TASC Comprehensive Analytical Science and Technology (TA-COAST)

The TASC Innovation Programme (Technology Areas for Sustainable Chemistry) is a public-private partnership programme under NWO/ACTS. It comprises the four separate Technology Areas (TA):

• Low Energy Routes to Bulk Chemicals (TA-Low Energy Routes)
• Eco-efficient Use of Biomass for Bulk and Fine Chemicals Production (TA-Biomass)
• Syngas, a Switch to Flexible New Feedstock for the Chemical Industry (TA-Syngas)
• Comprehensive Analytical Science and Technology (TA-COAST)

This call for proposals is related to TA-COAST.

The objective of the TA-COAST R&D programme is to advance research, development and innovation in analytical science for the benefit of its application areas and science as a whole. To maximize innovation and valorisation potential, the programme is designed to promote and facilitate cross-fertilization between basic sciences, analytical technologies and application areas. The R&D programme should lead to breakthroughs in analytical technologies that will find their applications in multiple areas. The programme of this TA-COAST call is structured around three R&D themes:

1.  Revolutions in Resolutions
2.  Analysis of Intact Systems
3.  Bringing the Lab to the Sample

These themes were chosen for their relevance to all application areas. The final portfolio of the R&D programme will be a well-balanced mix of these R&D themes.

Who can apply

Group leaders (assistant, associate, or full professors) at a Dutch university or NWO approved research institute can apply. Each project consortium must include at least two private partners and one knowledge institute. Private partners cannot receive funding and are considered as co-applicants.

More information on the terms and conditions for application can be found in the call for proposals.

What can be applied for

• The maximal subsidy that can be requested per project is M€ 1.2. The guiding principle is that the government subsidy shall not excess k€ 800. Private contributions in excess of k€ 400 are welcome but shall not be eligible for matching by government subsidy;
• The grant can be used for temporary personnel (PhDs and postdocs only), consumables (fixed amount) and equipment related to the research proposal;
• The project should employ at least one researcher for at least two years;
• Only in exceptional cases may the grant be used to purchase highly specific equipment that is solely applicable in the context of the research proposal. Motivation and specification is necessary and will be evaluated. The maximum eligible equipment costs to be considered for governmental subsidy is k€ 147;
• The grants are paid as a lump sum once per year over the duration of the grant. Personnel costs are subsidized in accordance with the most recent Agreement on Employers' responsibilities NWO-VSNU. This document is available at General Terms and Conditions of NWO Grants.

When can be applied

• Closing date for submitting applications was 30 August 2011.

Extra Information

• The private partners in the project contribute in total a minimum of 33.3% of the total budget granted to the project;
• SME companies (in Dutch MKB: midden- en kleinbedrijf) shall contribute a minimum of 33.3% of the partner’s contribution to the project in cash. In-kind contributions in excess of 66.7% of the SME’s contribution are not eligible for matching of the requested subsidy. Note that the overhead and networking costs (management costs) cannot be matched by in-kind contributions;
• Each private partner (non-SME) contributes largely in cash (minimum of 70% of the private partner’s total contribution to the project). In-kind contributions in excess of 30% of the private partner’s contribution are not eligible for matching of the requested subsidy. Note that the overhead and networking costs (management costs) cannot be matched by in-kind contributions;
• In-kind costs contributed by private partners may comprise:
  • man hours (up to a maximum of € 100/hour);
  • materials;
  • (use of) equipment.

Criteria

In addition to the formal eligibility criteria, specific attention will be paid to the following eligibility criteria:

1. The project proposal includes and describes plans for secondments of all researchers employed for more than one year;
2. At least two application areas must be identified as relevant for the application of the project results;
3. An intended project manager must be identified who is affiliated to a private partner;
4. Relevant private project partners must be identified as responsible for the valorisation of the project results in the claimed application areas.

The following assessment criteria apply:

1. Fit to the scope of TA-COAST;
2. Scientific quality; Quality of the consortium;
3. Valorisation potential;
4. Quality of the secondment plans.

Procedure

The proposals that meet the eligibility criteria will be processed and assessed as follows:

• The proposals will be assessed and ranked by a R&D Review Committee (RRC); • Applicants will be given the opportunity to respond to the review of the RRC in writing with a rebuttal;
• A final ranking of the proposals will be drafted by the RRC considering all arguments, including the applicant’s rebuttal;
• The Executive Board of COAST will formulate its independent funding recommendation taking into account the proposals, the assessment report of the RRC, and the port-folio related criteria of TA-COAST;
• Mid November 2011, the Executive Board of ACTS will take a decision on the allocation of funds based on the funding recommendation of the Executive Board COAST.

Committees

The research proposals are assessed by an independent R&D Review Committee of academic scientists and private party experts. The composition of the committee will be posted on the programme website after the decision making process has been completed.

Contacts

• Ms. dr. A. (Arlette) Werner
  phone: +31 (0)70 - 344 08 35, e-mail: ta-coast@nwo.nl