ESSENTIALS OF THE PROGRAMME

What is SoMoPro?

SoMoPro is a regional grant programme, which aim is to attract foreign researchers to work and undertake research training in a research institution in the South Moravian Region for the period of 1 to 3 years. SoMoPro is co-financed by Marie Curie actions (COFUND) in the period 2009 to 2013 and represents a regional analogy to Marie Curie incoming and reintegration fellowships (IIF, IEF a IRG).

SoMoPro is a pilot programme and is planned for 4 years (2009 - 2013). The four year long regional programme has the overall budget of 3 887 158 EUR, 60% of which will be financed by regional public sources (Region of South Moravia) and remaining 40% is a subject to EC support.

The programme will be administrated by the South Moravian Centre for International Mobility, which will carry out all the application and evaluation procedures. The final distribution of grants (signature of grant agreements) will be, however, fully in competence of The South Moravian Region, which is the Programme Coordinator.

There will be two different grant schemes open within the SoMoPro Programme:

Incoming grants:

more information about the entry requirements and details about the financial contribution is available under the Incoming grants

Reintegration grants:

more information about the entry requirements and details about the financial contribution is available under the Reintegration grants

Downloadable info materials can be found below.

Indicative Budget for the 1st Call for Proposals

Incoming grants          1 481 003€

Reintegration grants       792 776€

TOTAL                       2 273 779€

 

Indicative Budget for the 2nd Call for Proposals

Incoming grants    911 386€

Reintegration grants 437 393,6€

TOTAL      1 348 780,4€

Which research topics are supported

Research fields are chosen freely by the applicants. There is however a limitation in domains of research which are eligible for funding. SoMoPro supports research in science and technology only.

How does it work?

Following the publication of the open Call for proposals, the individual proposals are submitted by researchers who meet the eligibility criteria in liaison with the host organisation that signs the grant agreement, within specified deadlines.

Researchers applying to this action need to identify and develop a research training project that will provide the means to significantly advance in their career. A fundamental concept underlying this action is that of advanced training and life-long learning. In essence, the fellowship should enable the researcher to progress in the development of his/her career and should not represent a temporary solution. The fellowship is expected to be a part of a structured, long-term professional development plan that is coherent with past achievements and clearly defines the future aims of the researcher.

SoMoPro will, under its first phase (2009-2013) open at least two calls for proposals of which one will be open in summer 2009 and the second one in spring 2010. Throughout the first phase of the fellowship programme transnational fellowships in the region should be awarded to around 22 fellows, with the approximate average duration of 2,5 years of each grant.

Financial contribution will be granted to the successful applications for a period of 12  to 36 moths, however all projects must be finalized by March 31st 2013 at latest.

How to apply?

The application is to be submitted online. The application will consist of the following parts:

1. Information on reintegrating Researcher
2. Research work plan for the whole period of the fellowship
3. Impact on career development of the reintegrating Researcher
4. Information on the hosting research institution
5. Impact of the fellowship on the South Moravian Region and ERA
The application will also include a part for the requested financial contribution.

After the deadline, the individual proposals are checked against predefined eligibility criteria by the programme administrator. The ones passing the eligibility check are then evaluated by external independent experts against a series of predetermined criteria. The final decision on awarding a grant is taken by the Programme Coordinator (the South Moravian Region) based on the ranked list of evaluated proposals approved by the Steering Committee of the SoMoPro programme.

 English is the official language of the programme. Applications and evaluation will be done in English.

 Timeline

July - October 2009                         1st Call for Applicants open
October 2009 -April 2010                  Evaluation of the project proposals
                                                      Final list of projects recommended for financing approved by the South Moravian Region
From April 2010                               Arrival of the first fellows
Spring 2010                                    2nd  Call for Applicants open

Long-term fellowships for a period of 1 to 3 years will be supported only. All fellowship must be finished by March 31st 2013.

 SoMoPro Incoming grants in a Nutshell version 30.6.09(PDF)
 SoMoPro Reintegration Grants in a Nutshell version 30.6.09(PDF)

The SoMoPro Programme is a part of Regional Innovation Strategy of the South Moravian Region 3