Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Research Development Support to boost multidisciplinary research

New initiative from Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities aimed at facilitating regional interdisciplinary research co-operation.

Leiden University, TU Delft and Erasmus University Rotterdam are home to almost all the disciplines needed to develop successful inter- and transdisciplinary research proposals, whether or not social partners are involved. Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Research Development Support is attempting to facilitate the formation of interdisciplinary consortia for large-scale and complicated grant applications.

This concerns applications for the €2-€­5 million and €5-­€10 million bandwidths in the Dutch National Research Agenda (NWA), the theme-based NWA calls for proposals, the NWO Merian Fund calls and research within the framework of the Knowledge and Innovation Covenant (KIC) and more particularly NWO’s “MISSIE” (for applications with a minimum size of €2 million and 10-­30% co-financing), “VRAAG” (50% matching) and Long-term Programmes (with 67-­75% public/private contribution). In the case of Long-term Programmes, other partners must also be involved. Support from LDE Research Development Support is conditional on LDE universities being the largest participants in the consortium.

Groups of researchers could receive a financial contribution of up to €25,000 and additional support from the universities’ central research development offices and medical centres to further develop their research proposals.

Conditions

They need to meet the following conditions:

1. Demonstrable previous consultation with one of the research development offices on the formation of the consortium and choice of theme in relation to a future call for proposals.
2. Convincing two-pager (max. 800 words) on the intended interdisciplinary research proposal, focusing on the criteria that the funder applies for the call concerned.
3. If applicable, the details of potential private or public partners.
4. In line with the strategy for co-operation between the Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities.
5. Involvement of the three universities.
6. Convincing timeline for the development of the research proposal, in consultation with one of the LDE Universities’ research development offices.
7. Specific details of the desired form of support. In this, it is strongly recommended that the financial contribution be used to consolidate the interdisciplinary approach and the (public-private) consortium. In other words, this does not concern funding for research, but for the development of the research proposal and the consortium, for example by means of a literature survey, organising events or a Lorentz Centre workshop.

Procedure

Proposals for support from LDE Research Development Support can be submitted to the Dean of Leiden-Delft-Erasmus Universities Prof. Wim van den Doel. This should take the form of a proposal (max. 800 words) focusing on the above conditions.

It is also possible to submit an application relating to a proposal previously rejected by NWO if it can be demonstrated that a revised version has a good chance of success.

The deadline for submitting proposals is four months before the submission date for outline applications within the framework of NWA and KIC calls for proposals.

Proposals will be assessed by a small committee made up of experienced assessors of interdisciplinary research proposals and/or recipients of grants from the NWA medium-sized or NWA large or similar programmes (such as the NWO crossover programme).

Decision

Applicants will be informed within a month as to whether the proposal has been approved. The decision will be taken by the LDE Dean based on the advice of the small committee. Members of the committee:

• Prof.dr.ir. Ramon Hanssen (Faculty of Civil Engineering and Geosciences, TU Delft)
• Prof.dr. Loes Keijsers (Erasmus School of Social and Behavioural Sciences, EUR)
• Prof.dr. Leo Lucassen (Faculty of Humanities, Universiteit Leiden)

If funding is granted by LDE Research Development Support, the central research development offices will provide support in the development of the research proposal and the consortium. As a rule, the research development office of the coordinating university/medical centre or main applicant will provide support.

More information and contact:

Leiden University: Grant Development Office: Anke Klerkx via grants@luris.nl
TU Delft: Innovation & Impact Centre, Marion Stenneke: m.stenneke@tudelft.nl
Erasmus University Rotterdam: Erasmus Research Services, Marja Kempen via researchgrants@eur.nl