UK – Turkey Call for Proposals 2015
RCUK-TÜBİTAK Research Partnerships Call
Objectives and Scope
Research Councils UK (RCUK) and The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey
(TÜBİTAK), are pleased to invite applications to the RCUK-TÜBİTAK Research Partnerships Call.
This initiative will provide funding for high-quality collaborative research projects between UK and
Turkish researchers which contribute to the economic development and welfare of Turkey. We
invite proposals which address the following topics:
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Understanding and Management of Natural and Humanitarian Disasters and Emergencies
Tackling inequalities and Poverty Alleviation
Cultural Heritage and Social Development
Disease Burden of Consanguineous Marriages
The objective is to deliver significant research funding for internationally competitive and innovative
collaborative projects between researchers from Turkey and the UK that will allow the pursuit of
shared research interests.
Proposals within the themes listed above are welcomed from across the remits of the UK Research
Councils. Recognising the multidisciplinary nature of the thematic areas, the development of
interdisciplinary collaborations is particularly welcome.
Proposals may also include general capacity building to improve Turkey’s ability to undertake and
disseminate scientific research in the research areas highlighted above. The activity may be pure or
applied science and could be multi-disciplinary in nature. The activity may also include improving
technical skills in, for example, instrumentation and data management. The activity could also be
delivered through access to one or more of the national facility such as ISIS, Diamond and the
Central Laser Facility or through one of the international facilities where the UK is a shareholder, or
various combinations of the above.
Consortia should consider how their proposal makes the best use of available expertise in the UK
and Turkey, the added value of collaboration and how the proposal will meet the Official
Development Assistance (ODA) requirements of this Newton Fund activity.
For more information on the funders please refer to Annex 1.
Background of the Newton Fund
The UK contribution will be channeled from the Newton Fund. The Newton Fund is an initiative
intended to strengthen research and innovation partnerships between the UK and emerging
knowledge economies. It was launched by the Chancellor in April 2014, and will deliver £375 million
of funding over the course of five years.
The Fund forms part of the UK’s Official Development Assistance (ODA) commitment which is
monitored by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). ODA funded
activity focuses on outcomes that promote the long-term sustainable growth of countries on the
OECD Development Assistance Committee list. Newton Fund countries represent a sub-set of this
list.
For
more
information,
please
visit
the
RCUK
Newton
Fund
page;
http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/international/newton/.
The Newton Fund requires that the funding be awarded in a manner that fits with Official
Development Assistance (ODA) guidelines. All applications under this call must therefore be
compliant with these guidelines. http://www.newtonfund.ac.uk/about/what-is-oda/
Themes
Understanding and Management of Natural and Humanitarian Disasters and Emergencies
Turkey is prone to natural disasters including floods, landslides, and earthquakes, and is affected by
humanitarian crises such as that caused by the mass influx of refugees and displaced persons from
neighbouring countries. Also, due to its geographic and economic position, pandemics and other
communicable diseases pose a threat to Turkey.
The longer-term economic and social costs of disasters resulting from earthquakes and associated
hazards (e.g. landslides and mudflows), through damage to local or regional economies, impacts on
long-term health, well-being, business, housing and education are immense. Natural hazard-related
losses are expanding rapidly, due to the increasing exposure and vulnerability of human populations
in affected regions. This is partly explained by population growth and urbanisation, but is also as the
result of the poor utilisation of available natural hazard science during regional development
planning as well as in emergency decision-making processes during a crisis. Society places increasing
emphasis on mitigating these risks and building community and societal resilience, for instance
through capacity building and emergency preparation. Further research effort is needed to enhance
not only the understanding of the physical processes behind such natural hazards, but also their
effects on society and the economy, and implications for their prediction and mitigation including
why different disaster struck areas recover at different rates. Further understanding of these issues
and their implications for mitigation strategies is needed in order to build resilience in earthquakeprone regions by reducing risks from multiple natural hazards and increasing population resilience to
high impact events.
Turkey also has to deal with a major humanitarian crisis as upheaval in nearby countries has led to
refugees and displaced persons arriving from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq, and even Somalia. From
Syria alone, there are about 1.6 million refugees in Turkey, and managing their needs presents
significant challenges for the Government of Turkey and the international community. While Turkey
has been commended for its efforts in tackling the crisis, spending £3bn since the war began in
2011; more than 85% of refugees are living outside the official camps and therefore are unregistered
and unable to access education, housing and healthcare being provided. The socio-economic and
political impact, not only of the refugee presence, but of the on-going conflict in Syria and Iraq, is
leading to inter-communal tension. We welcome research which will help to improve understanding
and develop responses to the humanitarian refugee crisis in Turkey, such as how to deliver services
such as educational and health services, where conditions prevent traditional models of provision.
Further research is needed on the role and impact of civil society organisations, including
international and national NGOs, as well as local community groups and networks, in a diverse range
of activities in preparation for, and in emergency responses to, disasters and emergencies. We also
welcome research which will identify what lessons can be learned from Turkey and how this can
contribute to knowledge for emergency preparedness and response for other countries.
Both natural and humanitarian disasters have significant potential health impacts, often primarily
associated with population displacement issues such as water, hygiene and sanitation, overcrowding
and the availability and resilience of health services. Health research proposals are welcomed across
the disaster lifecyle from risk reduction and preparedness, emergency medicine and health care
delivery, through to long-term public health protection.
Tackling Inequalities and Poverty Alleviation
In many countries of the world, particularly middle-income countries, rapid economic growth has
been accompanied by increased income and assets inequalities. Inequalities are also much more
complex than income, and are manifest across various sectors (e.g. health, education, social
services) and demographics (e.g. gender, age, disability, ethnic identity, urban or rural).
Turkey is experiencing remarkable economic and social development, climbing to 17th position
among the world’s economic powers. However, despite a decade of almost uninterrupted economic
growth, it is a country where huge inequality still persists within Turkey; despite the significant steps
it has taken in recent years to reduce poverty and inequalities.
Turkey presently ranks third highest among OECD countries on a scale of income inequality and third
highest in terms of relative poverty. One in every five Turks is poor, compared with just above one in
ten on average across the OECD. While living standards are improving fast, they remain far below
those in other leading OECD economies. The rate of youth neither in employment, education, nor
training is still high despite recent drops, a particular concern given that half of the Turkish
population is under 24 years of age. Public social spending in Turkey remains substantially lower
than the OECD average.
While economic growth has helped to reduce poverty, growth needs to be more inclusive.
Therefore, we welcome research that will improve understanding of the changing dynamics of
inequality within the rapidly growing Turkish economy, and which will inform the development of
interventions and policies to reduce them.
Cultural Heritage and Social Development
As recognised by UNESCO, respecting and promoting cultural diversity facilitates intercultural
dialogue, reduces conflict, and protects the rights of marginalised groups within and between
nations, thus creating the optimal conditions for achieving development goals.
Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, Turkey has a particularly long, rich and diverse cultural
heritage characterised by a wide range of languages, religions, beliefs and traditions, as well as
unique physical artefacts, monuments and historic spaces. This heritage now exists within the wider
context of a society experiencing rapid economic, social, political and cultural change.
These dynamics are integral to our understandings of contemporary Turkey and its position in the
modern, globalized world. Research within them is therefore integral to Turkey’s capacity to address
the challenges and opportunities it faces as it seeks to achieve further social and economic
development.
Research drawing on these dynamics might consider, for example: the impact of urbanisation on
Turkey’s historic spaces and monuments as well as issues such as migration, diasporas, cultural
identity and language; the re-use and re-creation of historic urban spaces and buildings as a means
of creating historic attractions and vibrant city centres; the implications of rapid social and cultural
modernisation in cities such as Istanbul- for more established traditions and practices; the potential
of heritage tourism as a source of equitable growth and the threat posed to this by modernisation;
Turkey’s capacity to harness the potential of the digital and creative industries as a source of growth;
and the potential for tangible and intangible heritage to be placed at the heart of greater and more
balanced community engagement in processes of development.
Disease Burden of Consanguineous Marriages
In Turkey, the rate of consanguineous marriage is relatively high, around 22-24% of all marriages.
Such marriages are especially common in villages and in the Eastern parts of the country, where
economic and social development levels are lower.
One of the challenges of this type of marriage is that the incidence of autosomal recessive diseases
and congenital anomalies is very high, giving rise to a serious public health problem. 5-7 million
people in Turkey are thought to be affected from rare diseases where these marriages play an
important role, corresponding to 6-9% of the population, which also creates an economic burden.
Non-communicable chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and cancer
constitutes 71% of mortality rates in Turkey and high genetic disposition (potentially due in part to
consanguineous marriages) is one of the reasons for the high prevalence of these diseases.
RCUK and TÜBİTAK therefore invite proposals regarding the disease burden arising from
consanguineous marriages, including:
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Autosomal recessive diseases
Congenital anomalies
Genetic disposition to chronic diseases
It is vital that all research proposals must demonstrate specific relevance and benefit to the Turkish
population, and particularly the poorest in society. Proposals are welcomed which also seek to be
relevant to low income communities in other low and middle income countries
Activities across the research spectrum are welcomed, including mechanistic, diagnostic and
therapeutic studies. Areas of interest include, but are not limited to:
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Genetic testing, screening methods and treatment of rare diseases
Personalised/Stratified Medicine
Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis
Genetic causes of disease susceptibility
Gene therapy
Development of in vitro disease models for diagnosis and treatment purposes (disease in a dish)
Development of electronic models for diagnosis and treatment purposes (disease on a chip)
Advanced proteomic studies
Development of cellular and molecular diagnosis and treatment systems
Research into host - microbiome interactions
Funding Available
This call funds partnership working between UK and Turkey based researchers, and proposals must
contribute to the economic development and welfare of Turkey.
RCUK funding will be used to support the UK component of the partnership and TÜBİTAK funding
will support the Turkish component.
RCUK and TÜBİTAK are intending to fund approximately 10 research projects through this joint call.
TÜBİTAK will provide 720.000 Turkish Liras as a maximum amount of support per project. RCUK will
provide £250k as a maximum amount of support per project. The size of the grant will vary
depending of the needs of each research project and must be fully justified.
RCUK-funded costs of each grant will be issued and managed by the relevant Research Council
according to the remit of the research proposal in accordance with their normal research funding
guidelines and procedures.
TÜBİTAK -funded costs of each grant will be issued and managed by TÜBİTAK in accordance with its
normal guidelines.
Please liaise closely with prospective partners to ensure that both RCUK and TÜBİTAK -supported
elements of the proposal abide by all regulations for both funders.
Eligibility
UK eligible applicants
For support under this call, applicants must be eligible to apply for funding from their respective
Research Councils and must abide by the RCUK and individual Research Councils terms and
conditions
Please refer to the below links to the relevant councils for your eligibility and guidance:
Research Councils UK (RCUK)
Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)
Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)
Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC)
Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)
Medical Research Council (MRC),MRC Units and Institutes are also eligible to apply to this call
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)
TÜBİTAK eligible applicants
All Turkish researchers who apply for this Programme should be registered to TÜBİTAK ARBİS
(Researcher Information system) through the following link: http://arbis.tubitak.gov.tr
Other criteria for Turkish applicants can be seen from the list below:
http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/destekler/akademik/ulusal-destek-programlari/1001/icerik-kimlerbasvurabilir
How to apply
Intention to Submit (Submission of this document is highly recommended but not compulsory)
In order to identify peer reviewers and convene assessment panels in advance, researchers are
asked to indicate their intention to submit a proposal to this call. Please note that this should be
submitted by 16:00 BST (18:00 EEST) Friday, 16 October 2015 to international@RCUK.ac.uk.
Please note: this form is not intended to assess or comment on the eligibility of a proposal or
research team and should not affect or delay the creation and completion of your proposal on the
JeS system. After sending in your intention to submit, changes can be made to your full application
(i.e. additional co-applicants can be added and strands of work can be amended).
Submitting your Proposal
This RCUK-TÜBİTAK call will be managed through RCUK systems and hosted by MRC on behalf of all
seven research councils and TÜBİTAK.
The full deadline is 16:00 GMT (19:00 EET) Tuesday, 10 November 2015. Any proposal received after
this deadline will not be considered for funding.
Researchers will be responsible for developing their own collaborations. Once a research proposal is
developed, UK and Turkish applicants must apply jointly for funding to the RCUK Newton – TÜBİTAK
Research Partnership Call, via the MRC Je-S online application system (https://je-s.rcuk.ac.uk).
Applications must be submitted by the UK Principal Investigator on behalf of the UK-Turkish research
partnership. The application must be JOINTLY prepared and submitted in English. Once received,
RCUK will share the applications with TÜBİTAK.
The following documents must be included in the joint application.
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Joint Case for Support
Justification of Resources (including both UK and Turkish justification)
Pathways to Impact
Data Management Plan
Turkish budget table
CVs and publications
Letters of support
If needed, all Turkish researchers should receive Official Legal/ Private Permission*
Documents or Ethical Issues Documents For detailed information, please follow links below:
http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/sites/default/files/yasal_izin_bilgi_notu_24_07_13.pdf
http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/sites/default/files/etik_onay_bilgi_notu_23_07_13.pdf
*The proposals without Official Legal/ Private Permission Documents or Ethical Issues Documents
will not be funded by TÜBİTAK.
Please Note: MRC are hosting this call on behalf of the Research Councils and TÜBİTAK through the
UK Research Councils’ grant submission system known as ‘Je-S’. It is a requirement of this call that
successful proposals will be withdrawn from the call on JeS after decisions have been made and resubmitted to the lead remit council of the proposal on JeS for awards to be finalised and made.
MRC remit grants will not need to be withdrawn and resubmitted.
Key dates
Call open for proposals
Intention to submit*
Closing date for proposals
Shortlisting (dependant on demand)
PI response to reviewer comments for those going to Panel
(Please note you will have 5 days to respond)
RCUK and TÜBİTAK Joint Panel
Decisions announced
Successful proposals withdrawn from MRC JeS system by
research offices and submitted to lead council by remit (not
necessary for MRC-remit grants)
Grants commence
21 September 2015
16 October 2015
10 November 2015
01 February 2016
02 February 2016
Early March 2016
Mid-March 2016
March 2016
14 April 2016
*(Submission of this document is highly recommended but not compulsory)
Grant Start Dates
Due to the tight timescales and funding restrictions of the Newton Fund, UK grants must start by 14
April 2016; i.e. the ‘start confirmation’ must be submitted by 14 April 2016 (this is shorter than the
standard 42 days for Research Council grants). The grant must end by December 2018.
Please refer to the RCUK terms and conditions for information on what the starting procedure
entails; please inform the relevant support staff in your organisation of this requirement to ensure
the project starts on time.
Assessment criteria and decision making process
Following submission, peer review will be undertaken by the funding agencies. To be funded,
proposals must be internationally competitive and at a standard equivalent to that normally
expected to be supported by each funding organisation.
Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria:
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Research merit of the proposal
Relevance of the proposal to the strategic objectives of the Newton Fund – including
potential benefits and impact
Strength and appropriateness of proposed partnership and collaboration
Project management structure and resources, including value for money
Contacts
Any enquiries related to this call should be directed to:
RCUK
Amy Mayes
Email: international@rcuk.ac.uk
Phone: +44 (0) 01793 444352
TÜBİTAK
Uluslararası İşbirliği Daire Başkanlığı
Eylem İstem ATAY
Abdullah Fehmi YALMAN
E-mail: uidb@tubitak.gov.tr
Phone: +90 312 298 9440
Annex 1
Background of the Funders
RCUK
Research Councils UK are the main UK delivery partner for the Newton Fund and are working
strategically with partner countries to develop a series of research activities to address challenges
defined by the overarching ambitions of the Fund.
Research Councils UK (RCUK) are responsible for investing public money in research in the UK to
advance knowledge and generate new ideas which lead to a productive economy, healthy society
and contribute to a sustainable world. Each year the Research Councils invest around £3bn in
research covering the full spectrum of academic disciplines from the medical and biological sciences
to astronomy, physics, chemistry and engineering, social sciences, environmental sciences and the
arts and the humanities. RCUK supports over 50,000 researchers including 19,000 doctoral students,
around 14,000 research staff, and 2,000 research fellows in UK universities and in their own
Research Institutes.
There are seven Research Councils which make up RCUK. For more information about RCUK, please
visit our website at http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/research/areas/
TÜBİTAK
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) is the leading agency for
management, funding and conduct of research in Turkey. It was established in 1963 with a mission
to advance science and technology, conduct research and support Turkish researchers. The Council
is an autonomous institution and is governed by a Scientific Board whose members are selected
from prominent scholars from universities, industry and research institutions.
TÜBİTAK is responsible for promoting, developing, organizing, conducting and coordinating research
and development in line with national targets and priorities.
TÜBİTAK acts as an advisory agency to the Turkish Government on science and research issues, and
is the secretariat of the Supreme Council for Science and Technology (SCST), the highest S&T policy
making body in Turkey.
Setting its vision as to be an innovative, guiding, participating and cooperating institution in the
fields of science and technology, which serves for improvement of the life standards of our society
and sustainable development of our country, TÜBİTAK not only supports innovation, academic and
industrial R&D studies but also in line with national priorities develops scientific and technological
policies and manages R&D institutes, carrying on research, technology and development studies.
Furthermore, TÜBİTAK funds research projects carried out in universities and other public and
private organizations, conducts research on strategic areas, develops support programs for public
and private sectors, publishes scientific journals, popular science magazines and books, organizes
science and society activities and supports undergraduate and graduate students through
scholarships.
More than 1,500 researchers work in 15 different research institutes of TÜBİTAK where contract
research as well as targeted and nation-wide research is conducted.
For more information about TÜBİTAK, please visit our website at http://www.TÜBİTAK.gov.tr/.