TheFP7-funded IncoNet EaP project has developed a grant scheme to financially support the participation of local researchers from Eastern Partnership countries in large-scale brokerage events and other similar activities in EU Member States or Associated Countries, which are related to Horizon2020. Such events provide an excellent arena for researchers to liaise and develop synergies, therefore the participation of researchers from the targeted countries will increase their opportunities to get involved and be taken onboard in consortia set up in EU MS/AC countries. It will also allow the researchers to make their institutions and/or their research networks better known.

The thematic priorities of the call are the three Societal Challenges targeted by the project, namely: 'Health', 'Energy' and 'Climate Change'. The events that can be chosen from will be: Networking events, Brokerage events organised by the European Commission, large international events organised by other European networks (e.g Enterprise Europe Network).

Guidelines for Applicants

• Complete Guidelines (.pdf)
• Application Form (.docx)
• Follow-up Report Form (.docx)

Eligibility criteria

These criteria have to be met in order to be eligible for participation:

• Be a member or an employee of a research institution/organisation and/or of a network of organisations and/or of a higher education institution and/or of an SME-enterprise working on research. The aim is that the participation will have a multiplier effect in the country and/or region.
• Conduct research in one of the partner countries (AM, AZ, BY, GE, MD, UA)
• Submit a completely filled in application form along with all the required documentation.
• Have a PhD degree and/or at least three years’ full time experience in research.
• Carry out research in one of Societal Challenges: Health, Energy or Climate Change.
• Speak English fluently.
• Have some international experience (already existing contacts in other countries, participation in previous international conferences and collaborations, etc.).
• Be committed to participate in a particular Horizon2020 call.

Evaluation criteria

• Scientific excellence/Research performance (publications, patents, project, etc.) (40% of the score)
• Previous international cooperation activities (projects and/or structured cooperation with other countries; trainings abroad; participation in international conferences, etc.) (20% of the score)
• Commitment to participate in a particular Horizon2020 Call, commitment to take full advantage of the participation in the event: expected outcome, concrete plans for cooperation, participation in Horizon2020 calls should be described in more detail (40% of the score)
  
  Additional evaluation criteria:
• Gender: Encouragement of female researchers to participate
• Encouragement of young researchers
• Additional activities planned during the event (e.g. giving a presentation, taking part in a poster session, submitting a partner search profile, scheduling a bilateral meeting etc.)

Important dates

Deadline for submission: 31 October 2016
Latest date of the selected event: 30 November 2016

Selection Process  

Formality and eligibility check
The Local IncoNet EaP Partner will be responsible for the formality and eligibility check. Applications

Evaluation
The evaluation, based on a specified scoring matrix (see below) will be carried out by the Local Partners, the Task Leader and the Coordinator.

Funding Requirements

The Grants will be paid by the Local Partner as a reimbursement for travel costs (travel, accommodation, event participation fee, visa costs and per diem or actual expenses in accordance to Local Partner rules). The Grant cannot exceed 1,500 euro.

If the cost of participation exceeds this amount, the additional cost must be borne by the Grant recipient.

An advance payment up to 75% of the budget may be paid to the Grant recipients (covering travel, accommodation and visa) while the remaining costs (per diem, actual expenses during stay, according to the Local Partner rules) will be reimbursed upon the return of the researcher and the handing of the participation evidence and related documents (Event Participation Report) to the Local partner.

Contact

Please get in touch with the Local Partner in your country for any questions regarding the eligibility criteria and the application process:

• Armenia: Tigran Arzumanyan
• Azerbaijan: Firuza Khalilova
• Belarus: Olga Meerovskaya
• Georgia: Nikoloz Bakradze
• Moldova: Diana Grozav
• Ukraine: Olena Koval ,