Funding for costs associated with major research applications

Background

The work on responses to major calls for applications for research grants is often very demanding in terms of resources and can involve many applicants. There is a need to be able continuously to apply for funding to cover e.g. costs associated with meetings to work on applications. Using direct government funding to enable well-crafted applications is seen as a long-term investment.

Aim

The funds are to be used to produce a major national or international research application.

Examples of major research applications are the EU framework programmes, calls for applications from the European Research Council (ERC), programme applications to the national research councils, etc.

Conditions

Senior lecturers and researchers employed until further notice, professors and associate senior lecturers at the Faculty of Social Sciences can apply.

Each application may be awarded a maximum of SEK 200 000. The funding can be used for assistance in the form of a research assistant (or equivalent) and/or for contact travel for parties involved in the project. Senior lecturers who have no more than 30 per cent research time in their employment can use the funding for their own working hours. Researchers, professors and associate senior lecturers cannot use the funding for their own working hours.

A person who has been awarded funding for costs associated with major research applications may re-apply no earlier than 18 months after the previous grant decision.

Awarded funds are to be used no later than 18 months after the decision date. No later than 18 months after the decision date, a brief report is to be submitted describing how the funds have been used and potential results of the external application. 

How to apply

Applications for funding can be submitted to the faculty office on a continuous basis. The application is to be sent to elin [dot] hermansson [at] sam [dot] lu [dot] se and must include:

• Project description (at least two, maximum three pages)
• CV listing research qualifications (maximum two pages)
• Brief budget
• Details of when and to which research funding bodies the application is to be sent
• Approval from the head of department (equivalent)

Assessment

Applications are assessed by a working group consisting of at least three of the Research Council’s members. The working group is appointed once any potential conflicts of interest have been considered.

The task of the assessment group is to assess whether the application can become a competitive research application on the basis of the assessment criteria set by the intended funding body. The decision to grant funding is made by the dean.