Periodic Reporting for period 1 - WINNINGNormandy (WelcomINg and TraiNING of international high-level post-docs in Normandy)
Berichtszeitraum: 2022-01-01 bis 2023-12-31
Normandy Region wishes to contribute to the current challenges and transitions (changes in climate balances, loss of biodiversity, potential crises at the health, economic and social levels,..) and to build the solutions of tomorrow, in line with the characteristics of its territory, its specificities and its strengths in terms of innovation. Its new Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialization (RIS3) 2021-2027 focuses on three issues:
• Sustaining and developing industrial activity in Normandy
• Making the green and energy transition a success
• Improving the well-being of citizens and the resilience of the territory
To address these three issues, six areas of specialization (with one transversal “digital”) have been defined:
Area #1. Preserving and sustainably transforming agricultural, marine, forestry and production systems
Area #2. Develop an energy mix towards zero carbon emissions
Area #3. Transforming processes for a high-performance, sustainable and digital industry
Area #4. Develop new low-carbon mobility solutions that are efficient and secure
Area #5. Accelerating synergies and innovation in the service of human and animal 5P medicine
Area #6. Make Normandy a resilient territory by mastering technological, natural, health and social risks
In addition to these areas in line with EU priorities and the future Horizon Europe programme, the Normandy Region has identified two main challenges to strengthen the research capacity and international influence of the region:
• To consolidate international attractiveness for leaders in research and innovation;
• To strengthen intersectoral mobility, research valorisation and career development of researchers.
The program will enhance the fellows’ potential and future career perspectives by allowing them to develop a more sophisticated set of knowledge, skills and attitudes. The Normandy Region will give full training support to engaged fellows in order to acquire the key competences for the future.
From the regional and organisational level, dissemination of best practices in advertising calls, recruiting and welcoming fellows, providing excellent work and living conditions, supporting training and career development will have a major impact on Normandy Region human resources implementation. Developing high standard for interdisciplinary, intersectoral and international training and career guidance, WINNINGNormandy will contribute to raise the level of education and training in all organisations directly or indirectly involved in the project.
WINNINGNormandy will promote scientific excellence throughout the Normandy Region and beyond by following the recommendations of European Charter and Code for Researchers in terms of research excellence, attractive institutional environment, interdisciplinary, exposure to different employment sectors, international networking, and ethics. Interactions between business and industries will be further facilitated increasing the positive impacts on competitiveness and sustainable development in the region. Finally, the outreach activities implemented will bring scientific issues to general public and develop interactions between fellows and citizen.
At international level, it is expected that there will be a truly leverage effect of regional financial support to increase the international attractiveness of the region, and collaborations with European universities.
• Sustaining and developing industrial activity in Normandy
• Making the green and energy transition a success
• Improving the well-being of citizens and the resilience of the territory
To address these three issues, six areas of specialization (with one transversal “digital”) have been defined:
Area #1. Preserving and sustainably transforming agricultural, marine, forestry and production systems
Area #2. Develop an energy mix towards zero carbon emissions
Area #3. Transforming processes for a high-performance, sustainable and digital industry
Area #4. Develop new low-carbon mobility solutions that are efficient and secure
Area #5. Accelerating synergies and innovation in the service of human and animal 5P medicine
Area #6. Make Normandy a resilient territory by mastering technological, natural, health and social risks
In addition to these areas in line with EU priorities and the future Horizon Europe programme, the Normandy Region has identified two main challenges to strengthen the research capacity and international influence of the region:
• To consolidate international attractiveness for leaders in research and innovation;
• To strengthen intersectoral mobility, research valorisation and career development of researchers.
The program will enhance the fellows’ potential and future career perspectives by allowing them to develop a more sophisticated set of knowledge, skills and attitudes. The Normandy Region will give full training support to engaged fellows in order to acquire the key competences for the future.
From the regional and organisational level, dissemination of best practices in advertising calls, recruiting and welcoming fellows, providing excellent work and living conditions, supporting training and career development will have a major impact on Normandy Region human resources implementation. Developing high standard for interdisciplinary, intersectoral and international training and career guidance, WINNINGNormandy will contribute to raise the level of education and training in all organisations directly or indirectly involved in the project.
WINNINGNormandy will promote scientific excellence throughout the Normandy Region and beyond by following the recommendations of European Charter and Code for Researchers in terms of research excellence, attractive institutional environment, interdisciplinary, exposure to different employment sectors, international networking, and ethics. Interactions between business and industries will be further facilitated increasing the positive impacts on competitiveness and sustainable development in the region. Finally, the outreach activities implemented will bring scientific issues to general public and develop interactions between fellows and citizen.
At international level, it is expected that there will be a truly leverage effect of regional financial support to increase the international attractiveness of the region, and collaborations with European universities.
From January 1st 2022 to December 31st 2023, the two calls were launched and almost all the fellows recruited. The first training sessions were implemented.
2022 was a year mainly dedicated to the selection of the first wave of laureates as well as the implementation of the call for applications on the second wave.
The preparatory period which took place from February 2021 to December 2021 allowed the Programme Management Team to prepare the launch of the first call for applications, the eligibility check of the applications and the first phase of evaluations, as described in the “Call 1: report on evaluation and selection” approved on Nov 14th, 2022.
From January to March 2022, the preselected applicants of the first wave were first interviewed (February 2022), selected applicants were then approved by the Regional Scientific Committee on March 18th, 2022, and finally their funding was agreed by the Regional assembly. 18 fellows were finally recruited by the Norman host institutions.
The launching of the 2nd call was announced during the Regional Scientific Committee of March 18th, 2022, so that the RSC members (Vice-Presidents for research, Directors of research & innovation departments, members of the Norman scientific communities…) could relay the information about the calendar and eligibility criteria to their professional networks.
Thanks to the preparatory work conducted for the first wave, there were only some minor updates to documents to make.
On June 6th 2022, the second call was launched and closed on October 14th. At the end of the global process and the closing of the waiting list on August 31st, 21 fellows have been recruited, totalizing 39 fellows for the whole program.
According to the proposal, the Programme management Team, closely with Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), implemented the first training session on December 13th – 14th, 2022 dedicated to the life of a researcher. The session was divided into two days. The first day was dedicated to the professional project with the presentation of a research career path in CNRS and a testimony of a multiple European funds laureate CNRS researcher. There was also a 3-hour session led by Association Bernard Gregory about career planning and job market for PhDs. The second training session took place on June 28th-29th in Rouen and dealt with dissemination, open science and open access, pitching one's project... The third training session took place on November 21st-22nd and was about leadership and management as a researcher and negociation skills.
The first training session for the second wave will take place on January 2024.
2022 was a year mainly dedicated to the selection of the first wave of laureates as well as the implementation of the call for applications on the second wave.
The preparatory period which took place from February 2021 to December 2021 allowed the Programme Management Team to prepare the launch of the first call for applications, the eligibility check of the applications and the first phase of evaluations, as described in the “Call 1: report on evaluation and selection” approved on Nov 14th, 2022.
From January to March 2022, the preselected applicants of the first wave were first interviewed (February 2022), selected applicants were then approved by the Regional Scientific Committee on March 18th, 2022, and finally their funding was agreed by the Regional assembly. 18 fellows were finally recruited by the Norman host institutions.
The launching of the 2nd call was announced during the Regional Scientific Committee of March 18th, 2022, so that the RSC members (Vice-Presidents for research, Directors of research & innovation departments, members of the Norman scientific communities…) could relay the information about the calendar and eligibility criteria to their professional networks.
Thanks to the preparatory work conducted for the first wave, there were only some minor updates to documents to make.
On June 6th 2022, the second call was launched and closed on October 14th. At the end of the global process and the closing of the waiting list on August 31st, 21 fellows have been recruited, totalizing 39 fellows for the whole program.
According to the proposal, the Programme management Team, closely with Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), implemented the first training session on December 13th – 14th, 2022 dedicated to the life of a researcher. The session was divided into two days. The first day was dedicated to the professional project with the presentation of a research career path in CNRS and a testimony of a multiple European funds laureate CNRS researcher. There was also a 3-hour session led by Association Bernard Gregory about career planning and job market for PhDs. The second training session took place on June 28th-29th in Rouen and dealt with dissemination, open science and open access, pitching one's project... The third training session took place on November 21st-22nd and was about leadership and management as a researcher and negociation skills.
The first training session for the second wave will take place on January 2024.
Beneficial outcomes are expected either for the fellows or for the territory. The program is expected to enhance the fellows’ potential and future career perspectives by allowing them to develop a more sophisticated set of knowledge, skills and attitudes. For a majority of the fellows, the program will prepare them to apply for competitive calls such as ERC calls or national calls for permanent positions in the research institutions.
For the territory and its institutions, this program should strengthen their partnerships with other international institutions and should allow them to develop their international policies. For example, in 2023 the University of Rouen was awarded the HRS4R label and other research institutions are expected to be awarded by the end of the program. The program has also encouraged the host institutions to take the initiative to candidate by themselves to the Marie-Curie fellowship.
For the Regional Council, this program is an incredible opportunity to experiment new ways of supporting the territory and the people. The success of such experimentation will lead the Regional Council to keep on developing new projects, in other socio-economic areas as well.
For the territory and its institutions, this program should strengthen their partnerships with other international institutions and should allow them to develop their international policies. For example, in 2023 the University of Rouen was awarded the HRS4R label and other research institutions are expected to be awarded by the end of the program. The program has also encouraged the host institutions to take the initiative to candidate by themselves to the Marie-Curie fellowship.
For the Regional Council, this program is an incredible opportunity to experiment new ways of supporting the territory and the people. The success of such experimentation will lead the Regional Council to keep on developing new projects, in other socio-economic areas as well.