ResPotNet: Better research proposals in convergence/outermost regions
The call for proposals "Unlocking and developing the Research Potential of research entities established in the EU’s Convergence Regions and Outermost regions", has a budget of over €64.6 million and closes on December 7, 2010. The ResPotNet partners are now, more than ever committed to ensuring that more and more research entities in these regions recognise the benefits of these funds. The National Contact Points from 16 countries have been working together for over 3 years towards this common goal. In the past years, numerous training and mentoring sessions have been organised through the project to help the NCPs improve their skills and services, allowing them to learn from each other’s experiences. ResPotNet NCPs were also present at a number of European and International events such as the Wire 2010 Conference and ESOF both last and this year. The idea behind setting up the stands at such events is to garner the maximum amount of exposure possible. In this way, the partners aim to promote the services the network has to offer. The website is a case in point with regards to ResPotNet’s services, as it hosts the partner search facility and contains current and comprehensive information on the project, the calls and how to obtain assistance from the NCPs. ResPotNet partners have also joined forces to compile a list of questions that are frequently posed by their clients. The FAQs are there to help potential proposers overcome the initial hurdles they may encounter. Last year the Commission received some 312 proposals for the combined 2010 calls that closed at the end of 2009. Much effort on behalf of the ResPotNet partners goes into ensuring that more researchers become aware of the benefits and are assisted as much as possible throughout the process to guarantee that the proposals being submitted are of the highest quality. Research potential poses an added challenge to NCPs, since as the call implies, they must reach regions that are not within the European core. The regions tend to be remote and the knowledge they generate fragmented from the rest. An inclusive strategy such as that presented through the Research Potential Calls can benefit research both at a regional and European level. With the assistance of the network’s NCPs this has become somewhat easier.
Países
Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czechia, Germany, Denmark, Estonia, Spain, Finland, France, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Latvia, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Sweden, Slovenia, Slovakia, United Kingdom