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Schemes for Engineers in Research and Development
Global Research Awards: Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility
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Who is eligible?
Engineers working in a
UK-based organisation (academic or industrial)
with several years of postgraduate experience.
Normally applicants will have at least a first
degree in engineering.
PhD students are not
eligible.
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Can I apply if I don’t
have an engineering degree but am working as an
engineer?
If you have a degree in
physics, mathematics or computing, for example,
then you may be eligible if you can demonstrate
that you have been working as an engineer for
several years and it is an engineering project
you will be working on.
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Do you have to be a UK
citizen?
No. However you must be
employed in the UK, by a UK-based organisation,
and return to that organisation at the end of
the secondment.
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Can Government employees apply?
Yes, if you are an active engineer working in
R&D.
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I'm a self-employed consultant, am I still eligible?
Yes, if you are
undertaking an R&D project and will disseminate
the information when you return to the UK. Your
contribution to costs would generally be a
multiple of your usual R&D day rate (i.e. in the
region of 300 per day). It is usually helpful to
obtain letters of support from UK-based
organisations that want to learn about the
project on your return.
Host
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Where can I go?
The secondment can be held
in a Centre of Excellence in any country. The
Centre of Excellence can be any type of
organisation undertaking R&D.
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How can I find a host?
The secondee and their
Employer are expected to know where they want to
go and make the necessary contacts. The best
secondments are those where the secondee knows
the person he/she wants to work with e.g.
through previous collaboration or meeting at
conferences. The Academy will not provide
introductions or liaise with prospective
overseas Hosts on behalf of applicants.
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Can
I go to more than one host?
Yes,
providing sufficient time is allowed to achieve the aims of the research
project.
The project
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How long can a secondment be?
The secondment is a
minimum of three months and a maximum of 12,
although some flexibility is allowed. It is
possible take the time in modules where three or
four months are taken one year and then again
the following year. However the total amount of
time away must not exceed 12 months and the
secondment must be completed within three years.
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What do you mean by a work programme?
This represents the actual
research to be undertaken.
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What if I need to leave the project before the agreed end date?
If you are unable to
complete the full period of the secondment, the
grant awarded will be repayable to The Academy
on a pro-rata basis, taking into account
necessary expenses already incurred.
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What if there is a problem during the secondment, such as equipment failure, which delays the project?
The Academy would be
willing to consider a short extension to allow
completion of the agreed project. In these
circumstances, an additional grant may be
provided, as long as the Award is less than 50%
of the total agreed costs and the total amount
does not exceed £50,000.
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What if the project alters during the
secondment?
If you need to change
direction after beginning the project, The
Academy will consider a revised case for
support. Please contact the Scheme Manager for
more details.
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Will someone help with
preparation of the proposal?
Yes, the Scheme Manager
will help with general details but not with the
technical content.
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What if I decline to disseminate any information at the end?
If you fail to participate
in the agreed dissemination activity 10% of the
Award will be withheld by The Academy. Therefore
it is advantageous for the Employer to ensure
that the terms of the Award are fully complied
with.
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What arrangements are there for Intellectual Property Rights?
The Academy expects the
secondee, Employer and Host to make any
necessary arrangements prior to the start of the
secondment. It is recommended that an Agreement
is drawn up between the parties to cover their
respective interests. Any such Agreement should
allow for the agreed dissemination activity to
be undertaken unhindered.
Funding
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What support does The Academy provide to the seconded engineer?
The seconded engineer will
continue to be funded by the Employer but The
Academy will provide funding for salary and
allowable travel expenses.
For academic engineers,
the Award will provide support under the full
economic costing regime (fEC) namely 40% of the
80% for Directly Incurred costs i.e salary, NI
and superannuation, and Indirect costs (which
represent the cost of the university
infrastructure and administration) to the
University.
Please contact the Scheme
Manager for advice on costing.
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Could i buy a laptop?
Items of equipment, such
as laptops, are not allowable costs. It is
expected that your Employer or Host will provide
computer access as part of their facilities.
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How will the grant be paid?
To the Employer quarterly
in arrears.
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When will it be paid?
The Award is paid in
arrears, with the final 10% withheld until
satisfactory receipt of the final report and
agreement of the dissemination activity.
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Who will the grant be paid to?
The grant will be paid to the employer with whom the
agreement is made.
Domestic arrangements
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Can my family accompany or visit me?
Yes, particularly for
secondments of longer duration. The Award may
contribute 50% towards the cost of accompanying
family members.
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Who organises visas, work permits, etc?
The secondee is expected
to make any arrangements with the assistance of
the Employer and Host.
Benefits of a secondment
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What are the benefits to the
secondee?
The secondee gains
valuable experience of the culture and working
environment of another country and additional
research experience within a leading-edge
organisation. It increases the secondees’ value
in the job market and to their Employer.
Access can also be gained
to facilities not available in the UK.
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What are the benefits to the employer?
The Employer benefits from
co-sponsorship of an R&D project of immediate
and future relevance to their organisation;
builds and strengthens links with an overseas
centre of excellence with similar interests and
aims; is able to exploit the knowledge and
skills acquired by the secondee to the benefit
of the organisation.
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What are the benefits to the host?
The Host benefits from
co-sponsorship of an R&D project of immediate
and future relevance; builds and strengthens
links with the Employer who has similar
interests and aims; is able to exploit the
knowledge and skills of the secondee to the
benefit of the organisation.
Application Process
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Is there a closing date?
There are no closing dates
and applications are welcomed at any time.
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How are the applications assessed?
In two stages:
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How long will the
application process last?
Please allow at least two
months for your application to be processed.
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When will I know if my
application was successful?
Often at the conclusion of
the interview or at most within a matter of
days.
Monitoring
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How is progress monitored?
While on secondment, the
sponsored engineer will provide bimonthly
reports (max. four A4 pages) as an account of
progress and working conditions.
Once the secondment is
completed the engineer will produce a final
report. This will be more detailed, but
typically no more than ten A4 pages with
diagrams if necessary. This report will be
passed on to the Interview Panel for their
approval.
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Reporting Procedures
(24KB)
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