AHRC - NWO Humanities Research Networking and Exchange Scheme

The Research Networking and Exchange Scheme is intended to support forums for the discussion and exchange of ideas on a specified thematic area, issue or problem between researchers based in the Netherlands and UK. Networking activities can include short-term series of workshops, seminars, networking activities or other events. The exchange element is to facilitate a coordinated programme of exchanges involving the exchange of several people, and can be for postgraduate students or early career researchers as well as more established academics.

The aim of these activities is to stimulate new debate across boundaries, for example, disciplinary, conceptual, theoretical, methodological, and internationally. Proposals should explore new areas, be bi-national and can include creative or innovative approaches or entrepreneurship. Awards made under this call are intended to enable researchers to share ideas, to develop collaborative proposals or publications, and to support engagement between scholars in the UK and the Netherlands, and between scholars and other stakeholders. Proposals must justify the approach taken and clearly explain the novelty or added value for bringing the network participants together.

As well as being within the remit of both funding councils, proposed networks and exchanges must target one of the two priority areas that have been identified for this funding opportunity; these are:

• Sustainable Communities in a changing world
• Cultural Interactions of Research

Who can apply

The bi-national consortia must contain one Dutch and one UK investigator, and can have either a Dutch or UK lead (i.e. Principal Investigator). Investigators must be researchers at Dutch or UK institutes for university education and research and/or researchers at institutes as recognized by NWO or the AHRC.

Netherlands Senior researchers, in other words experienced researchers who hold a doctorate and are employed at a Dutch research institute. This could be a tenured appointment or a temporary appointment for the course of the application process and the research project.

Articles 2.1 and 2.2 of the General Terms and Conditions of NWO Grants 2011 of NWO Grants state from which Dutch organizations a funding proposal to NWO can be submitted.

United Kingdom The AHRC’s standard eligibility for Organisations, Principle Investigators and Co Investigators apply. Please see page 32-33 of the AHRC’s Research funding Guide

What can be applied for

The maximum award is € 40.000 for a period of up to two years. Networking and Exchange activities are expected to be more or less distributed evenly over the Netherlands and the UK. Budgets should be costed in EURO, please use the exchange rate valid on 1 November at www.xe.com

Staff (Investigator) costs

1. For Dutch Principal Investigators (PIs) or Co-Investigators (Co-Is): Lump sum replacement grant whilst they undertake the proposed activity (maximum € 10,000 per person). 

2. For UK PIs or Co-Is: actual costs whilst they undertake the proposed activity (maximum € 10,000 per person).

Direct costs – eligible costs are:
3. Costs for organizing (series of) meetings/workshops. 
4. Staff costs associated with the support/assistance of the activity.
5. Costs for the exchange of researchers (solely for travel and accommodation).

Please note that for UK participants Estates and Indirect Costs can not be included. However through this call 100% of costs will be paid rather than 80%.

When can be applied

• Closing date for the submission of applications was 13 December 2011, 17:00 hrs

Extra Information

Arts and humanities are the major component in the research networking proposal, and a strong fit to the themes identified and articulated.
Networking and exchange activities and its funding are expected to be distributed more or less evenly over the Netherlands and the UK.

Criteria

Eligibility criteria

• The proposal must be addressing the priority themes described for this call and must primarily be focusing on the arts and humanities aspects of the themes. 
• All applicants and named staff must be eligible under the scheme requirements.
• Proposals must be led by at least one PI and one Co-I one of which must be UK-based and the other Dutch-based. Both should be actively involved in the networking or exchange activities.
• The maximum budget that can be applied for is € 40.000. All budget figures in the proposal should be in Euros only. 
• The maximum funding period for the entire research networking and exchange activities is two years. Activities should start before September 1 2012 and should be distributed more or less evenly over the Netherlands and the UK.
• The main applicants should be actively involved in the research programme. 

Assessment and ranking criteria

• Quality and importance of the proposed research networking activities
• The quality and relevance/appropriateness of the people involved and the coherence/strength of the UK-Dutch collaboration and impact on Dutch/UK research.
• Management and coordination of the project.
• Outputs, dissemination and impact.
• Value for money.

Procedure

The first step in the assessment procedure is to determine the eligibility of the application. This is done using the eligibility criteria included in the call. All eligible proposals will be assessed and ranked by an international Assessment Panel based on the criteria described in the call. Please note there will be no Right to Reply stage. The international Assessment Panel will send their recommendation to NWO and AHRC. The final decision will be made jointly by these organisation. The main applicant (or PI) will be informed of the outcome by March 1 2012.

All awards will be jointly funded by both the AHRC and NWO. Irrespective of the nationality of the PI's organisation, all funding and other administration eg reporting will be undertaken by NW0. All funding will be paid to the lead institution in Euros and it will be that institutions responsibility to transfer any funding. Proposals and Information regarding assessment, administration and reports will be shared between the AHRC and NWO.

Committees

All proposals will be assessed and ranked by an international Assessment Panel. The composition will be published as soon as possible on the webpage that can be accessed via www.nwo.nl/GW 

Budget

The total budget available for the AHRC – NWO Humanities Research Networking and Exchange Scheme is € 400.000. The maximum of individual awards is € 40.000. 

Financiers

Division for the Humanities, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research and Arts and Humanities Research Council, United Kingdom 

Contacts

• Ms drs. A. Dijkstra
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 07 36 / +31 (0)70 344 08 36, e-mail: a.dijkstra@nwo.nl
• Ms drs. B. van der Pas
  phone: +31 (0)70 344 05 67, e-mail: b.vanderpas@nwo.nl