The German Research Foundation (DFG, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), the French Agence Nationale de la Recherche (ANR), the British Economics and Social Sciences Research Council (ESRC), the Dutch Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO) and the Indian Council for Social Sciences Research (ICSSR) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 21 January 2011. The aim of this agreement is to support intense networking and research cooperation along with the promotion of young researchers between researchers in India and the four European countries in well defined topics of mutual interest.
The agreement represents the first time an Indian research organisation has joined forces with the national social science research organisations from across Europe to find solutions to some of the biggest global problems including economic growth and development, energy and climate change, and health and well-being. Professor Alam mentioned on the occasion that international collaboration was critical to finding solutions to the major problems facing the world today. It adds value to the worldwide research base and helps inform decisions about how to tackle the impact of these problems on the global economy and society.
On the European side, this agreement will extend the current Open Research Area model which enables research teams in multiple countries to apply for funding from their national agencies through a single application and peer review process.
The ICSSR, an autonomous organisation of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, has the unique distinction of being the only funding agency in India which has been vested with the responsibility of providing funds and in the Social Sciences throughout India. Thus, the ICSSR emerged as a natural partner for enhancing Indian-European collaboration in the social sciences.
Scope of Cooperation
The Indian and European partners should jointly formulate a high quality research and qualification programme to be implemented by researchers in at least two of the European partner countries and at least two groups from India. The programme should provide for regular exchanges of scientists, academic staff, post-doctoral fellows and doctoral students working in the defined project for the purpose of joint research.
The participation of the European and Indian groups should be of such significance – in terms of both content and size – that the joint programme can be expected to develop into an Indian-European network of competence of the highest academic quality.
In principle, any research area within the social sciences is eligible. The Principal Investigators from both sides should thoroughly discuss the details of the project in advance, before finalising and submitting the project proposals to the ICSSR, on the Indian side, and the NWO on the European side, before the 15 September 2011, at 4 pm.
The funding decision will be taken in a joint selection panel with experts chosen from the participating agencies and the ICSSR.
Proposal Submission
Draft proposals for the establishment of an Indian-European network shall first be submitted to the NWO following the regular terms and conditions in the call for proposals and the “Form for the Submission of Proposals”. The DFG will fund the German partners of such a network from the national funding budget, on the basis of a positive review of the joint proposal.
Further information
www.nwo.nl/nwohome.nsf/pages/NWOP_8GGJ9C_Eng
Indian Council for Social Science Research: www.icssr.org
Link to the Memorandum of Understanding: www.dfg.de/en/dfg_profile/international_context/int_partners/index.html
Information for applications to the DFG: www.dfg.de/ora >> Indian-European Research Networking
www.dfg.de/download/pdf/foerderung/internationale_kooperation/open_research_area/ora_hinweise_antraege_indisch_europaeische_forschungsnetzwerke.pdf
Contact at the ICSSR:
Dr. Jehangir, Head of the Department for International Collaboration
Phone +91 11 2674-2351
Contact at the NWO (Lead Agency for the submission and administration of all European proposals):
Dr. Berry J. Bonenkamp, Netherlands Organisation for Scientific Research (NWO), Division for the Social Sciences, Senior Policy Officer, Coordinator International Affairs
Phone: +31 70 344 09 50
Fax: +31 70 383 28 41
B.Bonenkamp(at)nwo.nl
Postal address: PO Box 93461, NL-2509 AL The Hague, The Netherlands
Visitors address: Laan van Nieuw Oost-Indië 300, NL-2593 CE The Hague
Contacts at the DFG for application of an Indian-European network in the social sciences:
Dr. Torsten Fischer
Director
DFG Office India
2, Nyaya Marg, Chanakyapuri
110021 New Delhi, India
Phone +91 11 4922-4999
Torsten.Fischer(at)dfg.de
Dr. Corinne Flacke-Neudorfer
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Gruppe Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften
Kennedyallee 40
Phone +49 228 885-2875
53175 Bonn, Germany
Corinne.Flacke(at)dfg.de
