Further changes to Responsive Mode schemes
2 Dec 2011
The Natural Environment Research Council announces further changes to its Responsive Mode grant schemes, including details of the replacement for the Consortium scheme.
Unless otherwise stated, the changes apply to proposals submitted to NERC from 1 January 2012. This information is in addition to the changes to Responsive Mode schemes published in August 2011.
Consortium Grants replaced by Large Grants
The Consortium Grant Responsive Mode scheme will be replaced by a new Large Grant scheme. The Large Grant scheme will continue to support adventurous, large-scale and complex research tackling big science questions, which cannot be addressed through other NERC funding opportunities.
Large Grants can address any area of science within the NERC remit, including NERC strategic priorities or new curiosity-driven research challenges. Proposals will often involve multidisciplinary approaches via inter- or intra-institutional collaboration.
Key changes in comparison to the previous Consortium scheme are as follows:
- There will no longer be a requirement for a minimum of three eligible investigators based in separate participating organisations.
- A minimum funding level of £1·2m (100% FEC) will be introduced (the maximum funding level of £3·7m remains unchanged).
- An outline proposal must first be submitted for consideration and only successful outlines may proceed to the full proposal stage.
- Outlines will be assessed by a panel comprising members of the peer review college, plus independent experts as required.
- Outlines will be assessed against the criteria 'potential excellence' and 'fit to scheme'.
- There will be one outline and one full proposal closing date per year. Dates for 2012 are as follows:
- Outline Proposal Closing Date: 1 March 2012
- Full Proposal Closing date: 15 November 2012 (tbc)
The assessment process and documentation required for submitting Large Grant full proposals is unchanged from the Consortium scheme.
Standard Grants
A maximum funding level of £1·2m (100% FEC) will be introduced for Standard Grants. This change is to provide clear differentiation between the Standard Grant scheme and the new Large Grant scheme.
To align with how financial limits are set in other schemes, the minimum funding level for Standard Grants is also amended to £65,000 (100% FEC).
New Investigator Grants
Following completion of the 2012 call, the New Investigator competition will cease to operate as a separate scheme and will be incorporated into the Standard Grant scheme.
New Investigator status of the lead Principal Investigator may be indicated at the time of application. How New Investigator eligibility is defined will not change. A revised process to allocate Standard Grant funding will operate to ensure New Investigator led proposals have an increased chance of receiving funding.
New Investigator proposals will no longer be subject to any specific funding limits or restrictions; any request within the scope of the Standard Grant scheme will be allowed.
The 2012 New Investigator call will proceed unchanged with a closing date of 1 February 2012. The ability to submit a New Investigator application via the Standard Grant call will be available from the December 2012 closing date onwards.
Urgency Grants
Some modifications will be made to clarify the remit of the scheme and circumstances that will be accepted as grounds for an Urgency application. The application and assessment process will also be updated.
For further information please contact the Funding Manager:
Dr Sarah Collinge
Tel: 01793 411936