Call for South Africa/Egypt Joint Science and Technology Research Proposals, 2015

Applications are invited for research proposals available for Egyptian and South African researchers. An application must designate two principal investigators, one in South Africa and the other in Egypt, both in possession of a PhD degree. In South Africa successful projects will be funded up to a maximum amount of R300 000 over two years (R150 000 per project per year). In Egypt successful projects will be funded up to a maximum amount of 200 000 EGP (100 000 EGP per year).
Study Subject(s): For the purpose of this call, research projects falling within the following thematic areas will be considered: Nanotechnology, Remote sensing and space science, ICT, Biotechnology (food production, agriculture and health), Laser technology and Energy.
Course Level: This call is open for undertaking research program.
Scholarship Provider: The Republic of South Africa and the Arab Republic of Egypt signed an Agreement for cooperation in science and technology on 26 August 1997.
Scholarship can be taken at: South Africa (for Egyptian) and Egypt (for South African)
Eligibility:
-An application must designate two principal investigators, one in South Africa and the other in Egypt, both in possession of a PhD degree, who will bear the main responsibility for the project, including its technical and administrative coordination as well as scientific and financial reporting. The onus is on the applicant to find their own research partner.
-South Africa: This call is open to all employed researchers residing in South Africa and affiliated with a recognised higher education or research institution such as a university, university of technology or science council.
-Egypt: The Principal Investigator (PI) and other investigators in Egypt should be scientists/ faculty members working in regular capacity in recognized public universities, academic institutes and National Research and Development Centres/Laboratories/ Institutes.
For both countries commercial institutions and private education and/or research institutions are not eligible
to apply under this programme.
Scholarship Open for International Students: Applicants of Egypt and South Africa are eligible.
Scholarship Description: The Republic of South Africa and the Arab Republic of Egypt signed an Agreement for cooperation in science and technology on 26 August 1997. The two countries agreed to jointly support researchers from public universities and public research institutes on an equal and mutually beneficial basis in an effort to enhance scientific and technological cooperation between the two countries.
Number of award(s): Not Known
Duration of award(s): Successful projects will be funded for a period of two years.
What does it cover? In South Africa successful projects will be funded up to a maximum amount of R300 000 over two years (R150 000 per project per year). In Egypt successful projects will be funded up to a maximum amount of 200 000 EGP (100 000 EGP per year). Researchers should therefore note that two separate budgets would be required from each side. During the present call, funding will only be made available for the following activities:
- Travel including entry visas
- Accommodation
- Subsistence
- Joint conferences/workshops (costs to be covered by the country hosting the event)
- Publication costs 2
- A maximum of 15% of the total budget can be used for the purchase of small equipment and consumables.
Selection Criteria: Following the closing date indicated below applications will be assessed separately by the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Ministry of Scientific Research (MSR) based on the following criteria:
-Track record of the applicant
-Quality of the proposal / scientific merit
-Potential for promoting equity and redress / capacity building
-Value addition by the collaboration / national priority
-Possible impact of the research / national priority
(Note that proposals demonstrating strong elements of capacity building, particularly among historically disadvantaged institutions, will be favourably regarded by the South African side). Following these assessments, projects will be shortlisted for funding through mutual consultations between NRF and MSR based on the results of the evaluations done in both countries.
Notification: Not Known
How to Apply:
-In South Africa: Applicant can apply online.
-In Egypt: The original and two copies of the project proposal plus one CD should include Curriculum Vitaes of the Principal Investigators and must be received by 29 August 2014 by hand or post as well as via e-mail. Signatures may either be produced electronically or scanned. The Egyptian application, together with the scanned signature page must be emailed directly to sci_info-at-msr.sci.eg.
Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is 29^th August 2014 for Egyptian students. In South Africa Designated Authorities have until 3 September 2014 to validate applications. Institutions must set their own internal closing dates for DAs to validate applications by this date.
Further Official Scholarship Information and Application