Scientific Co-operation Programme between Latin American Universities and K.U.Leuven

Concept

The goal of this initiative is to establish new and to strengthen existing bilateral relations between K.U.Leuven and Latin American Universities in order to encourage co-operation activities in a wide range of research areas and to contribute to the mutual understanding and development of research
relationships.

The main objectives of this bilateral co-operation are:

• to develop a sustainable research co-operation between K.U.Leuven and the participating universities;
• to create added value for the research at the universities involved;
• to stimulate the exchange of researchers;
• to provide a platform for obtaining international funding from other organizations, and especially from the EU through its framework programmes.

Purpose

The aim of the Explorative co-operation programme is to fund exploratory research activities that involve both researchers from K.U.Leuven and from a partner university in Latin America and, as a result, to set up and prepare joint research proposals for international funding. The programme should be considered as 'seed money' and is intended as leverage for international programmes.

In 2010 and 2011, there will be an open call for explorative research projects initiated by researchers from both sides.

The programme is open to all fields of research (Social Sciences and Humanities; Science, Engineering and Technology, Biomedical Sciences and Life Sciences).

Funding

Type of funding

To encourage and stimulate joint scientific co-operation activities, K.U.Leuven has decided to establish a Latin America Fund for its researchers.

The Latin America Fund is part of K.U.Leuven's Special Research Fund (or in Dutch: BOF).

For the coming two years, a total annual budget of a maximum of 100,000 euros will be made available. The budget will be managed by Leuven researchers.

The approved budget, which can amount up to 12,500 euros per project, will be granted by K.U.Leuven mainly through covering the travelling expenses of K.U.Leuven researchers when travelling to Latin America in the framework of a selected project and through covering the subsistence costs of the Latin American researchers during their stay in Leuven.

The participating universities in Latin America will provide co-funding, mainly through covering travelling expenses of their researchers when travelling to Leuven in the framework of a selected project and through covering the subsistence cost of the K.U.Leuven researchers during their stay at the university involved.

Duration

The duration of the research projects can be one or two years.

Selection

Selection criteria

A proposal must meet the internationally accepted standards of high scientific quality.

• A proposal must be of the kind that joint publications and doctorates at the K.U.Leuven may be expected.

Selection procedure

A list of submitted proposals is exchanged between the administrations to check whether proposals have been submitted in both universities. If a proposal has been submitted only in one university, it is not eligible.

The proposals are evaluated both at the K.U. Leuven and the Partner University, and they are ranked according to their priority for funding. The projects that applied for funding will be preselected by :

• The Executive Body of the K.U.Leuven Research Council, presided by the chair of the Research Council, prof. dr. André Vantomme.
• The Vice Presidency of Research and Development of the Universidad de Chile, presided by the Academic Director of Research.
• UNESP's Research Vice-Presidence - PROPE, presided by prof. dr. Maria José Soares Mendes Giannini.
• The Research and Postgraduate Studies Department of Tecnológico de Monterrey, presided by Dr. Miguel Romero.
• UNLP's Commission Assessor consituted to these effects, presided by Mr. Vice President Lic. Raúl Perdomo.
• A special commission of the Advisory Council of International Relations at UNC

The final selection of the proposals to be funded will take place in mutual consent between the universities involved.

Submission of proposals

Deadline : 25.05.2011

The research proposal must be submitted by at least one K.U.Leuven researcher and at least one researcher from the Partner University.

The K.U.Leuven and Latin American applicants must use the jointly designed application form.

In order to be eligible, the proposal must jointly and simultaneously be submitted to the local administration in Leuven and the Latin American University involved. Contact addresses for administration and management (including launching calls, providing further details, awaiting applications and informing applicants about the outcome of the selection procedure):

• Universidad de Chile: Director of International Relations (secretaria.rrii@uchile.cl or directorrel@uchile.cl)

Important remarks

Timetable

• Launch : December 2010
• Submission deadline : 25 May 2011
• Evaluation by both partners : June - August 2011
• Final selection : September 2011
• Starting date for projects : 1 October 2011

Requirement for K.U.Leuven applicants: the rules mentioned in the BOF-guidelines to act as a principal investigator (PI) or co-investigator (Co-I) for a Leuven research proposal are applicable. This means that a Leuven PI must be an 'independent researcher' and a Leuven Co-I at least 'postdoctoral researcher'.