Instructions for applications

General Criteria - Specific Criteria - Evaluation - How to Submit

General Criteria

SNS supports research related to forestry, forests and other wooded areas (landscapes, parks, urban trees and marginal land), the utilisation of wood and other forest products, as well as the non-commercial values of the forests.

Support will be given to research collaboration involving at least three Nordic countries. Countries in the so-called Adjacent Areas (mainly Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and northwestern Russia) may also be included.

Grants will be allocated in order to create "Nordic synergy". To gain support from SNS, the research collaboration should lead to an added value, compared to unilateral research. (For example: comparative studies under differing growth conditions, shared use of field experiments, field stations or specially equipped laboratories.)

SNS has identified targeted areas which will be prioritised. The applications for 2011 could also be connected to Nordic globalisation activities like the Topresearchprogramme and Climateprogramme: "Klimatprogram för primärnäringar". The Selfossdeklaration is also showing important targets for SNS funds. Shortly you could say that applications related to Forests role in adaption and mitigation are welcome.   

 The Nordic Council of Ministers and SNS aim to promote equality between men and women in the field of forestry and agriculture, including representation, grants etc. See nordic guidance for projects (ANP 2005: 718).

You will find a list of ongoing projects here.

SNS will give financial support to the following types of research collaboration:

The Nordic Council of Ministers yearly make a budget for SNS and the applications. SNS funds have beeb glue or sedd money: For research projcets about 10 000 - 15 00 euros per country and year,total of 35 000 -55 000 euros per year, for one year networks 10 000 - 20 000 euros and for EU preparatory studies about 8 000 euros.  New CARs can be applied for durig spring 2011.

Specific Criteria

I RESEARCH PROJECTS

Support may be granted to research collaboration with a duration of no more than three years. Support from SNS are normally contingent upon an co-ordination of ongoing national research. According to SNS' main principles, all SNS projects should include a national co-financing of at least 67 %. Projects receiving support are obliged to furnish SNS with a report each year. Participants from the Adjacent Areas will be asked for a national support in the form of financing or other relevant support. Support from SNS generally is in the region of (up to) 15 000 euros a year for each participating country. Total budget för SNS projects is about 200 000 euro.

Applications should include:
i) Application form "Project"     New Form is to come later!
ii) A description of the research project (about 5 pages) including:

- a clearly expressed goal
- a description of background with references to relevant literature
- a clear description of methodology and working methods
- a definite and realistic work and time schedule
- a description of how the different sections of the project will be co-ordinated
- a plan for communicating and publishing results for the benefit of the scientific community, forestry and other parties
 - a plan for eguality 

iii) a curriculum vitae for the main responsible scientist in each country (a short description of research experience and a summary of major publications the last 5 years - totalling no more than 2 pages for each person)

• Closing date for applications: 1 of June

II PREPARATORY STUDIES FOR LARGER PROJECTS (PILOT PROJECTS)

Support may be granted to one-year preparatory studies aiming to try out a new methodology or to carry out a pilot study for a larger research collaboration. The amount of support from SNS will depend on the characteristics and extent of the preparatory studies.

Applications should include:
i) Application form "Project"  Do not use! New form for new applications under work...
ii) A brief description of the research project (2-3 pages) including:
- objective
- a short description of background with references to relevant literature
- a plain description of methodology and working methods

iii) a curriculum vitae for the main responsible scientist in each country (a short description of research experience and a summary of major publications the last 5 years - totalling no more than 2 pages for each person)

• Closing date for applications: 1 of June

III NETWORKING ACTIVITIES 

Support may be granted to Nordic conferences, workshops and other kinds of research meetings, which are held in order to stimulate further collaboration and exchange of knowledge. All activities should have a clearly expressed goal, e. g. drafting of project proposals, preparation for joint research training courses or communication of research results, etc. (Please note that this criterion applies also to the permanent networking groups affiliated to the SNS.)

Support is given primarily to pay for:
- travel expenses for Ph D students 
- travel expenses for invited speakers
- transportation costs for excursions, etc.

Please note that salaries and costs for the preparation of meetings will not fully be covered by SNS grants.The size of the grants will vary depending on the type of activity, number of participants etc, but normally the SNS grant may cover up to 50 % at the total cost. Normal funding för network has been about 10 000 - 25 000 per network. Total budget will be some 200 000 euro.

Applications should include:
i) Application form "Network"  A longer description and other relevant information may be enclosed, if necessary.  New application form for 2010 under work!

• Closing date for applications: 1 of  June

IV PREPARATION OF APPLICATIONS TO THE EU
In order to stimulate Nordic participation in EU-supported research projects, the SNS may grant support for the preparation of an application to the EU 7th Framework programme. The level of such grants is normally up to 8 000 €.

Applications should include:
- relevant information about the applicant(s)
- a short description of the aims of the intended project
- details about which countries will participate
- information on which specific programme/Key action is targeted, as well as the date of call (please see: www.cordis.lu.

• Closing date for applications: open

V Virtual Centres of Advanced Research (CAR)

Forest Research Institutes in the Nordic countries are having

CARs within the following topics:

• Forest Genetics and Tree Breeding

• Operation Systems

• Forest Water & Biodiversity

• Urban Forestry

• Forest Pathology

SNS has given grants to support and operation of CARs for 2005-2009 (one is ending in 2010) . SNS had earmarked about 250 000 Euros for these 5 CARs. Establishment of new CARs is now possible for the period 2011-  .  

Special requirements/conditions:
SNS can grant financial support to a CAR for up to a 5 year-period. Each CAR must have at least 67 % national co-financing. For participants from The Baltic countries and the Adjacent Area a certain national financing or other relevant support is required. It is expected that a CAR will operate a home-page.

The CAR concept
A CAR could be defined as a joint Nordic forest research program within a specified scope (field/area). It has a fixed duration (4-5 yr.) after which it will be evaluated. If the CAR-project proves successful, SNS may approve and fund a continuation for another program period. More specific a CAR is:

• a network, approved by SNS, with a

• specified core in terms of scientific subject matter and leadership, in which

• research is carried out in a decentralised manner

• as agreed on in regular planning processes by the CAR partners themselves

• and as funded by the participants

• each CAR must address the question of integrating existing networks of SNS in the area

• a CAR should be open to other Nordic research in the area

• a CAR should be open to Baltic/Adjacent Area cooperation

Aim
The aim of a CAR is to obtain synergies and avoid overlapping R&D work while keeping the extra administrative work at a minimum, i.e. to use the total Nordic R&D resources within the subject area in the most efficient /optimal way  thus increasing the return on the R&D funds invested.

Objective
The objective of a CAR is a close co-ordination of the strategic (4-5 yr. period) and operative (annual) working plans resulting in co-operation in or distribution of tasks/activities which are clearly specified regarding objectives, target groups, personnel input, responsibilities, and financial terms.

Evaluation

PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS
With the assistance of experts in the fields concerned, the scientific quality of the applications will be evaluated, as well as the applicants' ability to carry out the proposed activities.

The Nordic benefits (synergy value) will be assessed, as well as the subject's relevance and interest to forestry and society in general.

Decisions on financing will be taken at the meeting of the SNS Executive Committee yearly in November-december.

The SNS secretariat wishes to remind our readers about  applications for grants from NordForsk and Nova and NICe