Slides from DFF Webinar Call for proposals 20202021

Slides from DFF Webinar Call for proposals 2020/2021 Janne Solgaard Kruse & Sidsel Fabricius Hansen Office of Independent Research Fund Denmark DFF Information Webinar 2020

Agenda 1. Welcome and introduction to the ‘new’ webinar format 2. Short introduction to Independent Research Fund Denmark (DFF) 3. Funding instruments 4. How is an application processed 5. The excellent application – insights from the council chairs 6. Time for question (15 minutes) DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 2

Matching of expectations to the webinar Questions we often meet: - How to make a good budget? - How to write a good project description? - What makes a good team? - How much salery should I apply for as PI? The hard truth: We are not able (or even allowed) to comment on or give advice on the scientific content of applications DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 3

What we do The Independent Research Fund Denmark funds specific research activities • within and across all scientific areas • based on the researchers' own initiatives and ideas • for researchers at all career stages • that improve the quality and internationalisation of Danish research DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 4

Organisational structure of DFF Board of Directors Chairmen’s Group DFF| Humanities DFF| Natural Sciences DFF| Social Sciences DFF | Medical Sciences DFF| Technology and Production Sciences DFF | Crosscouncil committee (FKK) (FNU) (FSE) (FSS) (FTP) (Tudvalget) Office of Independent Research Fund Denmark DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 5

What’s new in this year’s call? • the maximum length of the project description is now specified as a maximum number of characters • a key aim of the instrument Sapere Aude: DFF-Starting Grant is to advance careers • the reference list must now be uploaded as a separate appendix (B 11). • fewer council specific criteria (compared to last years call) Read the entire call from A-Z DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 6

Characteristics of main research instruments DFF-Research Project 1 DFF-Research Project 2 Sapere Aude: DFF - Starting Grant DFF-International Postdoc Non-university research education (Ph. D) Deadline 29 September – 2 October at 12. 00 noon (check your relevant council for specific date) 29 September – 2 October at 12. 00 noon (check you relevant council for specific date) 24 March 2021 at 12: 00 noon 6 Oktober 2020 at 12: 00 noon 26 March 2021 at 12: 00 noon Budget (exc. OH) Up to 2 million DKK 2 mil. to 4. 3 million DKK Up to 4. 3 million DKK 1. 3 million DKK + 50, 000 for each Up to 1. 8 million DKK Applicant requirements Typically 3+ years independent research experience after obtaining Ph. D Typically 5+ years independent research experience of high international level after obtaining Ph. D age 8 years; original research at a highest international level; management experience and mobility is a plus Ph. D awarded from Danish institution within 3 years (or completion up to 6 months after the call’s deadline) MA and confirmation from non-university research institutions covered by instrument Length of project Typically 3 years, 4 years if Ph. D student involved Up to 4. 5 years Up to 4 years 2 years 3 years Success rate (2019) DFF Information Webinar 2020 14, 4% 13, 8% 10, 2% accompanying partner/child per annum 16, 9% 17, 7% Page 7

Calculating Ph. D age Some instruments set requirements as to the maximum time passed since conferral of Ph. D degree: • 3 years for international postdoc applicants • 8 years for Sapere Aude applicants • 4 years for embedded postdocs in research projects and Sapere Aude projects • the Ph. D age is calculated from the date on the Ph. D diploma until the application deadline • for parental leave: 1 week of leave = 2 weeks of deduction • leaves of absence and a few very specific scientific/academic circumstances will be taken into account Same rules apply for unnamed embedded candidates DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 8

The online application form in e-grant In addition to the list of appendices, you are required to provide: • scientific abstract • classification codes (OECD-codes) • description of ethical considerations • description of gender considerations • comprehensive lists of previous grants and grant applications - Remember to inform us if you receive money for your project from elsewhere - Get support from your local research support unit. START EARLY! DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 9

Making a budget – start early Coverage of general expenses • salaries for personnel (VIP and TAP) • equipment (single piece documentation for items exceeding DKK 500, 000) • operating expenses (specifying each individual expense) • overhead Specific exceptions • DFF does not fund expenses towards open access • Items covered by institutions’ overhead: Books, normal work PCs, general software and other general work tools Make sure • that you argue for all expenses; the council can cut all unspecified expenses • to have proportionality between the project’s costs and the expected scientific output • to account for all funding from other sources and co-financing (active and non-active participant) DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 10

General good advice • Have a clear structure and layout • Communicate your idea broadly and in a clear language • Set a team with the most qualified researchers with clearly defined tasks • Know your limits and apply for a feasible project • Make a budget that reflects exactly what you need • Be transparent and up front DFF Information Meeting 2019 Page 11

Life and death of an DFF-application DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 12

Administrative pre-processing Typical mistakes that should be avoided: • • submitting too late missing or too long project description PI forgets to attach his/her CV or list of publications exceeding of the required Ph. D age (specifically for Sapere Aude) PLEASE NOTE: Any materials submitted to DFF after deadline will not be taken into consideration DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 13

External reviews are used to supplement the council’s assessment • international review panel • individual external review Please note that • reviews are (only) advisory • the external reviewers know the identity of the applicant – and vice versa; the applicant will be informed of the reviewers identity • as an applicant, you will always have the ‘right to reply’ to the external review and the council will include your reply in their overall assessment. DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 14

Interdisciplinary projects DFF encourages interdisciplinary projects • you must select which main council you deem to be most relevant for your application • the council might choose to allocate an interdisciplinary application to one of the other councils • some applications fall between two councils and will then be assessed within the cross-council committee • a council can always request an opinion from another council DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 15

After the final council decision • 2 -3 weeks after the final council decision, you will receive a preliminary notification of the outcome via egrant • all names of grant recipients is published on the fund’s website, www. DFF. dk • the official grant letters and rejection letters will be sent to applicants via the E-grant portal up to 3 month after the final decision • in case of rejection, you will receive a short and adequate explanation DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 16

The councils’ assessment The council follows binding guidelines on disqualification Assessment criteria • fulfilment of the instrument’s objective • scientific quality of the project • scientific qualifications of applicant and participants • feasibility • publication and dissemination of results Other criteria assessed by the council • will the project benefit Danish research? • does the project include research education to a relevant extent? • does the project contribute to improve the mobility of researchers, nationally/internationally and – if relevant – between research institutions and the business community? DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 17

Do you have specific project-related question? Contact: DFF-opslag@ufm. dk DFF Information Webinar 2020 Page 18

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