Joint Academic and Commercial Quality Research & Development (JACQUARD)

The aim of Jacquard is to strengthen the position of the Dutch body of knowledge in research relating to Software and Service Engineering.

During this funding round, the emphasis is on the research field of Software as a Service. Jacquard aims to achieve its objective by closely involving potential users of the research results in shaping the direction of the scientific research. The programme accordingly contains a strong emphasis on the potential usability of the research results.

In this call Software as a Service is defined as:

A model for supplying services in which the elements of these services can be accessed remotely using a software interface. These elements may be combined into new services that can be delivered via flexible networks. The term ‘services’ here includes not only electronic services, but also the provision of services at a social or corporate level.

This description of the SaaS field is based on the Strategic Research Agenda (SRA) prepared recently by the Software as a Service Innovation Platform (IIP SaaS). This SRA can be used by applicants as a source of inspiration for demands already existing in the market, particularly from financial services, healthcare and government. These are some examples of sectors in the Dutch service economy to which research into Software as a Service can make a significant contribution. The programme welcomes proposals where applications concentrate on one or more of these sectors.

Proposals may also relate to applications from other service-oriented sectors.

Who can apply

Applications may be submitted by researchers affiliated to Dutch universities, NWO and KNAW institutes. Applications on behalf of a consortium should be submitted by a single researcher (the main applicant), who is affiliated to one of the research institutions mentioned above. In any case, the consortium should consist of:

• one or more research groups;
• one or more applicants. These may be companies and/or other social partners;
• Universities of Applied Sciences may acts as joint applicants in a consortium.

In the context of software engineering research, Jacquard’s aim is to make maximum use of the expertise available in the field of Software as a Service. Combining competencies in multidisciplinary teams might be conducive not only to software engineering, but also to the disciplines involved in Software as a Service.

You must also:

• hold at least a masters degree;
• or be qualified to a comparable level;
• have sufficient research experience;
• be in a position to remain effectively involved in the research covered by the grant application during the period covered by the application.

Only those researchers who have been invited to submit a full proposal on the basis of their previously submitted preliminary proposal, are allowed to submit an application.

What can be applied for

This funding round concerns a sum of € 3.33 million made up as follows:

• €2 million grant for attracting PhD and postdoctoral researchers (including new researchers) and support staff (such as programmers), personal bench fees, project-related equipment/software and additional travel budgets;
• about €1.33 million capitalised contribution by the research institutions and the applicants.

When can be applied

• Closing date for the submission of preproposals was 9 November 2009, 12:00 hours.
• Closing date for the submission of full proposals was 22 December 2009, 12:00 hours.

Criteria

Preproprosals and full proposals will be assessed on their merits by an international evaluation committee, which will consider suitability within the content, themes and objective of the Jacquard programme, and relevancy.

Procedure

Applicants will be informed by the evaluation committee, within three weeks after submission of the preproposals, whether or not they should elaborate their proposals into a full proposal. If the evaluation committee considers that the abridged research proposal covers a different topic area than that indicated by the applicant, it will inform the applicant accordingly. For applicants who are considering the same research subject, the evaluation committee can suggest that they submit a joint full proposal.

The evaluation committee will hold interviews with those who submit fully elaborated research proposals during the week from 22 to 26 February 2010. The applicants are expected to provide a brief presentation (of about 10 minutes) on the role and contribution (financial or in manpower) from the ‘demand side’ (companies, public sector parties, etc). After the introductory presentation, the members of the evaluation committee will put questions to the members of the consortium. The interview will provide the evaluation committee with an opportunity to test the degree of involvement from the ‘demand side’ in the project. The applicants who are invited will receive a protocol in good time, explaining how the interview will proceed.

The steering group will decide whether to award or decline the research proposals on the basis of a prioritisation advice from the evaluation committee.

Committees

Preproposals and full proposals will be assessed on their merits by an international evaluation committee. This will meet on one occasion to undertake the interviews and establish the final prioritisation.

Budget

This funding round concerns a sum of € 3.33 million made up as follows:

• €2 million grant for attracting PhD and postdoctoral researchers (including new researchers) and support staff (such as programmers), personal bench fees, project-related equipment/software and additional travel budgets;
• about €1.33 million capitalised contribution by the research institutions and the applicants.

Financiers

NWO Division for Physical Sciences

Contacts

• Dhr. drs. S. (Sjoerd) Meihuizen (programme office)
  phone: 070 - 344 07 10, e-mail: s.meihuizen@nwo.nl