Basic Research Grant aims at supporting development of basic scientific research, to generate a new knowledge, to research and analyze with experimental and theoretical methods, new ideas and conceptions, facts and phenomenon, theories and models. Proposed project does not have to be commercially beneficial; however, in the long term it should have potential for further socio-political, cultural or/and technological development. Call for Basic Research Grants supports creating of specific research environment, developing a high quality research works, research internationalization and its compliance with international standard, integration of research process into higher educational institutes and increase potential of young scientists by their inclusion into research activity.

Basic research call 2016 is open to various fields of science (sub-fields are listed in the classification- attachment 12):

1.  Natural Sciences;
2.  Engineering and Technology;
3. Medical and health Sciences;
4. Agricultural Sciences;
5. Humanities
6. Social Sciences;
7. Georgian Studies

The foundation will fund institutional grant proposals only.

Eligibility:

• Host and/or co-participant Institution – Legal Entities of Public Law, established in accordance to the Georgian legislation, non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entities registered in Georgia, aiming at developing scientific research; higher educational institutions;
• Key personnel – Master’s students, PhD students, applicants having Master’s degree or PhD or an equivalent degree;

Outsourcing proposed projects’ evaluation to the international independent experts. Therefore, project proposals and relevant documentation must be submitted in two languages – English and Georgian. English version of the proposals are sent to the international experts for evaluation. Applicants (PI and the host institution) are responsible for the quality of English translation.

Project final evaluation score is calculated based on the evaluation scores, received from the independent experts.

If the project is scored up to 17 or less points, the project Principal Investigator will not have the right to participate in the Call for proposals for Basic Research Grants announced by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation in 2017 as the project Principal Investigator.

The Call Administration timeframe:

• Call opening: April 22, 2016
• Consultations:

1. April 22, 16:00 - Conference Hall, Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation;
2. April 26, 16:00 - Ilia State University;
3. May 5, 16:00 - Conference Hall, Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation;
4. May 10, 16:00 -, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University;
5. May 11, 14:00 - Akaki Tsereteli State University;
6. May 16, 16:00 - Georgian Technical University
7. May 19, 16:00 - Conference Hall, Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation;

There will be no individual consultations.

• The deadline for submitting questions online: May 20
• Date of opening  electronic registration: May (the date will be specified later and detailed guidelines will be published on the website)
• Deadline of submitting electronic proposals: June 7, 00:00
• The deadline for submitting proposals (hard copy) at the foundation office: June 9, 16:00
• Technical expertise: June
• evaluation –  evaluation by independent international experts: June, July, August, September
• Announcement of the call results: September-October

Documentation submitted after the deadline shall not be considered!

You can find detailed information on Call terms and conditions in the following documents:

• Decree of the Government of Georgia (#84, 16.02.2011)
• Decree of SRNSF Director General
• Call conditions (Annex 1)
• Fields of Science Classification (Annex 12)
• Detailed guidelines on project preparation and registration (electronic database will open in May, 2016 and detailed instruction on how to register in database will also be published).
• Frequently Asked Questions. 

For budget preparation, please see the links:

• Budget expenditure classification (Annex 13)

• Decree of Minister of Finance of Georgia N220 dated 5 April 2005 on ‘Determining norms for business trip expenditures to be paid to the hired’ https://matsne.gov.ge/ka/document/view/60034

The documentation to be submitted to the foundation consists of two parts:

1. Project, that is filled online, in electronic database in English language and comprises of the following parts: announcement and a project cover page, project proposal, budget and budget justification, project implementation timeframe, CVs of Principal Investigator and main personnel, CV of a foreign consultant (if applicable), information form about the host institution, project resume and the resume of PI’s previous, completed project. Letter of agreement from the foreign consultant (if applicable) will be uploaded in the form of PdF.

The same documents in Georgian language are uploaded in the database in PdF format.

2. Additional document to the project are gathered and uploaded in the database in a single PDF format. These additional documents include: statute and the document defining the status of the host and co-participant institution (in case co-participant institution exists). Banking account number of the institution receiving the grant, copies of identification documents (ID card or passport), documents certifying academic degree (diploma or in case of a PhD student / MA student, a reference form the relevant institution), a letter of consent from the projects foreign consultant (if applicable), letter of agreement on co-funding, indicating the amount of co-funding and other legal documents in case such exist.

List of documents to be provided in English:

1. Project cover page – Annex 2;
2. Project proposal – Annex 3;
3. CVs of Principal Investigator, key personnel and a foreign consultant of the project (if applicable) – Annex 4;
4. Project budget and budget justification – Annex 5;
5. Project implementation timeframe – Annex 6;
6. Project summary/ abstract – Annex 7;
7. Summary of the previously funded, completed scientific project implemented by PI (during last 3 years) – Annex 8;
8. Resume on Host and Co-participant Institutions – Annex 9;
9. Consent Letter of the Project Consultant (if applicable) – Annex 10;

The abovementioned documents in English will be evaluated by independent experts – Annexes 2-10.

It is important that annex 3 number of pages should not exceed 10 pages, project part ‘A’ English version page numbers should not exceed 35 pages.

Otherwise, the project will not be considered.

List of documents to be provided in Georgian:

1. Project cover page – Annex 2;
2. Project proposal – Annex 3;
3. CVs of Principal Investigator, key personnel and a foreign consultant of the project (if applicable) – Annex 4;
4. Project budget – Annex 5;
5. Project implementation timeframe – Annex 6;
6. Project summary/ abstract – Annex 7;
7. Summary of the previously funded, completed scientific project implemented by PI (during last 3 years) – Annex 8;
8. Resume on Host and Co-participating Institutions – Annex 9;
9. Consent Letter of the Project Consultant (if applicable) – Annex 10;

Additional documentation to be presented in Georgian in one file, PDF format:

1. Documents on academic degree of the key personnel involved in the project (copies of Diplomas or reference letters);
2. Copies of Identification Cards or passports of the key personnel involved in the project;
3. Legal documents of the host institution: statute, registration document, bank account number.
4. Legal documents of co-participant institution - statute, registration document, bank account number.
5. Letter of approval of co-funding by individual or legal entity, and related legal documents: statute, registration document, bank account number. If the co-funder is a foreigner (foreign institution) the above mentioned legal documents should be translated and certified by the translator’s office.

 

Project submitted to the foundation should be prepared in accordance to the forms indicated while the call announcement.

 

Project proposal should be submitted at the foundation office not later than 9 June 2016, 16:00. Documents submitted after the deadline will not be considered.

 

Basic Research Call 2016 coordinators:

 

Ketie Gabitashvili   

Phone number: + (995 32) 2 200 220 (extension 44 07)

Mail:  gabitashvili@rustaveli.org.ge  

 

Vazha Lomidze

Mail: vlomidze@rustaveli.org.ge

Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation wishes you the best of luck!