.europa.eu/research/agriculture/pdf/synopsis_of_fisheries_and_aquaculture_research_projects_in_the_fp6.pdf Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 A summary of Fisheries and Aquaculture research conducted under FP6 has been released. frenz.org.nz78 http://www.sciencenewzealand.org/corporate/cris_benefit_new_zealand Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 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 at the link above and downloaded by clicking on the CRI's name. frenz.org.nz77 http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/SC0909/S00015.htm Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 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. frenz.org.nz76 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 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 frenz.org.nz75 http://ec.europa.eu/research/fch/index_en.cfm Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 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. frenz.org.nz74 http://www.manufuture2009.eu/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 Date: 30 November - 1 December 2009. The main theme of the conference is the “Implementation of a Sustainable European Manufacturing Industry”. "What can Industry do today and in the future to become more economically sustainable ?" will be the motto during this two-day event. Especially now, it is important to be prepared for the upturn and to discuss how the Factories of the Future should be further implemented. frenz.org.nz73 http://en.cop15.dk/frontpage Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 Date: 7 - 18 December 2009. The impending effects of climate change are now exceeding our worst fears, the world is now facing a giant challenge. COST will be represented at COP15 to contribute to the debate on future responses to climate change. It will join government officials, politicians, NGOs in suggesting scientific options to address various aspects of this global crisis. The Conference of the Parties (COP) hopes to do so by following up on the Kyoto agreement with another ambitious strategy for a concerted, international response to Climate Change beyond 2012. frenz.org.nz72 http://www.congrex.nl/09c16/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 Date: 18 November 2009. The specific objectives of this topical conference are: to assess recent progress and uncertainties in the full range of water cycle observations; to identify the main needs and uncertainties in modelling and data assimilation from global to basin scales to improve our knowledge of water cycle science and our ability to quantify future changes in water cycle variables; to advocate the challenges and opportunities in water cycle science in order to reduce uncertainties in water-related climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in water resources; to consolidate a scientific roadmap outlining the main priorities for the development of robust global and regional geo-information data products, improved models and effective data assimilation systems. frenz.org.nz71 http://www.ami-09.org/ Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:50:00 +1200 Date: 18-21 November 2009. Ambient intelligence is an area which combines the concepts of ubiquitous technology, intelligent systems and advanced user interfaces, putting humans at the centre of technological developments. The event aims to bring together researchers from academia and industry across various disciplines making up the field of ambient intelligence, to present the latest results, discuss the state-of-the-art developments and think about the future. frenz.org.nz71 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/ict/telearn-digicult/call6-infoday_en.html Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 On 9 October 09 in Luxembourg the EC will hold an information day on the objective ‘ Digital Libraries and Digital Preservation’ which will be the subject of a call for proposals in the sixth ICT FP7 call. The Sixth ICT call will open on 24 November 2009, with a deadline of 13 April 2010. The information day aims to assisting participants to better understand the work programme and criteria for the evaluation of proposals. It also aspires to promote the sharing of ideas and experiences, and to meet potential partners for project consortia. frenz.org.nz70 https://www.artemisia-association.org/autumn_event_2009 Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 The ARTEMIS event is scheduled to take place in Madrid on 29-30 October 2009. This consists of a large project exhibition with parallel sessions, key note speakers and a press event. The twelve current Artemis projects funded through the Joint Technology Initiative will be presenting for the first time at the exhibition. frenz.org.nz69 http://www.frenz.org.nz/docs/Info%20sheet_v5_final_August2009.pdf Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 The European Commission has recently developed an information note on the opportunities for Participation and Funding of Third Countries. In the first part, the EC highlights the difference between lower income, so called 'International Cooperation Partner Countries’ and the 'Higher Income Countries' (aka Industrialised Third Countries), which includes New Zealand. The document describes the conditions for funding and provides general administrative information related to organisational registration, and an overview of legal and financial responsibilities when funding is not allocated by the EC. The document aims to speed up proposal development and contract negotiation, by allowing all parties - including the European partners - to understand the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of third countries in FP7 projects. frenz.org.nz68 http://www.esmu.be/index.php Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 EU-STEP is a three-year EU-funded project which aims to improve the visibility of European Higher Education throughout the world and to promote Europe as a centre of excellence in learning, so as to strengthen its dynamic character and foster opportunities of collaboration and exchange between European and third country HEIs. Take part in a European Study Tour for policy-makers and university leaders: Study Tour I (for participants from Australia and New Zealand) 7-13 February 2010 frenz.org.nz67 http://www.respotnet.eu Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 The European Network for Research Potential National Contact Points (NCPs), called ResPotNet, has launched a new partner search facility. This website allows users to search for new opportunities for collaborations and also provides country contacts. ResPotNet also provides access to information on research potential policies, initiatives, open calls, news events, and useful links. frenz.org.nz66 http://erc.europa.eu/index.cfm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 The European Research Council (ERC) has published a series of new publications. New publications include: a flyer on the ERC funding schemes, a brochure on the ERC Scientific Council (ScC). There is also a new promotional poster and updated ERC fact sheets. frenz.org.nz65 http://ec.europa.eu/research/consultations/fp-simplification/consultation_en.htm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 In 2010 the EC will release information on the possibilities for simplifying the Framework Programme(s). In preparation for this, an online consultation has been launched, with a deadline of 30 September 2009 for responses. frenz.org.nz64 http://ec.europa.eu/research/reports/2009/pdf Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 The EC has published a report entitled ‘FP7 Subscription, Performance, and Implementation during the first two years of operation 2007-2008.’ This serves to outline the success rates for different types of participants and countries. The report includes details of the 33,919 eligible proposals submitted, which requested a total of EUR 56.7 billion of EC funding across the ‘Co-operation’ ‘Capacities’, ‘People’ and ‘Ideas’ programmes as well as Euratom. Of the submitted proposals, 5,477 were retained for funding, giving an average success rate of 16 percent. The report also features an improvement in the time to contract compared to that of FP6. The average time to contract was 384 days for FP6 – under FP7 this time has been shortened to 317 days. frenz.org.nz63 http://ec.europa.eu/research/sd/index_en.cfm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 The EC has published an in-depth examination of topics and areas related to sustainable development within the FP7 Work Programmes for 2009 and aims to create an awareness of how FP7 contributes to sustainable development. A recent EC Communication called ‘Mainstreaming sustainable development into EU policies: 2009 Review of the European Union Strategy for Sustainable Development’ highlights that one of the core objectives of FP7 is to contribute to sustainable development. In 2007 and 2008, around 44 percent of the total budget for collaborative and co-operative research was allocated to sustainable development-related projects. (As reviewed in European RTD Insight (September 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz62 http://ec.europa.eu/information_society/eeurope/i2010/pc_post-i2010/index_en.htm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 The EC has launched a public consultation to help prepare a new EU information society strategy for the period 2010-2013. Areas covered by the consultation include: ICT for a growth and jobs agenda; ICT for a sustainable ‘low carbon’ economy; improving Europe’s performance in ICT research and innovation creating a hundred per cent connected society and economy through a high-speed and open internet for all; consolidating the online Single Market; promoting access to creativity at all levels; strengthening EU’s role in the international ICT arena; making modern and efficient pubic services available and accessible to all; and using ICT to improve the quality of life of EU citizens. The consultation will close on 9 October 2009. (As reviewed in European RTD Insight (September 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz61 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2010-ITN Specific programme: People Theme(s): PEOPLE Type: Call for Proposal Publication date: 2009-09-08 Deadline: 2009-12-22 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) Budget: 243,790,000 € frenz.org.nz60 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-REGIONS-2010-1 Specific programme: Capacities Theme(s): Regions of Knowledge Type: Call for Proposal Publication date: 2009-07-30 Deadline: 2010-01-14 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) Budget: 16,950,000 € frenz.org.nz59 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-ENERGY-2010-1 Specific programme: Cooperation Theme(s): Energy Type: Call for Proposal Publication date: 2009-07-30 Deadline: 2009-10-15 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) Budget: 54,000,000 € frenz.org.nz58 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-ICT-2009-5 Specific programme: Cooperation Theme(s): Information and Communication Technologies Type: Call for Proposal Publication date: 2009-07-30 Deadline: 2009-10-26 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) Budget: 732,000,000 € frenz.org.nz57 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-KBBE-2010-4 Specific programme: Cooperation Theme(s): Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology Type: Call for Proposal Publication date: 2009-07-30 Deadline: 2010-01-14 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) Budget: 190,010,000 € frenz.org.nz56 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-ERANET-2010-RTD Specific programme: Cooperation Theme(s): Environment (including Climate Change) Type: Call for Proposal Publication date: 2009-07-30 Deadline: 2010-01-19 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) Budget: 21,500,000 € frenz.org.nz55 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-2010-ICT-GC Specific programme: Cooperation Theme(s): Information and Communication Technologies Type: Call for Proposal Publication date: 2009-07-30 Deadline: 2009-11-03 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) Budget: 20,000,000 € frenz.org.nz54 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:20:00 +1200 Identifier: FP7-INFLUENZA-2010 Specific programme: Cooperation Theme(s): Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology Type: Call for Proposal Publication date: 2009-07-30 Deadline: 2009-10-29 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) Budget: 18,000,000 € frenz.org.nz53 http://www.frenz.org.nz/events_presentations.html Wed, 23 Sep 2009 10:20:00 +1200 The video of one of the recent MoRST/FRENZ FP7 meetings, held in early September, is now available from http://www.frenz.org.nz/events_presentations.html, thanks to the generosity of the Massey University Research Office. The presentations of both Rick Petersen (MoRST) and Carole Glynn (FRENZ) can be viewed in conjunction with their talks, with the facility for researchers to 'cut to' the discussion relating to each slide. frenz.org.nz52 http://www.frenz.org.nz/diaspora_project.html Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 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 is available at http://www.frenz.org.nz/diaspora_project.html The EURAXESS-Links New Zealand online survey is available at http://www.surveymethods.com/EndUser.aspx?FFDBB7ABFFB4ABAD frenz.org.nz51 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 The Fuel Cells and Hydrogen (FCH) Joint Technology Initiative (JTI) is a public-private partnership to fund research – so the funding comes from both the public sector (from the EC) and private sector (industry). The FCH JTI has recently launched its second call for proposals, which has a budget of €71.3 million, and closes on 15 October 2009. The aim of setting up these public-private partnerships is to accelerate the development of major technologies and large scale research. For the area of FCH in particular, the technological challenge is of great complexity and scale, and also there is a wide dispersion of people involved. To tackle these challenges, substantial investments are needed as well as a high level of technical expertise. This means that it would be hard for individual EU Member States to tackle this alone, and the problem is best approached on a Europe-wide basis. Therefore, the JTI aims to achieve a critical mass in terms of scale of activity, excellence, and potential for innovation. The EC has also set up a number of JTIs in other areas, and further JTIs may be set up in the future. Further Information: The FCH JTI call documents are available at: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc .(As reviewed in European RTD Insight (August 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz50 http://www.se2009.eu/en/meetings_news/2009/7/7/new_worlds_new_solutions_research_and_innovation_as_a_basis_for_developing_europe_in_a_global_context Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 The first research conference of the Swedish Presidency of the EU took place in Lund on 7-8 July. Entitled ‘New world – New solutions’, it concluded with adoption of the Lund Declaration, which states that “European research must focus on the Grand Challenges of our time”. The conference itself brought together 350 stakeholders including researchers, research funding agencies, business people and politicians to discuss the future development of European research. The Lund Declaration states that European research policy should move away from the rigid structure of present and focus rather on Grand Challenges to the world such as climate change, water shortage, demography and pandemics. It goes on to call for a greater alignment of European and national research instruments and more co-operation between the main players. In order to identify these ‘Grand Challenges’ all stakeholders will need to be engaged. In addition, the Declaration called upon the European Council and EP to take this process forward with the EC. Further information Further information on the conference including videos of the proceedings are available from the Swedish Presidency website at: http://www.se2009.eu/en/meetings_news/2009/7/7/new_worlds_new_solutions_research_and_innovation_as_a_basis_for_developing_europe_in_a_global_context. The Lund Declaration is available here: http://www.se2009.eu/polopoly_fs/1.8460!menu/standard/file/lund_declaration_final_version_9_july.pdf. (As reviewed in European RTD Insight (August 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz49 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/health/library_en.html Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 The EC has published the 2009 progress report on alternative testing strategies - replacing, reducing and refining the use of animals in research the ‘3Rs principle’. This new publication summarises the results of ongoing research work on the principle funded under FP6 and FP7. Developing alternatives to existing repeated dose systemic toxicity testing was placed high on the research agenda. In order to tackle this problem, an experts group was created in winter 2008/2009 by DG Research and the European Cosmetics Association (COLIPA), with the task of drafting a specific research strategy addressing this topic. The recommendations of the experts group are presented in this book. The book groups the research projects according to their respective technologies and approaches: cell-based technologies; integrated testing strategies; -omics; bioinformatics and computational biology; computational modelling and estimation techniques; high throughput techniques; and forums and workshops. This report will be of particular interest to researchers working in this area who would like to find out more about on-going European projects and policy developments. Further information: The 2009 Report on Alternative Testing Strategies can be obtained at: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/health/library_en.html. (As reviewed in European RTD Insight (August 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz48 http://www.efgcp.be/icrel/ Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 An FP7-funded project, entitled the Impact on Clinical Research of European Legislation (ICREL), published its final report on the impact of the EU Clinical Trials Directive. This report has been published as the EC considers whether the current EU Clinical Trials Directive might be revised. The Clinical Trials Directive was implemented in 2004, with an aim to harmonise European regulatory systems. Following its introduction, some members of the research community felt that the Directive hindered academic research. ICREL measured and analysed the impact of the directive on clinical research in respect to different stakeholders. Some of the key findings of the project are: that large pharmaceutical companies may be less affected by the new legislation than small- and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and non-commercial sponsors; an increase in fees to competent authorities and to ethics committees; insurance costs were dramatically increased for commercial sponsors, but not for non-commercial sponsors; an increase in clinical trial costs as a result of the Directive was of particular concern to SMEs, non-commercial sponsors and the sponsors of orphan drug trials; a significant increase from 2003 to 2007 was detected in the number of biotechnology products and orphan drug trials, considered to reflect more the new orphan drug regulation as well as scientific and technological progress rather than the implementation of the Clinical Trials Directive. Further information: The ICREL final report and annexes are available from the project website at: http://www.efgcp.be/icrel/. Details on the EU Clinical Trials policy is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/pharmaceuticals/clinicaltrials/clinicaltrials_en.htm. (As reviewed in European RTD Insight (August 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz47 http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/pharmaceuticals/pharmacommunication/haveyousay_en.htm Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 The EC has launched a public consultation on the revised guidance for the request for authorisation of a clinical trial on a medicinal product for human use. Under the EU Clinical Trials Directive, the EC is required to draw up detailed guidance to ensure that the format and content of the request for authorisation of a clinical trial are harmonised. This draft revision of the existing detailed guidance aims to: incorporate changes of the legislative framework (inter alia, paediatrics, advanced therapies); and clarify and further harmonise the requirements of format and content of the request for authorisation, substantial amendment, and declaration of end of the clinical trial. This consultation gives all stakeholders with an interest in the authorisation of clinical trials an opportunity to comment on the draft revision to the existing guidance. Contributions are invited from all stakeholders related to clinical trials. Stakeholders who are not established within the EU are equally invited to comment. The consultation will close on 8 September 2009. Once the consultation has closed, the EC will publish all contributions on the EC’s ‘Pharmaceuticals’ website and they will be analysed and incorporated into the final version of the revised guidance. Further information: Further information can be found on the EC pharmaceuticals public consultation website at: http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/pharmaceuticals/pharmacommunication/haveyousay_en.htm. (As reviewed in European RTD Insight (August 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz46 http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/consult/mobility_en.html Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 The EC recently published a Green Paper on ‘Promoting the learning mobility of young people’ with the aim of opening up a debate on how to boost the opportunities for young people in Europe by developing their knowledge and skills by going abroad. Spending a period in another country for studying, learning, work experience or volunteering is one of the fundamental ways in which young people can strengthen their future employability as well as their personal development. With this Green Paper the EC is launching a public consultation, which will be open until 15 December 2009. Responses will be gathered via an online questionnaire. The Green Paper asks a number of questions and seeks feedback on issues such as: How can we convince more young people to go abroad to acquire new knowledge, skills and experience? What obstacles to mobility do we have to overcome? How can all stakeholders - the EC, Member States, regions, education and training institutions, NGOs - join forces in a new partnership for learning mobility? The EC will evaluate responses to these and other questions and prepare a proposal for practical follow-up. Further information: EC Press Releases MEMO/09/320 and IP/09/1096 of 8 July 2009 are available at: http://europa.eu/rapid/. Furthers details on the consultation are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/education_culture/consult/mobility_en.html. (As reviewed in European RTD Insight (August 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz45 ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/ssh/docs/the_world_in_2025-_390_p_(low_resolution)_2009_en.pdf1.pdf Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 The EC has published a report from the foresight expert group entitled ‘The World in 2025’. The report attempts to predict the major societal challenges over the next 20 years. The foresight expert group on ‘The World in 2025’ aimed to study emerging global trends affecting Europe and the world over recent decades, and then used this as a basis for predicting possible future trends. The report aims to identify the key policy and development challenges facing the world over the next two decades, and to identify what Europe’s role could be in this world. The report covers issues which can also be found in the FP7 SSH theme, such as demography, migration, urbanisation, employment, education, economic governance and others. As the FP7 SSH work programmes are policy focused, it is possible that this report will be used as one of the sources of information to guide the content of future calls. Further information: The ‘World in 2025’ report is available here: ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/ssh/docs/the_world_in_2025-_390_p_(low_resolution)_2009_en.pdf1.pdf. (As reviewed in European RTD Insight (August 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz44 http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 Five new brochures showcasing 130 projects funded by the Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) Programme have recently been published. The IEE Programme is part of the EU’s Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP). The new brochures can be downloaded online, or free paper copies (up to several hundred) can be ordered. The five new brochures cover: lightening the energy load - energy efficiency in industry; changing their habits in our lifetime - energy education; common actions for common goals - sustainable energy communities; make your building smile - renewable energy in buildings; and green mobility on the move - energy-efficient transport. It is also possible to order more copies of previous brochures, covering: make the switch - renewable electricity; consume green - energy-efficient products; the beauty of efficiency - energy-efficient homes and buildings; and topping up the fuel mix – biofuels. Further Information: The EACI (Executive Agency for Competitiveness and Innovation) IEE web pages are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent. (As reviewed in European RTD Insight (August 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz43 http://ec.europa.eu/research/transport/events/infodays2009_en.html Tue, 25 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 The EC will be holding an information day in Brussels on 28-29 September to provide information on the current FP7 Transport Calls. The event is being held to inform potential applicants about the current Calls under the FP7 Transport theme; it will also give delegates information on the main legal and financial rules and an overview of the application process. Researchers planning to submit a proposal to the current Calls are strongly encouraged to attend the event as it will also be an excellent opportunity for networking. Officials from the EC will be on hand throughout to answer questions from delegates. The two-day event will be split up so that different sessions cover each of the main areas of the current Calls. The first day will focus on the Sustainable Surface Transport (SST) part of the Transport theme, whilst the afternoon will cover the new Green Car initiative, which is one of the EC’s three Public Private Partnerships. The second day will cover the Aeronautics and Air Transport (AAT) part of the theme. A networking session will also be taking place and this will allow delegates to present their proposal ideas to other delegates. Registration closes on 15 September. Further information: Further information and registration is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/transport/events/infodays2009_en.html. (As reviewed in European RTD Insight (August 2009), available from http://www.ukro.ac.uk/insight/) frenz.org.nz42 http://www.frenz.org.nz/events.asp Mon, 17 Aug 2009 10:45:00 +1200 FRENZ Director, Carole Glynn, will visit the main research centres around New Zealand to discuss NZ participation in the European Commission's (EC's) 7th Framework Programme for Research and Development (FP7). The aim of these meetings is to allow participants to have a full and frank discussion about participation - or barriers to participation! - that will then allow Carole to better structure FRENZ activities in the coming months. The meeting will be structured to allow Carole to discuss feed back of NZ participation in FP7 to date; her involvement in the high level NZ-EU Science and Technology Cooperation committee delegation; and the recent launch of 53 new calls for proposals by the EC; with input from local participants in FP7 projects. Participants are encouraged to share their views on FP7 in order that a series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and best practice documents might be developed. In addition, views on current FRENZ activities should be explored. Researchers are invited to participate at one of the following meetings: Monday 7 September Auckland: 9-11am Wellington: 3-5pm Tuesday 8 September Dunedin: 9-11am (tbc) Christchurch: 3-5pm Wednesday 9th September: Palmerston North: 9-11am Thursday 10th September Hamilton: 9-11am 9 (tbc) Information on venues will be available shortly. To express you interest, please visit http://www.frenz.org.nz/events.asp. frenz.org.nz0410 http://www.frenz.org.nz/framework_open_calls.html Mon, 03 Aug 2009 12:45:00 +1200 Dear friends and colleagues, On the 30th July, the European Commission (EC) launched its latest round of calls for proposals. As in any other year, the 2010 calls (so called since they will be funded from the 2010 budget) take account of the projects funded in the first three years of calls, - to avoid duplication and to allow scope for concentration of effort in some areas. However, this round is somewhat different, as it has taken on board many of the comments from the research community, both in Europe and from so-called 'Third Countries', such as New Zealand. Included among the 53 calls for proposals are specific calls with India and China, highlighting the EC's increasing emphasis on supporting research links beyond Europe. In addition, many of the Cooperation themes (e.g., Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology) signal the EC's interest in 'Twinning' existing project activities in Europe with complementary activities in third countries. This new mechanism, piloted with Canada in the last year, was mentioned on several occasions during a recent FRENZ visit to Europe, and is something that is likely to be discussed by MoRST and the NZ Funding and Investment Agencies in the coming months. In some areas, several calls for proposals have been launched in parallel. Generally, this has been done to simplify the information for researchers, with one deadline per call. In the past, the EC would launch a single call for multiple activities with staggered deadlines, leading to confusion in the research community, and proposals being submitted to the wrong call deadline. By having separate deadlines for each activity, it is hoped that this situation might be avoided. However, researchers should ensure that they are using the correct information package for the relevant call for proposals, since the Guide for Applicants may vary between calls. With deadlines falling between 15th October 2009 and 2nd February 2010, researchers should ensure that they are aware of the opportunities that are open to them, and the support that exists both within their organisations, and from FRENZ, to meet these deadlines (bearing in mind that proposals are always submitted by the European coordinator). The FRENZ Director will be traveling around NZ in the coming weeks to deliver information sessions on the new calls. In addition, training sessions will be delivered in Rotorua, to allow a more in-depth focus on particular issues. Thematic areas under the Cooperation Specific Programme include: Health (three calls); Food, agriculture and fisheries, and biotechnology (one call); Information and communication technologies (two calls); Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials and new production technologies (six calls); Energy (four calls); Environment (including climate change) (one call); Transport (six calls); Socio-economic sciences and humanities' (four calls); Space (one call); Security (one call). Calls under the Capacities Specific Programme are dedicated to the following Themes: Research infrastructures (two calls); Research for the benefit of SMEs (one call); Regions of knowledge (one call); Research potential (two calls); Science in society (four calls); Activities of international cooperation (four calls). An additional seven cross-thematic calls combine up to five different themes each. Finally, the European Research Council (ERC) Starting Independent Researcher Grants (three sub-calls) are intended to support up-and-coming research leaders who are about to establish or consolidate a proper research team and to start conducting independent research in Europe Links to the EC calls for proposals can be found from the FRENZ website: http://www.frenz.org.nz/framework_open_calls.html, or from the EC's cordis website at: http://www.cordis.europa.eu/fp7/calls. A calendar of calls plus deadlines is available at: http://www.frenz.org.nz/framework_open_calls.html. Information on FRENZ events, visits and training can be found at: http://www.frenz.org.nz/services_visits.html. And finally, let us not forget the training opportunities held by the Marie Curie Fellowships, and the International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES). Whilst calls for these schemes are not likely to launched until the end of 2009, it is timely to consider NOW where links should be sought or enhanced. It is highly unlikely that there will be changes in how these schemes operate, and so it makes sense to pursue these the researcher led (rather than 'problem driven') initiatives well in advance of their likely deadlines: March 2010 (IRSES) and August 2010 (Marie Curie Fellowships). I look forward to working with you in the months ahead. With kind regards, Carole frenz.org.nz40 http://www.frenz.org.nz Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The European Commission has signalled that it will launch a host of calls for proposals – mainly related to the Cooperation specific Programme – “at the end of July". FRENZ has been led to believe that the calls will be launched on 27th (30th for ICT) July with deadlines ranging from October 2009 to January 2010, depending on the call area. Researchers in New Zealand hoping to get involved with collaborative projects in the following themes should see either the FRENZ or CORDIS website for call details: Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology; Environment; Health; Energy; Nanosciences, ICT, etc. Information events will be held for each theme by FRENZ in the coming weeks and months. Further information on training will be available from the FRENZ website. No further information. frenz.org.nz39 http://www.frenz.org.nz Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 At a recent National Contact Points meeting, the European Commission announced that 178 proposals had been received for the March 2009 deadline of the International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) programme. One proposal was ineligible. In the 177 eligible proposals: 1026 organisations were involved, all but 7 of the 39 Member and Associated States were represented, all but three of the 29 eligible third countries were represented, the total budget requested from the EC was €45 million, for a budget of €30 million. The top five European countries, in terms of numbers of participations in proposals, were the UK (83), Italy (69), Spain (59), France (58) and Germany (55). The top five non-European "Third countries", in terms of numbers of participations in proposals, the US (69), China (66), Brazil (55), Russia (36) and Australia (31) NZ had 13 participations, putting it in 14th place among the 29 third countries. Proposals were received to all panels, with Engineering and Life Sciences receiving the most - 40 and 38 respectively - and Economic Sciences receiving least, with only 4 proposals. It was interesting to note that the Chemistry, Environment and Social Sciences panels received similar levels of participation, with 21, 20 and 19 proposals each. The EC noted that these figures indicate a significant increase in participation, with respect to the first call, in 2008. No further information. frenz.org.nz38 http://www.frenz.org.nz/services_training.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The FRENZ Director, Carole Glynn, will offer a series of training and information sessions on various FP7 issues, including Marie Curie Fellowships proposal writing, and helping researcher managers develop strategies to increase FP7 participation in-house. In addition, online sessions will be offered to provide a forum for researchers interested in the cooperation calls expected at the end of July 2009. New events will be added in the coming months, according to demand, including: An introduction to FP7, and FP7 project management: administration, finance and reporting frenz.org.nz37 http://www.frenz.org.nz Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 On the 15 June 2009, the European Commission made the decision not to reduce the 60% Transitional Indirect rate for calls closing after 31 December 2009. At the launch of FP7, it was foreseen that a 60% transitional rate for indirect cost reimbursement would be offered until 2009, by which time it was expected that Universities (the main beneficiary using the rate) would be in a position to move to an actual indirect costs rate. Unfortunately, the expected progress toward actual indirect costs has not been made, and so the EC has agreed to continue with the higher level transitional rate for the time being. Currently, around 84% of Universities still use flat rates, rather than an actual overhead rate. frenz.org.nz36 http://www.finance-helpdesk.org/front/ShowCategory.aspx?CatId=48 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 A FP7 Progress Report has been prepared, by the European Commission, for the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions, to deliver their view of the progress made under the Seventh European Framework Programme for Research. Accompanying the document is a Commission staff working document (yet to be adopted) which provides the following hints for the future: Option to use Lump Sums for travel and subsistence costs should be introduced with the 2010 work programmes. FP7 aims to have average reporting and payment periods of 18 months (was 12 months in FP6) Main sources of errors in the costs claimed by beneficiaries relate to the personnel costs and indirect costs. A Web based tool for FP7 Scientific Reporting is being created on the back of the FP7 Financial Reporting tool. frenz.org.nz35 http://www.echallenges.org/e2009/ Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Pre-Conference Brokerage - Face2Face meeting and eChallenge e-2009 Conference Exhibition Ideal-ist, the worldwide ICT support network, to which FRENZ is associated, is organising an international Brokerage Event in relation to Call 6 in association with eChallenges e-2009 on Tuesday 20 October in Istanbul, Turkey. The Event targets a wide spectrum of companies and researchers from Europe interested in sharing new project ideas and finding collaboration partners. It will also be THE opportunity to present at international level your project ideas for 6th Call for Applicants and to promote your organisation at international forum. eChallenges delegates can already indicate that they wish to participate ! The event is focused on Call 6 of ICT work programme 2009 - 2010, expected to be launched in November 2009 with an April 2010 deadline. )Objective ICT-2009.2.1.Cognitive Systems and Robotics, Objective ICT-2009.4.1.Digital libraries Digital Preservation, Objective: ICT 2009.5.3 Virtual Physiological Human, Objective: ICT 2009.6.2 ICT for Mobility of the Future) The eChallenges e-2009 Conference takes place in the Marmara Hotel, Istanbul 21-23 October 2009. This is the nineteenth in a series of Annual Conferences supported by the European Commission, which regularly attracts over 650 delegates from leading commercial, government and research organisations around the world to share knowledge and experience, lessons learnt and good practice in the areas of ICT for Networked Enterprise and RFID, eGovernment and eDemocracy, eHealth, Collaborative Working Environments, Living Labs, eInfrastructures;Technology Enhanced Learning and ICT Skills, Knowledge and Content Technologies, Security and Identity Management, High Performance Computing - Applications and Mobility. frenz.org.nz34 http://www.frenz.org.nz Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The ICT call 5 expected to be launched on 31 July deadline has been shifted from 3 November to 26 October 2009, meaning researchers have one week less to prepare proposals. Following the recent experience of DG Information Society (INFSO) in handling the entire evaluation of ICT Call 4 (with remote reading and scoring of proposals at the individual stage), the EC believes that that the original timetable for ICT Call 5, originally closing on 3rd November, would make it impossible to complete the evaluation of Call 5 (with remote reading) before Christmas. Since it is not possible to move the evaluation into January or February, DG INFSO has announced that they are obliged to advance the closing date for ICT call 5 to 17h00 Brussels time on Monday 26th October. This date will of course be highlighted on the call page and in the Guides for applicants, and in the revised ICT workprogramme 2009-2010. No further information. frenz.org.nz33 http://www.frenz.org.nz Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 DG Information Society (INFSO) has added a new objective to ICT Call 5, Objective ICT-2009.9.5: Supplements to strengthen cooperation in ICT R and D in an enlarged European Union. This new objective offers coordinators of ongoing ICT research projects (IP or STREP) which finish after the 31st March 2011 the opportunity to add one or more new partners to their project to expand its activities in or into the enlarged European Union. The March 2011 date requirement is to ensure that the project still has a reasonable time to run for the participation of the new consortium members. Coordinators of qualifying ICT projects have been approached by DG INFSO to invite them to provide their project information, in order to populate a new database on CORDIS. NZ researchers involved in existing projects might use this mechanism to further develop relationships with researchers in Europe. No further information. frenz.org.nz32 http://www.frenz.org.nz Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The Swedish presidency of the Council of the European Union began on 1 July and will continue to the end of 2009. In addition to handling the problems of economy, employment and climate change, the work programme stresses research innovation as well as improving the governance of the European Research Area (ERA). The vision of the ERA is to improve European competitiveness in science and technology by facilitating researcher mobility, improving their access to world-class infrastructures, opening up European, national and regional research programmes, and strengthening global research partnerships. The presidency plans to continue the work that has begun on the ERA, and to 'propose governance mechanisms for the effective use of these resources and better cooperation between policy areas'. The Swedish EU presidency coincides with a review of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). Ensuring that the direction of forthcoming programmes for research and development is best positioned to respond to future challenges in health, energy and climate is another of the presidency's goals. The role of research and innovation in helping to lift Europe out of the current economic crisis is highlighted in the Swedish work programme, which points out that 'research and innovation create new development areas'. frenz.org.nz31 http://ec.europa.eu/research/rea/ Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The Research Executive Agency (REA) has been granted more power. The EC formally announced the REA administrative and operational autonomy on 15 June. The REA is the largest of the EU executive agencies and is expected to have a staff of 558 by 2013. It will be responsible for the implementation of around 12 per cent (EUR 6.5 billion) of the FP7 budget. The REA has been set up to manage projects during FP7, and is expected to exist until 2017. The REA has responsibility for the implementation of specific parts of FP7: the Marie Curie Actions under the FP7 People Specific Programme; Research for the benefit of SMEs under the FP7 Capacities Specific Programme; and the Space and Security themes under the FP7 Co-operation Specific Programme. All new FP7 Grant Agreements for these areas will be issued by the REA rather than the EC. frenz.org.nz30 http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/index_en.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 At a recent information day in Brussels, the EC explained some fundamental changes to the way in which it would approach funding socio-economic sciences and humanities in the 2010 theme-specific Work Programme. Future funding will be strongly policy driven, with major societal ‘challenges’ which can only be addressed through sustained research effort identified. Calls under these challenges will ask for projects with a minimum EC contribution of €6.5 million, up to a maximum of €8 million. The EC will expect to fund projects which are likely to have a broad European impact, and they should thus include a minimum of ten partners from ten different member states. It is also hoped that projects funded will be interdisciplinary in nature, conduct foresight activities to identify future directions for research, and to take an innovative approach to the dissemination of outputs. frenz.org.nz29 http://ec.europa.eu/research/health/index_en.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The EC has launched a new Health Portal focussing on FP7 funded research in the area of health. It includes websites devoted to Health Biotechnology, Genomics and Systems Biology, Medical Research, Infectious Diseases, Public Health and Innovative Medicines. Each of these is broken down into sub-topics, under which it is possible to find information on the objectives of the EC in each area, open calls, contacts, and ongoing projects. There is also an e-library from which EC publications on health can be downloaded. frenz.org.nz28 http://www.delaus.ec.europa.eu/newzealand/ Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The European Commission's Erasmus Mundus programme has just awarded almost 10,000 new grants in the academic year 2009-2010. 8,385 students and academics will come to study or teach in Europe, and 1,561 Europeans will spend time at partner institutions in countries outside Europe. Erasmus Mundus is a co-operation and mobility programme in the field of higher education that aims to enhance the quality of European higher education and to promote dialogue and understanding between people and cultures through co-operation with countries outside the European Union. More New Zealand students and scholars are enjoying study, teaching and research opportunities in the European Union thanks to the Erasmus Mundus programme. For the 2009/2010 academic year, eight New Zealand students and three New Zealand scholars have been selected to participate in the Erasmus Mundus Scheme. Students have been awarded more than NZ$43,200 per academic year for a maximum of two years, and scholars have been awarded more than NZ$26,700 for a maximum period of three months. Ján Figel', the European Commissioner for Education, Training, Culture and Youth, said "Erasmus Mundus is going from strength to strength. In the years since 2004, when it began, the programme has been able to establish itself as one of the world's foremost international mobility programmes. With its emphasis on quality and excellence, it is doing an outstanding job of promoting European higher education on the world stage." Benita Ferrero-Waldner, the European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy said: "Education plays a crucial role in the development of countries and for providing younger generations with perspectives. By promoting academic exchanges between Europe and the rest of the world we are giving university students the means to better shape their own futures and to understand and respect each other. Erasmus Mundus is, therefore, a precious instrument to build and strengthen bridges across the world." (Source: Delegation EC to New Zealand, Newsletter 237, Issue Date: 03/07/2009) frenz.org.nz27 http://www.plantandfood.com/news/europe-recognises-new-zealand-expertise-in-apple-breeding.php Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Scientists at Plant and Food Research have received funding to encourage science collaboration with Spanish and Italian researchers. The main aim of the research is to develop understanding of apple colour development in high temperature environments, such as Southern Europe. The research programme has received a total of NZ$126,000 under the European Commission's new Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) programme in conjunction with the New Zealand Government. The funding will allow scientists from Plant and Food Research, Spain's Institut de Recerca I Technologia Agroalimentaries (IRTA) and Italy's Fundazione Edmund Mach - Istituto Agrarie San Michele all' Adige (FEM-IASMA) Research Centre to travel between the three institutions for extended periods of time to further existing apple breeding and genomics research collaborations. Under the scheme, IRSES is providing funding to cover costs for scientists from the two European institutes to travel to New Zealand, and the New Zealand Ministry for Research Science and Technology funds Plant and Food Research scientists' travel to Europe. frenz.org.nz26 http://www.cost.esf.org/library/newsroom/More-New-Zealand-Exchanges-Ahead Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Dr Di McCarthy, CEO of the Royal Society of New Zealand, and Dr Martin Grabert, COST Office Director, signed a new reciprocal agreement on 5 June 2009 in Brussels. This means COST Actions involving partner institutions from New Zealand can continue to apply for special funding to collaborate in common fields of research. This scheme has been tested over the past two years and is proving to be a big success. Two years after the launch of the reciprocal agreement, 26 COST Actions are benefiting from New Zealand participation.Delighted about the results so far, Dr Grabert explained that: “the continuation of this very successful instrument is an important and encouraging signal for COST and its role in a globally-open European Research Area.” COST Action members have strongly benefited from results obtained by almost all of New Zealand’s Crown Research institutes and universities, as well as some private institutions. Exchanges have been undertaken mainly in food and agriculture, forestry, biotechnology and materials science. frenz.org.nz25 http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=usersite.FP7DetailsCallPage Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Joint Technology Initiatives (Annex IV-SP1) Calls: FCH-JU-2009-1 frenz.org.nz41 http://ec.europa.eu/research/regions/ Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Are you interested in learning more about the research activities in your area? Click on the different countries on the map to discover FP7 at work. frenz.org.nz42 http://ec.europa.eu/research/energy/pdf/09_07_euratom.pdf Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 This brochure provides an outline of the first batch of nuclear research and training activities funded by the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Atomic Energy Community. frenz.org.nz43 http://cordis.europa.eu/search/index Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The course is for advanced students/early post-docs working in the field of signal transduction with a specific interest in signal transduction in processes related to cancer. All participants are expected to present a poster. Applications should include a short CV, motivation and an abstract. frenz.org.nz44 http://www.iaga2009sopron.hu/ Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The meeting will be composed of a variety of lectures and symposia covering some of the following topics and many more: Planetary dynamos, Consequences of ionospheric-magnetospheric processes on magnetotelluric response functions, Continental lithospheric formation and deformation, Near surface and environmental studies using electromagnetic induction, Crustal tectonic processes constrained by electromagnetic observations, Developments in magnetic anisotropy, Palaeointensity and archaeointensity, Rock magnetism, Environmental magnetism and biomagnetism. This year's event is organised by the Geodetic and Geophysical Research Institute of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences frenz.org.nz45 http://ki.se/spetses2009/ Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The school consists of lectures, workshops, tutorial group discussions, student poster sessions and oral presentations. Workshops will focus not only on specific scientific topics, methods, concepts and future directions, but also career development. The summer school is funded by the Federation of European Biochemical Societies and the EU-funded CRESCENDO ('Consortium for research into nuclear receptors in development and ageing') project and organised in collaboration with the CASCADE Network of Excellence. frenz.org.nz46 http://www.my-groups.de/gecon2009 Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The aim of this workshop is to discuss issues associated with the development of a common market for resources, suggest future directions of research and extensions to existing technologies, and look at the successful deployment of a commercial, service-oriented market for (computing, software, data) resources. GECON is sponsored by GRIDECON ('Grid Economics and Business Models'), a project funded by the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6). GRIDECON explores the perceived economic barriers to the adoption of grid computing by industry and small to medium enterprises across Europe. frenz.org.nz47 http://www.nem-summit.eu/ Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The event, organised by the NEM European Technology Platform under the aegis of the European Commission Directorate-General for Information Society and Media, will be dedicated to the following subjects: electronic media content, distributed media applications, new media delivery networks and network services, user devices and terminals, and NEM enabling technologies. frenz.org.nz48 http://www.knt.co.jp/ec/2007/wc6/organdcommittee.html Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 The congress has the motto 'Calling on Science' in order to emphasize that scientific progress today goes hand in hand with progress towards the reduction, refinement and replacement of experimental animals (the 3-R's). frenz.org.nz49 http://www.ufz.de/index Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 There is an urgent need to improve our practical and theoretical understanding of land and water degradation processes; in particular the physical, chemical and biological deterioration of soils and water bodies in various regions of the world. frenz.org.nz50 http://www.hesiglobal.org/i4a/pages/index Fri, 24 Jul 2009 10:30:00 +1200 Special emphasis will be given to development and evaluation of alternative in vitro models that have the potential to significantly reduce the use of laboratory animals.  The outcome of the symposium is to identify promising approaches and identify gaps that need to be addressed in order to implement genomic approaches into a new safety evaluation strategy for drugs and chemicals that will satisfy current and future demands. frenz.org.nz24 http://www.rcpi.public-i.tv/site/player/pl_compact.php?a=27721%20&%20t=%20&%20m=wm%20&%20l=en_GB#data_area Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:10:00 +1200 NZ researchers are invited to join a complimentary eBroadcast on "The Importance of FP7 to Ireland’s Researchers" and "Strategic Approaches to Maximising FP7 Participation" chaired by Mark Little, RTE, current affairs reporter, broadcaster and author. To be broadcast on 30 June, 2009, 10 AM GMT (30 June, 10pm NZ time), panel members will include Ireland’s leading industrial and academic FP7 participants. Hear about FP7 from the perspective of multinational corporations, small medium enterprises and publicly funded research institutes. Discussions will include the role of FP7 in Ireland’s Strategy for Science, Technology and Innovation as well as the impact of the current economic environment. To access the webcast visit the link above. frenz.org.nz23 http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0905/S00104.htm Mon, 11 May 2009 11:15:00 +1200 NZ Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Hon Dr Wayne Mapp, issued a media statement on 6 May to announce the success of NZ researchers in the 2008 call for the EC’s International Research Science Exchange Scheme (IRSES). The IRSES scheme will allow the successful New Zealand researchers to work in European research organisations for extended periods. In return, the New Zealand organisations will host European scientists on reciprocal visits. With six projects involving New Zealand research organisations, among the 59 put forward for funding, Dr Mapp said that the success of proposals highlights NZ’s international research standing. Two projects involve the University of Canterbury, one involves both the University of Canterbury and the University of Otago, and Crown Research Institutes, Plant and Food Research, Scion and NIWA are each involved in one successful project. The areas of research covered by the proposals include climate change, collaborative relationships from forestry, development of aquaculture, and the genomics involved in growing red-coloured apples. The successful New Zealand proposals were made in partnership with researchers from a number of other countries including the United Kingdom, Greece, Norway, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Finland, Spain, France, Portugal, and Israel (all from European Commission funding); and, Japan, China, and the United States, and Australia (normally with their own funds). Participation of the NZ groups is supported by the NZ Government, through the IRSES Counterpart fund. The announcement of the successful projects was delayed until negotiation of all project contracts was completed. Further information: http://scoop.co.nz/stories/PA0905/S00104.htm frenz.org.nz22 http://www.frenz.org.nz/framework_docs_finance.html Mon, 11 May 2009 11:15:00 +1200 On 23 March 2009, the European Commission adopted a decision providing for the use of flat rates (often classed as per diems) to cover subsistence costs of travel made in FP7 Grant Agreements. The decision complies with other FP7 regulations (such as the Rules for Participation), and is part of a move toward greater use of flat rates and lump sums to simplify FP7 financial management. Essentially, the flat rates that may be used by FP7 participants are those used by EC staff when they, themselves, are on mission (business travel). Rates are specified for the maximum costs that can be reimbursed for food, accommodation, travel, and other items (such as internet access) in most countries, and should – at a minimum – be used as a guide for NZ participants in FP7 projects. A list of the current rates is available on the FRENZ website. In order that potential beneficiaries may (optionally) make use of these rates, the opportunity to use flat rates must be specifically mentioned in the 2010 Work Programmes, expected to be launched with the 2010 calls for proposals in July 2009. For further information visit: http://www.frenz.org.nz/framework_docs_finance.html frenz.org.nz21 http://www.frenz.org.nz/framework_ecexpert.html Thu, 7 May 2009 11:25:00 +1200 With the new calls for proposals expected at the end of July 2009, and deadlines from November, the European Commission will be looking to identify new evaluators. Evaluators in NZ have the advantage that we are independent from the European system and, given the relatively small number of projects involving NZ, we are generally independent from the Framework Programme itself. As such, researchers who can illustrate strong skills and knowledge have an excellent chance to be selected as evaluators. As with many such opportunities, getting selected means registering your interest, and showcasing your talents. Thus, in order that the EC may select you for the evaluation of proposals, you must first be registered in the EC’s expert database. It is possible both for organisations to register their key staff, and for researchers to register individually. Please visit http://www.frenz.org.nz/framework_ecexpert.html for further information. frenz.org.nz20 http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/mariecurious/index.htm Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:00:00 +1200 The European Commission has relaunched their Marie Curie mobility website (Are you Marie Curious?) to encourage more researchers to take up these excellent career development opportunities.The new site – which includes the Marie Curie YouTube video – is complemented by an updated version of the online pocket guide to European Research Careers through Marie Curie Actions. The calls for the Incoming and Outgoing International Fellowships are open now, with a deadline of 18 August 2009. Are you Marie Curious?: http://ec.europa.eu/research/mariecurieactions/mariecurious/index.htm. Online and downloadable versions of the pocket guide: http://ec.europa.eu/research/fp7/understanding/marie-curieinbrief/home_en.html frenz.org.nz51 http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/events-49_en.html Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:00:00 +1200 On Friday 5th June, the European Commission will deliver a one-day conference aimed at informing the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) research communities about the changes that will take place in FP7 workprogrammes from 2010 to 2013. This event is timely, in that the next calls for proposals (from the 2010 workprogramme) is due to be launched at the end of July 2009. Participation at the conference is free, and on a first-come, first-served basis. However, given the limitation on place – not to mention the distance for NZ participants! – the session will also be web-streamed , live, from 7pm NZ time. Both the programme and registration are available at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/events-49_en.html frenz.org.nz52 http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/pdf/synopses-fp7-ssh-projects-2007-2009_en.pdf Wed, 29 Apr 2009 10:00:00 +1200 The European Commission has published the outlines of all of the projects selected in the 2007-2009 calls for proposals in the Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities (SSH) fields. It is hoped that, in doing this, the research community will be better informed about existing activities, and be in the position to add value, in terms of future research. In addition to providing a project abstract, and details of the project consortium and coordinator, the directory contains information on the type of project and budget. This information should assist NZ researchers looking to get engaged with future research projects by identifying ‘repeat offenders’: those organizations that are frequently involved in successful partnerships. The brochure is available for download at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/pdf/synopses-fp7-ssh-projects-2007-2009_en.pdf . A similar directory of Science in Society project from 2008 is available at: http://ec.europa.eu/research/social-sciences/pdf/dirl-highlightsoftheyear2008_en.pdf frenz.org.nz19 http://www.frenz.org.nz/news.html Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:45:00 +1200 The 2008 Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) project Constructive Mathematics: Proof and Computation (CONSTRUMATH), involving researchers from the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Canterbury (UC), New Zealand, has recently been approved for launch by the European Commission. Please follow the link above for the full project profile. frenz.org.nz18 http://www.ideal-ist.net Tue, 24 Mar 2009 10:50:00 GMT Ideal-ist, the key international partner search tool for ICT projects in the Framework Programme (FP7), has, for the first time opened this partner search service for the ICT Policy Support Programme (or ICT PSP). The third ICT call for proposals, closing on 2 June 2009, has a budget of 99.5 million EUR. Ideal-ist has focussed on the improvement of cooperation with other networks, organisations and initiatives. The tool may also be used to identify partners for the second Artemis Call 2009, opened on 26 February with deadline for submission of Project Outlines on 15th of April 2009; and the second ENIAC Call for Project Proposals, expected at the end of March 2009. frenz.org.nz17 http://www.frenz.org.nz/framework_open_calls.html Fri, 20 Mar 2009 12:50:00 GMT A call for proposals for Marie Curie Fellowships within the FP7 People Specific Programme was published on CORDIS on the 18th of March 2009. The call encompasses: Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships (IIF), Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development (IOF), and Intra-European Fellowships for Career Development, (IEF). Details are available from the FRENZ call information page or, alternatively, please consult the CORDIS People Specific Programme calls for proposals. CORDIS’ individual call pages offer the call fiche, work programme, guide for applicants and FP7 factsheets documents for downloading, as well as the Electronic Proposal Submission Service (EPSS). The deadline set for this round of Marie Curie Fellowship calls is the 18th of August 2009. Should you require more information, of if you wish to receive any assistance in submitting a Marie Currie Fellowship proposal, please contact the FRENZ Director, carole.glynn@frenz.org.nz. frenz.org.nz16 http://www.frenz.org.nz Thu, 19 Mar 2009 10:00:00 GMT FRENZ has received a new version of the draft 2010 workprogramme for the Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology theme of the Cooperation programme of FP7. Dated February 2009, this version breaks project topics into three main areas: Sustainable production and management of biological resources, Fork to farm - Food, health and well being, and Life sciences, biotechnology and biochemistry for sustainable non-food products and processes. Within the text, there are two topics that encourage NZ participation in coordination and support activities (not research) to: exchange information, share objectives and create links between the respective programmes (mapping and comparisons of on-going activities…); organise multilateral networking and partnership initiatives among on-going projects from each programme (including project-twinning activities, valorisation of research results and transfer of results to end users…) and discuss and formulate co-ordinated research agendas, jointly plan and possibly implement future initiatives in a concerted manner, in order to tackle these global issues via world-wide co-ordinated efforts. The draft makes mention of a joint call: 'Ocean of Tomorrow', which includes three topics of a cross-thematic nature. As yet, there is no indicative budget or timetable, although it expected that the call should be launched in late July. No further information. frenz.org.nz15 http://www.frenz.org.nz Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:50:00 GMT FRENZ has received information relating to the 2009 call for Marie Curie International Outgoing Fellowships, which allow European researchers to travel to non-European countries - such as NZ - for a period of 1-2 years to carry out a research project with a view toward career development. The stay in the third country is followed by a 1-year return to Europe to allow the transfer of the knowledge gained overseas to Europe. In the 2009 call, which closed in August 2008, 446 proposals were received. Of these, 2 proposals were withdrawn from the evaluation, and a further 3 were deemed to be ineligible: 2 did not meet the eligibility criteria, and 1 was transferred to the Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) scheme. Of the 441 proposals evaluated, 110 proposals (25%) were recommended for funding, and a further 38 (8.6%) were placed on a reserve list. Of the 293 (66.4%) proposals rejected, 203 were above the overall 70% threshold, and 90 beneath it. Thus, only 20% of proposals were deemed to be of poor quality. The success rate of 25% is in line with the E’s expectations. However, the success rate may increase for the 2010 call (launched 18 March 2009, deadline 18 August 2009) since the funding level for the call is expected to be raised from 25 to 28 million euros. In terms of NZ participation, 18 proposals were evaluated for European researchers hoping to come to NZ, and 5 have gone forward for funding. Thus the success rate for researchers coming to NZ is almost 28% - a little higher than the overall rate for this call. Of the 5 successful researchers involved, 3 are from Spain, 1 from France, and 1 from Austria. Further information: contact FRENZ frenz.org.nz14 http://www.frenz.org.nz Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:50:00 GMT Results of the International Incoming Fellowships 2009 FRENZ has received information relating to the 2009 call for Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships, which allow researchers from non-European countries to go to Europe for a period of 1-2 years to carry out a research project with a view toward transfer of knowledge to Europe. In the 2009 call, which closed in August 2008, 670 proposals were received. Of these, 3 proposals were withdrawn from the evaluation, and a further 8 were deemed to be ineligible: : 1 did not meet the eligibility criteria, and 7 were transferred to the Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) scheme (possibly where researchers had joint nationality and the IEF was considered to be more appropriate). Two proposals were transferred from the Intra-European Fellowship scheme. Of the 661 proposals evaluated, 140 proposals (21.2%) were recommended for funding, and a further 46 (7%) were placed on a reserve list. Of the 475 (71.9%) proposals rejected, 284 were above the overall 70% threshold, and 191 beneath it. Thus, almost 29% of proposals were deemed to be of poor quality. The success rate of 21.2% is lower than the ‘normal’ 25% that the EC prefers, and this may be due to the higher than normal level of poor proposals. However, the success rate is likely to increase for the 2010 call (launched 18 March 2009, deadline 18 August 2009) since the funding level for the call is expected to be raised from 25 to 28 million euros. In terms of NZ participation, 7 proposals from NZ researchers were evaluated, of which 3 have gone forward for funding, giving a NZ success rate of almost 43% - double the overall rate for this call. The three NZ-based researchers will go to France, Greece and Sweden for their fellowships. Further information: contact FRENZ frenz.org.nz0014 http://www.frenz.org.nz/sevices_visits.html Wed, 18 Mar 2009 09:39:00 GMT Results of the International Incoming Fellowships 2009 FRENZ has received information relating to the 2009 call for Marie Curie International Incoming Fellowships, which allow researchers from non-European countries to go to Europe for a period of 1-2 years to carry out a research project with a view toward transfer of knowledge to Europe. In the 2009 call, which closed in August 2008, 670 proposals were received. Of these, 3 proposals were withdrawn from the evaluation, and a further 8 were deemed to be ineligible: : 1 did not meet the eligibility criteria, and 7 were transferred to the Intra-European Fellowships (IEF) scheme (possibly where researchers had joint nationality and the IEF was considered to be more appropriate). Two proposals were transferred from the Intra-European Fellowship scheme. Of the 661 proposals evaluated, 140 proposals (21.2%) were recommended for funding, and a further 46 (7%) were placed on a reserve list. Of the 475 (71.9%) proposals rejected, 284 were above the overall 70% threshold, and 191 beneath it. Thus, almost 29% of proposals were deemed to be of poor quality. The success rate of 21.2% is lower than the ‘normal’ 25% that the EC prefers, and this may be due to the higher than normal level of poor proposals. However, the success rate is likely to increase for the 2010 call (launched 18 March 2009, deadline 18 August 2009) since the funding level for the call is expected to be raised from 25 to 28 million euros. In terms of NZ participation, 7 proposals from NZ researchers were evaluated, of which 3 have gone forward for funding, giving a NZ success rate of almost 43% - double the overall rate for this call. The three NZ-based researchers will go to France, Greece and Sweden for their fellowships. Further information: contact FRENZ frenz.org.nz13 http://www.frenz.org.nz/sevices_visits.html Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:55:00 GMT Carole Glynn, FRENZ Director, will visit GNS in Upper Hutt from 1-2pm on Wednesday 25 February 2009 to discuss NZ participation in FP7 to date, and opportunities for researcher engagement with Europe in the coming months. Interested GNS staff should contact Bronwyn Davies to register their interest: b.davies@gns.cri.nz. frenz.org.nz09 http://www.frenz.org.nz/sevices_visits.html Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:55:00 GMT Carole Glynn, FRENZ Director, will visit the University of Waikato from 9.30am-3.30pm on Friday 27 February 2009 - and again on Tuesday 10 March - to discuss NZ participation in FP7 to date, and opportunities for further University of Waikato researcher engagement with Europe in the coming months. Interested Waikato researchers should contact Jan Bates for further information, or to arrange an individual meeting: RGTY1014@waikato.ac.nz. frenz.org.nz08 http://www.frenz.org.nz/sevices_visits.html Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:55:00 GMT Carole Glynn, FRENZ Director, will visit Landcare Research in Lincoln from 1-2pm (time can be extended) on Monday 2 March 2009 to present on NZ participation in FP7 to date, and opportunities for researcher engagement with Europe in the coming months. Interested Landcare Research staff should contact Diane O'Conner for further information, or to arrange a one to one appointment: OconnorD@landcareresearch.co.nz. frenz.org.nz07 http://www.frenz.org.nz/sevices_visits.html Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:55:00 GMT Carole Glynn, FRENZ Director, will visit the University of Canterbury on Tuesday 3 March 2009 to present on NZ participation in FP7 to date, and opportunities for researcher engagement with Europe in the coming months. Interested UoC researchers should contact Lisa Shorey for further information, or to arrange a one to one appointment: lisa.shorey@canterbury.ac.nz. frenz.org.nz06 http://www.frenz.org.nz/sevices_visits.html Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:55:00 GMT Carole Glynn, FRENZ Director, will visit the Institute of Environmental Science and Research (ESR) on Wedensday 4 March 2009 to present on NZ participation in FP7 to date, and opportunities for researcher engagement with Europe in the coming months. Interested ESR researchers should contact Stephen On for further information, or to arrange a one to one appointment: Stephen.On@esr.cri.nz. In addition, Carole will visit ESR in Porirua on Monday 16 March 2009. Please contact Carole Glynn for further details: carole.glynn@frenz.org.nz. frenz.org.nz05 http://www.frenz.org.nz/sevices_visits.html Mon, 23 Feb 2009 12:55:00 GMT Carole Glynn, FRENZ Director, will visit the NIWA on Monday 16 March 2009 to discuss NZ participation in FP7 to date, and opportunities for researcher engagement with Europe in the coming months. Interested NIWA researchers should contact Carole Glynn for further details: carole.glynn@frenz.org.nz. frenz.org.nz04 http://www.genomicsinbusiness2009.com Mon, 09 Feb 2009 10:00:00 GMT Explore the latest innovations and business strategies of genomics in the agro and food industry. April 19-21, 2009, Koepelchurch and Renaissance Hotel, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. CONFIRMED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS: Cynthia P. Schneider PhD, U.S.A. - Distinguished Professor in the practice of diplomacy, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University, Former US ambassador to the Netherlands. Barbara J. Mazur PhD, U.S.A. - Vice President Research Strategy, Pioneer Hy-Bred International Inc. Xiao-Ya Chen PhD, China - Professor, National Key Lab of Plant Mol. Genetics, Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology, SIBS, Chinese Academy of Sciences. Mark Mansour, U.S.A. - Partner, Bryan Cave LLP. Prof.dr. Arjen van Tunen, the Netherlands - CEO, Keygene N.V. OTHER PRESENTING COMPANIES: RainDance Technologies Inc. - U.S.A., Life Sciences Partners - the Netherlands, Unilever Research - the Netherlands, Florigene PTY Ltd. - Australia, Bayer CropScience SA - France, Dow AgroSciences LLC - U.S.A., Crop Design N.V. - Belgium. MAIN TOPICS: Agro food industry and business models, enabling technologies that drive industry, plant based economy, food quality, safety and nutrigenomics, health products, new high throughput technologies - sequencing and screening, DNA diagnostics, plant breeding traits for the future. For futher details please email leon.mur@genomicsinbusiness2009.com or visit www.genomicsinbusiness2009.com. frenz.org.nz03 http://webgate.ec.europa.eu/sesam Wed, 04 Feb 2009 10:00:00 GMT The EC has launched a new, online system (FORCE) to allow FP6 and FP7 project coordinators to submit their Form C financial statements electronically. Part of the SESAM project management application suite, the system will be further developed to allow all partners to prepare and submit their financial statements online. At present, the FORCE system is option for FP6 projects, but is already mandatory for use in FP7 reporting. SESAM: http://webgate.ec.europa.eu/sesam. Further details: In both FP6 and FP7 project reporting, a financial statement must be submitted by each partner at the end of each period. This is normally done through the completion of the Form C (annex to the contract/grant agreement), with an accompanying Excel spreadsheet. However, the European Commission has just launched a new web based application, called FORCE, that allows coordinators to access, complete and submit forms C. It is expected that in later versions of the application, other partners will also be able to view, edit and print their own Form C). For FP6 project: although it is still possible to submit Forms C through an excel sheet, it is highly recommended by the EC to use FORCE for financial statement submission from now on. For FP7 projects: it is now mandatory to use the FORCE web-based application to submit Form C. FORCE is accessible via the EC’s online reporting tool, SESAM, at http://webgate.ec.europa.eu/sesam. To access FORCE, coordinators must create an account in SESAM and indicate the link to their project. FORCE is available for all FP7 projects managed by the Directorates-General Research (RTD) and Enterprise and Industry (ENTR). In Directorate-General Energy and Transport (TREN), FORCE should be also available in a near future. It should also be noted that, due to internal operational reasons at the EC, the mechanism to access Form C is slightly different for Directorate-General Information Society (INFSO) projects. However the Form C is the same. For any technical question on the use of FORCE, please send your request to the IT Helpdesk at the following E-mail address: EC-FP7-IT-HELPDESK@ec.europa.eu. frenz.org.nz01 http://www.frenz.org.nz/sevices_visits.html Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:30:00 GMT Carole Glynn, FRENZ Director, will visit UNITEC in Auckland from 10am-2pm on 18 February 2009, to discuss NZ participation in FP7 to date, and opportunities for UNITEC researcher engagement with Europe in the coming months. Interested UNITEC researchers should contact Stephen Cox for further information: scox@unitec.ac.nz. frenz.org.nz02 http://www.frenz.org.nz/sevices_visits.html Tue, 27 Jan 2009 12:30:00 GMT Carole Glynn, FRENZ Director, will visit the Victoria University of Wellington Research office from 12-2pm on 10 February 2009, to discuss NZ participation in FP7 to date, and opportunities for further VUW researcher engagement with Europe in the coming months. Interested VUW researchers should contact Anne-Marie Rowe for further information, or to arrange a meeting later that afternoon: Anne-Marie.Rowe@vuw.ac.nz. frenz.org.nz1 http://www.frenz.org.nz Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT Carole Glynn, FRENZ Director, will visit AgResearch in Lincoln on 4 February 2009, to present on NZ participation in FP7 to date, with a view to future AgResearch engagement. Specific attention will be given to the future Cooperation calls in Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology, and Environment; and to the IRSES and Fellowships components of the People programme. This session will be electronically linked to other AgResearch campuses. Interested AgResearch researchers should contact Marie Fairbairn for further information: Marie.Fairbairn@agresearch.co.nz. The IRSES (International Research Staff Exchange Scheme) looks to connect at least two groups in different countries in Europe with at least one from a designated list of other countries (including NZ) through a series of secondment visits of several researchers EU-NZ and NZ-EU over 3 years or so. {Deadline March 2009}. The Marie Curie Fellowships seek to allow either European researchers to travel to other countries (NZ) for 1-2 years to carry out a project utilising the specific skills and knowledge available in NZ, and then transfer that knowledge back to Europe through a 1 year return fellowship (International Outgoing Fellowship); or else allow a top non-European (NZ) researcher to undertake a research project for 1-2 years in Europe with the express purpose of transferring his/her knowledge to Europe (International Incoming Fellowship). {Deadline August 2009} frenz.org.nz2 http://www.frenz.org.nz Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT Carole Glynn, FRENZ Director, will visit the University of Auckland on 28 January 2009, to work with researchers developing proposals for the International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) in advance of the 29 March 2009 deadline. University of Auckland researchers should contact Emma Kelly, in the Research Office, should they wish to attend, or have other issues that they would like to raise with Carole during her visit: e.kelly@auckland.ac.nz. The IRSES programme looks to connect at least two groups in different countries in Europe with at least one from a designated list of other countries (including NZ) through a series of secondment visits of several researchers EU-NZ and NZ-EU over 3 years or so. {Deadline March 2009} frenz.org.nz3 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:000197-2009:TEXT:EN:HTML The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research has issued a call for tenders for the establishment of an internet-based information platform on science education. The successful tenderer is expected not only to establish an internet-based information platform for the dissemination of information and best practices regarding inquiry-based teaching methods. The contract also includes translation services in all EU languages in this context and the organisation of an international conference. frenz.org.nz4 http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:000193-2009:TEXT:EN:HTML Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT The European Commission's Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries has published a call for tenders on studies and pilot projects for carrying out the Common Fisheries Policy. The tender involves four service contracts on a number of topics relating to the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy. frenz.org.nz5 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:000197-2009:TEXT:EN:HTML The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research has issued a call for tenders for the establishment of an internet-based information platform on science education. The successful tenderer is expected not only to establish an internet-based information platform for the dissemination of information and best practices regarding inquiry-based teaching methods. The contract also includes translation services in all EU languages in this context and the organisation of an international conference. frenz.org.nz6 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT http://ted.europa.eu/udl?uri=TED:NOTICE:330011-2008:TEXT:EN:HTML The European Commission's Directorate-General for Information Society and Media has issued a call for tenders for a study which will identify: the potential economic and social impacts of software and services within the future Internet; the elements that are determinant for growth and competitiveness; and the actions that need to be taken to implement them. The study is expected to provide a substantial result which will be directly implementable through policy initiatives, after considering the state of the software and services sectors throughout the EU. frenz.org.nz7 http://www.frenz.org.nz Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT Identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2009-RG Publication Date: 09 October 2008 Budget: € 31 000 000 Deadline: 31 December 2009 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) Cut-Off dates: 08 October 2009 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) 02 April 2009 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) OJ Reference: OJ C256 of 09 October 2008 Coordinated call: No Joint call: No Technical Call: No Specific Programme(s): People Theme: PEOPLE Additional Information: After the second cut-off date (8 October 2009), the call remains open until a subsequent call is published but no longer than 31 December 2009 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time). frenz.org.nz8 http://www.frenz.org.nz Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT Identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IRSES Publication Date: 25 November 2008 Budget: € 30 000 000 Deadline: 27 March 2009 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) OJ Reference: OJ C302 of 25 November 2008 Coordinated call: No Joint call: No Technical Call: No Specific Programme(s): People Theme: PEOPLE frenz.org.nz9 http://www.frenz.org.nz Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT Identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-COFUND-2008 Publication Date: 19 November 2008 Budget: € 75 000 000 Deadline: 19 February 2009 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) OJ Reference: OJ C296 of 19 November 2008 Coordinated call: No Joint call: No Technical Call: No Specific Programme(s): People Theme: PEOPLE frenz.org.nz10 http://www.frenz.org.nz Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT Identifier: FP7-PEOPLE-2009-NIGHT Publication Date: 14 October 2008 Budget: € 3 000 000 Deadline: 14 January 2009 at 17:00:00 (Brussels local time) OJ Reference: OJ C261 of 14 October 2008 Coordinated call: No Joint call: No Technical Call: No Specific Programme(s): People Theme: PEOPLE frenz.org.nz11 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/calls/ The European Commission's Directorate General for Research has published a call for proposals for the Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES). The call is part of the 2009 People work programme of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7). The IRSES is a new type of action. It aims to strengthen research partnerships through staff exchanges and networking activities between European research organisations and organisations from countries with which the Community has a science and technology agreement or is in the process of negotiating one, and countries covered by the European Neighbourhood policy. It was first implemented in 2008. While existing Marie Curie actions promote mobility of individual researchers, this new scheme is designed to establish or reinforce long-term research cooperation through a coordinated joint programme of exchange of researchers for short periods. frenz.org.nz12 Tue, 20 Jan 2009 01:00:00 GMT http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/calls/ The European Commission's Directorate-General for Research has launched a number of calls for proposals under the 2008 and 2009 work programmes of the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and under the 2009 work programme of the Seventh Euratom Framework Programme for Nuclear Research and Training Activities. The calls address the following areas: - Information and Communication Technologies (ICT); - Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies; - European Research Council (ERC) Advanced Investigators Grant; - Marie Curie Co-Funding of Regional, National and International Programmes; - Nuclear Fission and Radiation Protection; - ERA-NET coordinated call (themes: Health; Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Biotechnology; Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies; Environment (including climate change); Socio-Economic Sciences and Humanities). There are also two joint calls, combining the following themes: - Nanosciences, Nanotechnologies, Materials and new Production Technologies/Environment (including climate change); - Information and Communication Technologies/Energy.