New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research

Transcription

1 Catalyst Fund 1 : Strategic New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research and Global Strategic Partnerships Call for Proposals October 2015 The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment reserves the right to withdraw or amend this Call for Proposals or any part of it 1 Catalyst Fund is the new name for the International Relationships Fund appropriation within Vote Business, Science and Innovation. The appropriation will continue to be named the International Relationships Fund until the new name (Catalyst Fund) comes into effect which is expected to occur on 1 July

2 All financial information in this document is GST exclusive. 2

3 Contents Quick Reference... 4 Part One: Introduction... 5 New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research - Closed Call... 6 Global Strategic Partnerships - Open Call... 6 Essential reading... 7 Part two: Key dates... 8 Part three: New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research - Closed Call... 9 Preamble... 9 Investment Priorities Activity supported under this initiative Indicative funding allocations Expected results / outcomes Funding proposal form for the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research Initiative Part four: Global Strategic Partnerships - Open Call Preamble Investment priorities Activity supported under this initiative Indicative funding allocations Expected results / outcomes Funding proposal form for the Global Strategic Partnerships Initiative Part five: General Information A. Eligibility B. Allowable Expenses C. Assessment D. Further Terms & Conditions that Apply to this CfP E. Glossary (Key definitions) Appendix One: Guidelines for Applicants

4 Quick Reference Indicative funding Indicative total funds available Indicative funding per proposal Term New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research Up to $600,000 Up to $100,000 per year 3 years Global Strategic Partnerships Up to $5.0 million $80,000 - $150,000 per year 1-3 years Submission dates 5 October 2015 MBIE Portal opens for applications for: New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research; and Global Strategic Partnerships 9 November 2015 All proposals must be submitted to MBIE by pm (midday) Who can apply? New Zealand-based research organisations or a New Zealand-based legal entity representing a New Zealand-based research organisation. For the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research, only New Zealand-based applicants that earlier registered their intention to apply for funding through MBIE s already-closed Pre-application Registration of Interest process are eligible to submit applications to this investment round. For full eligibility conditions, please refer to Part Five A. Eligibility. Accessing MBIE s online portal New applicants Complete the form at Returning applicants Log in using your current customer details. Further information Proposal queries: [email protected] Portal queries: investment [email protected] Q&A about the proposal will be published on MBIE s website. Phone (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm) 4

5 Part One: Introduction The Government s ten year vision as set out in the National Statement of Science Investments (NSSI) is of a highly dynamic science system that enriches New Zealand, making a more visible, measurable contribution to our productivity and wellbeing through excellent science. International science and innovation connectivity will be a key contributor to achieving the NSSI s vision, as it provides an opportunity to drive increasing excellence and the potential for impact of New Zealand science. International collaboration on science and innovation improves the quality of research; increases end-user relevancy of research and knowledge exchange; enables firms to increase investment in innovation activities, so increasing their stock of knowledge; and provides access to additional capability and resources, which increases domestic absorptive and delivery capacity. The Catalyst Fund 2 supports activities that initiate, develop and foster collaborations leveraging international science and innovation for New Zealand s benefit. Catalyst funding is delivered through four instruments: Influence, Leaders, Seeding and Strategic. This Call for Proposal (CfP) invites applications for contestable funding under Catalyst: Strategic. Catalyst: Strategic is administered by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), and is designed to support strategic research and large-scale pre-research collaborations with leading overseas partners. Funded activities will demonstrate a clear potential impact for New Zealand by challenging and transforming our economic performance; and strengthening our society and the sustainability and integrity of the environment. Under this overarching framework, Catalyst: Strategic specifically invests in research and large-scale pre-research collaborations with leading overseas partners in targeted areas. Its objectives are to: leverage international research and infrastructure capabilities in areas posing significant science-based challenges to New Zealand and our international partners; and profile New Zealand science and innovation and our ability to contribute to global science challenges. It is also expected that Catalyst: Strategic will support relevant activities that contribute to unlocking the innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources, and people for the benefit of New Zealand, as outlined in MBIE s Vision Mātauranga policy framework. The Vision Mātauranga policy focuses on four themes: a) indigenous innovation contributing to economic growth through distinctive science and innovation; b) taiao/environment achieving environmental sustainability through iwi and hapū relationships with land and sea; c) hauora/health improving health and social wellbeing; and d) mātauranga exploring indigenous knowledge and science and innovation. MBIE is investing in two initiatives through this Catalyst: Strategic investment round: New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research Global Strategic Partnerships 2 Catalyst Fund is the new name for the International Relationships Fund appropriation within Vote Business, Science and Innovation. The appropriation will continue to be named the International Relationships Fund until the new name (Catalyst Fund) comes into effect, which is expected to occur on 1 July

6 A summary of each call is provided below. Full requirements can be found in Parts Three and Four of this CfP document. New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research - Closed Call This investment is designed to support up to two complementary 3-year joint research projects on two priority collaboration areas agreed by the New Zealand and Chinese Governments: Water Research; and Food Safety & Security. MBIE will fund up to one project per topic area. Funding available is $100,000 GST exclusive per annum per project, up to a total of $300,000 GST exclusive over three years. This investment uses a two-stage application process, and this CfP refers to the second stage only. The first stage of the application, a Pre-application Registration of Interest, is already completed. Only New Zealand-based applicants that earlier registered their intention to apply for funding through the Pre-application Registration of Interest process are eligible to submit applications to this investment round. For full application requirements, please refer to Part Three of this CfP document. Global Strategic Partnerships - Open Call This investment is designed to enable New Zealand research teams to develop enduring science and innovation collaboration partnerships with world-class foreign counterparts on topics important to New Zealand. Collaborative projects must reflect and support relevant Government strategies and initiatives, to which science and innovation can make a major contribution. Such strategies include, but are not limited to, the NSSI, National Science Challenges, the work programme of Centres of Research Excellence, agreed priorities arising from bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreements, and other strategies issued by local or national government entities. MBIE will invest in Global Strategic Partnerships projects in certain priority topic areas, that involve collaborations with partners in Australia, Canada, the European Union 3, France, Germany, India, Japan, the People s Republic of China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. This investment is for projects of one, two or three years duration. Funding available is between $80,000 and $150,000 GST exclusive per annum per project, up to a maximum of $450,000 GST exclusive in total over three years. For full application requirements, please refer to Part Four of this CfP document. All applications must be made through the MBIE Portal and within the timelines specified in Part Two: Key dates. 3 Must involve teams from European Union Member States and associated member states for the purposes of the Horizon 2020 programme, working on or planning to apply to EU Horizon 2020 programmes. Please note that, for this call, applications relating to the EU 2014 RISE call will not be supported as these are being administered separately through the Royal Society of New Zealand. 6

7 Essential reading Document National Statement of Science Investment (NSSI) Purpose Outlines the Government s vision for New Zealand s science system. Vision Mātauranga policy The policy framework, integrated into Vote Research, Science and Technology (the forerunner to Vote Science and Innovation), that aims to unlock the innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources and people to assist New Zealanders to create a better future. MBIE s environmental data management policy MBIE s expectations of the management and availability of data generated with public funding. 7

8 Part two: Key dates The key dates for the Catalyst: Strategic call for proposals are as follows: 5 October 2015 MBIE Portal opens for applications for: New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research; and Global Strategic Partnerships 9 November 2015 All proposals must be submitted to MBIE by pm (midday) 19 February 2016 MBIE announces selection results 1 March 2016 Global Strategic Partnerships contracts commence 1 May 2016 New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research contracts commence 8

9 Part three: New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research - Closed Call Preamble China is an emerging science power with strong capabilities in a number of areas complementary to New Zealand s interests. Under the Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement signed in 1987 and renewed 2003, the New Zealand and Chinese Governments established the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research initiative in 2010 to advance science and innovation collaborations. At bilateral meetings in 2012, three priority areas of collaboration for the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research initiative were selected for the period. They are: Food Safety & Security Water Research Non-communicable Diseases MBIE and the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) jointly fund the New Zealand- China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research initiative. MBIE is the administrating agency for the initiative in the areas of Food Safety & Security and Water Research. This CfP covers only MBIE s investments in Food Safety & Security and Water Research. The New Zealand Health Research Council (HRC) manages the call for Non-communicable Diseases on behalf MBIE. For the investment process regarding Non-communicable Diseases, please contact the HRC. Through the October 2015 round, MBIE will invest up to a total of $300,000 excluding GST over three years (up to $100,000 per annum each excluding GST) in one project in each of the Food Safety & Security and Water Research areas. MBIE and MOST are jointly responsible for the funding decisions. MBIE s funding will support the successful New Zealand project teams, and MOST s funding will support the Chinese project teams in the same collaboration. Although this is a bilateral initiative, MBIE and MOST use separate assessment processes, using non-identical selection criteria and key application dates. This CfP applies only to New Zealand applications, and Chinese researchers must consult with MOST regarding their application requirements and process. Only New Zealand-based applicants that earlier registered their intention to apply for funding through MBIE s already-closed Pre-application Registration of Interest process are eligible to submit applications to this investment round. New Zealand project teams must not submit an application to Global Strategic Partnerships that has also been submitted to the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research closed call. If New Zealand project teams submit multiple applications based on the same project, all applications for that project will be deemed ineligible. For more details about the eligibility conditions, please refer to Part Five A. Eligibility. Information contained in the proposal must be consistent with that provided in the Pre-Application Registration of Interest. This includes a list of the New Zealand and Chinese science leaders and the project title. Proposals that deviate from the original Pre-Application Registration of Interest information will be considered ineligible unless MBIE is satisfied that factors unforeseeable at the time of the Pre-Application Registration of Interest require that deviation. If changes are required by factors unforeseeable at the time of the Pre-Application Registration of Interest submission, please 9

10 consult with MBIE prior to submitting an application. MBIE and MOST reserve the right to determine whether proposals with altered information will be accepted or not. Investment Priorities The proposal must align with one of the research areas only i.e., either Food Safety & Security or Water Research, but not both. The table below shows the sub-areas eligible for consideration under each of the above-mentioned areas: Food Safety & Security Funding available: $300,000 total excluding GST Collaboration on forage management Sustainable production methods and metrics Agri-chemical rationalisation in farm and orchard systems (i.e. reduced usage of chemicals for pest and disease control and as fertilisers) Innovative farm management, with particular reference to rodents Risk profiling, assessment, attribution of food-borne hazards Exposure assessment of food-borne hazards and nutrients Improved detection and subtyping methods for food-borne pathogens Methods/strategies to control pathogens in the food chain Supply chain food and food quality losses Water Research Funding available: $300,000 total excluding GST Developing understanding of hydrologic connectivity in key regions: relationships between soil, ground, and surface water at a range of scales, and sensitivity of the hydrologic systems to environmental change Determine the ecological resilience/capacity of receiving environments Considering water as part of the environmental system: how water quality and quantity are affected by land use and management practices, including reducing pressure on water supply and maximising efficiency of utilisation Reducing agri-chemical entry into the hydrologic system Remediation for degraded hydrologic and aquatic systems Water allocation methodologies and tools Activity supported under this initiative Through this initiative, MBIE will support a joint research partnership between New Zealand and Chinese researchers to complete one project in the area of Food Safety & Security and one project in the area of Water Research. Indicative funding allocations A successful project will receive up to $100,000 GST exclusive per annum for three years, up to a total of $300,000 GST exclusive. Indicative funding allocations are as follows: May 2016: $33, /17: $100, /18: $100, /19: $66,667 Total: $300,000 10

11 Please note that: final allocations of funding made by MBIE will depend on the quality of proposals; and final amounts available for investment may be influenced by, and are subject to, government changes to investment levels or appropriations. Expected results / outcomes Successful projects are expected to establish collaborative linkages between New Zealand and Chinese scientists, with the deliverables being achieved as specified in project proposals and subsequent contracts. Funding proposal form for the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research Initiative The information in this section will be useful to you when filling out the proposal form online. Please note that: you must adhere to word limits. CVs are in addition to these word limits; and proposals must be submitted on or before the due date and time. a) Formatting requirements (MS Word documents) Font: Calibri 11 Margins: Top 2.54 Bottom 2.54 Left 3.17 Right 3.17 Gutter 0.00 Gutter Position left b) Funding Application Detail Manage this proposal Print and Submit Under the Manage this proposal section there is a list of actions available to you. The list of actions available depends on your role, and the current status of the project. Print preview this application Use this to action to print generate or view previous documents Because the complete document consists of multiple sections, it needs to be generated. The generation time is dependent on the amount of information in the proposal. Check my application before submission While completing a proposal you can validate your project to see if you have completed all necessary fields. 11

12 Share this application with MBIE Checking this consent will enable MBIE to view your proposal prior to its submission. By checking this consent, you also acknowledge that the information in your proposal will be stored by MBIE, and may be used by MBIE. Eligibility Questions Please answer the following questions. Is your proposal based on the information provided in the Pre- Application Registration of Interest, listing the same New Zealand and Chinese project science leaders and using the same project title? Was the proposal made by a New Zealand-based research organisation or New Zealand-based legal entity representing a New Zealand-based research organisation? Is the science leader employed by a New Zealand research organisation? Summary Information Summary Information Public Statement Objectives The following information is required: Total funding requested (GST Excl) Project title Project area: either Food Safety & Security or Water Research Investment type: Catalyst: Strategic Start and end dates Word limit: 300 words The public statement should describe what the project is aiming to achieve through funded activities. As it will be made publicly available, you should write it for a non-scientific audience and it should not contain any commercially sensitive information. You may wish to include contact details for enquiries. For successful proposal, this section will be extracted directly into a contract. Word limit: 100 words: This should be a concise, high level description of what you plan to achieve during the project. The focus should be on how the collaborative activities will support and enhance the research project or programme. Project Details Proposed Project Plan Word limit: please adhere to the word limit for each section. CVs are to be uploaded under the Project Team section. The criteria listed below are intended to deliver on the vision set out in the 12

13 NSSI that we should strive for greater excellence and impact in publicly funded research. As much of our science as possible should be of the highest quality by international standards and that investment should have clear line of sight to eventual impact. All proposals must include information under the following headings: Enduring collaboration: Will the proposed activity establish an enduring collaboration with world-class Chinese partners? (30% of scoring in assessment of the bid); Novel Knowledge and Partnership: Will the activity lead to the creation of new knowledge and a novel research partnership with China? (40%); and Strategic Benefits: Will the activity lead to a collaboration of strategic benefit to New Zealand? (30%) Enduring collaboration: Will the proposed activity establish an enduring collaboration with world class Chinese partners? (30%) Word limit: 300 words You should include information on: Track record and excellence of the project team (relative to opportunity); Demonstrable excellence of the Chinese partner institution; Potential of the collaboration to create an enduring partnership; and Ability of the project team to deliver on proposed activities. Novel Knowledge and Partnership: Will the activity lead to the creation of new knowledge and a novel research partnership with China? (40%) Word limit: 400 words You should include information on: How the Chinese collaborator will bring world-leading knowledge that complements the New Zealand project team s skills and knowledge; How the proposed collaboration will support a new partnership or a new research focus for an established collaboration; and How the proposed collaboration intends to enable the eventual commercialisation or end-user adoption of new knowledge/technologies generated through the proposed collaboration. Strategic Benefits: Will the activity lead to a collaboration of strategic benefit to New Zealand? (30%) Word limit: 300 words 13

14 You should include information on the: Ability to leverage international investment, and facilities and infrastructure not available in New Zealand; Pathway to build a substantive collaboration beyond an initial engagement that is in line with New Zealand s science priorities; and Ability of the applicant to bring together relevant New Zealand research capabilities to form a strategic collaboration with China. Project Deliverables Impact Statement and Collaborative Aims Word limit: 200 words Impact is the direct or indirect influence of the research, or its effect on a community, a group within the community, or society as a whole. The benefits may be economic, social, and/or environmental. This section states what the project will deliver and what impact it will have. One impact statement is sufficient. The focus should be on the nature of the collaborative activities the project will support and how this will benefit the research project or programme. This statement must be time-bound and specific enough to be measured or tested by the end of the contract. For successful proposals, this section will be extracted directly into a contract. For successful proposals, this section will be extracted directly into a contract. Ensure you add a research aim(s) and critical step(s) for each Impact statement. Research Aims Word limit: 200 words List the key collaborative activities that will be undertaken, what they are intended to achieve and who will be involved. These aims should be measurable and time-bound. For successful proposals, this section will be extracted directly into a contract. Critical Steps Word limit: 200 words A critical step is an activity or event required to achieve a research aim or impact, where the failure to deliver it will significantly affect the achievement of the research aim or impact. For example, regulatory and/or ethical approvals should be listed as a critical step. Critical steps must be measurable, defined events, not levels of progress (such as incremental progress toward a longer-term goal). Critical steps must be defined for each year ending on 30 June or on the last date of a contract if the research is proposed to end on a date other than 30 June. For successful proposals, this section will be extracted directly into a 14

15 contract. Budget This should list the annual cost of your project made up of the following activities, also listed in Section Five B. Allowable Expenses of this CfP: Expenses for research exchanges - Travel expenses Expenses for holding symposiums, seminars and meetings Expenses for research activities - Expenses for consumables and other research expenses - Expenses for personnel - Contributions to pro-rated salaries Overhead expenses Please download the template under this section and upload once filled in. Project Team Project Team The following roles are mandatory for this process: Contact person, Contract manager, Science leader, Key individual, Key researcher. Post-doctoral researcher and Student are optional. Please list both New Zealand and Chinese project team members. Their CVs must be also included in the application. Please download the template under this section and upload once filled in. Key Researchers and Individuals in New Zealand and China These are people who are critical to the success of the project; their departure would constitute a change event. These people are typically fewer in number, and at a level above others listed. Key researchers involved in the scientific research Key individuals not directly involved in the research but involved in implementation activities If students are involved in the research primarily to gain a qualification, they should be entered separately as a student. Each science leader, key researcher, key individual, post-doctoral researcher, and student s expected contribution to the project needs to be indicated as a Full-time Equivalent (FTE) proportion. Legal Conflict of Interest Identify any person who has an actual/potential/perceived conflict of interest with your project and why. Include MBIE staff, if relevant. Detail any proposed arrangements to manage any conflict of interest. 15

16 Part four: Global Strategic Partnerships - Open Call Preamble This investment is designed to enable New Zealand-based multi-institution research teams to develop enduring science and innovation collaboration partnerships with world-class international counterparts on topics important to New Zealand. Collaborative projects must reflect and support relevant Government strategies and initiatives, to which science and innovation can make a major contribution. Such strategies include, but are not limited to, the NSSI, National Science Challenges, the work programme of Centres of Research Excellence, agreed priorities arising from bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreements, and other strategies issued by local or national government entities. In the October 2015 investment round, MBIE will invest up to $5.0 million GST exclusive in total in Global Strategic Partnerships to enable enduring collaborations with the targeted countries and priority topics listed in the table below, that cannot be and are not supported through other means. This investment is for projects of one, two or three years duration. Funding available is between $80,000 GST exclusive and $150,000 GST exclusive per annum per project, up to a maximum of $450,000 GST exclusive in total over three years. A total of up to $2.0 million GST exclusive will be invested in projects of one-year duration. A combined total of up to $3.0 million GST exclusive will be invested in projects of two- and threeyears duration. Successful projects are expected to develop substantive and sustainable research partnerships, based on clear complementary capabilities. The New Zealand team must consist of researchers from multiple organisations or faculties to ensure the breadth and depth of the funded activities. If necessary, each team may appoint deputy project leaders to implement plans to ensure the project s success. One-year projects can be used to support short-term study tours and follow up or similar activities with targeted overseas countries, with a view to establishing enduring research partnerships in areas of strategic importance to New Zealand. Activities related to previous FRIENZ 4 study tours will be eligible but this will not include a further study tour. New Zealand applicants must not submit multiple applications to Global Strategic Partnerships based on the same project, where the only difference is in the duration of the proposed project. In addition, New Zealand project teams must not submit an application to Global Strategic Partnerships that has also been submitted to the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research closed call. Should the same New Zealand project team decide to submit more than one application they must demonstrate significant differences between those applications. If a New Zealand project team submits multiple applications based on the same project, all applications for that project will be 4 FRIENZ was funded by MBIE and the European Commission to foster NZ-European research collaboration, particularly through the EC s (Research investment) Framework Programmes. Over FRIENZ s duration, a number of incoming and outgoing study tours were supported across four research fields Health, Resilient Cities, Bio-economy and Industrial Technologies. 16

17 deemed ineligible. For more details about the eligibility conditions, please refer to Part Five A. Eligibility. Investment priorities MBIE will invest in Global Strategic Partnerships projects that involve collaborations with the following countries and in the specified priority topic areas: Country Priority topic areas Australia Canada China (People s Republic of China) EU 5 France Germany India Japan Korea (Republic of Korea) Singapore United Kingdom (UK) United States of America (US) ICT, Health, Primary Industries, Manufacturing, Environment ICT, Health, Primary Industries, Manufacturing, Environment Agricultural Science and Technology, Information Technology, Environmental Protection, Biotechnology, Medicine Bio-Economy, Research Infrastructure, Resilient Cities, Health ICT, Health, Primary Industries, Manufacturing, Environment Health, Food/Agriculture/Biosciences, Environment, Advanced Manufacturing, Marine and Polar Research, Sustainable Cities (including Renewable Energy). Resilient Cities, Post-harvest Technologies Environment, Health (excluding Functional Foods), Marine Research, Disaster Mitigation, Advanced Technologies Advanced Technologies, Health, Environment/Antarctica ICT, Health, Primary Industries, Manufacturing, Environment, excluding Food for Health ICT, Health, Primary Industries, Manufacturing, Environment Climate Change, Marine Science, Health and Health Innovation, Invasive Species, Natural Hazards and Resilient Cities The proposal can involve more than one overseas partner organisation, which may be based in more than one of the countries listed above, to achieve the maximum benefits of the activities. 5 Must involve teams from European Union Member States and affiliated member states for the purposes of the Horizon 2020 programme, working on or planning to apply to EU Horizon 2020 programmes. Please note that, for this call, applications relating to the EU 2014 RISE call will not be supported as these are being administered separately through the Royal Society of New Zealand. 17

18 Activity supported under this initiative The Global Strategic Partnerships initiative is designed to support research activities to build broadly based strategic collaborative partnerships aligned with key science and innovation topics. In particular, each project is expected to include targeted activities to: develop new or strengthen existing collaborative links with leading research teams in targeted countries; address topics upon which collaboration links with the proposed countries would provide New Zealand with significant benefits; develop collaborative partnerships on those topics between suitable New Zealand and world-class overseas research teams through workshops, seminars and joint research; and enable the smooth and successful transition of these new partnerships into enduring and substantive research collaboration. It is expected that each project may engage in different activity, reflecting its needs and best approaches to meet them. For example, some teams may benefit from pre-research symposia or study tours, whereas others with more mature relationships may benefit from a greater emphasis on research collaboration. However, all proposed activities need to be coordinated under a coherent strategy to significantly broaden and deepen the collaborative partnerships between New Zealand and the partner country or countries. Indicative funding allocations A successful project will receive between $80,000 and $150,000 GST exclusive per annum for either one, two or three years, the first payment of which is payable upon signing of the contract. For twoor three-year projects, the balance will be paid over the following two or three financial years, as appropriate. Please note that: final allocations of funding made by MBIE will depend on the quality of proposals; and final amounts available for investment may be influenced by, and are subject to, government changes to investment levels or appropriations. Expected results / outcomes Substantive and enduring collaborative partnerships established between New Zealand and world-class research organisations in topic areas; Research collaboration established in areas of direct relevance to New Zealand s national interests; and Deliverables achieved in a timely manner as specified in project proposals and subsequent contracts. Funding proposal form for the Global Strategic Partnerships Initiative The information in this section will be useful to you when filling out the proposal form online. Please note that: you must adhere to word limits. CVs are in addition to these word limits; and proposals must be submitted on or before the due date and time. 18

19 a) Formatting requirements (MS Word documents) Font: Calibri 11 Margins: Top 2.54 Bottom 2.54 Left 3.17 Right 3.17 Gutter 0.00 Gutter Position left b) Funding Application Detail Manage this proposal Print and Submit Eligibility Questions Under the Manage this proposal section there is a list of actions available to you. The list of actions available depends on your role, and the current status of the project. Print preview this application Use this to action to print generate or view previous documents Because the complete document consists of multiple sections, it needs to be generated. The generation time is dependent on the amount of information in the proposal. Check my application before submission While completing a proposal you can validate your project to see if you have completed all necessary fields. Share this application with MBIE Checking this consent will enable MBIE to view your proposal prior to its submission. By checking this consent, you also acknowledge that the information in your proposal will be stored by MBIE, and may be used by MBIE. Please answer the following question. Was the proposal made by a New Zealand-based research organisation or New Zealand-based legal entity representing a New Zealand-based research organisation? Is the Science leader employed by a New Zealand research organisation? Does the New Zealand project team comprise researchers from more than one New Zealand research organisation or faculty? Summary Information Summary Information The following information is required: Total funding requested (GST Excl.) Duration of project: one, two, or three years Proposal title 19

20 Investment type: Catalyst: Strategic Partner country (or countries): please list a country or countries you intend to develop collaboration with through the initiative. For the list of countries, please refer to Part Four of this CfP. Project topic: please indicate the project s topic. For the list of priority topic areas, please refer to Part Four of this CfP. Key strategic initiative(s) aligned to this project: please name a key Government science and innovation initiative, programme, or bilateral science and technology cooperation agreement with which this project topic is aligned. Start and end dates Public Statement Objectives Word limit: 300 words The public statement should describe what the project is aiming to achieve through funded activities. As it will be made publicly available, you should write it for a non-scientific audience and it should not contain any commercially sensitive information. You may wish to include contact details for enquiries. For successful proposal, this section will be extracted directly into a contract. Word limit: 100 words This should be a concise, high level description of what you plan to achieve during the project. The focus should be on how the collaborative activities will support and enhance the research project or programme. Proposal Details Proposed Project Plan Word limit: please adhere to the word limit for each section. CVs are to be uploaded under the Project Team section. The criteria listed below are intended to deliver on the vision set out in the NSSI that we should strive for greater excellence and impact in publicly funded research. As much of our science as possible should be of the highest quality by international standards and that investment should have clear line of sight to eventual impact. The Project Plan must include information under the following headings: Enduring Collaboration: Will the proposed activity establish an enduring collaboration with world class international partners (30% of scoring in assessment of the bid); Novel Knowledge and Partnership: Will the activity lead to the creation of new knowledge and a novel research partnership? (40%); and Strategic Benefits: Will the activity lead to a collaboration of strategic benefit to New Zealand (30%)? Enduring Collaboration: Will the proposed activity establish an enduring collaboration with world class international partners? (30%) 20

21 Word limit: 300 words You should include information on: Track record and excellence of the project team (relative to opportunity); Demonstrable excellence of the international partner institution; Potential of the collaboration to create an enduring partnership; and Ability of the project team to deliver on proposed activities. Novel Knowledge and Partnership: Will the activity lead to the creation of new knowledge and a novel research partnership with international partners? (40%) Word limit: 400 words You should include information on: How the international collaborator will bring world-leading knowledge that complements the New Zealand project team s skills and knowledge; and How the proposed collaboration will support a new partnership or a new research focus for an established collaboration. Strategic Benefits: Will the activity lead to a collaboration of strategic benefit to New Zealand? (30%) Word limit: 300 words You should include information on the: Ability to leverage international investment, and facilities and infrastructure not available in New Zealand; Pathway to build a substantive collaboration beyond an initial engagement that is in line with New Zealand s science priorities; and Ability of the applicant to bring together relevant New Zealand research capabilities to form a strategic collaboration. Project Deliverables Impact Statement, and Collaborative Aims Word limit: 200 words Impact is the direct or indirect influence of the research, or its effect on a community, a group within the community, or society as a whole. The benefits may be economic, social, and/or environmental. This section states what the project will deliver and what impact it will have. (One impact statement is sufficient.) The focus should be on the nature of the collaborative activities the project will support and how this will benefit the research project or programme which the collaboration is intended to benefit. This statement must be time-bound and specific enough to be measured or tested by the end of the contract. For successful proposals, this 21

22 section will be extracted directly into a contract. For successful proposals, this section will be extracted directly into a contract. Ensure you add a research aim(s) and critical step(s) for each Impact statement. Research Aims Word limit: 200 words List the key collaborative activities that will be undertaken, what they are intended to achieve and who will be involved. These aims should be measurable and time-bound. For successful proposals, this section will be extracted directly into a contract. Budget Critical Steps Word limit: 200 words A critical step is an activity or event required to achieve a research aim or impact, where the failure to deliver it will significantly affect the achievement of the research aim or impact. For example, regulatory and/or ethical approvals should be listed as a critical step. Critical steps must be measurable, defined events, not levels of progress (such as incremental progress toward a longer-term goal). Critical steps must be defined for each year ending on 30 June or on the last date of a contract if the research is proposed to end on a date other than 30 June. For successful proposals, this section will be extracted directly into a contract. This should list the annual cost of your project made up of the following activities, also listed in the Part Five B. Allowable Expenses of this CfP: Expenses for research exchanges - Travel expenses Expenses for holding symposiums, seminars and meetings Expenses for research activities - Expenses for consumables and other research expenses - Expenses for personnel - Contributions to pro-rated salaries Overhead expenses Please download the template under this section and upload once filled in. Project Team Project Team The following roles are mandatory for this process: Contact person, Contract manager, Science leader, Key individual, Key researcher. 22

23 Post-doctoral researcher and Student are optional. Please list both New Zealand and international project team members. Their CVs must be also included in the application. Please download the template under this section and upload once filled in. Key Researchers and Individuals These are people who are critical to the success of the project; their departure would constitute a change event. These people are typically fewer in number, and at a level above others listed. Key researchers involved in the scientific research Key individuals not directly involved in the research but involved in implementation activities If students are involved in the research primarily to gain a qualification, they should be entered separately as a student. Each science leader, key researcher, key individual, post-doctoral researcher, and student s expected contribution to the project needs to be indicated as a Full-time Equivalent (FTE) proportion. Legal Conflict of Interest Identify any person who has an actual/potential/perceived conflict of interest with your project and why. Include MBIE staff, if relevant. Detail any proposed arrangements to manage any conflict of interest. 23

24 Part five: General Information A. Eligibility For both the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research and Global Strategic Partnerships: To be eligible for funding under Catalyst: Strategic, the following eligibility criteria must be met: The application must be made by a New Zealand-based research organisation 6 or a New Zealand-based legal entity representing a New Zealand-based research organisation; The science leader must be employed by a New Zealand research organisation. The application must be uploaded on time via the MBIE portal and meet the administrative requirements of MBIE. For New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research only: Only applicants that registered their intention to apply with MBIE through the already-closed Pre-application Registration of Interest process are eligible to submit proposals. The proposal must be based on the information provided in the Pre-Application Registration of Interest. It must list the same New Zealand and Chinese science leaders and use the same project title. Proposals that deviate from the original Pre-Application Registration of Interest information will be considered ineligible unless MBIE is satisfied that factors unforeseeable at the time of the Pre-Application Registration of Interest require that deviation. If changes are required by factors unforeseeable at the time of the Pre-Application Registration of Interest submission, please consult with MBIE prior to filing the proposal. MBIE and MOST reserve the right to determine whether proposals with altered information will be accepted or not. New Zealand project teams must not submit an application to Global Strategic Partnerships that has also been submitted to the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research closed call. If New Zealand project teams submit multiple applications based on the same project, all applications for that project will be deemed ineligible. Should the same New Zealand project team decide to submit an application to Global Strategic Partnerships as well as to the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research closed call they must demonstrate significant differences between those applications. For Global Strategic Partnerships only: The New Zealand project team must comprise participating researchers from more than one New Zealand research organisation or faculty. The application must clearly demonstrate that the chosen topic of collaboration reflects and supports relevant Government strategies and initiatives, to which science and innovation can make a major contribution. Such strategies include, but are not limited to, the NSSI, National Science Challenges, the work programme of Centres of Research Excellence, agreed priorities arising from bilateral Science and Technology Cooperation Agreements, and other strategies issued by local or national government entities. New Zealand applicants must not submit multiple applications to Global Strategic Partnerships based on the same project, where the only difference is in the duration of the proposed project. In addition, New Zealand project teams must not submit an application to 6 For the purpose of Eligibility Criteria, research organisation means an organisation that has internal capability to carry out substantive research, science, technology, or related activities. Public service departments as listed in Schedule 1 of the State Sector Act 1988 are not eligible to apply under the Catalyst Fund. 24

25 Global Strategic Partnerships that has also been submitted to the New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research closed call. Should the same New Zealand project team decide to submit more than one application they must demonstrate significant differences between those applications. If a New Zealand project team submits multiple applications based on the same project, all applications for that project will be deemed ineligible. 25

26 B. Allowable Expenses Expenses allowed under Catalyst: Strategic include the following expenses in connection with the project: Expenses for research exchanges - Travel expenses Travel is expected to be an integral part of the project. Flights, accommodation, visa, travel insurance, ground transport, and meal expenses are permitted and should be based on the rules of the institution with which the individual undertaking the activity is affiliated. Expenses for holding symposiums, seminars and meetings Expenses related to organising symposiums and workshops are permitted, (e.g. consumables, printing and binding expenses, transportation and telecommunications fees, meeting fees [excluding expenses for alcoholic beverages], honoraria). Expenses for research activities - Expenses for consumables and other research expenses - Expenses for personnel - Contributions to pro-rated salaries Overhead expenses Expenses for research activities should be limited to those required to support the approved project. Expenses not covered The following expenses will not be funded under Catalyst: Strategic: Acquisition of real estate or constructing buildings; Procurement of equipment; Any capital expenditure; Dealing with accidents or disasters during the collaborative research period including accident and illness insurance; and Expenses unrelated to the implementation of the funded collaborative research project. 26

27 C. Assessment Pursuant to section 5(2) of the Research, Science and Technology Act 2010, and as set out in the New Zealand Gazette Notice Number 3481, 6 June 2013, MBIE determines the decision-making process and makes funding decisions for the International Relationships Fund (otherwise referred to as the Catalyst Fund in this CfP). The process All proposals for Catalyst: Strategic that have been deemed eligible will be assessed against the assessment criteria by independent panels. Assessors will be respected experts and will represent appropriate disciplines and sectors. Each panel will be chaired by an independent, non-scoring chair. The assessment panel members will be announced through MBIE s Catalyst Fund webpage. The final decision on what proposals will be funded lies with MBIE. In making its decisions, MBIE will also take into account recommendations made by the assessment panel and MBIE s total investment across the Catalyst Fund to ensure it is a balanced portfolio across both research fields and country relationships supported. This means, for example: ensuring: MBIE is not over-investing in collaborations with one country or topic area to the neglect of others; that funding is balanced across long- and short-term projects; and that funding is not disproportionately invested in either research with short-term impact horizon versus research with a long-term impact horizon. Assessment criteria This fund will use competition to drive an increasing focus on excellent research with impact in areas of future value, growth and critical need for New Zealand. This reflects the vision set out in the NSSI that we should strive for greater excellence and impact in publicly funded research. As much of our science as possible should be of the highest quality by international standards and that investment should have clear line of sight to eventual impact. Assessors will judge proposals against three criteria: For New Zealand-China Strategic Research Alliance Joint Research only: Enduring Collaboration: Will the proposed activity establish an enduring collaboration with world class Chinese partners? (30% of scoring in assessment of the bid); Novel Knowledge and Partnership: Will the activity lead to the creation of new knowledge and a novel research partnership with China? (40%); and Strategic Benefits: Will the activity lead to a collaboration of strategic benefit to New Zealand? (30%) For Global Strategic Partnerships only: Enduring Collaboration: Will the proposed activity establish an enduring collaboration with world class international partners? (30% of scoring in assessment of the bid); Novel Knowledge and Partnership: Will the activity lead to the creation of new knowledge and a novel research partnership? (40%); and Strategic Benefits: Will the activity lead to a collaboration of strategic benefit to New Zealand (30%)? 27

28 When assessing proposals against the assessment criteria, MBIE may also take the following factors into account, including the extent to which the overall mix of investments: is likely to achieve the objectives of the Catalyst Fund (see Part One of this CfP); is likely to unlock the science and innovation potential of Māori knowledge, resources, and people for the benefit of New Zealand in accordance with the aim of the Vision Mātauranga policy; will ensure that funding is not concurrently provided in respect of any two or more programmes of research, science, technology or related activities that are the same or similar (whether those proposals are part of a new proposal, or are already being funded); and will minimise the risk that an applicant will not be able to undertake the relevant programme of research, science or technology, or related activities because the applicant, or any person involved in delivering the programme, would concurrently be committed to one or more other programmes (whether those proposals are part of a new proposal, or are already being funded). In making its investment decisions, MBIE may also: set pre-contract conditions which must be met before the investment is contracted; set special conditions in addition to the general terms and conditions set out in the International Relationships Fund Contract 7, which is available on MBIE s website; assess the appropriateness of the budget submitted with the proposal; vary the proposed term of a proposal, either by setting a different term to that proposed or by stage-gating the investment, i.e. by requiring certain conditions to be met at a point in the term, before the proposal is funded for the full term; and vary the funding allocated from that proposed and require critical performance indicators to be renegotiated to MBIE s satisfaction to reflect the changed funding. 7 Catalyst Fund is the new name for the International Relationships Fund appropriation within Vote Business, Science and Innovation. The appropriation will continue to be named the International Relationships Fund until the new name (Catalyst Fund) comes into effect which is expected to occur on 1 July

29 D. Further Terms & Conditions that Apply to this CfP General The terms and conditions are non-negotiable and do not require a response. Each applicant that submits a proposal will be deemed to have agreed to these CfP terms and conditions without reservation or variation. Investigations and reliance on information Applicants must examine this CfP and any documents referenced by this CfP and carry out all necessary investigations before submitting a proposal. If you are in doubt as to the meaning of any part of this CfP, you must set out in your proposal the interpretation and any assumptions you used. MBIE will not be liable (in contract or tort, including negligence, or otherwise) to anyone who relies on any information provided by or on behalf of MBIE in or in connection with this CfP. Reliance by applicants All information contained in this CfP or given to any applicant by MBIE is for the purpose of allowing that applicant to prepare its proposal. MBIE has endeavoured to ensure the integrity of such information. However, it has not been independently verified and may not be updated. Reliance by MBIE MBIE may rely upon all statements made by any applicant in a proposal and in correspondence or negotiations with MBIE or its representatives. If a proposal is approved by MBIE, any such statements may be included within an International Relationships Fund Contract. Each applicant must ensure all information provided to MBIE is complete and accurate. MBIE is under no obligation to check any proposal for errors, omissions, or inaccuracies. Each applicant will notify MBIE promptly upon becoming aware of any errors, omissions, or inaccuracies in its proposal or in any additional information provided by the applicant. Inducements You must not directly or indirectly provide any form of inducement or reward to any assessment panel member, officer, employee, advisor, or other representative of MBIE in connection with this CfP process. Business-as-usual communications (relating to funding under existing arrangements between MBIE and the applicant) will be maintained with the usual contacts. However, during the CfP process, applicants must not use business-as-usual contacts to solicit or discuss details of this CfP with any person at MBIE or its agents, including the assessment panel members. Ownership and intellectual property This CfP and any other documents supplied by MBIE to any applicant remain the property of MBIE. All copyright and other intellectual property rights in this CfP and any documentation and other information provided to any applicant or any other person by or on behalf of MBIE in connection with this CfP will remain with, and belong at all times to, MBIE or its licensors. MBIE may request the immediate return of all documents supplied and any copies made of them at any time. Applicants must comply with any such request in a timely manner. Each applicant may only distribute this CfP to the extent necessary for the purpose of preparing its proposal. 29

30 Any proposals or information supplied by you to MBIE will become the property of MBIE and may not be returned to you. Ownership of the intellectual property rights in a proposal does not pass to MBIE. However, in submitting a proposal, each applicant grants MBIE a nonexclusive, nontransferable, perpetual licence to use, disclose, and copy its proposal for any purpose related to this CfP process. By submitting a proposal, each applicant warrants that the provision of that information to MBIE, and the use of it by MBIE for the evaluation of its proposal and for any resulting negotiation, will not breach any third-party intellectual property rights. Confidentiality MBIE will treat your proposal as confidential, but you should be aware that MBIE is subject to the Official Information Act 1982 and may be required to release information supplied in your proposal in accordance with that Act, or as otherwise required by law. The proposal process You should be aware that the following rights are reserved. Your proposal may not be approved. All or any proposal(s) may be rejected. This CfP may be suspended or cancelled, or replaced with a new CfP, at any time. Any date in the CfP process may be amended or extended. This CfP or any associated documents may be amended. Any irregularities or informalities in the CfP process may be waived. Part of a proposal from any applicant(s) may be accepted. This CfP may be reissued. This CfP process may be suspended and/or cancelled (in whole or part) if a material or significant issue emerges during the process. Any information provided with a proposal may be retained or destroyed. Clarification may be sought from any applicant(s) in relation to any matter in connection with this CfP process. Any applicant(s) may be contacted, which may be to the exclusion of any other applicant(s), at any time before or after the approval (if any) of proposal(s). MBIE may reject or not consider further any documentation related to your proposal that may be received from you, unless it is specifically requested. This CfP process may be run in such manner as MBIE may see fit. No contractual obligations created No contract or other legal obligations arise between MBIE and any applicant out of, or in relation to, this CfP or CfP process, until a formal written contract (if any) is signed by both MBIE and the successful applicant. This CfP does not constitute an offer by MBIE to provide funding or enter into any agreement with any applicant. The call for and receipt of proposals does not imply any obligation on MBIE to contract for any funding requested in any proposal. MBIE will not be bound in any way until the International Relationship Fund Contract is executed. MBIE makes no representations nor gives any warranties in this CfP. Any verbal communications made during the CfP process will not be binding on MBIE and are subject to the terms of this CfP. 30

31 No process contract Despite any other provision in this CfP or any other document relating to this CfP, the issue of this CfP does not legally oblige or otherwise commit MBIE to proceed with or follow the process outlined in this CfP or to assess any particular applicant s proposal or enter into any negotiations or contractual arrangements with any applicant. For the avoidance of doubt, this CfP process does not give rise to a process contract. Exclusion of liability Neither MBIE nor any assessment panel members, officers, employees, advisers or other representatives will be liable (in contract or tort, including negligence, or otherwise) for any direct or indirect damage, expense, loss or cost (including legal costs) incurred or suffered by any applicant, its affiliates or other person in connection with this CfP process, including without limitation: a) the assessment process b) the preparation of any proposal c) any investigations of or by any applicant d) concluding any contract e) the acceptance or rejection of any proposal f) the suspension or cancellation of the process contemplated in this CfP, or g) any information given or not given to any applicant(s). By participating in this CfP process, each applicant waives any rights that it may have to make any claim against MBIE. To the extent that legal relations between MBIE and any applicant cannot be excluded as a matter of law, the liability of MBIE is limited to $1. Nothing contained or implied in or arising out of this CfP or any other communications to any applicant shall be construed as legal, financial, or other advice of any kind. Costs and expenses MBIE is not responsible for any costs or expenses incurred by you in the preparation of a proposal. Governing law and jurisdiction This CfP will be construed according to, and governed by, New Zealand law and you agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of New Zealand courts in any dispute concerning this CfP or any proposal. Public statements MBIE may make public the following information: the names of project team members the proposal title the research fund from which the proposal would be funded the public statement given by the project team when applying for funding the total amount of funding and the period of time for which funding has been approved. the sector to which the research relates. MBIE asks applicants not to release any media statement or other information relating to the process outlined in this CfP, or the submission or approval of any proposal to any public medium without providing sufficient advance notice to MBIE. 31

32 E. Glossary (Key definitions) International Relationships Fund Contract The contract, (which is available on MBIE s website) will be entered into with each successful applicant. It contains the standard terms and conditions on which MBIE has agreed to allocate funding. Those terms and conditions will apply each time MBIE approves a proposal for funding subject to any variations required by MBIE. Catalyst Fund is the new name for the International Relationships Fund appropriation within Vote Business, Science and Innovation. The appropriation will continue to be named the International Relationships Fund until the new name (Catalyst Fund) comes into effect which is expected to occur on 1 July Research organisation For the purposes of this document, a research organisation is defined as an organisation that has the internal capability to carry out RS&T or related activities. Portal The MBIE Portal is the online interface through which applicants submit their proposals and MBIE manages contracts. Project plan The project plan sets out how the research will be organised, managed and resourced. The project plan will describe: the people who will be involved in the project including their level of time commitment, roles and skills the resources that will be used e.g. equipment, administrative support, buildings the key elements and stages in the proposed work, and their sequencing and timing, and contingency and risk mitigation plans both for the research itself and project resourcing and management. Vision Mātauranga Vision Mātauranga aims to unlock the science and innovation potential of Māori knowledge, people and resources for the benefit of New Zealand. It seeks to stimulate and support research which will respond to distinctive Maori needs and enable distinctive Maori contributions to RS&T. For this reason the Vision Mātauranga policy is embedded across all science investments. 32

33 Appendix One: Guidelines for Applicants The proposal process consists of four stages: 1. Registering in the MBIE Portal 2. Preparing your proposal information 3. Entering your proposal information in the MBIE Portal 4. Submitting your proposal via the MBIE Portal Registering in the MBIE Portal The MBIE Portal is a secure, online space where you apply for funding. Successful funding applicants also manage their contracts and reporting to us through the MBIE Portal. If you have not applied for MBIE funding through the MBIE Portal before, you need to register and receive a username and password. These can then be used for all proposals you make through the Portal. To register please contact your research office in the first instance or to register please complete the online form found here at and to investment [email protected] You will receive a username and password, and instructions for registration by return . If you have technical problems or questions about the Portal, please or phone our support staff who are available Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Phone: investment [email protected] Preparing your proposal The proposal process requires that you provide information about: organisation details funding details project details This information is provided to MBIE through: data entry boxes in the MBIE Portal documents you may upload into the MBIE Portal (Excel, Word, or PDF) This information is reviewed as part of the assessment process. Please ensure that it is accurate and complete. It will also form the basis of successful applicants contracts. We recommend you familiarise yourself with the Portal, and the information you need to provide, before starting your proposal: Log in to the MBIE Portal and browse the sections and questions. These can also be read in the tables in Funding Application Detail in Parts Three and Four of this CfP. Note the sections where uploaded documents are asked for, and ensure you have these available. Note where you are required to use a template, and download the relevant templates from the Portal. 33

34 Entering your proposal in the MBIE Portal Once you have familiarised yourself with the information you need to provide, log into the MBIE Portal to complete and submit your proposal. Icons and help text You are easily able to see your progress. indicates you have not visited or started the section indicates you the section has been visited or you have started work on this section and saves have been successful indicates the section has failed validation indicates the section has passed validation The icon is a link to help text. A red asterisk * indicates a compulsory section that must be completed before you save that section. You will receive an error message if you do not do so. A black asterisk * indicates a compulsory section that must be completed before you submit your proposal. Unlike sections marked with a red asterisk, you can leave these sections without entering any data, but will not be able to submit your proposal. The Portal also features help text guidelines throughout the proposal process. Text boxes You will be required to enter information into a text box in some sections. Where there are text boxes, there will be help text advising you what the word limit is. To help you there is a word count at the bottom right hand corner of the test box. Uploading documents in the MBIE Portal All forms of documents (e.g. Excel, Word and PDF) can be uploaded to the Portal. Only unsecured PDFs should be uploaded. We will not be able to access or print your proposal if you load a secured PDF. Submitting your proposal via the MBIE Portal When you have completed all sections thoroughly you can print and submit your proposal in the Manage this proposal section. Other options for actions in the Print and submit proposal section depends on your role and on the status of your proposal. The actions are: Print/preview this proposal Submit to MBIE: submits the completed proposal Manage users for this proposal: Super users and assigned users for a proposal can manage access to a proposal by other users in your organisation. Super users have full access to any proposal from their organisation. Other users can be assigned different levels of access such as view or edit. Users who create a new proposal will automatically be assigned edit access. 34

35 You cannot change the information in your proposal once it has been submitted. If you need to make changes contact MBIE s support staff that are available Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Getting help If you have technical problems or questions regarding the Portal please or phone our support staff that are available from Monday to Friday, from 8.30am to 4.30pm. Phone: investment [email protected] The decision and notification process MBIE may decide to either: approve your proposal decline your proposal approve your proposal with conditions that may need to be met before or during the contract approve your proposal, but for an adjusted amount of funding. When a decision about your proposal has been made, we will advise the contact person listed in your proposal by . MBIE may also contact this person to discuss the decision. Following notification MBIE will publish its decisions and may announce these with a press release. The details MBIE or the Minister of Science and Innovation may make public are: the name of your company the short title of your project the amount of funding awarded the duration of your project. The contracting process if MBIE decides to fund your proposal If there are any pre-contract conditions, these must be completed to the satisfaction of MBIE before MBIE will prepare and send to you a contract. If you are unable to meet any pre-contract condition by the due date you need to inform us at least two weeks before that due date. We will discuss and may renegotiate the conditions and/or extend the due date. Subject to completion of any pre-contract conditions, contracts will be sent to your organisation for signing within two weeks of notification. You will be required to return the signed contract within two weeks. If you are unable to sign and return the contract within the two week timeframe you need to inform us as soon as possible. Contracting The terms and conditions of the International Relationships Fund Contract 7 will apply to the provision of funding agreed between MBIE and any successful applicants. By submitting a proposal, you are agreeing to accede to the terms and conditions of the International Relationships Fund Contract, which is available on MBIE s website. 35