An EU COFUND program2014-2018

Promote international collaboration in both academic and industrial environments

Encourage postdoctoral fellows to work in a foreign country in order to maximize their career development

To promote and support European science and scientists

Aim of COFUND

Program OutlineRequirements Resources

• Fellow to apply to host institution in a different country, either: • Incoming to the EU• Outgoing to other EU or

Third Country• Reintegration after being

away for 2-3 years

• PhD or equivalent to 4 years’ full time research experience

• 40% of salary and bench fee plus annual travel stipend are provided by WHRI-Academy

• Remaining funding (60%) is granted by any other funding (local, national, Research Council funds, collaboration with industry, etc. excluding EU grants) the Host institution holds

Application Process Fellow freely chooses a research topic within

the Life Science domain, upon agreement with the host supervisor

Fellow submits application, including personal statement and research proposal

Application is judged by three experts and awarded by the evaluation panel

• Call opens• Fellow registers on website and downloads

“Expression of interest” (EoI) form

• Fellow contacts Host organisation (established or future) and sends EoI form

• Host approves idea (and if not a member already then enrols as Host in WHRI-Academy)

• Host commits to funding

• Fellow and Host prepares application• Fellow submits application

Application process3 m

on

ths

Applicants

Evaluation Panel

Eligibility check by PO

Evaluation Committee selects suitably qualified Evaluation Panels

Evaluation Results and Report

Evaluation Panel

Evaluation Panel

Evaluation Panel

Evaluation Panel

Consensus Meeting

Consensus Meeting

Consensus Meeting

Consensus Meeting

Consensus Meeting

Ethics Advisory

Panel

Evaluation process

Currently 26 partner institutions are included for hosting, and additional Hosts can be added if required

Hosts will guarantee 60% of funding for the fellowship and provide appropriate regular reports

Mentoring and personal development opportunities must be provided

Attendance of courses for own and WHRI-Academy other fellows is provided

At least one publication from each fellowship is expected

Host Institutions

France◦ Fixed amount is received per year whatever is the

actual salary:

Finances

Total EU provides

Salary €67,338 €26,935.2

Consumables €17,415* €6,966

Travel €1,741.5* €696.6

Total €86,494.5 €34,597.8

* Must be fully provided to the fellow

Not more than 12 months in the last 36 months in Host country at the closing day of the grant call

Minimum 1 year, maximum 3 years, but not beyond grant (31st Dec 2018)

Needs formal salary either in Host country or Home country

PhD or min 4y post university and showing research activity

Eligibility requirements for fellow

Visiting fellow comes to your lab for 1-3y with salary paid in her/his foreign home institution – eligible

You send a fellow from your group abroad for 1-3y – eligible (ie foreign host lab will receive the money)

You have foreign fellow already in your lab for >1y – not eligible

Foreign fellow arrives for 6 months visit – not eligible

Scenarios

Host Institutions – can be extended!

Four Open Calls: March 2014, September 2014, March 2015, September 2015*

Calls for Applicants

Timeline: Preliminary application and discussion with Host ~

3 months Application to meet one of the four deadlines Evaluation ~ 3 months** Start of project 0-6 months after results announced Project length must be a minimum of 12 months,

maximum of 36 months (must finish by end of EU Grant Dec 2018)

*provisional dates

**Projects involving Human embryonic stem cells must go through EU Ethics Committee assessment (~3 additional months)

Project coordinator◦ admin@WHRI-academy.eu

Financial coordinator◦ g.dow@qmul.ac.uk

WHRI-ACADEMY overall organiser◦ m.korbonits@qmul.ac.uk

Website (under construction)◦ www.WHRI-academy.eu

Contacts