2024 Call for Proposals for the FZJ-NST Bilateral Cooperation Programme
29 April 2024
General Description
All those issues not discussed in this document will be specified in a separate executive cooperation agreement.
1. Background and aim of the Programme
Based on the agreement concluded in 20 August 2020 between the National Research Council of Science and Technology (NST) in Korea and Forschungszentrum Jülich (FZJ) in Germany, the NST and FZJ are planning to select and launch joint research projects to promote collaboration between two countries in science and technology areas. After consultation between NST and FZJ, the following call for joint proposals is announced.
2. Research Areas
The programme is open to all research areas in science and technology of FZJ and NST for the 2024-2025 funding round.
3. Eligible Applicants
The NST and FZJ joint research projects support promising young researchers and leading scientists in an independent career. The call is open to any proposer who meets the following criteria.
- l Korea Principal Investigators (KPIs) should be researchers leading a research team at an institution affiliated to NST as its employees. They should also meet the requirements for support from NST in Korean law and regulations. KPIs should have research experience in their research areas and be competent to conduct research on the Korean side.
- German Principal Investigators (GPIs) should be researchers leading a research team at FZJ. GPIs should have research experience in their research areas and be competent to conduct research on the German side.
4. Project Activities and Duration
NST and FZJ will fund project activities under the following conditions:
Project Duration: 12 months with the possibility of an extension. The extension of the project should comply with relevant laws and regulations of NST and FZJ and be submitted at least three months before the end of the project.
Possible Activities:
- Several short visits and/or also longer stays to the partner institute (FZJ or NST affiliated research institutes) if necessary.
- It is welcome to combine this program with some events such as workshops, conferences, etc.
- It is also flexible, e.g. several researchers from different career stages, including Ph.D. and Master’s students could participate in the events or visits under the programme.
Grant Selection
Candidates are selected solely on the basis of the evaluation of their academic qualification and the research outline. A candidate’s academic qualification is assessed on the basis of the following criteria:
- Scientific excellence of the application
- Quality of key publication specified in the application (originality, degree of innovation, applicant’s contribution in cases of multiple authorship)
- Originality and innovation potential of the suggested research outline (convincing choice of academic methods, clear focus and feasibility of realization within the requested funding period and at the chosen host NST’s/ FZJ’s institute, alignment to the scientific strategy of NST and FZJ)
- The applicant’s future potential
- Overarching impact for further cooperation
Financial Support
This programme is designed primarily to support expenses related to the exchange of researchers and collaboration project planning between NST and FZJ.
5. Budget
Budgets may differ in each year depending on the content of activities and the allowance of the fund.
The NST will support up to 50 million KRW per project for the duration of the project. NST fund is for the Korean activities.
The FZJ will support up to 50 000 EURO per project, including 50% Internationalization Fund and 50% in kind contribution of the respective FZJ institute, for the duration of the project. FZJ fund is for the German activities.
6. Eligible costs
- Cost for researcher exchange
When Korean researchers visit the institute of German partner for this project, the travel expenses should be covered by Korean side. When German researchers visit the institute of Korean partner for this project, the travel expenses should be covered by German side. The travel expenses are determined by the regulations of the institute to which the traveler belongs. - Cost for organizing symposiums, seminars and meetings.
The expenses related to organizing local seminars and meetings can be covered by this fund. This can also be used for organizing international symposiums and workshops if the researchers of both sides participate. - Cost relevant for research activities in joint laboratory projects
This includes for example: cost for procuring raw materials, consumable products and chemical etc. - Personnel costs for coordination and/or support activities.
Project-related expenditure/costs for scientific personnel are primarily subsidized for the coordination of the conception, development and implementation of the research presence. Each party is responsible for its own costs. - Item not covered
No expenses stated below shall be covered by this project fund
- Other expenses not directly related to implementation of this exchange programme
- If not specified, the PI of each side should follow and respect the rule and regulation given by the NST (Korean side) and FZJ (German side). Funding cannot be granted to cover costs already incurred.
Application Procedure
7. Timeline
Please note that the due dates listed below are based on Korea Standard Time (KST) and Central European Time (CET). If the submitted proposals which meet the requirements of the programme are less than two(2), the NST and FZJ may decide to extend the call deadline accordingly.
- Deadline for submission: 31 July 2024
8. Application Detail
The Korean and German applicants shall fill out the common application form that shall be submitted online to the NST and FZJ. Grant applicants should have a close discussion with their host institute before submitting the proposal (contact see No. 10). The application form shall be written in English.
9. Preparation of Application Forms
Applicants should fill in the application form attached to the call. The application form should be signed by the PI and the representative of the institute.
10 Submission of Application Forms
The joint proposal (application form) should be submitted via E-Mail in English to
- Korean side (NST) : Ms. Gunhee PARK, ghpark0126@nst.re.kr
- German side (FZJ) : Dr. Hyunji PARK, hj.park@fz-juelich.de
Responsibilities of the Principal Investigator
After the proposal has been approved, a contract between the NST affiliated Institute and FZJ is mandatory. The conclusion of the cooperation agreement is a prerequisite for funding. The submission of a proposal alone does not give entitlement to funding.
Programme Reviews and Monitoring
Final report on the project within two months after the end of the project, including a summary appropriate for publication.
Brief description of institutes involved
NST: National Research Council of Science and Technology, Korea (https://www.nst.re.kr/eng/index.do)
This is an umbrella organization that supports and manages 25 research institutes in Korea.
(NST affiliated research institutes: KIST, NIGT, KBSI, KASI, KRIBB, KISTI, KIOM, KITECH, ETRI, NSR, KICT, KRRI, KRISS, KFRI, WIKIM, KIGAM, KIMM, KARI, KIER, KERI, KRICT, KIT, KAERI, KIMS, KFE)
FZJ: Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Germany (https://www.fz- juelich.de/portal/EN/Home/home_node.html)
This is makes a vital contribution to solving major challenges facing society in the fields of information, energy, and bioeconomy. With some 6,115 employees, Jülich–a member of the Helmholtz Association–is one of Europe's large research centres.
(FZJ affiliated research institutes: ER-C, IAS, IBG, IBI, IEK, IKP, INM, JCNS, PGI, ZEA)
Documents
Contact
Dr. Hyunji Park
Referentin internationaler Beziehungen
- Unternehmensentwicklung (UE)
Raum 4016