Planning Grant

The grant aims to give researchers the opportunity to plan for new national research infrastructures or join in planning for Swedish participation in international infrastructures.

The work can lay the foundation of a later grant application for investment or operations. The grant can also be used to plan the coordination of existing infrastructures and Swedish involvement in international infrastructures.
 
Examples of infrastructures include different types of databases, international and national facilities, specialised laboratory environments, technical platforms, and major expeditions.

Conditions


To be awarded a grant, the infrastructure must:
  • be of broad national interest
  • offer the potential for cutting-edge research
  • be used by several research groups or users with highly advanced research projects
  • be so extensive that individual groups cannot operate it on their own
  • have a long-term plan addressing scientific goals, financing, and utilisation
  • be open and easily accessible for researchers, industry, and other interested parties and have a plan for accessibility (concerning the use of the infrastructure, access to collected data, and presentation of the results).

And when relevant:

  • introduce new state-of-the-art technology.

Applicant


Infrastructure representatives or researchers and research groups that participate in, aim to participate in, or operate existing national or international research projects may apply for the grant. As the applicant, you have the scientific responsibility for the infrastructure (or equivalent). Other participants are associates/co-workers.
 

Required qualifications


You must hold a Swedish doctoral degree, or equivalent foreign degree, awarded no later than the closing date for applications in this call.

Associates


You may name up to four associates/co-workers. They should represent groups from different universities and/or the main scientific fields expected to use the infrastructure. In some cases, associates may be the researcher, technicians, or supervisors who will be responsible for operations and maintenance.
 
If space on the application form is insufficient, list additional associates/co-workers in the research programme (Appendix A).

Grant period


The grant can be awarded for a maximum of 2 years.
 

Costs and grant amount


The grant can be used to cover salary costs, but not scholarships or wages for doctoral students. Do not include indirect costs in the budget. Indirect costs are reimbursed at a standard rate of 50% of the amount awarded. If we award funding, we include the additional amount for indirect costs in the grant. The grant is intended solely for the planning of infrastructures and cannot be used for test facilities, construction of databases, or costs for using infrastructures.
 

Administration


The grant is normally administered by a Swedish university or higher education institution (HEI), or other Swedish public organisation engaged in research (administrative entity).
 
The Swedish Research Council requires that a final financial report be submitted for all grants.
 

Employer and terms of employment


The person with scientific responsibility for a grant financed by the Swedish Research Council must be employed by an administrative entity, unless the Swedish Research Council and the administrative entity agree otherwise. If you have another employer, the employer must approve your participation. By signing Appendix S, the administrative entity´s representative confirms its commitment.

Application content


The application should be written in English and must contain the following:
 
  • Summary
  • Popular science description
  • Budget information
  • Research programme (Appendix A)
  • CV/Scientific qualifications (Appendix B)
  • Publication list (Appendix C)
  • Signatures (Appendix S)
  • Planning grant (Appendix T)

Summary


The summary of the research programme should contain a brief description of:
 
  • the infrastructure addressed by the application
  • research that will be conducted with support from the infrastructure
  • what will be done with the grant
  • current status of the proposed infrastructure.

The text should quickly orient the reader to the purpose and implementation of the infrastructure. Write in a style that allows people from other research backgrounds to easily comprehend the information.

Fill in the summary on the form in the application system.

Popular science description


Describe the project in a popular science style so that even those who are not familiar with the topic can understand.
  • Describe the infrastructure´s use.
  • Present the new opportunities it offers research.
  • Clarify the ways in which the new knowledge can be significant.

The popular science description is an important tool when the Swedish Research Council informs others about the research we finance. If we award funding for your application we have the right to use the description for informational purposes.

Fill in the popular science description on the form in the application system. The popular science description and your address must be written in Swedish.

Budget information


Indicate the amount budgeted for salaries (including employer costs for social and other benefits) and other costs (excluding indirect costs).

Fill in the budget information on the form provided in the application system. Note: Use thousand Swedish kronor (SEK 1000s) to indicate the amounts.
 
Include a general budget in the application form. In Appendix T, present a more detailed accounting of the infrastructure´s budget with an estimate of total costs, including possible grants from other funding bodies.
 
In your application, do not include indirect costs in the budget. If we award funding, we include an amount in the grant to cover indirect costs.
 
Do not include VAT in calculating the grant amount if a state university or state HEI will be the administrative entity. The same applies to public agencies, municipalities, county councils, and companies and organisations subject to VAT. In other cases, include VAT in calculating the grant amount.

Research programme (Appendix A)


Appendix A must present a brief but complete description of the research infrastructure (maximum of ten A4 pages, including references). Please note that any pages beyond the number allowed will not be considered in the evaluation.
 
The research programme, and other appendixes, should be written in English since the Swedish Research Council uses international reviewers.
 
The research programme must include the following information, under separate headings:
  • Scientific aims. Present the scientific aims of the infrastructure.
  • Survey of the field. Summarise the research that is being conducted, or can be conducted, via the infrastructure. Provide key references.
  • The infrastructure. Briefly describe the infrastructure.
  • Significance. Describe the infrastructure´s significance in achieving the scientific aims and its long-term significance for the research area.
  • Collaboration. Briefly describe national and international collaboration with other infrastructures.

Present the following under a special heading, if relevant to the application:

  • Ethical considerations. Present the ethical issues that the project (or equivalent) faces, and describe how they will be addressed in the research.
  • Plan for data publication. A data publication plan must be included for projects that involve climate and environmental research and where data collection constitutes a major component. Read more about what the plan must include.

CV/Scientific qualifications (Appendix B)


You must submit a CV (maximum of two A4 pages per CV) for yourself and any associated researchers. List your publications separately in Appendix C.
 
Specify under the following numbered headlines, in this order:
  1. Higher education degree(s) (year, subject area)
  2. Doctoral degree (year, discipline/subject area, dissertation title, and supervisor).
  3. Postdoctoral work (year and placement).
  4. Qualifications as research fellow/associate professor (year).
  5. Current position, period of appointment, share of time spent in research.
  6. Previous positions and periods of appointment (specify type of position).
  7. Special circumstances related to time deducted from active research time.  Accurately specify reasons (parental leave, illness, positions of trust in trade union organisations and student organisations, military service, medical residency, specialist training, or other reasons), dates, and number of months. Under “other reasons" clearly specify the reasons for your request for a time deduction.
  8. Individuals who have completed their doctoral degree under your supervision (name, year of disputation [i.e. oral public defence of PhD thesis]).

Lastly, provide other information of importance to the application.

Items that do not apply to you should be left blank.

Publication list (Appendix C)


Include a list of your publications from the past 8 years, marking the five publications that are most important to the project with a single asterisk (*), and marking publications relevant to the infrastructure addressed in the project with two asterisks (**).
 
Categorise the publications under the numbered headings, in the following order:
  1. Peer-reviewed articles
  2. Peer-reviewed conference contributions (the results of which are not presented in other publications)
  3. Review articles, book chapters, books
  4. Patents (include date and registration)
  5. Open access computer programs that you have developed
  6. Popular science articles/presentations

Note! Include only articles (or equivalent) that have been published or accepted for publication.


Signatures (Appendix S)


Appendix S is generated automatically when you register your application.

Print out Appendix S and sign it. Appendix S must also be signed by the department head (or equivalent) of the institution where the research will be conducted. The signatures confirm that:

  • the described research, position, and equipment will be allocated space in the institution during the period and to the extent presented in the project plan
  • the institution approves the cost estimate presented in the application
  • you have reported your side-line occupations and commercial ties, and nothing has emerged that would conflict with good research practice
  • necessary permission and approval have been granted to the project, e.g. regarding ethical review.

You must have discussed the above points with the representative of the administrative entity before he/she approves and signs the application. The administrative entity is responsible for assuring that the project complies with the terms and conditions established by Swedish legislation.

Send Appendix S by regular mail to the Swedish Research Council.

Remember! Appendix S, complete with signatures, must be received by the Swedish Research Council no later than 3 working days after the closing date for applications.

You will find the address and closing date for applications in the section, “When and how to apply".


Planning Grant (Appendix T)


Appendix T must include the following parts:

1. General

  • Describe how the planned infrastructure fulfils the terms and conditions for this type of grant.
  • Explain why planning is needed.
  • Describe the planning work covered by the application.
  • Describe the infrastructure in sufficient detail to enable an assessment of the potential to achieve the aims presented in the research programme (Appendix A).
  • Describe the infrastructure´s scientific lifespan, i.e. how long the infrastructure can potentially remain competitive.

2. Budget

  • Present a detailed budget (including employer costs for social and other benefits, but excluding VAT and indirect costs).
  • Present a general financing plan.

3. Organisation and allocation of responsibility

  • Describe the accessibility of the infrastructure for other researchers. Include user support and any prioritising systems for accessing the infrastructure.
  • Describe planning and financing for the development of expertise to achieve optimum utilisation of the infrastructure.

4. Other aspects

  • Describe future upgrading possibilities to extend the scientific life of the infrastructure.
  • Briefly describe the need for equipment or resources (existing or planned) relevant to the infrastructure.

Instructions for applying


Apply electronically via the Swedish Research Council´s application system (VR-Direct) by completing an application form. On each page of the appendixes, enter your name, personal identity number, and appendix designation. Send Appendix S (paper form), complete with signatures, to the Swedish Research Council.
  • Write the application and appendixes in English since the Swedish Research Council uses international reviewers. The obligatory popular science description and your address should be written in Swedish.
  • You are responsible for the completeness of the application, i.e. that the application form and appendixes are filled in properly. The Swedish Research Council does not process incomplete applications. Failure to comply with the instructions will be taken into account in the evaluation.
  • We do not accept additional information after the closing date for applications (apart from such information that we expressly request).
  • If funding from another funding body is awarded for the same or similar purpose described in this application, notify the Swedish Research Council as soon as possible.
  • Attach only the material that we expressly request. Other material, e.g. letters of recommendation or offprints will not be evaluated.
  • Indicate from the outset whether the research programme (Appendix A) involves more than one scientific field or subject area. We will then decide which evaluation panel should have primary responsibility and whether one or more scientific councils or committees should evaluate your application.
  • In the application form, list as co-workers those who are most relevant to the implementation of the proposed infrastructure. If the space on the application form is insufficient, additional co-workers can be mentioned in the research programme (Appendix A).
  • Write the appendixes in A4 format, using a 25 mm margin and Times New Roman 12 font. When we print out the applications, we use a resolution of 200-300 dpi and possibly greyscale. Hence, you should adapt your images to that standard. Remember that the pdf files must not be password protected.
  • The application form automatically requests the required appendixes.

General terms and conditions for applications


It is important for you to become familiar with the Swedish Research Council´s general terms and conditions regarding grant applications.

Read more about the general terms and conditions for applicants:
Ethical guidelines
Public access
Open access
Commercial interests
Collaborating to construct and phase out databases
Misconduct in research

Evaluation and decisions


Scientific quality is the fundamental criterion the Swedish Research Council uses in awarding grants. We also aim for equality and mobility in research.

Evaluation panels, of the Scientific Councils concerned, scientifically assess all infrastructure grant applications. Thereafter, evaluation panels of the Council for Research Infrastructures assess the relevance of the applications from an infrastructure perspective.

Suggest up to three evaluation panels (by order of priority). As the first evaluation panel, you must suggest an evaluation panel associated with the Council for Research Infrastructures. Thereafter, suggest evaluation panels with expertise relevant to the subject area. Ultimately, it is the Swedish Research Council that determines which panel will review your application.

Evaluation panels
Addressing conflicts of interest at the Swedish Research Council
 

Decisions


In mid November 2011 the Swedish Research Council will publish its funding decision on the website. Information about the decision and related comments will be sent to all applicants.

Disbursement of awarded funds will begin in January 2012 at the earliest.

When and how to apply


Submit your application electronically via the application system no later than 12:00 midnight (24.00) on Tuesday, 19 April 2011. The Swedish Research Council is open until 4 p.m. (16.00) on the closing date for applications.
 
You are responsible for the completeness of your application.
 
Send Appendix S (paper form), complete with signatures, to the address below. Appendix S must be received by the Swedish Research Council not later than 3 working days after the closing date for applications.

Swedish Research Council
RFI
Box 1035
101 38  Stockholm

Please note!
Previously we have experienced overload problems in our application system during the final days before the application deadline. Hence, we encourage you to submit your application in good time.
 

Contacts

Questions about application content


Per Karlsson, e-mail: per.karlsson@vr.se, telephone: 08-546 44 177
Camilla Jakobsson, e-mail: camilla.jakobsson@vr.se, telephone: 08-546 44 336

Technical questions


If you experience technical problems with VR-Direct, please contact: vrdirectRFI@vr.se

In the subject line, please write the subject area that your question addresses. To acknowledge that we received your question, we will send you a confirmation by e-mail.

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Contact: webbredaktör
Updated: 2011-03-22

Information

Area of science:
Research Infrastructure
Last application date:
2011-04-19

Apply here

Do you have technical problems with your application?
Send an e-mail to: vrdirectRFI@vr.se
For questions about the contents of the application, see the heading Contacts at the end of the page.
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