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Resubmitment of Application
Q Is it possible to rephrase an application for a larger strategic research project as PhD or postdoc project and submit it for the application round on 19 March 2010, if the larger strategic projects was rejected in the prequalification round?
A No. Larger strategic applications not being prequalified cannot apply again under this call as individual PhD or postdoc project.
Research Themes
Q Is it possible in the same application to apply for funding under several themes?
A Applications with two separately defined themes will not be accepted, but should be submitted as two separate projects. I.e., if one of the project themes is not separable from the other one, you have to prioritize the most important topic.
Applications from Private Companies
Q What are the financial conditions of application for private companies?
A Private companies and private research institutions have to co-finance when being partners in a project. This must appear in the Budget Form and follow the conditions for budgeting set out in the Application Guide.
PhD and Postdoc Applications
Q I am from ..... ( a non-program developing country) and I have a master degree. Am I eligible to apply individually for a PhD grant ?
A As stated in the Call, the overall conditions for eligibility for individual PhD grants are that the applications can only be submitted by an organisation, such as a governmental institution, business enterprise or private organisation in Denmark. The main applicant must be attached to the Danish organisation, which will be responsible for the approved project.
Please notice that it is further a requirement that the funded research activities will promote and strengthen Danish development research as well as the capacity building in a partner country in the South.
Q Is it only possible for PhD-holders to apply once for postdoc funding after passing the PhD grade? Or is it possible to apply for postdoc funding even though you have previously obtained a research grant?
A Yes, you may apply for funding more than once for a postdoc project, however not with the same subject as the previously granted postdoc project.
Q Are applications for individual projects only meant to include one researcher, or is it possible to apply for research funding for more than one PhD and postdoc researcher in the same application?
A Individual projects are for individual researchers’ PhD or postdoc projects. However, it is possible to include limited support to cover salary to other persons for their direct contribution to the project.
Q What is the degree of detailing, when incorporating a Danish or a foreign PhD scholarship in a prequalified larger strategic research project? Does the candidate have to complete form C?
A The applications for the prequalified larger strategic projects must be on Form A. Form C is for individual projects only. For the larger strategic projects, apart from the max. 10 pages project document, you may add a description of any sub component of max. 4 pages each. The components, such as a PhD project, must be included in the description of the timeframe, budget, etc. of the main application. Please remember to enclose the required documentation and notice that the PhD students from partner countries must be enrolled at an institution in their own country.
Q Your Call for Applications 2010 states that the main applicant must hold a PhD at the time of submitting the application. Does this mean that the individual postdoc applicants must have obtained their PhD degree when submitting the application, or can they be in the process of submitting the dissertation for approval?
A No, the Application Guide explains: "The main applicant researcher for larger strategic research projects and individual postdoc projects must hold a PhD or equivalent qualifications at the time of submitting the application, or it must be documented that the applicant researcher is at Assistant Professor (adjunkt) or Associate Professor (lektor) level. This must be clearly documented in the CV or through other attached documents. Applications from PhD students for an individual postdoc project may be accepted if a preliminary motivated recommendation from the PhD evaluation committee is enclosed, stating that the PhD dissertation has been approved by a majority of the committee and that it will be defended before the start of the project".
Q I am from ..... ( a non-program developing country below the threshold of GNI USD 2,570 per capita), and I will be enrolled at an university in Denmark as a PhD student. Am I eligible to apply for a grant for a PhD project under theme 3?
A Yes you may apply, but only as part of a larger strategic project and with enrollment in your own country. As stated in the Call, the overall conditions for eligibility are: 1) "An individual PhD applicant must be attached to a Danish institution which also has the overall responsibility of the application/research project. 2) "If the applicant is from a partner country ("partner countries" defined in the Call as developing countries with a GNI below the 2008 threshold set by the World Bank: USD 2,570 per capita), the research supported must be directed towards enhancing the research capacity in the partner country, and the PhD student must be enrolled at an university in that country". This is why the Call states that "PhD educations to students from partner countries can only be supported tf they are part of a larger strategic project". The above conditions overrule any specific condition for theme 3.
Project and Research Equipment
Q In Guidelines, page 6, it says that “Project and research equipment and research materials…… cannot exceed 10 % of the sum of the items above”. Does this mean that if “Salaries and emoluments….” amounts to DKK 2,000,000, then equipment may only constitute DKK 200,000?
A “This item cannot exceed 10% of the sum of the items above” only refers to “cost for publication, dissemination and communication”, and not to “project and research equipment and research materials”. Please compare Budget Form 3 (Total DKK), paragraph 6, “Publication, Dissemination and Communication”: Up to 10% of items 1-5.
Q With reference to the Application Guide, “If the budget includes an amount exceeding DKK 300,000 for acquisition…... the original quotation from at least two suppliers must be enclosed”: May we call for quotations ourselves, or must we employ a professional company?
A It is acceptable to call for quotations yourselves.
Larger Strategic Projects
Q Please advise me about the procedure for application for larger strategic projects < DKK 5 mio
A The Consultative Research Committee for Development Research (FFU) has wished to prioritize larger projects; consequently in 2010 it is only possible to apply for the following two project types:
1. Larger strategic research programmes (>DKK 5 mio)
2. Individual PhD and postdoc applications
This implies that apart from initiative and individual project applications, all project applications must be based on a budget of minimum DKK 5 mio. Please take note that you cannot take for granted that FFU will approve the total budget applied for.
Q I want to apply for funding for a strategic project, but my budget is <DKK 5 mio. Is it possible to apply for two individual projects totaling DKK 5 mio?
A No, the budget for a strategic project must be minimum DKK 5 mio. Individual projects differ from the strategic projects, because they are meant for the PhD or postdoc project of an individual researcher, whereas strategic project must include a substantial element of capacity building in the partner country.
Partners
Q I have more partners in my prequalification application than it is possible to list in Form B, where there are only three pre-printed boxes for listing the partners.
A: You can add more partners in Form B in each of the boxes 4.1, 4.2 and 4.3 below the last line. But only list the main partners (those who are expected to sign the final application if the project is prequalified).
P
Q I am not sure which documents should be attached to the application for the prequalification of large strategic projects.
A With reference to the Application Guide: “Please note that applications for the prequalification of large strategic projects only covers Form B, with the CV of the main applicant attached”.