Research call 3 – Research on (EU)regional and European transition challenges

This call aims to facilitate the preparation and execution of interdisciplinary research that leads to societal and scientific breakthroughs within clearly defined Euregional and/or European transitional challenges high on the EU agenda. Consortia of researchers, including one or more societal partner(s) from regional government, public and semi-public sectors and/or industry, work closely together in designing, realising and applying the research. We welcome applications from consortia led by (at least) two UM researchers from (at least) two faculties. Affinity or proven creativity in societal impact is seen as a plus for applications.

SEM wants to encourage UM researchers to make a structural societal contribution by building bridges between science and societal stakeholders. This call supports this development and offers consortia of researcher and their societal partners an intermediate stepping-stone and a comfortable pilot to build a relevant network and execute innovative research with societal impact. Subsequently, this pilot offers UM researchers a long-term value in their future pursuit of acquiring a larger, competitive academic grant.

In sum, we aim to provide UM-researchers with new opportunities to:

• Broaden and diversify (research) networks;
• Ensure stakeholder involvement in their research;
• Strengthen the direct societal relevance of their academic work;
• Find new possibilities for future funding, consortium-building and co-creation;
• Guarantee content-based societal impact on Euregional and/or European level.

In 2022, SEM invites UM researchers to focus on one of two societal transition challenges, which are high on the EU-agenda and also have a clear link to the SEM research agenda:

1. Circular economy, climate change and the energy transition (Green Deal)
2. Digitalisation, privacy and big data

Applicants

• A team of (at least) two researchers from (at least) two UM faculties can apply on behalf of the consortium

Procedure

• To submit your application, please use the dedicated application form below
• The first step of the application procedure is submitting a pre-proposal:
  • This pre-proposal will be assessed by the Academic Board on scientific quality and societal relevance of the content and network
  • The pre-proposal should include a clear description of the collaboration, the research focus and the anticipated consortium and societal partners involved
  • Feedback will be shared with the applicants within 4-6 weeks
• After approval of the pre-proposal, applicants are invited to submit a full proposal:
  • The full proposal should include a clear description of the subject related to the societal issue that needs to be tackled, a budget plan, expected outcomes, letters of support from co-funders and a timeline including scheduled consortia meetings
  • It should clearly state how science might find a solution to the societal issue, as well as address the study’s scientific quality, interdisciplinary nature and anticipated valorisation efforts
  • Submission of the full proposal to the Academic Board is expected within 6-8 weeks after receiving feedback on the pre-proposal
  • Applications are welcome on a roling basis

Funding

• The seed funding aims to relieve the research team of teaching and/or administrative duties for a maximum of four months per team. Additionally, a lumpsum of 3000,- to 5000,- is available, to facilitate consortium building and creation of societal impact
• The seed funding is an equivalent of the salary cost of the involved researchers and will be transferred to the relevant departments as buy-out time
• As seed funding is earmarked for UM research, external stakeholder(s) will not receive direct funding 
• Co-funding by the external stakeholder(s) is obligatory in each proposal (i.e. at least 10% of the total project budget, either in-cash or in-kind)
• Funding is allocated in two tranches:
  • 60% upon approval of the full proposal by the AB
  • 40% upon the first publication of study results.
• Prior to submission, applicants should guarantee adequate coordination with their head of departments, in view of the departments educational planning

Expected outcome

• A peer-reviewed publication
• As publishing a paper is a lengthy and complex process, the publication of a working paper will be accepted as interim outcome. Working papers will be peer reviewed and published in the SEM’s Working on Europe Paper Series (WEPS)
• In addition to academic publication, valorisation of the research findings is warmly encouraged, such as in the form of a policy brief
• Each outcome (i.e. an academic publication, an intermediate working paper and/or a policy brief) should include a clear description of evidence-based policy advice, to combine academic output with societal output
• The project is expected to produce its first (draft) outcome within 3-6 months after positive assessment of the full proposal

Apply