Bilateral Scientific Cooperation Program
Between Flanders and Ecuador – 2014
Call for Bilateral Research Projects
THIS CALL IS ISSUED AS OF MARCH 21, 2014
DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS IS JULY 1, 2014,
23h59, ECUADOR TIME; THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS
17h00, BRUSSELS TIME, THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS
The Republic of Ecuador and Flanders announce a call for bilateral research projects under
the bilateral agreement to fund basic research in the thematic areas given in this document.
The purpose of the joint program is to generate fundamental research leading to new
knowledge in the chosen field, increase the competence of researchers in both countries
and promote international collaboration. Duration of projects is limited to 2 years.
Joint Funding Organizations: Secretaría Nacional de Educación Superior, Ciencia y
Tecnología
(SENESCyT), Ecuador and Research Foundation-Flanders (FWO), Flanders
The purpose of SENESCyT is to increase human capacity through research, innovation and
technology transfer. SENESCyT governs the principles of and is the steward for public
policy related to higher education, scientific research, technology innovation, and ancestral
knowledge. The organization coordinates activities between the Executive Branch and
higher education to strengthen academic and social productivity. SENESCyT develops,
implements, and evaluates projects, programs and policies undertaken in science,
technology and ancestral knowledge by promoting innovation and technology transfer.
SENESCyT promotes collaboration between higher education, science, technology and
ancestral knowledge at national and international levels through projects and projects in
strategic areas that contribute to the country’s development in a knowledge-based society.
The Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) is the agency that supports ground-breaking
fundamental research at the universities of the Flemish Community. FWO stimulates
international collaboration and promotes mobility in all scientific domains by a bottom-up
approach. By investing in bilateral research agreements with several partner countries all
over the world, FWO gives researchers the opportunity to gain experience in international
research groups, to share knowledge in international networks and scientific research
communities and obtain an international profile.
Rationale for the Call
Multi-national, multi-cultural research involving cross-discipline collaboration is now the
global norm and helps to insure that knowledge translation/transfer and capacities are
increased for all participants. Fundamental scientific research is focused on expanding
knowledge about human beings and their environment. As the level of knowledge of our
society grows, so does the quality of life in general. With this in mind, FWO and SENESCyT
are committed to funding cross border, fundamental scientific research that will lead to a
better understanding of Earth’s systems that impact on human development and quality of
life while respecting the sovereignty of the natural environment and aboriginal peoples.
Moreover, fundamental science has the potential for providing the evidence needed to
inform sound policy development.
Objectives of the Call
This Call strives to generate rigidly obtained scientific knowledge in the thematic areas as
given in this document and should include aspects of the following:
 new, fundamental scientific knowledge
 increase the capabilities of the research teams and their institutions
 improve networks between collaborating and other institutions in Flanders and Ecuador
 produce knowledge that has the potential to inform policy – this point is central only to
SENESCyT in order to comply with the Republic of Ecuador policy objectives
Acceptable Thematic Areas
The Bilateral Research Projects should meet rigorous scientific standards and must satisfy
requirements for both funding agencies.
Only the following thematic areas are eligible for funding:
 natural sciences; Earth sciences, agriculture, biology, chemistry, physics
 climate change adaptation
 engineering, material sciences, and agricultural engineering
 interdisciplinary studies; environmental sciences, biodiversity, sustainability
 mathematics and computer & information sciences
 health & nutritional sciences
 social sciences
 humanities
Funding, Project Duration and Indicative Timeline
Program funding is supplied equally by Ecuador and Flanders. Project length cannot
exceed 2 years. Applicants in Flanders and Ecuador can both apply for a maximum of
€70,000/annum to their respective council, for a total of €140,000 each for 2 years,
depending on the workload and proposal details. It is very importance that the budget
request is fully justified and well motivated in the proposal. Continued funding is contingent
INDICATIVE TIMELINE
ACTIVITY
CALL OPENED
DEADLINE FOR
SUBMITTING PROPOSAL
(JULY 1ST)
2014
2015
2016
2017
M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M A M J J A S O N D J F M
x
x
INTERNATIONAL PEER
REVIEW PROCESS
x
ECUADOR PARTNERS
SUBMIT APPROPRIATE
FORMS FOR
GOVERNMENT
PERMISSIONS
x
JOINT PANEL
DECISIONS (NOV 20TH)
FUNDING AWARDS
ANNOUNCED (DEC 1ST)
PROJECT DURATION
RESULTS ORIENTED
PROGRESS REPORTS
BY INSTITUTIONS
MIDTERM REVIEW BY
SENESCyT & FWO
SUBMISSION OF FINAL
REPORT
ASSIMILATION OF
RESULTS BY SENESCyT
AND FWO
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
on budgetary constraints according to country rule within Flanders and Ecuador.
What Funding Will Support
The allowances are awarded exclusively for the execution of research projects approved by
both the FWO and SENESCyT, hence the supervisors shall use the allowances exclusively
for this purpose. As soon as their use no longer meets this requirement, the allowances - or
their balances - shall return to FWO and SENESCyT. Cost categories that are allowed
include:
 project staff salaries as per institutional norms
 equipment dedicated to producing results that are not already available within the
institute
 travel, accommodation and meals as per institute/government norms for visiting and
host research staff
 collection and interpretation of data
 communication, publication fees and costs for dissemination of results including
community, local and regional meeting/workshops
Evaluation Criteria
1. Scientific Level of the Research Team
a. mobility profile for members of the research team and network
b. scientific outputs of the candidates (publications, workshops, conferences,
student supervision, past project collaboration)
c. current level/position of the candidates career
d. do the results have the potential to inform future policy in Ecuador, will they lead
to new knowledge that can strengthen Governmental programs, are stakeholder
engagement and sustainability considered, will they add value across disciplines
and regions? These criteria will only be applied in Ecuador to satisfy the
requirements of SENESCyT and the Republic of Ecuador; FWO has no
stipulations for these criteria.
2. Research quality
a. does the research team have the ability to complete the work as planned?
b. is the methodology sound and state-of-the-art?
c. does the research model take into consideration cross-disciplinary and crossregional aspects?. These criteria will only be applied in Ecuador to satisfy the
requirements of SENESCyT and the Republic of Ecuador; FWO has no
stipulations for these criteria.
d. is the research focused towards the goals of the project?
e. is the research original and innovative?
f. does the research meet national and international criteria of excellence?
3. Project management
a. are collaboration, overlap, coordination, and roles & responsibilities clearly
defined?
b. is there a well-defined framework for knowledge sharing between collaborators
and stakeholders (where applicable)? This criterion will only be applied in
Ecuador to satisfy the requirements of SENESCyT and the Republic of Ecuador;
FWO has no stipulations for this criterion.
c. is there a clear self-monitoring and evaluation plan built into the project?
4. Timeliness and feasibility
a. can the proposed work be completed within the prescribed time and budget?
b. is the workload realistic for the number of proponents?
c. what is the potential for value for money?
Proposal Format and Submission Process
The joint research teams from Flanders and Ecuador will submit one identical scientific
research project. Applications should be submitted simultaneously to FWO and
SENESCyT. Applications that were not received on both sides will be declared ineligible.
Please take into account that the Ecuadorian researchers must submit to SENESCyT and
hereby respecting the forms and regulations of SENESCyT and that the Flemish
researchers must submit using the online submission tool of FWO, respecting the
regulations of FWO. However, the scientific component, the work plan and the title of the
project should be identical on both sides!
Each institution will appoint a Principal Investigator (PI). The funding agencies will
communicate application decisions and queries through the PI. The PI will be responsible
for submitting interim reports and the final project findings to the funding agencies.
Submission Process for the Ecuadorian Research Partner:
In Ecuador, application must be submitted electronically in English at
http://www.educacionsuperior.gob.ec/institutos-publicos-de-investigacion/.
Successful
candidates will be asked to translate the proposal into Española after Dec. 1, 2014. The
scientific part, the work plan and the title of the project should be identical on both sides!
 Additional Permissions Required form Ecuadorian Partners
In the case of certain projects types (e.g., biodiversity) the Republic of Ecuador
requires researchers to obtain permission to carry out research from the Ministry of
the Environment. Ecuadorian researchers should start this process at the time of
submission of proposals in July, 2014 so that all required permissions are granted
prior to the start date of January 1, 2015. The following documents may be required,
REQUISITOS PARA INVESTIGACIÓN EN FAUNA Y FLORA SILVESTRE. This
permission is only required if the research deals with biodiversity or plans to collect
samples of flora or fauna. Please check with the Ministry of the Environment as soon
as projects are submitted (July 1, 2014).
 Formatting Proposals Using Results Chain Model for Ecuadorian Partners
Successful applicants will be asked to convert proposals into results chain (logic
model) format between the time the projects are approved and the 2 rd month of
implementation.
 Cautions for the Ecuadorian Side
Ecuadorian partners are cautions to make sure that all document for collaborative
research between Ecuadorian institutions are completed (e.g., letter so intent, up to
date formats, within given time limits, properly signed, et.c,). NOT having these
documents properly completed, or being late, will result in applications being
withdrawn. PLEASE start this process well in advance of the project submission
deadline. A checklist of required documents can be found with the online
submission.
Submission Process for the Flemish Research Partner:
In Flanders, applications must be submitted electronically by the online tool e-loket
(http://www.fwo.be/en/fellowships-funding/international-collaboration/bilateral-researchcooperations/bilateral-research-cooperation-ecuador/). The scientific part, the work plan
and the title of the project should be identical on both sides!
External Peer Review
The application will be peer reviewed on both sides following FWO’s and SENESCyT’s
respective peer review procedures.
At FWO the candidates must propose 10 external referees for the external peer review
procedure. Please thoroughly check the FWO Regulations on Internal and External Peer
Review to see who is eligible as a referee at http://www.fwo.be/en/the-fwo/organisation/fwoexpertpanels/regulations-fwo-internal-and-external-peer-review/article12 . Noncompliance
with these regulations will cause your application to be declared ineligible.
In Ecuador, an external committee comprised of Prometeo’s (from similar fields as thematic
areas chosen by the candidates) and other experts will review the submissions.
Evaluation by Joint Expert Panel
Following the external peer review process, the proposals will be evaluated by a joint
multidisciplinary Panel consisting of an equal number of experts from Flanders and
Ecuador. The joint panel will meet in Ecuador in mid-November/2014. The joint panel will
rank the proposals based on the selection criteria mentioned above and the input received
from the international peers. Successful research projects will be informed on December 1,
2014