Middle East Regional Cooperation Program (MERC) - Pre-proposals
| Name: |
shem rishmi anglit Application deadline: 15/12/09 |
|---|---|
| General description: |
Funds collaborative research projects between Israel and its Arab neighbors. The program seeks applied research and technology development proposals within the broad areas of the natural and physical sciences and engineering. Projects most commonly involve research in the areas of agriculture, health, environmental management, or engineering. Investigators are also encouraged to integrate social science approaches, economics, and the use of computer technology into the research, where appropriate. Budget: up to $1M for up to 2-5 years. |
| Source: | Israeli |
| Participating Countries: | Israel, Middle East, |
| Budget: |
FUNDING LEVELS Total MERC funding for all participants over the length of a project (usually 2 to 5 years) may not exceed $1 million, including overhead. Proposals of more modest size are strongly encouraged since MERC has a mandate to use its available funds to maximize the number as well as quality of Arab-Israeli linkages. There is no set minimum amount, and recently awarded grants range in size from approximately $120,000 to $1 million. Larger projects approaching $1 million are not discouraged; however, such proposals bear the burden to clearly demonstrate that the significance of the problem they address, the merit of their approach, and the number of genuine Arab-Israeli linkages they foster at multiple levels throughout the project would outweigh the advantages of MERC supporting a larger number of smaller projects. * The total budget for all U.S. participants (including overhead) should not exceed 15% of the total project budget (Israeli + Arab + American) and is typically much lower. Budget: Provide a six-item budget in U.S. dollars (without further details), indicating projected expenses in each of the six categories listed below, for each institution. Use a separate single column for each participating institution. (Note that projects are not required to spend in every category.) --salaries (list each position as a separate cost line: e.g., 100% PhD Student, 50% Postdoc) --equipment/materials (including reagents) --travel (directly related to the project) --training (directly related to the project) --overhead --other costs (explain these very briefly) Also include total expense (sum) by institution and by country, along with the overall total project cost and duration of the project (number of years). Finally, in a short footnote, please separately indicate the other, non-MERC sources of support expected for this activity. The budget should be based upon an estimate of the minimized actual cost for each item. Only include costs necessary to accomplish the project. The budget must reflect the prevailing labor rates at each project site, and not include extra items or inflated costs in order to achieve a pre-determined total or pre-determined split among partners. The use of non-MERC matching funds to reduce costs is encouraged. Priority on major equipment purchases should be given to those institutions that have less access to alternate sources of significant funds. Remember the 15% limit on the U.S. share of the total budget. MERC prohibits the purchase of vehicles of any kind or travel to the U.S. using program funds; if either is essential to your project you must budget accordingly from non-MERC sources. The MERC Program strongly discourages and normally disallows the use of program funds for large overhead expenses, the payment of salaries to principal investigators or other professional staff, or the purchase of major equipment of non-U.S. origin. Exceptions to these policies are very rare and will require very convincing justification (later, at the full proposal stage), if you are invited to submit a full proposal. Guidelines on the submission of a formal, detailed budget, including further guidance on allowable costs and cost-justification requirements, will be issued with invitations to submit a full proposal. |
| Number of research years: | 2-5 years |
| Contact person: | Robi - research@tx.technion.ac.il, 2152 |
| Fields: | Exact sciences and IT Field,Water,energy and environment,Life Sciences and medicine,Social Sciences and humanities |
| Type of fund: | The fund is not a competitive fund |
| Comments: |
See also
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| Related fund and profiles: | USAID ,Access available for Technion staff. Please sign in to see the Agency profiles (upper left corner) |