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RSS SubscribeTuesday 15th September 2009
FEAST enhances scientific research collaborations
by Sandra Margon
The Forum for European-Australian Science and Technology Cooperation (FEAST) hosted an information day at the University of Sydney to provide our leading researchers with advice on how to access funding and research opportunities in Europe.
FEAST, an initiative taken jointly by the Australian government and the European Union to enhance bilateral research collaborations, organised three workshops as part of the information day.
The first workshop focused on the major funding opportunities in the field of Humanities and Social Sciences.
“While Australian researchers have collaborated with Europeans in 81 European Framework Programme (FP7) projects, Australian humanities and social sciences researchers are underperforming in FP7,” Sandra Margon, International Development Manager for Europe at the University of Sydney.
“FEAST was keen to ensure that researchers considered all the options available to collaborate under this program and was eager to point out one specific example for Australians researchers with expertise in China, India, and Latin America who should consider collaborating with European partners under the FP7 work theme 8.4 ”Europe facing a rising multi-polar world,“ she said.
Additionally, FEAST discussed other areas for collaboration such as Marie Curie International Research Staff Exchange Scheme.
The second workshop focused on the BIO CIRCLE Project, an initiative taken by FP7 to gather researchers from all around the world to collaborate in the field of bio-economy. This includes all industries and economic sectors that produce, manage and otherwise exploit biological resources such as agriculture, food, forestry, fisheries and other bio-based industries. In this session, schemes such as COST (European Co-operation in Science and Technology) and the FP7 KBBE (European Knowledge Based Bio-Economy) were presented. KBBE calls for funding in 2010 will focus on personalized nutrition and a biotic stress of plants.
The last workshop offered tips for Early Career Researchers. ”The ERC (European Research Council) offers starting grants for up-and-coming researchers leaders to consolidate their first research team as a principal investigator in Europe. The scheme is open to all nationalities and all disciplines. Up to €2 million is available for up to 5 years but researchers must conduct their work in a European host institution“, said Sandra Margon.
”The workshop also detailed specific national funding opportunities, for example in the UK, Germany, France and Italy".
Sandra Margon, International Development Manager for Europe at the University of Sydney issues funding bulletins each month. These Bulletins outline the funding opportunities for researchers in Europe and their relevant deadlines.
