Training & Integration Fund

During the General Assembly in Warsaw in June 2007, the President and Treasurer of EARMA announced the creation of a new Training and Integration Fund (TIF). The main objective of the TIF will be to support collaborative projects and initiatives that contribute or advance EARMA’s vision, mission and objectives.

Projects which entail the sharing of knowledge, experience, expertise, and networking – and therefore contribute to building an integrated European community of Research Managers and Administrators – will be given preference.

Each project proposal should involve at least two EARMA Members, coming from at least two different countries. Proposals involving EARMA Members from new EU member states and associated states are strongly encouraged (N.B. the cost of attending regular training courses will not be eligible for support from this fund). Project proposals should support greater integration and collaboration between Members and their home institutions, in order to improve research management processes and procedures in those institutions.

€10,000 has been allocated in our 2008 budget to support this initiative over a two year period (2008 and 2009) with €5,000 being allocated in the first year (funds not spent in the first year will be automatically transferred to the second year).

The fund will support up to 40% of the total real cost of selected projects (excluding any contributions in kind). However, the maximum contribution from the fund, per project, will be limited to €500. Thus, in the first year the fund will be able to support a maximum of 10 projects.

Proposals for funding support from the TIF should be e-mailed to tif@earma.org

Each proposal, written in free text style, should contain the following information:

A brief description of the project/activity
The objective(s) and expected outcomes of the project/activity
The organisations and individuals involved in the project/activity (the beneficiaries should be clearly identified)
The duration of the project/activity
The location of the project/activity
A clearly presented budget
Justification for why the fund should support this project/activity

Proposals for 2008 awards may be submitted from 1st November 2007. Announcements of successful proposals will be made 4 times per year: end of January 2008, middle of April 2008, end of September 2008, and beginning of December 2008.

Payments from the fund will be made upon project completion, subject to the following documents being presented:

A claim form with supporting invoices
A final report prepared by the beneficiaries (details of what the report should cover will be agreed at the time of award being made).

We hope you take advantage of this new fund, and look forward to receiving your proposals – please e-mail them to tif@earma.org