Sustainable Marine Bioresources
Assistance with bid preparation
This opportunity is now closed.
Applications should be submitted by 15 March 2007 at the latest, and meetings must take place by 30 March 2007. The closing date for the SMB programme is likely to be the end of May 2007.
The three major UK funders of marine and fisheries science, the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) and the Scottish Executive Environment & Rural Affairs Department's marine laboratory Fisheries Research Services (FRS) have joined together to fund a collaborative research programme entitled 'Sustainable Marine Bioresources' (SMB).
The programme's high level aim is to expand the range and quality of scientific evidence relevant to current and future fisheries management needs, to be achieved through collaborative research between the three major science communities - Defra and SEERAD's marine laboratories (Cefas and FRS); NERC's marine centres and associated bodies in the Oceans 2025 grouping; and universities.
The draft call for proposals sets out the scope of this new collaborative programme, which is still under preparation, and can be found in the supporting documentation.
In addition to scientific excellence, proposals will need to demonstrate that they address the following priorities:
- Application - proposals will need to show they address a priority gap in our current knowledge of how best to manage fisheries sustainably,
- Collaboration - proposals will need to show that they provide genuine collaboration.
Because of these special conditions, the programme's sponsors are willing to provide funds for collaborative teams to cover appropriate travel and subsistence costs incurred in the development of research ideas, and in forming the necessary consortia for bid preparation. For example, funds may cover the costs of travelling to Cefas, FRS and/or NERC's marine centres and associated bodies as part of any consortium development.
If you wish to apply for these funds, please complete the Bid Preparation form, one per consortium meeting, and return it to Defra.
If you are successful in receiving funding, you will need to keep evidence of all expenses incurred, and complete and return the appropriate claim form which will be provided to you by Defra.