Cooperative Science and Technology
Sub-Programme
Collaborative Linkage Grants: Notes for Applicants
Page Update: 20 December 1998
The following notes for applicants are
an integral part of the application form for support to organize an Advanced
Research Workshop. The application form itself is provided as a separate
downloadable file, which may be found at the end of this document.
Introduction
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Collaborative Linkage Grants (CLGs) offer assistance to members of research
teams in universities or research institutions in countries of the Euro-Atlantic
Partnership Council, to collaborate on research projects. The collaboration
must be between scientists in NATO countries and those in Partner countries.
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CLGs can be in any scientific discipline. The disciplines have been grouped
into four Scientific Areas, as outlined in the classification list at Annex,
and applications are considered by one of four Advisory Panels set up for
each Scientific Area.
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Grants are given for projects that rely for basic costs on national funding
but where the costs for the international collaboration cannot be met from
other sources. The grants thus support travel and living expenses of investigators
for short visits to partner institutions abroad.
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Support for CLGs ranges from funding for two or three scientists to visit
one another's laboratories over a period of one year, to a maximum of five
research teams involving a maximum of five people per team to collaborate
over a two-year period. (Collaborative Linkage Grants combine the two
former support mechanisms of Collaborative Research Grants and Linkage
Grants.)
Eligibility
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To be eligible for support a project must be specific and the collaboration
should be between scientists in NATO countries and NATO's Partner countries
of the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council.
Ineligibility
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No salaries or stipends for any of the collaborators, students, technical
assistants, etc, will be offered under these grants. No institutional overhead
expenses may be charged to the grant.
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No support can be supplied for scientists while on sabbatical or other
extended leave abroad, or to allow attendance at conferences, symposia,
workshops, etc. Nor is support available for any travel that is not related
to the CLG project. Purely domestic travel is not supported. No support
can be provided for long study periods abroad; such support is available
under the NATO Science Fellowships Sub-Programme.
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Scientists may not be involved in more than one Collaborative Linkage Grant
at the same time; nor can a CLG be awarded if participants are still involved
in a Linkage Grant or Collaborative Research Grant which is not formally
closed. Before submitting an application, therefore, Project Coordinators
must verify with the other principal investigators that any NATO collaborative
grant in which they were involved is formally closed.
Investigators/Project
Coordinators
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Investigators are all the scientists engaged in the collaborative project
who will benefit from NATO funding under the CLG. It is assumed that the
investigators are included in an application with the knowledge and support
of their authorities.
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One scientist from each research team should be designated Principal Investigator,
and two of the Principal Investigators, one from a Partner country and
one from a NATO country, should be designated Project Coordinators. The
Project Coordinators are responsible for the project.
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To reduce the administrative burden NATO will normally correspond with
the NATO-country Coordinator. He or she will receive the award letter on
behalf of the Investigators, and will also be responsible for disbursing
the grant as appropriate, and for reporting to NATO.
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A grant is awarded to the Investigators and not to their institutions.
Funding
Basis
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Funds are given mainly to cover the costs incurred in visits to the collaborating
teams abroad by the Investigators. Such visits should be of short duration,
and in any case no longer than two months.
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An award provides support for between one and two years. Amounts awarded
are normally, for example, between $5,000 for one year of collaboration
for two or three scientists, or a maximum of $25,000 for two years' collaboration
for five research teams.
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Larger two-year grants are paid in two instalments, the second instalment
being released after receipt of a satisfactory interim report on the progress
achieved during the first year of collaboration.
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Living expenses should be calculated on the basis of expected costs, up
to a maximum of US$100 a day per person, depending on the country and city
visited. Air travel should be at the lowest available rates. Surface transport
should be used for trips up to 500 km. If other means of transport are
used, travel at the rate of the least expensive air or train fare only
should be charged to the grant.
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Awards are made in Belgian Francs, but payment of the award may be in any
currency, as specified by the grantholder at the time of payment.
Other Funding/Expenditure
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Basic costs (salaries, equipment, consumables, page charges) should already
be covered from other sources, but for laboratories in Partner countries
only, a contribution may be requested towards acquisition of scientific
equipment of modest cost essential for and specific to the project.
Computer
Networking Supplements
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A supplementary award to upgrade the networking capabilities of the laboratories
of investigators from Partner countries may be requested after the award
of a Collaborative Linkage Grant.
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Please note that requests for such a supplement should not be included
in the original application for a CLG. The completion of a separate application
form will be required for a computer networking supplement, and the application
form will be provided together with the letter of award for the Grant.
Reporting
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For larger, two-year grants, an interim report on progress achieved and
financial expenditure to date must be submitted within twelve months of
the date of acceptance of the award.
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In all cases a final scientific and financial report is required for grant
closure on completion of the project, and in any case within thirty months
of the date of acceptance of the award.
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NATO support should be acknowledged in publications resulting from the
collaborative project.
Review of
Applications
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Selection of applications for Collaborative Linkage Grants is based on
peer review, and applications are selected for support following the recommendations
of an international Advisory Panel appointed by the NATO Science Committee.
There are four discipline-oriented Advisory Panels one for each of the
following Scientific Areas:
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Physical and Engineering Science and Technology
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Life Science and Technology
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Environmental and Earth Science and Technology
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Security-Related Civil Science and Technology
CLG applications are examined by the Panel in the Scientific Area concerned,
which should be noted on the application form.
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Panel meetings are held three times a year. The selection process is confidential;
no explanation is offered and no correspondence can be entered into on
decisions taken. Proposals are evaluated on a competitive basis for the
scientific merit of the expected collaboration.
Deadlines
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There are different deadlines, according to which Scientific Area Panel
will consider the application. The deadlines are as follows:
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