november 2007 1 new programme projects of national importance lm25,000 specific programme still...
TRANSCRIPT
November 20071
New Programme
• Projects of National Importance
• Lm25,000
• Specific
• Programme still under development
Malta Council for Science and Technology
National Research and Innovation Programme 2008
Brian WarringtonCEO, MCST
November 20073
Overview
• Value of Programme Euro 700k
• Indicative project funding €50k - €200 (Lm22k – Lm88k)
• Project duration normally 1 – 3 years
November 20074
State Aid
• Operates under de minimis state aid regime:– Projects in fisheries, aquaculture and agriculture ineligible– Industry to ensure they do not exceed allowable limit of aid
(€200k gross over 3-year period).
• Complements Malta Enterprise scheme to promote R&D in industry
• Double funding not allowed – checks are conducted
November 20075
Programme 2008 highlights
• Scope: research, development and innovation in science and technology (acquire new knowledge).
• Sectors: focus on 4 priority sectors
• Key objective: to promote technology transfer between– Knowledge providers (academic institution)– Knowledge users (Industry or public sector entity)
• Technology transfer must fulfill a genuine need and therefore certain funding limits apply (explained later)
November 20076
Participants
Consortium– At least 2 participants, (a) an academic institution and (b)
industry or public sector – other partners may be included but must add value
• Maltese legal entities (academia, public, private, NGOs) eligible for funding
• Foreign entities eligible but not funded
• Project Coordinator must be Maltese legal entity
November 20077
Eligible Costs
• Eligible Direct Costs– Technical and management personnel– Purchase of specialised equipment– Travel, networking, dissemination– Subcontracting (limit 25% or project grant)
• Eligible Indirect Costs– 10% of eligible costs, excluding subcontracting,
excluding equipment over €5,000
November 20078
Funding Levels
• Academic, research institute, public body, NGO – 100%
• Private entity – 75%
• Plus 10% overheads
November 20079
Funding restrictions
• Objective: good balance and distribution of workload
• Funding for any participant limited to 66% of project grant
• Combined funding for any category limited to 66% of project grant
• Funding for public body limited to 25% of project grant
• Subcontracting limited to 25%
November 200710
Process
• Pre-registration
• 2-stage submission and evaluation process
• Shortlisting stage– Lightweight preliminary proposal– Estimates of timeframes, costings
• Selection stage– Full project proposal– Details of participants– Activities, timeframes, costings
November 200711
Funding
• Project to be structured into stages of 12-18 months duration
• Single stage project– Advance of 80%– Project report at end of project– MCST Audit, determine eligible costs– Payment of balance due (or reimbusement)
November 200712
Funding
• Multiple-stage project– advance of 100% of first stage– Project Report at end of each stage, including updated
forecast– Calculation of balance due for next stage– Advance of 80% of final stage – Funding for any one stage will not exceed 80% of total– Final Project Report, reconciliation and payment of balance
due
November 200713
Financial considerations
• Participants must maintain and financial accounts and separate bank account
• Actual costs with fiscal receipts
• Costs determined in accordance with usual accounting and management procedures
• Expenses must be consistent with principles of economy, efficiency and effectiveness
• Refundable expenses limited to allocation
November 200714
Ownership of results
• Ownership of IP and all rights rests with participants
• In case of consortium, requirement for signing of IP agreement between consortium members
November 200715
Other
• Significant events – inform MCST
• Withdrawal of participant – agree with MCST for reallocation or replacement
• Default – MCST entitled to withdraw funding and claim refund
November 200717
What is important
• Good project
• Good proposal You are strongly encouraged to discuss your
proposal with us before submission
November 200718
Marking and Thresholds
• Evaluated on 4 criteria
• Each criterion allocated maximum of 5 marks
• No weighting
• Threshold of 3 for each criterion
• Overall threshold of 14
November 200719
Selection Criteria
1. Programme Objectives
2. Concept and Approach
3. Quality
4. Potential Impact
November 200720
Selection Criteria (1)
Programme objectives
– Degree of fit with priority sectors– Extent of collaboration between academia and
industry/public entity– Addresses a genuine need for knowledge transfer
November 200721
Selection Criteria (2)
Concept and Approach
– Conceptually sound– Clearly defined objectives, ambitious but
achievable– Clearly defined deliverables– Proposes suitable actions
November 200722
Selection Criteria (3)
Quality
– Participants have necessary knowledge and skills– Balanced participation and funding
November 200723
Selection Criteria (4)
Potential Impact
– Application and uses of research and deliverables– Roadmap for realisation of benefits– Spillover effects
November 200724
Application
• Title
• Abstract (150 words)
• Proposal (max 3 pages)
• Project Plan Outline
• Project Team
• Budget overview
• Organisation Profile
November 200725
Proposal Section (max 3 pages)
• Background
• State of the art
• Proposal
• Objectives & Deliverables
• Competitiveness
• Impact (uses, benefits, future effort)
• IP
• Issues
November 200726
Some advice
• You are strongly encouraged to discuss your proposal with us before submission
• Max length of proposal
• Clarity and conciseness