Biotechnology programme: Research Training Grants
The European Commission, DG XII, has launched a call for proposals for training grants for advanced practical workshops under the Community's specific programme for research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of biotechnology (1994-1998). This call for proposals specifically concerns the research training schemes covered by the programme (grants for "training through research"). Participants in this activity are, on the one hand, research institutions which wish to organize the training activities and, on the other hand, researchers, primarily with a university degree, wishing to receive specialized training in the European Union. The aim of "training through research" is to promote, through the stimulation of training and mobility of researchers, a quantitative and qualitative increase in human resources within the Community and the states associated with the Fourth RTD Framework Programme. The grants are reserved for institutions with a documented capacity to provide equipment and infrastructure for the organization and execution of such courses. Normally, 50% of the course should be devoted to theoretical parts (lectures) and 50% to practical training. Advanced workshops shall provide training for postgraduates on cutting-edge technologies, as well as to biotechnologists on ethical, legal or economic aspects. Specialists from computer sciences/informatics could also receive advanced training in biotechnology. In general the duration of an advanced workshop shall be two weeks. Each advanced workshop will be evaluated individually. Efforts for the coordination of a number of workshops will, however, be appreciated. The research institutions concerned must be legal entities, established in the Community or an associated state, and have the capacity to provide training through research. Researchers must be citizens of Community Member States or of an associated state. The work programme, the information package concerning the procedures to be followed for the submission of proposals and a copy of the model contract to be drawn up with the institutes accepted, as well as any other information, are available from the Commission on request. The work programme for this call for proposals can be summed up as follows: - 1. Cell factories; - 2. Genome analysis; - 3. Plant and animal biotechnology; - 4. Cell communication in neurosciences; - 5. Immunology, transdisease vaccinology; - 6. Structural biology; - 7. Prenormative research, biodiversity, social acceptance; - 8. Infrastructure; - 9. Biotechnology and society: ethical, social and legal aspects; public perception; socio-economic impact. All correspondence concerning this call (indicating the applicant's full name and address - no post box numbers) should be sent to: European Commission DG XII - Science, research and development Unit XII/E-1 200 rue de la Loi (SDME 9/28) B-1049 Brussels Fax +32-2-2991860 Proposals may be submitted either to the above address or to one of the Commission's Offices in the Community. Hand-delivered proposals should be deposited at the reception of the following address: European Commission DG XII - Science, research and development 8 Square de Meeus B-1050 Brussels Background information on the call, including the information package, may also be found on the CORDIS WWW server at: http://cordis.europa.eu/(si apre in una nuova finestra)