Centre of Excellence programmes

Centre of Excellence programme 2012–2017, second stage of call

Aim

The aims of the programmes for Centres of Excellence in Research (CoE programmes) is to create favourable operating conditions for consortia of research teams and create potential for scientific breakthroughs. Aims also include promoting collaboration and the application of unique approaches at the interface of scientific disciplines and research fields. The CoE programmes further reinforce the use of research infrastructures, network Centres of Excellence nationally and internationally, promote the social impact of research and raise the quality standards, international competitiveness, visibility and esteem of Finnish research.

Applicants at the second stage of the call

Funding for Centres of Excellence (CoEs) is intended for internationally competitive researchers. The Centre of Excellence call has a two-stage call. Only applicants who have been selected to the second stage on the basis of their letters of intent in August 2010 are eligible to submit their full applications in the second stage of the call.

Funding

CoE funding is granted towards the direct costs of a research project to cover expenses arising from, for example, the research team‟s working hours, research costs, travel, domestic and international cooperation and mobility, work and researcher training abroad, and the preparation of international projects.

In the previous CoE programmes, the Academy's funding per CoE has come to a maximum of EUR 2 million for a three-year period. Funding for CoEs will be agreed on in funding negotiations. In addition to representatives of the Academy of Finland and the CoE, the negotiations are attended by representatives of the host organisations of the CoE, i.e. universities, research institutes, and any other funding bodies involved.

Funding period

The CoE term is for six years. CoE funding is granted for two three-year periods. The application now concerns funding for the first three-year period of the CoE, i.e. 1 January 2012–31 December 2014. The projects selected for the CoE programme shall apply for funding for the second three-year period, i.e. 2015–2017, separately in 2014.

No limit is set for the number of terms as a CoE. If a CoE applying for a continued term and a new applicant are assessed scientifically equal, the new applicant will be appointed a CoE if it is not possible to appoint both.

Restrictions

Funding to cover the salary costs of the principal investigator of an Academy project may be granted for a period of no more than twelve months. The funds are intended to facilitate implementation of the project and they will only be made available for well-substantiated reasons in terms of research. These reasons may include working abroad, returning to Finland, and moving to another research organisation or company in Finland.

Appendices

Obligatory appendices, separately defined in this call:

• research and action plan of the CoE for the years 2012–2017, no more than 20 pages (see separate guidelines)
• curriculum vitae for the CoE director, vice director and team leaders, combined as one document or as separate appendices, no more than four pages/researcher (see separate guidelines)
• lists of publications of the CoE director, vice director and team leaders, combined as one document or as separate appendices (see separate guidelines).

Case-specific appendices:

• statement by an ethics committee or the Committee on Animal Experimentation (if relevant). The ethical aspects shall always be specified in the research plan.
• statement by the executive director of a Strategic Centre for Science, Technology and Innovation, if relevant, confirming that the applicant‟s project is affiliated with the Strategic Centre and justifying the significance of the project for the Strategic Centre's operations
• progress report on all Academy-funded research projects headed by the applicant that have not submitted final reports. However, this does not apply to ongoing Centres of Excellence.

Only the requested appendices are appended to the application. The appendices shall be drafted in accordance with the Academy's guidelines, see www.aka.fi/eng > For researchers > How to apply > Appendices. The appendices are drafted in the same language as the application and appended to the application form in the online services under section "Appendices". The only exception is the curriculum vitae that is appended to the application form under section "Personal data/CV".

How to apply

The applicant is a researcher and the application is submitted only by the director of the CoE. Please note that on the online application form you shall indicate the research teams of the CoE and their leaders as well as the staff of the teams. National and international collaboration shall also be indicated on the application form (section "Partners").

In the CoE call, the full cost model applies to the calculation of the costs of a research project. Applications shall be written so as to ensure that the Academy's contribution to funding comes to no more than 80% of the estimated total costs of the project. See guidelines on how to enter the costs on the application form on the Academy's website at www.aka.fi/eng > For researchers > How to apply > Full cost model.

The application deadline is 29 October 2010 at 16.15. The deadline is non-negotiable. Applications are drafted at www.aka.fi/eng > For researchers > Log in to online services. Log in and select New application > Centre of Excellence Programme in Research 2012‒2017, second stage.

Further information

• Science Adviser Maiju Gyran (Programme Unit), tel. 040 196 2729
• Project Officer Ritva Helle (Programme Unit), tel. 040 5864 679
• Science Adviser Timo Sareneva (Biosciences and Environment Research Unit), tel. (09) 7748 8243
• Science Adviser Riitta Launonen (Culture and Society Research Unit), tel. (09) 7748 8229
• Science Adviser Maaria Lehtinen (Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Unit), tel. 040 147 1802
• Science Adviser Anu Nuutinen (Health Research Unit), tel. 040 527 3442

Content updated according to October call 2010