INFORMATION SESSION
FWO doctoral grants
Strategic Basic research (SB)
July 2017
Contents
• Introduction
Hanne De Brue
KU Leuven - Research Coordination Office
• Info session SB doctoral grants
Dirk Otte
FWO - Coordinator of SB programme
• Questions
• Info session Baekeland mandates (11:30)
Els Tourwé
VLAIO - Coordinator of Baekeland and Innovation programme
Success rate & KU Leuven performance
FlandersIWT FWO
2013 2014 2015 2016
Applications 789 755 721 662
SB grants 200 200 202 200
Success rate 25% 26% 28% 30%
KU Leuven support
• Feedback on your SB application
– Online registration and submission of draft application
• Deadline: Wednesday 16 August
• https://forms.kuleuven.be/b0022/RegistrationFeedbackSessionsIWT
– Proofreading
• Advisors of Research Coordination Office and LRD
• Special attention to the strategic dimension and application potential
– Personal feedback meeting
• Science, Engineering & Technology: 28-29 August
• Biomedical Sciences: 30-31 August
• Humanities & Social Sciences: on appointment
Tips & tricks
• How to write a good SB proposal?
– Problem definition and state of the art
– Research objective(s)
– Methodology and work plan
– Strategic dimension and application potential
Tips & tricks
• How to write a good SB proposal?
– Problem definition and state of the art
• Clear and concise
• Why is the proposed research essential?
• (Socio-)economic perspective!
• Quantify wherever possible
– Research objective(s)
– Methodology and work plan
– Strategic dimension and application potential
Tips & tricks
• How to write a good SB proposal?
– Problem definition and state of the art
– Research objective(s)
• As concrete as possible
– Methodology and work plan
– Strategic dimension and application potential
Tips & tricks
• How to write a good SB proposal?
– Problem definition and state of the art
– Research objective(s)
– Methodology and work plan
• Realistic and feasible
• Motivate!
• Indicate deliverables, milestones, potential bottlenecks
• Schematic overview
– Strategic dimension and application potential
Tips & tricks
• How to write a good SB proposal?
– Problem definition and state of the art
– Research objective(s)
– Methodology and work plan
– Strategic dimension and application potential
• Valorisation chain(s): from research to product or service
• Relevant stakeholders, companies, organisations, policy makers …
• Generic aspect?
• Training component
Tips & tricks
• How to write a good SB proposal?
– Problem definition and state of the art
– Research objective(s)
– Methodology and work plan
– Strategic dimension and application potential
• Overview of tips & tricks
– Online (intranet)
– Print-outs available
• Organise a test-interview
– Practice for your oral defence at FWO
– Invite your supervisor, research group, (future) colleagues
More information?
www.fwo.be
More information?
www.kuleuven.be/onderzoek/gedocumenteerd
More information?
www.kuleuven.be/english/research/phd
More information?
• KU Leuven Research Coordination Office
– Hanne De Brue
+ 32 16 32 58 97
– Veerle Bruggeman
+ 32 16 32 09 49
– Stephanie Eggermont
+32 16 32 48 75
Good luck with your
application!
Info session SB 2017
June 2017
dr.ir. Dirk Otte, science policy advisor
Info session outline1. What is the FWO?
Mission, key facts
2. Why choose a PhD fellowship SB?‘Strategic’ PhD research
3. Who can apply?Eligibility
4. How to apply?E-application portal
5. How to win the grant?Criteria, interview
6. Help! Who to contact?
1. What is the FWO?
1. What is the FWO?2. Why choose a PhD fellowship SB?3. Who can apply?4. How to apply?5. How to win the grant?6. Help! Who to contact?
Mission and key facts
• Mission of the FWO• Funding of fundamental & strategic research
• Bottom-up in all disciplines• Scientific excellence and interuniversity competition
• Funding programmes• Individual researchers (pre-, post-doc, mobility Pegasus)• Research teams (projects, SBO, brain gain Odysseus,…)• Research infrastructure• Scientific prizes
• Transparent and equal opportunities5
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3216 researchers financed via FWO
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
EVOLUTION # RESEARCHERS (ACTIVE ON 2017/01/01)
Aspiranten SB-beurzen
Postdoctorale onderzoekers Onderzoeksprojecten
FWO statistics: # researchers
SB
7
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
EVOLUTION of SELECTION PROBABILITY
Aspiranten SB-beurzen Postdoctorale onderzoekers Onderzoeksprojecten Streefcijfer
FWO Statistics: selection %
target
SB: 200/662= 30,2 % (2016)
Aspirant: 22% (2017)
Post-doc 27,8% (2017)
Projects: 20,4% (2017)
2. Why choose a fellowship SB?
1. What is the FWO?
2. Why choose a PhD fellowship SB?3. Who can apply?4. How to apply?5. How to win the grant?6. Help! Who to contact?
scholars65%
scientists under contract
18%
AAP17%
SB9%
• 8700 PhD students in Flanders (2012)
• Scholars: IWT/SB, FWO, VLIR, university, research projects…)
• SB fellows: 800 (9%)
• Under contract (research projects, Baekeland…)
• AAP (university)
• (IWT)SB & FWO fellows: 80% obtain PhD
• after 4-5 years
• Highest success rate in Flanders
Source: Ecoom
PhD’s in Flanders: some statistics
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Why choose an “SB” fellowship• Strategically thinking & innovation-oriented scientists
• Challenging & original research (PhD level)
• Strategic: Research with a goal (“use-inspired”)• Innovative applications
• Products, processes, services
• Long term perspective
• Economic added value• Specific companies -AND/OR-
• Collective of companies / (industrial) sector -AND/OR-
• in line with VRWI transition priorities*
• FWO fellowship (“aspirant”): fundamental research
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Transition areas in Science, Technology and Innovation towards 2025 – VRWI*
11* VARIO (°2016)
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1. Health & Well-Being2. Smart Resources Management 3. Food 4. New energy Demand & Delivery 5. Urban planning, mobility dynamics & logistics
- sustainable smart cities
- increased spatial efficiency through smart densification- synchromodality- spatially resilient systems- green mobility and logistics- intelligent transport systems- behaviour and lifestyle- big data.
6. Digital society
VRWI Transition areas -> priorities
FWO PhD grant: contract modalities (SB)
• Agreement between FWO and the PhD fellow• Start SB: Jan. 1, 2018
• Duration: 2 years
• Renewal: +2 years (apply in spring 2019)
• Continuously and full-time!
• Roles• FWO: funding agency (“grant-providing body”)
• social and grant affairs managed by HR-Department FWO
• University: hosting organisation• Disciplinary rules according to hosting university
• In consensus with supervisor
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FWO PhD grant: financial aspects
• Grant amount at level of assistant at Flemish university: € 1,860.55 (minimum net salary)• plus
– pecuniary (scientific) seniority
– family situation accounted for
• Exempted from personal income tax
• Full social security (e.g. pension and health care)
• Holiday allowance / end-of-year bonus paid separately
• Holiday pay based on # working period in previous year!
• Public transport / bicycle mileage compensation
• Child allowance via FWO
• Bench fee: € 3,720 / year14
3. Who can apply?
1. What is the FWO?2. Why choose a PhD fellowship SB?3. Who can apply?4. How to apply?5. How to win the grant?6. Help! Who to contact?
Who can apply: eligibility
• Master diploma• EU28 + Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland
– Non-Belgian: certification of faculty required (template)
• ≥ ‘cum laude’ (distinction)
• ≤ 5 years ago (≥ June 2012, excl. exceptions)
• ≥ 2 masters: conditions apply on MSc in field PhD
• Advanced Master (“ManaMa”) not taken into account
• Nationality• All nationalities allowed
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Who can apply: eligibility
• Scientific experience / seniority• ≤ 18 months since ‘relevant’ master
– Accounted for employment %
– Physician-(pharmacist) “Specialist in Training” or “Resident” veterinarian: counted as 50%
– Counted on Jan, 1, 2018
• Any kind of ‘scientific activity’ (not just PhD research)
• All university/university college appointments
– Excl. ATP, practice/teaching assistant…
• Business enterprise R&D experience
• -> prove by contracts, documents, statements + activities description17
Who can apply… and re-apply…
• Feb. 2017 “aspirant” vs. Sept. 2017 “SB” application
• avoid copy/paste + ‘valorisation potential’!
• (re-)motivate your choice
• Mind: differences eligibility and selection criteria!
• Alignment both programmes ahead (2019)
• == eligibility rules: ≤3 years Master, ≤18m scientific experience
• == selection procedure (2 steps, preselection + interview)
• == timeline (deadline March, 1 – start Nov. 1)
• ≠≠ focus on difference in scope: content & purpose
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Feb17 ASP
Sep17 SB
Feb18 ASP
Sep18 SB
Mar19 SB/ASP
Mar20 SB/ASP
2019 reforms: transition measures
• If SB and/or ‘Aspirant’ 1st application in 2017:• 2+2 attempts still possible incl. 2019
• 2019 under current seniority rules
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Deadline:
Start: Oct17 Jan18 Oct18 Jan19 Nov19 Nov20
Eligibility: project related conditions
• Supervisor / co-supervisor @ Flemish university• Supervisor: ZAP, FWO research director, ERC grantee…
• Co-supervisor: @Flemish university, research center, …
• Research site• Affiliation to Flemish university = host organisation
• Collaboration Flemish or Federal scientific institution
• Flemish company • Max. 12 months per 2Y-term
• IPR agreement: host organisation owns the rights
• ! ≠ Baekeland mandates (www.vlaio.be): co-financing by Flemish company
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4. How to apply?
1. What is the FWO?2. Why choose a PhD fellowship SB?3. Who can apply?
4. How to apply?5. How to win the grant?6. Help! Who to contact?
Before applying:
Be 100% convinced that a PhD is the right start for your career
Be 100% convinced that a PhD SB is the right start for your career
Be motivated
Check the eligibility & evaluation criteria
Start in time (registration e-portal)
Keep in mind the application deadline: September 15
IMPORTANT: incomplete = ineligible!
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Application via FWO e-portal
Datum Titel 23
FWO Validation /48hrs!
Register in time!
FWO e-portal: personal details
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FWO e-portal: personal details
• List & upload university diploma(s) & study results
• Non-Belgian Master: attestation by the faculty of host organisation• Download template + fill in/signed by dean + upload
• Posts/Career• upload employment contract(s)
• Addresses• (future) ‘Belgian service address’!• Legal domicile address 25
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Title (ENG+NL)Summary (‘layman’s terms’)
Host institution (5 Flemish universitiesAdditional host organisation(s) (incl. company)
Collaboration(s) (incl. abroad & companies)
Personal details supervisor + co-supervisor(s)
Language = English
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Master dissertationOther fundingPrevious FWO/IWT applications
- Project number + year + type…! Activities since Master (in view of scientific expertise)
EU-conform ethical questionnaire
NEW: Research theme + motivation- Pick 1 research theme + motivate (see also (sub)topics)- Expert ‘pools’ per research theme have been formed
SB Research themes (32) & topics/scopes• excerpt
Datum Titel 29
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Upload (e)ID / passportPersonal statement
- ‘Discipline codes’ (pick list) - free keywords & concepts- Economic finality:
companies -AND/OR-sector(s) -AND/OR-VRWI transition priorities
(cont’d)
project proposal outline
MS WORD template MAX. 12 pages
• Problem definition and state of the art ~2p
• Research objective(s) ~1p
• Research methodology and work plan ~6p
• Strategic dimension and application potential ~2p
• bibliographical references
• communication to non-experts ~1p
• 5 main publications
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Don’t forget… to SUBMIT!
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-> automatic confirmation follows
5. How to win the grant?
1. What is the FWO?2. Why choose a PhD fellowship SB?3. Who can apply?4. How to apply?
5. How to win the grant?6. Help! Who to contact?
Eligibility check by FWO• Notification of registration
• project number 1Sxxx18N• additional documents (personal file) may be asked for
• Completeness and eligibility analysis by FWO• Non-eligible candidates are notified (± Oct. 10, 2017)• Conditional eligibility possible• Advice (co-)supervisor(s) – is asked for by FWO
• Eligible applicants invited to evaluation/interview (± Oct. 10, 2017)• Date is fixed, time schedule via doodle• Presentation to be sent to FWO
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SB expert panels• Nov. 6 – Dec. 7, 2017: expert panel sessions
• 5-6 experts per panel• Academic + industry• Senior profiles with broad expertise• International (language is English!)• FWO representative* acts as moderator
*FWO policy officer or adviser of the Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship
• ~12-16 candidates per panel• ≥2 experts thorougly read your proposal
• Course of the interview• 20 minutes / candidate• ‘Elevator pitch’: 5 min.• Interactive discussion: 15 min.
• Consensus scoring on 3 criteria
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SB evaluation criteria
• Candidate• Potential competence as PhD researcher
• Project insight & basic knowledge • Critical mindset & reasoning skills (+motivation)
• Potential competence as innovation-oriented researcher• Insight in (economically viable) application potential• Positioning project in innovation landscape
-
• Project• Scientific quality
• relevance & challenge • inventiveness and innovativeness
• Research approach and feasibility
• Application potential• Strategic dimension
• Relevance of research approach w.r.t. intended applications
• Potential impact for possible users• Economically relevant innovations
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The interview
• Preparing your session• Refresh your knowledge!
• “Live” your project, know it inside out
• Prepare a convincing presentation!• Clear and concise
• Add value!
• Elaborate your and your proposal’s strengths
• Your own input to the interactive discussion
• Exercise!
• Be the devil’s advocate!
• Let colleagues & supervisor(s) put you through the grill…
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The interview
• Be on time @FWO, but not too early!
• Your elevator pitch
• 5 min. = 300 sec.!
• Interactive discussion
• Anticipate to questions
• give yourself time for reflection, be precise
• Do not get discouraged by difficult questions
• Be enthusiastic! Defend your project.
• Be yourself!
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Scoring grid• Score letter-codes -> ‘relative’ position in ‘normal’ population of candidates
-> ‘top’ x %• Score per criterion ‘candidate’ ‘project’ ‘application’
A+ >5% TOP 7A >10% excellent 6A- >20% very good 5B+ >30% good 4B >40% moderate 3B- >50% average 2C <50% fair/under average 1D <5% critical/unacceptable 0 D C B- B B+ A- A A+
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Cut-off region
SB scoring grid
40…
SB Ranking & selection
• Ranking in panel based on weighted total score
• ‘Candidate’ x 3 + ‘project’ + ‘application potential’ (60/20/20)
• In case of a tie: subcriteria (no ranking on diploma grades)
• Selection: 2-step procedure
• Panel quota: direct attribution of grants• Quotum ≤ #candidates x selection% (e.g. 14 x 30%-> 4)
• Best ranked: grant, IF also predefined min. scores (e.g. B+ B+ B-)
-> #grants ≤ panel quotum
• Remaining grants: ranking over all panels• Overall ranking of remaining valuable candidates from each panel
• Using normalised (z-)scores per panel
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Decision and feedback
• Decision by board of trustees (Dec.14)
• Results (200 selected) on www.fwo.be
• Notification to all
• Contracts
• sent out 2nd half Dec.
• start Jan. 1, 2018
• Feedback to all candidates
• Experts comments on 3 criteria (+ z-score)
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6. Help! Who to contact?
1. What is the FWO?2. Why choose a PhD fellowship SB?3. Who can apply?4. How to apply?5. How to win the grant
6. Help! Who to contact?
Who to contact• [email protected]
• [email protected] (e-portal IT problems)
• From Aug. 16 : 0800 23326 (on working days from 09:00 to 17:00)
• First read:
• SB webpage: NL / EN
• Guide for applicants / application form example (screenshots)
• Procedures application & evaluation NL / EN
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Good luck!