20.05.2009 - 10.07.2009

Collaborative Call 2009

1 - Objectives and background information

In a Memorandum of Intentions signed 14 March 2008 the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM) have agreed to

• to promote cooperation between research centers, universities and research groups and to broaden relations between the scientific communities in the both countries;
• to strengthen the cooperation in the field of exchange of scholars, scientists and specialists for study and research visits, and visits in connection with agreed joint activities;
• to encourage cooperative projects of common interest between institutions and organizations of both parties and to foster in particular  the optimum use of the opportunities offered by the European R&D Programmes.

In the framework of the German-Moldovan cooperation in science and technology the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (ASM) jointly launch an Open Call for collaborative research projects. 

2 - What is funded?

Funded are collaborative research projects for a duration of 12 months, with a budget of up to € 35,000 each, shared between Germany (approximately € 25,000) and Moldova (approximately € 10,000).

In line with the respective research priorities of the BMBF and the ASM, applications in the following fields of research can be submitted

1. Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society;
2. Information and communications technologies;
3. Biomedicine, pharmaceutics and human health
4. Agricultural biotechnologies and food security
5. Nanotechnologies, industrial engineering and new materials
6. Environment and renewable energy sources.

The project proposal must encompass 2 components:

1. basic research component; and
2. a pre-feasibility study component for further collaborative research project proposals under future bilateral calls or other programmes such as the EU Research Framework Programmes (FP7).

3 - Who can receive funding and funding requirements?

In Germany, German universities, non-university research institutions, clinics which are active in the field of research and companies that are headquartered in Germany are eligible for funding.
In Moldova research institutes and universities accredited by the National Council for Attestation and Accreditation.

The project consortium must comprise at least one team from a German research institute and one team from a Moldovan accredited organization in the sphere of science and innovations;

• The Moldovan team must involve not less than 50 % of young researchers (up to 35 years);
• Members of the team from Moldova should conduct their research work at least 50 % of the time at their home institution;

4 - What is the funding procedure?

The funding will be provided by both countries on a proportionate basis.

The German Federal Ministry for Education and Research has charged the International Bureau of the BMBF with the implementation of this call. In Moldova, the Supreme Council for Research and Technological Development, Academy of Sciences of Moldova is responsible for the implementation of the call.

On the German side, the funding is awarded in the form of non-repayable grants, for example for

• Travel expenses for German experts travelling to the partner countries (primarily the provision of plane tickets, to be calculated in the financial plan with € 600 per travel)
• Cost of visits by foreign experts to Germany (currently at a rate of €104 per day; monthly rate starting on the 23rd day: €2,400; per diem for additional days in a subsequent month:  €77)

Funding can also be provided for

• Staff for the German side, for example for the organization of events and the preparation of applications
• Cost of events (e.g. rental of venue, logistics)
• Material costs that are not part of a laboratory's basic equipment (no PC equipment or basic consumables) 

On the Moldovan side

• Additional salaries for Moldovan researchers
• Purchase of equipment and materials
• Travel costs of researchers from Moldova visiting Germany (economy class flight tickets, train tickets)
• Local transport expenses and per diem for German researchers visiting Moldova.

5 - Application procedure

5.1 Application

In Germany, applications should be submitted using the electronic application form available under http://www.ewa.internationales-buero.de/?project_cat=WTZ and 1 paper copy version with signatures in the English language sent to the International Bureau. 

In Moldova, applications should be submitted using the electronic submission system www.expert.asm.md and 2 paper copies with signatures in the Romanian language to the Center of International Projects of the ASM by using the application form available on the www.asm.md website.

Applications should describe the objectives and the measures necessary for preparing the project in as much detail as possible and should be structured as follows:

• Topic
• Coordinator
• Partners involved
• Summary (and  the name of the programme funding programme that the pre-feasibility study component is aimed at)
• Structured financing plan with details of the applicants' own funding contributions and of the total volume and funding volume of the proposed project
• Project description
  • Description of the scientific objectives (and an account of how the project relates to funding programme that the pre-feasibility study component  is aimed at)
  • Nature and extent of the proposed cooperation
• Work plan
  • Work packages
  • Division of the work packages between the partners
  • Time planning
• Reasons for cooperation
  • Previous work together
  • Quality of the proposed collaboration and recognizable value added of the collaboration for both partners
  • Possibilities for commercialization of the envisaged project results
• Qualifications of the project coordinator and the project partners
  • Key areas of relevant work to date
  • Most important relevant publications / patents
• Participation of young scientists

6 - Decision-making procedure

The submission of an application does not establish a legal claim to funding.
Proposals will be reviewed independently by the German and the Moldovan side.  Only proposals approved by both partners will be funded.

6.1 Selection criteria

Applications will be considered on the basis of the following criteria:

• The relevance of the research subject to the research policy objectives and priorities of the BMBF and the ASM
• Quality and originality of the envisaged research approach
• Qualifications of the project partners
• Quality of the planned collaboration and recognizable added value added for both partners
• Prospects of success and sustainability of the project initiation / pilot measures
• Chances of commercializing the envisaged project results
• Participation of young scientists
• Profitability / efficiency of the measure

6.2 Application deadlines

Deadline for the submission of applications (receival of signed hard copies) is 10 July 2009. The projects shall start 1 January 2010.

7 - Information and advice

Contact information for the International Bureau of the BMBF
Internationales Büro des BMBF
beim Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e. V. (DLR)
Heinrich-Konen-Straße 1,
D-53227 Bonn
Internet: http://www.internationales-buero.de

Contact partner:
Dr. Anja Köhler
Phone: +49-228-3821 458
Fax: +49-228-3821 444
E-mail: anja.koehler@dlr.de

Contact information ASM
Centrul Proiecte Internationale al ASM
Bd. Stefan cel Mare 1, biroul 334
MD-2001, Chisinau
Internet: www.asm.md; www.international.asm.md

Contact person:
Elena Brinza
Tel./fax: +373 22 577707, 271671
E-mail: intprojects@asm.md