INTER Mobility International Mobility Scheme for Established Researchers 2017, Luxembourg

General Principles

1.1. Objective of the INTER Mobility programme

The aim of the INTER Mobility Programme is to promote the scientific exchange between research groups of the Luxembourg public research institutions and outstanding research groups abroad in order to foster innovative, internationally competitive research and support the exchange of key knowledge and technological know-how. Thus the activities should have a strong impact on the research programme of the Luxembourg research group as well as on the career development of the Luxembourg researcher. The INTER Mobility Programme allows for research stays in both directions (researchers working in Luxembourg to go abroad or for researchers from elsewhere to come to Luxembourg).1

More specifically, the FNR intends to support:

• Post-Docs2 and senior researchers working in Luxembourg to visit the leading,

  research institutions in the field (Mobility – OUT)

  and/or

• The visit of outstanding established senior researchers in Luxembourg public research institutions (Mobility – IN).

  Within the INTER Mobility Scheme, the FNR does not intend to support research stays of early stage researchers (e.g. PhD candidates).

  This funding instrument also aims to bridge the gap between the research communities in the public and the private sector. Therefore, secondments to private companies outside of Luxembourg are highly welcome.

1.2. Beneficiaries

Are eligible for INTER Mobility funding:

Public institutions performing research in Luxembourg

Non-profit associations and foundations performing research in Luxembourg

that have obtained a special authorization from the Ministry for Higher Education and Research3.

1.3. Requirements

 The exchange must take place between an eligible Luxembourg public institution and a foreign public or private institution.

• If duly justified, the Luxembourg-based researcher may also visit several organisations abroad.
• Ifdulyjustified,theproposalmayalsocovertheexpensesfortworesearchers (e.g. one from the Luxembourg based group to the group abroad and one from the group abroad to the Luxembourg group).
• The researcher(s) must
  be employed as a researcher by his/her home institution before, during, and
• after the visit (applies to both incoming and outgoing researchers);
• not have benefitted from support by this funding instrument within the last three years (IN or OUT).4
•  The seconded fellow and the host institution will have to establish a contractual agreement guaranteeing that all necessary arrangements have been met in order to accomplish the research stay successfully.

There are no thematic or geographical limitations.

The research stay has to be carried out in a different country from where the fellow has been principally (> 12 months) working in the 24 months preceding the call deadline.

1.4. Duration

Duration of the research stay and of FNR funding:

•   The minimal duration of an FNR-funded research stay is 6 weeks.
•   The total cumulated duration of the research stay is limited to 1 year.
•   If justified, the research stay may be split in several intervals of at least 6 weeks each.
•   The time between the start of the first stay and the end of the last stay is limited to 3 years.

1.5. Eligible Costs

FNR funding may cover full costs for the Luxembourg public research organisation (according to internal rules of this organisation), e.g.

Salary costs of the researcher
For a Luxembourg researcher going abroad, the FNR will cover the full salary of the researcher for the whole duration of the research stay.

In the case of a foreign researcher coming to Luxembourg, the FNR funding should guarantee that the researcher will benefit from a funding which is comparable to a standard salary of a researcher (with the same track record) of the Luxembourg host institution. If the researcher still benefits from a salary of his/her home institution, the FNR funding will be reduced accordingly.

  Travel costs between home country and host institution for researcher and family. In this context, ‘family’ is defined as persons linked to the researcher by (i) marriage, or (ii) a relationship with equivalent status to a marriage recognised by the national legislation of the country of the host organisation or of the nationality of the fellow; or (iii) dependent children who are currently being maintained by the fellow.

Mobility allowance for researcher and accompanying partner and family, if applicable. In addition to his/her salary, a mobility allowance will be paid to the researcher, taking due account of his/her family situation. This allowance is a flat-rate contribution to cover the personal household, relocation and travel expenses. There are two reference amounts depending on the family situation of the researcher at the time of the recruitment of the researcher:

• €1500/month:Researcherwithfamilycharges
• €1000/month:Researcherwithoutfamilycharges

If the mobility allowance is largely insufficient to cover the living costs, a Luxembourg researcher going abroad may request additional funding. Based on this justification, FNR will decide whether to provide funding beyond the lump sums mentioned above.

 Other costs (upon justification and/or in exceptional circumstances), e.g. VISA, additional health insurance, child care.

Selection Procedure

2.1. Review Process

The proposals will undergo an administrative check by the FNR. A pre-screening of the proposals will be carried out by the FNR and the selected proposals will be evaluated through a state-of-the-art peer-review process.

The peer-review selection decision will rely on:
 Two written evaluations by independent experts;  A review synthesis by FNR.

Based on the review syntheses, the FNR will select the proposals to be funded.

2.2. Selection Criteria

The FNR funding decision is based on the following selection criteria:

• Potential to foster innovative, internationally competitive research and exchange of key knowledge and technological know-how

• Added value to the research programme of the Luxembourg research group

• International reputation in the relevant domain of competence and research track record of the

  seconded researcher

• International reputation and research track record of the host research group

• International reputation and research track record of the home research group

• Expected outcomes