INL Fellowship programme in nanotechnologies for nanomedicine, energy, ICT, food and environment applications

Project Information

NanoTRAINforGrowthII

Grant agreement ID: 713640

DOI

10.3030/713640

Project closed

EC signature date 22 March 2016

Start date 1 June 2016

End date 31 May 2021

Funded under

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Total cost

€ 3 398 400,00

EU contribution

€ 1 699 200,00

Coordinated by

INTERNATIONAL IBERIAN NANOTECHNOLOGY LABORATORY
Portugal

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - NanoTRAINforGrowthII (INL Fellowship programme in nanotechnologies for nanomedicine, energy, ICT, food and environment applications)

Reporting period: 2018-06-01 to 2021-05-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

The objective of the NanoTRAINforGrowth II - INL Post-Doctoral Fellowship Programme was to provide an opportunity for talented and motivated researchers from all over the world and all nationalities to carry out ground breaking research projects at INL. The selected candidates had the opportunity to develop and carry out a research project in a highly stimulating and multicultural environment, which included access to state-of-the-art equipment and personal career assistance. The Programme was designed to support the career development of researchers by enhancing their research experience and integrating them in world class research facilities, in a stimulating research environment with state-of-the art equipment and excellent performing research groups.

The project´s objectives were achieved.

Here below some figures:

•4 calls for proposals were launched;
• 754 applications received;
•23 fellows hired during the entire duration of the project;
•Fellows came from 10 different nationalities: 65% are coming from the EU and the remaining 35% are coming from Asia and South America;
• 17 fellows have completed the 24 months co-fund hiring period;
•6 fellows have partially completed the hiring period, 1 of these researchers was granted with a FET-Open hence started a new employment contract at INL;
• A total of 7 out of 23 fellows were offered with an employment contract to continue their research careers at INL.
•All calls were largely disseminated. The dissemination was done through websites, platforms, personal contacts, and specialized online journals and events.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

INL had specific procedures for publishing and disseminating the NanoTRAINforGrowth II calls, which included the use of different tools and media for the recruitment process. The calls for INL’s fellowship programme were announced on INL’s recruitment web page and the NanoTRAINforGrowth Programme web portal (ntgii.inl.int).
The NanoTRAINforGrowth II Programme calls were promoted and advertised through the main international websites and platforms dedicated to the research and nanotechnology areas. These websites and platforms includes: EURAXESS website; European platforms: www.academicpositions.com; www.engineeroxy.com; www.researchgate.com; Scientific Journals (online) www.naturejobs.com contact lists of Universities and Research Centres. Included also International Relations departments and career services at Universities; social networks for researchers (including paid announcements) and general networking sites, including Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The Guide for applicants was available on the programme website, providing the essential information about submitting a proposal to each call and about the evaluation and selection procedures.

The NanoTRAINforGrowth II website was constantly updated with information of the programme ongoing calls, activities, and results. The public part of the website was the informational window for the programme. 5 Newsletters were produced throughout the duration of the programme, each newsletter was uploaded to the public section of the website and sent to stakeholders in order to obtain their feedback and comments about the programme ongoing activities and results. Digital flyers were developed containing the main information on the project, objectives, call and application procedures. These materials were developed to disseminate every time the researchers travel to attend to meetings, conferences and seminars and also to be disseminated through the social media channels. Outreach events, presentations at conferences, meetings or other events - The research fellows participated in several outreach activities such as the open day at INL, the main strategic objective of this initiative was to inform and communicate about nanotechnology, touching directly on applications that influence people’s daily life with the associated risks and opportunities. It was focused on the way science is developing, since it is also important to create awareness about new scientific developments. Some of the materials and experiments were developed at a level accessible for secondary school students, thereby encouraging young students to consider a career in research.
A digital profile was created for each research fellow with a personal description, social media profiles, COFUND project description and updates, related publications (where applicable) and other relevant research activities (conferences, seminars and outreach events).

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

All the information and updates regarding each Research Proposal (Projects) can be checked on the website of the programme: https://ntgii.inl.int/
On the micro level, the programme registered impacts on the individual Research Fellows:
•Gain experience abroad. The NanoTRAINforgrowth programme has provided the opportunity to move internationally and to a brand new state-of-the-art facility, which is considered one of the main research infrastructures in Europe dedicated to the development of nanotechnology and nanolectronic RTD activities, with a global investment of over a 100M€.
•Receive training in state-of-the-art equipment. INL has a complete set of equipment all under one roof, conditions that are difficult to find elsewhere in Europe. •Strengthen research capacities, capabilities and participation in research networks, by liaising with high level researchers working at INL and with the international and multicultural community at INL.
• Employability. INL offered 7 new position to fellows that finished their COFUND research fellowships.
On the meso level, impacts on the International Iberian Nanotechonology Laboratory (INL) are also starting to flourish, namely related with attracting good quality researchers. INL is expanding its research capacity and to have access to high-quality researchers they might not otherwise have been attracted. This in turn is leading to stronger institutional research outputs and the capacity to tap into wider international knowledge networks. Establishing and managing the NanoTRAINforgrowth COFUND programme has also improved INL´s operational recruitment procedures.
On the macro level, the NanoTRAINforgrowth is providing impact at the regional level and respective innovation system. COFUND objectives concerning the mobilisation and leveraging of regional resources also relate strongly to European Research Area regarding the priorities concerning overcoming mobility barriers and addressing fragmentation in the European research landscape. The host institution of the NanoTRAINforgrowth programme – INL – is based the North of Portugal, which is considered a low performing region in terms of R&D. So, due to its location, the 2nd edition of this programme had influence on patterns of mobility, particularly on attracting researchers to the North region of Portugal and of increasing the region´s R&D outputs.

Facebook Dissemination

Facebook Dissemination

1st Newsletter

LinkedIn Dissemination

Facebook Dissemination

LinkedIn Dissemination

Twitter Dissemination

LinkedIn Dissemination

2nd newsletter