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Schemes for Engineers in Research and Development
Research Exchanges with China and India
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Eligibility
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Who is eligible?
The scheme is open to all academic engineering researchers
at post-doctoral level or above (or who can demonstrate equivalent research
experience). Applicants for Major Awards should have an established track record
in research. Industrial researchers and establishments are not eligible.
Applicants must be citizens of the UK (or EU)/China/India
respectively. Non-EU citizens can apply to go to China/India provided they have
held a salaried research position at a UK Institution for at least three
consecutive years by 31 Dec 2007. Non-Indian or non-Chinese citizens living
in those countries can apply to visit the UK providing they have held a
salaried research position at an Indian/Chinese research Institution for
at least three consecutive years by the same date.
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I don’t have a PhD. Can I still apply?
Candidates who do not have a PhD, but have considerable
research experience at an equivalent level are eligible to apply. PhD students
are not eligible to apply.
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I don’t work in an engineering department. Am I still eligible?
A broad range of disciplines is regarded as “engineering” for
the purposes of this scheme. This includes, among many others, biotechnology,
petrochemicals, offshore engineering, geotechnics, water resources, building services,
telecommunications, optics, lasers, information technology, energy conservation,
manufacturing, applied mechanics, bioengineering, materials, aeronautical, maritime, naval.
If you are unsure whether you are eligible for this scheme
please contact the Academy.
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What if I am not a UK/Chinese/Indian national?
Applicants must be citizens of the UK (or EU)/China/India
respectively. Non-EU citizens can apply to go to China/India provided they
have held a salaried research position at a UK Institution for at least three
consecutive years by 31 Dec 2007. Non-Indian or non-Chinese citizens living
in those countries can apply to visit the UK providing they have held a salaried
research position at an Indian/Chinese research Institution for at least three
consecutive years by the same date.
Can government research institutes take part in the exchange?
Educational research institutions are eligible to apply.
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I am working in industry. Am I eligible to apply?
Unfortunately this scheme is only open to academic researchers.
The Academy runs other schemes open to industrial researchers.
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Are visits to or from Taiwan and Hong Kong eligible for this scheme?
Exchanges with Hong Kong are eligible under this scheme,
but unfortunately Taiwan is not included.
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I am finishing a PhD and interested in applying. Am I eligible to apply?
Visiting researchers must be at post-doctoral level or above at the time
of submission of the application, unless they can demonstrate equivalent research experience.
Host
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Are exchanges between China and India allowed?
No, exchanges are bilateral between the UK and China and the UK and India.
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Can you help me find a host?
The Host and Visiting Researchers must make the necessary contact
with each other directly. The Academy will not provide introductions or liaison with
prospective hosts on behalf of applicants.
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Can I visit more than one host?
For Short Awards networking visits are essential. These must be
clearly described in the application form submitted and the benefits of the
visits outlined. The details of the principal host will be required.
For Major Awards this may be possible. But please contact
the Academy for further details.
Project
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Which areas can the proposed research focus on?
Applications are welcomed from all areas of engineering
research, especially those broadly related to: energy and climate change, health
and wellbeing and poverty reduction.
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How long does the exchange last?
Short Awards last up to one month. Major Awards last 3-12 months.
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Are multiple visits to the host allowed?
The funding will only pay for a single return airfare to the Host Institution.
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Can I apply for more than one award?
Only one application can be accepted from any single UK academic researcher.
The only exception is in the case of joint awards when two applications forms need to be completed.
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What is the minimum length of each leg for joint Awards?
For joint Short Awards there is no minimum length of visit for each leg,
but the combined length must be no more than 1 month.
The minimum length of time for each visit for a joint Major Award is 3 months.
This will ideally be in one continuous stretch. If you would like to split this into shorter visits
please contact the scheme manager. The funding will only pay for one return airfare for each leg
of the exchange.
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Can I apply for one Short and One Major joint Award?
No, a joint award is only possible for two Short or two Major awards.
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What is a work programme?
This is a detailed plan of the proposed research to be
carried out with targets and deadlines. More information is given in the Notes for Guidance.
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What if I need to cut short the project before the agreed end date?
If you are unable to complete the full period of the exchange, the funding
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 are equipment failures which delay the project?
The Academy would be willing to consider a short extension to
allow the completion of the agreed work. However, no additional funding would be provided.
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What if the project changes significantly during the exchange?
If you need to change the direction of the research during the exchange,
the Academy would consider a revised case for support, but this would only be possible in
exceptional circumstances.
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What are the arrangements for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR)?
The Academy expects the Host and Visiting Researchers to agree in
writing on IPR before the start of the exchange. Any agreement should allow for agreed
dissemination activity to be undertaken unhindered. The Academy will not have any claim
on research funded by the scheme.
Funding
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How will the funding be paid?
Funding will be paid to the UK Institution on receipt of an invoice
sent by the UK Institution as outlined in the scheme agreement. No more than 70% of the total
approved estimated cost for Major Awards (up to 90% for Short Awards) will be transferred to
the UK Institution when the Award is made. The remaining funds will be released after the
completion of the Exchange and receipt of the end of project report one month after the
completion of the Exchange.
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When will it be paid?
Funding will be paid to the UK Institution on receipt of an invoice
sent by the UK Institution. Full details will be given in the Award letter to successful candidates.
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Who will the funding be paid to?
Funding will be paid to the UK Institution. They will have a contractual
responsibility to pass the funding to the Visiting Researcher.
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What can the funding be used for?
Please note that the funding provided is not a salary but a grant to
cover travel, accommodation, living expenses and visas. No more than 10% of this Award may be
used to cover project costs - to include project specific consumables and cost of
conference and seminar attendance directly related to the research area. Funding cannot
be used to pay for staff costs, administration costs or running costs of the Host Institution.
Please note that the funding is not calculated on the basis of full economic costs.
Additional costs must be met by the Host Institution.
Domestic Arrangements
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Can my family accompany or visit me?
The cost of family accompanying the Visiting Researcher
or any visits by family members will not be paid for by the Award.
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Who is responsible for arranging visa, work permits and travel and accommodation?
The Host and Visiting Researcher are jointly responsible for the practical
arrangements of the exchange. The Academy can provide supporting documentation to assist
with visa applications.
Application Process
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Where can I get copies of the application form and Notes for Guidance?
These are available under Research Exchanges with China and India.
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When is the closing date for the scheme?
The deadline for applications is 12pm on 3 December 2007.
The Academy will send an email to the UK researcher to acknowledge receipt of the
application.
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How are proposals assessed?
The assessment of the applications will be split into two stages.
The first stage is a peer review. Each application will be sent to two referees. One
referee will be from the same field of research and another referee will be chosen from
a different field of research.
The refereed applications will then be assessed by a sift
panel of Academy Fellows who are experts in the engineering research community.
The panel will rank the applications, informed by the comments made by the referees, and
carry out the final selection of successful proposals. The Academy will notify all
applicants by post of the final decision, through the UK researcher, by the end of March 2008.
For successful applicants a contract and full terms and conditions
will be sent together with the award letter. The contract must be signed by the Academy,
the Host Researcher and the Visiting Researcher before funding will be awarded and the
Exchange can start.
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How long will the application process last?
The Academy will notify all applicants by post of the final decision,
through the UK researcher, by the end of March 2008. Exchanges can start no earlier than
6 weeks after the Award has been made (ie mid May 2008).
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When and how will I be notified if I am successful?
The Academy will notify all applicants by post of the final decision,
through the UK researcher, by the end of March 2008.
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What happens after an offer is made?
For successful applicants a scheme agreement letter will be sent
together with the award letter. The contract must be signed by the Academy, the Host
Researcher and the visiting Researcher before funding will be awarded and the Exchange
can start. No more than 70% of the total Award will be transferred to the UK Institution
when the Award is made. The remaining funds will be released after the completion of the
Exchange and receipt of the end of project report one month after the completion of the Exchange.
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When can the exchange start and finish by?
Exchanges can start no earlier than 6 weeks after the Award has been made
(i.ee mid May 2008). Short Awards must be completed within 6 months of the Award being made.
Major Awards must be completed within 18 months of the same date.
Monitoring
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How is the scheme monitored?
End of project reports of 1000-1500 words must be submitted by both the
Visiting Researcher and Host Researcher within one month of completion of the visit, describing
the main achievements enabled by the Award and future plans.
Further follow up reports of up to 1000 words from both the Visiting
Researcher and Host Researcher will be submitted 12 months after completion, describing
the activities resulting from the Exchange.
[E-mail Shafiq]
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