New Ideas in Priority Research Area II
Call for proposals extended until 28 May 2021.
Call for competition
- Name of the competition: New Ideas in Priority Research Area II
- Objective: support research projects which are thematically related to POB (Priority Research Area) II
- Thematic area of the projects: https://inicjatywadoskonalosci.uw.edu.pl/en/actions/areas/pob2/
- Applicant: a researcher or a researcher/teacher counted among the N-classified staff, with at least a doctoral degree, or a team of employees represented by a project manager, who applies for funding on behalf of the team. The chosen project manager must have at least a doctoral degree and be counted among N-classified staff at UW. The research team includes research or research/teaching staff from the University of Warsaw, who are N-classified, and may include students or doctoral students at the University of Warsaw who are carrying out project-related tasks.
- Date of competition announcement: 20 April 2021.
- Start date for the call for proposals: 21 April 2021.
- Closing date for the call for proposals:
21 May 2021.28 May 2021. - The competition results will be announced by:
14 June 202128 June 2021 (this deadline may be extended in the case of a large number of applications) - Competition budget: 700 000 PLN
- Project budget: 30 000 – 150 000 PLN
- Project duration: until 28 February 2023.
- How to apply: only electronically to the following address noweidee.pob2@uw.edu.pl
Competition rulesFAQSelection committeeResults
Rules for the competition “New Ideas” in POB II implemented within the “Excellence Initiative – Research University” Programme
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Is it possible to plan remuneration for interviewers and study participants in the competition? If so, in which cost estimate category should they be included?
The principles of remunerating people participating in research as part of research projects are regulated by the Bursar’s Notice No. 6/2020 from October 8, 2020 (along with amendments introduced in Notice No. 1/2021) on the implementation of the remuneration settlement procedure, for people participating in studies as part of research projects.
What does the term “small equipment” mean?
“Small equipment” should be understood as small laboratory equipment and other devices, if they are not included in tangible assets, in accordance with accounting rules (policy) (Ordinance No. 94 of the Rector of the University of Warsaw from the 9th of September, 2019, on the Principles for the recognition of assets as fixed assets, intangible assets and legal assets, and the methods of their amortisation and inventory.).
In case of doubts as to how a given purchase will be qualified, please consult the persons responsible for the records of fixed assets in the unit where the project is to be implemented.
Are the salaries in the table with the remuneration amounts given as gross rates or gross/gross rates?
They are gross rates.
The programme’s website lists gross salary rates, but as I understand it, we should include gross rates in the project cost estimate. How should gross/gross rates be counted?
Yes, the cost estimate must include gross amounts. They should be calculated in accordance with the calculator chart available on the website of the Bursar’s Office at UW.
If the application is submitted jointly by a team from several organisational units at UW, will it be possible to divide the grant between those departments (e.g., on the basis of a consortium agreement)?
Yes. There is no impediment to allocating the funds to cover the costs of a project which is being carried out by researchers from different organizational units, in accordance with the cost estimate.
Can the remuneration of the members of the research team also take place on the basis of common-law contracts, or are they then treated as remuneration costs?
Members of the research team may only receive remuneration based on an employment contract, or supplementary remuneration, in the case of people already employed at the University of Warsaw.
Is it possible to plan remuneration in the form of common-law contracts, e.g., for researchers who are not full-time employees at the University of Warsaw? What category does this cost then fall into?
Common-law contracts may be financed under the “Other costs” (External services) category. Such costs are then treated as the purchase of services or goods from external entities and should be carried out in accordance with the public procurement rules of the organisational unit in which the project is implemented.
Is it possible to reimburse part of the remuneration of an employee employed in the unit as part of the competition, i.e., not to pay supplementary remuneration, but only to reduce the burden on the organisational unit?
It is not possible to refund the salary, but it is possible to delegate an employee to implement the project.
Will renting an office for the duration of the project (at a UW-owned facility) be considered an eligible cost?
The costs of internal services are eligible in the competition, but they are allowed only when they relate to settlements between UW units as a reimbursement of actual incurred costs. In case of purchasing a comprehensive service from another UW unit, it is necessary to provide a calculation of the expenditures which comprise the cost of such a service. The cost eligibility assessment should be made on the basis of Annex 3 to the competition rules, and in particular fulfill its premise: the cost is admissible, provided that “it is necessary and was incurred in relation to the implementation of the project”.
Can doctoral candidates who are members of research teams receive remuneration for this?
Doctoral candidates, who are not employees of the University of Warsaw, cannot receive supplementary remuneration, but may be employed full-time or part-time and receive remuneration. Doctoral candidates may participate in the work of research teams as part of the process of their education.
What is the minimum in full-time employment?
There is no such restriction. Part-time employment is possible, in which case the maximum rate of remuneration is proportional to a reduced full-time job. Maximum values are indicated in the appendix with the rates of remuneration for research team members.
What principles should be followed when estimating the actual remuneration for the project?
When estimating salaries, the principle of rationality and efficiency in expenses should be followed, first of all. The competition rules define only the maximum amounts of remuneration.
I plan to submit an application for a project that will require a one-year stay in a foreign centre. In this situation, will it be correct to plan allowances for the entire year? Is it also possible to plan expenses for traveling home (for example, during the holiday season)?
In accordance with Annex 3 to the rules of the competition, the costs of business trips, including those abroad, are acceptable costs. When planning the costs of such trips, one should follow the principle of necessity, rationality, and effectiveness of expenses.
What rate should be applied to a person who provides administrative support in the project?
Information on the rates applicable in the competition can be found in Annex 4 to the rules of the competition.
Do the costs of publishing research results include the costs of translation, proofreading, and open access?
The costs of publishing research results include all costs related to the publication of research, which are necessary for the achievement of project objectives.
Can the project manager’s publication attached to the application be a monograph sent as a .PDF extension?
Yes, the preferred format for submissions of publications is .PDF.
Can the confirmation of acceptance of a work for publication, which should be added to the list of publications, be attached in the form of an e-mail with relevant information from the university e-mail address of the editor-in-chief?
Yes, this is the correct form of confirmation of acceptance of the publication for printing.
Will submitting articles in scientific journals or monographs in a publishing house by the end of the project be considered an effective settlement of the project?
Yes, if the publication of an article or a monograph has been indicated as the planned outcome of the project implementation, in justified cases (e.g., the length of the publishing cycle), submission for publication may be considered as effective implementation of the project objectives.
What should be included in point 5 in the description of the project in the application form (“Description of other activities necessary to achieve the project objectives”)?
This point should describe all activities which are to be implemented during the project that were not included in point 1-4 of the description (e.g., those that are not related to the research methodology).
All members of the research team should be included in the application form. How should future members of the research team be enrolled, who will be recruited during the implementation period of the project?
The application form does not require a description of all future members of the research team. The selection committee will evaluate the application on the basis of the current composition of the team, in particular the competencies of the project manager. The expected employment of team members during the project should be indicated in the description of planned activities. If the leader plans to recruit team members in the future, it will be enough to describe the desired competencies / qualifications of team members, while also accounting for the costs of remuneration of future team members in the cost estimate for the project.
If the project implementation involves publication in an international scientific journal, should the application already indicate the specific journal to which the text will be submitted?
It is not necessary to indicate the specific journals in which the publication of articles is planned. However, a positive assessment of the application by the selection committee also depends on whether it considers the planned outcomes of the project (e.g., the publication of scientific articles in highly-scored journals) to be feasible. From this perspective, identifying specific journals in which the article(s) will be published may have a positive impact on the assessment of the application (as only in this case will it be possible to assess whether the application relates to some of the CV indicators – namely, those related to scientific publications).
Should foreign researchers and experts who will cooperate in the implementation of the project complete the form 1a “Research team member”, attached to the application?
In accordance with Paragraph 6 of the competition rules, only employees of the University of Warsaw can be members of the research team, so only information about people working at the University of Warsaw should be entered there.
Can a doctoral candidate at UW who is also a full-time employee of another university be a member of the research team?
Yes. There are no obstacles to including people in the research team who are doctoral candidates from the University of Warsaw and also full-time employees of other universities.
Can a doctoral candidate submit a project?
No, the head of the research team can only be a person who holds at least a doctoral degree.
Can foreigners submit applications? And in connection to that, are the application forms and other documents available in English?
Yes, foreigners may submit projects, if they meet the conditions listed in Paragraph 6. Documentation for the competition in English is available on the website inicjatywadoskonalosci.uw.edu.pl/en/actions/ni/pob2/
What is the definition of a postdoc?
A postdoc is any researcher with a PhD degree.
What form of consent must be given by the head of the organisational unit referred to in Paragraph 11, point 3 of the Rules?
The consent of the head of the organizational unit may be expressed a) with a traditional signature with a seal – in which case the application should be sent in the form of a scan; b) a qualified electronic signature; c) in the content of an e-mail from the head of this unit – in which case a copy of this e-mail (a printout to PDF file) should be attached to the application, clearly indicating which application the consent was granted to.
Can the application be signed using both traditional and electronic signatures?
Yes, some signatures on the application may be given in a traditional form, and some as electronic signatures. Please remember that the document should first obtain traditional signatures, and then electronic signatures. This will allow the electronic signatures to be verified, if necessary.
Is it possible to introduce changes to the cost estimate during the project implementation, which are related to the need to modify the project (e.g., due to the situation surrounding the pandemic)?
In accordance with Paragraph 9 (3) of the competition rules: All transfers of funds between cost estimate categories must be approved by the Programme Manager. Changes among cost types within a cost category do not require the consent of the Programme Manager. Changes should only be made in justified and necessary cases, and must not have a negative impact on the achievement of the project objectives.
Is it possible to apply for co-funding for the activities of scientific journals under the competition?
Only research projects can be co-financed in the competition.
Can research team members be from outside the University of Warsaw?
In accordance with Paragraph 6 of the rules of the competition, members of research teams cannot be persons who are not affiliated with the University of Warsaw.
Can salary costs constitute 100% of the project costs?
Yes, the competition does not impose any restrictions in this regard.
Can a researcher who is on a sabbatical leave apply to the competition?
A sabbatical leave is not an obstacle when applying to a competition, if the specific regulations of a given leave do not preclude doing so.
Selection committee
- prof. dr hab. Katarzyna Chałasińska-Macukow, Faculty of Physics – chairperson
- Rafał Duczmal, Research Services Office
- prof. dr hab. Bohdan Grządkowski, Faculty of Physics
- dr hab. Tomasz Kazimierczuk, Faculty of Physics
- dr hab. Krzysztof Kilian, Centre of New Technologies
- prof. dr hab. Bogdan Lesyng, Faculty of Physics
- dr hab. Wiktor Lewandowski, Faculty of Chemistry
- prof. dr hab. Piotr Sułkowski, Faculty of Physics
- dr hab. Michał Tomza, Faculty of Physics
- Title of the project: Atomowocienkie, wielkopowierzchniowe warstwy dichalkogenków metali przejściowych o rekordowych parametrach optycznych
Applicant: dr hab. Wojciech Pacuski, Faculty of Physics
Allocated funds: 150 000,00 PLN - Title of the project: Sekrety klasycznych i kwantowych czarnych dziur w obecności dodatniej stałej kosmologicznej
Applicant: prof. dr hab. Jerzy Lewandowski, Faculty of Physics
Allocated funds: 120 480,00 PLN - Title of the project: Nowe idee otrzymywania sfunkcjonalizowanych struktur nanometrycznych na powierzchniach grafenu oraz przejść fazowych w wybranych dichalkogenków metali przejściowych przy użyciu nanolitografii termochemicznej.
Applicant: dr hab. Robert Szoszkiewicz, prof. ucz., Faculty of Chemistry
Allocated funds: 150 000,00 PLN - Title of the project: Nadprzewodnictwo w temperaturze pokojowej bez użycia ciśnienia zewnętrznego
Applicant: prof. dr hab. Wojciech Grochala, Centre of New Technologies
Allocated funds: 150 000,00 PLN - Title of the project: Symetria O(d,d) w teorii strun i kosmologii
Applicant: prof. dr hab. Krzysztof Meissner, Faculty of Physics
Allocated funds: 150 000,00 PLN - Title of the project: Synchronizacja urządzeń QKD za pomocą sygnału nośnej optycznej
Applicant: dr Michał Karpiński, Faculty of Physics
Allocated funds: 92 000,00 PLN - Title of the project: Nowa metoda modelowania białek wykorzystująca informację ewolucyjną
Applicant: dr hab. Dominik Gront, prof. ucz., Faculty of Chemistry
Allocated funds: 120 000,00 PLN - Title of the project: Oddziaływania światła i plazmy w światłowodach typu hollow core
Applicant: dr hab. Mariusz Klimczak, Faculty of Physics
Allocated funds: 70 000,00 PLN
Following the opinion of the POB II competition committee,
The Programme Manager agreed to increase the competition budget to PLN 1,002,480.00