SoMoPro is a regional grant programme, which aim is to attract skilled foreign researchers to work and undertake research training in a research institutions in the South Moravian Region for the period of 1 to 3 years.
There are two main aims of the SoMoPro programme:
1) Provide training and career development to researchers
2) Build on the growing activities and projects in the field of R&D and innovation in the region of Southern Moravia.
Characteristics of the programme:
SoMoPro supports research in science, medicine and technology. Research fields are chosen freely by the applicants.
SoMoPro is a pilot programme and is planned for 4 years (2009 - 2013). The four years long regional programme has the overall budget of 3 887 158 EUR.
SoMoPro II is planned for 5 years (2012 - 2017) and has the overall budget of 4.766.562 EUR.
Both are financed partly 60% by regional public sources, Region of South Moravia, and remaining 40% is a subject to EC support. Programme is co-financed by Marie Curie Actions (COFUND) and represents a regional analogy to Marie Curie incoming and reintegration fellowships (IIF, IEF a IRG).
In the 1st and the 2nd call the budget was divided between 6 Czech and 20 non-Czech researchers. SoMoPro II is planned with another two Calls (3rd and 4th), we plan to open the next Call in spring 2012.
The programme is administered by the South Moravian Centre for International Mobility (JCMM), which carries out all the application and evaluation procedures. The final distribution of grants (signature of grant agreements) is, however, fully in competence of The South Moravian Region, the Programme Coordinator.
Division of the grants:
There are two schemes of the programme; one is for the Incoming (non-Czech) scientists, the other one is for the reintegrating Czech scientists:
Grant for Incoming Researchers: SoMoPro Incoming Grants in a Nutshell
Grant for Reintegrating Researchers: SoMoPro Reintegration Grants in a Nutshell
In the present, the SoMoPro I programme passed through the 1st and the 2nd calls, where the budget was divided between 27 successfull researchers:
Financial contribution will be granted to the successful applications for a period of 12 to 36 months, however all projects must be finalized no later than by July 31st 2013. The deadline is valid for projects funded under the 1st and 2nd Call.
SoMoPro II contains only one grant, the Incoming Grant.
Indicative budget for 3rd and 4th Call will be released here in early 2012.
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.
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.
Available documents:
SoMoPro Incoming grants in a Nutshell
SoMoPro Reintegration Grants in a Nutshell
The SoMoPro Programme is a part of Regional Innovation Strategy of the South Moravian Region 3
