Calls for proposals for advanced study courses and research training grants under the MAST programme

The European Commission, DG XII, has published a call for proposals for advanced study courses and research training grants under its specific programme of research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of marine science and technology (MAST III)...

The European Commission, DG XII, has published a call for proposals for advanced study courses and research training grants under its specific programme of research and technological development, including demonstration, in the field of marine science and technology (MAST III).

Proposals are invited, subject to the conditions specified below, for advanced study courses and research training grants in the following areas:

- Area A: Marine Science;
- Area B: Strategic Marine Research;
- Area C: Marine Technologies.

The research and technological development work will be carried out as preparatory accompanying and support measures in accordance with the implementing rules set out in Annex III to the Council Decision adopting the above-mentioned specific programme.

RTD actions will be the subject of contracts in accordance with the Council Decision on the rules for participation in the specific programmes, and their results will be disseminated on the basis of the principles set out in the Council Decision concerning the dissemination of research results.

With regard to advanced study courses, support is to be provided (as a supporting initiative) for advanced study courses for young scientists and graduate students. The specific topics of the courses must fall into one of the following disciplines, which are those of main interest to the MAST programme:

- Physical oceanography;
- Biological oceanography;
- Chemical oceanography;
- Marine geosciences;
- Coastal zone science and engineering;
- Marine instrumentation;
- Marine generic technologies.

The main objectives of the courses are:

- To further advanced education on specific topics at the forefront of scientific and technological development in Europe;
- To exploit the wide-ranging teaching capacities of European institutions for transnational education;
- To improve communication between students and scientists on a European level.

The courses can, but do not need to, be linked to MAST-funded research projects. Courses on management aspects, pollution, fisheries, aquaculture and marine parks are excluded. The course should be residential, of a duration of 2-3 weeks, and should be organized by a legal entity established in the European Union or in a state associated to the programme, including EEA/EFTA members, or any international research organization situated in the EU, or a state associated to the programme, or the JRC, and having experience in running advanced training programmes.

The course organizer should be a scientist who is an expert in the topic of the training course. The speakers should be established scientists with an excellent reputation in their specific field. Proposals which do not include speakers from at least three Member States of the EU or a state associated to the programme will not be considered.

The proposals should include the following details: title of the course, organizing institution, scientist responsible, list of suggested speakers, description of the content of the course, an explanation of the relevance of the topic to European/international science (up to one page), place of venue, maximum number of participants, dates, duration and budget in ECU.

For research and training grants, the Commission provides financial support for the training and mobility of researchers in the form of individual research training grants. The main objective of these grants is to provide opportunities for the advanced training, exchange, and mobility of researchers at the doctoral and post-doctoral level in marine science and technology. The research topics of the training grant applications are those included in the MAST III work programme.

Applicants for individual training grants must be nationals of a Member State of the EU or a state associated to the programme, including EEA/EFTA states. Applicants must carry out the proposed research in the EU or a state associated to the programme other than their country of nationality or their country of normal activity. There will be two selection rounds in 1996, one in the spring and one in the autumn.

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 for the applications accepted are available from the Commission on request.
Requests for further information, and proposals from qualified institutions for advanced study courses, should be addressed to:

European Commission
DG XII - Science, Research and Development
DG XII/D3- MAST Programme
200 rue de la Loi (SDME 7/80)
B-1049 Brussels
Fax [phone]

Applications for research training grants should be addressed to:

European Commission
Research Training Grants - Entry Point
200 rue de la Loi (MO75 5/15)
B-1049 Brussels