Applied Research Grant call aims at supporting development of applied and technological research, selecting and funding applied research projects through transparent call procedures. Special focus is on innovative research, which results in high quality products demanded on local and international markets and solutions to practical problems created during the new technology development processes. It is of utmost importance to identify proposals with the potential of commercialization: those who may result in creating a prototype, developing advanced programs, equipment, medical products, construction materials and the related technology. 

 

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

1. a) Natural Sciences;
2. b) Engineering and Technology;
3. c) Medical and health Sciences;
4. d) Agricultural Sciences;
5. e) Humanities (Interdisciplinary projects only);
6. f) Social Sciences (Interdisciplinary projects only);

 

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;
• Support personnel – staff employed under the project, supporting key personnel in dealing with technical issues;

 

Proposed project go through a two-phase evaluation:

The first stage – 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 on the basis of the evaluation scores, received from the independent experts and commission as well.

If the project is scored up to 18 points (which is 30 % and less percent  out of maximum 60 points), the project Principal Investigator will not have the right to participate in the Call for proposals for Applied Research Grants announced by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation in 2017 as the project Principal Investigator, or a key personnel.

The Call Administration timeframe:

• Call opening: April 21, 2016
• Consultations:

1. April 22, 16:00 - Conference Hall, Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation;
2. April 26, 16:00 - 106 Auditorium, Building G, Ilia State University;
3. May 5, 16:00 - Conference Hall, Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation;
4. May 10, 16:00 - 107 Auditorium, 1^st Building, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University;
5. May 11, 14:00 - Green Hall, Akaki Tsereteli State University;
6. May 16, 16:00 - Hall of Giorgi Nikoladze, the Administrative Building, Georgian Technical University

• The deadline for submitting questions online: May 17
• 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: May 31, 00:00
• The deadline for submitting proposals (hard copy) at the foundation office: June 2, 16:00
• Technical expertise: June
• The first phase of evaluation –  evaluation by independent international experts: June, July, August
• The second phase of evaluation – presentations of the projects passed through the second phase evaluation, evaluation made by the committee: September 
• Announcement of the call results: September.

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
• Decree of SRNSF Director General
• Call conditions (Annex 1)
• Fields of Science Classification (Annex 12)
• Classification of budget expenditure categories (Annex 13)
• 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:

• 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
• Budget expenditure classification (Annex 13)

The documentation to be submitted to the foudnaiton 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, buget and budget justificaiton, project implimentation timeframe, CVs of Principal Invetigator and main personnel, CV of a foreign consultant (if applicable), informaton form about the host instituton, project resume and the resume of PI’s previous, completed proect. Letter of agreement from the foreign consultant (if applicable) will be uploaded in the form of PdF.

 

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

 

1. 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 exsists). Banking account number of the insittution receiving the grant, copies of identificaiton 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 exsist.

 

A joint announcement of applicant individuals and legal entities regarding participation in the call (Annex 11) should be presented at the foundaiton. The document should have a registration number, should be filled in and signed by Principal investigator, project and key personnel. The document should be authorized by the heads of applicant (host / participant) institution(s), signed, sealed, project cover page in Georgian (Annex 2)

 

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 justificaiton – 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 Institution– 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 Institution– Annex 9;
9. Consent Letter of the Project Consultant (if applicable) – Annex 10;
10. A joint announcement of applicant individuals and legal entities regarding participation in the call - Annex 11.

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.

Applied Research Call 2016 coordinators:

 

Khatia Ananiashvili   

Phone number: +(995 32) 2 200 220

Mail:  ananiashvili@rustaveli.org.ge

 

Davit Chichua            

Phone number: +(995 32) 2 200 220

Mail: chichua@rustaveli.org.ge

 

 

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