ACP-Science and Technology Programme
Extended Closing Date: 13 March 2009, 16:00 CET
The European Commission is financing a €33 million "ACP-Information and Communication Technologies [@CP-ST] Programme" from its 9th European Development Fund. The Contracting Authority is the ACP Secretariat.
Objectives
The objective of the ACP S&T Programme is to support ACP countries in formulating and implementing science and technology policies that can lead to sustainable development and to poverty reduction through economic growth and progressive integration in the world economy.
Purpose
It aims to strengthen science and technology capacity of ACP countries at institutional, administrative and policy making levels, academic research and technology, and business and civil society.
It aims to achieve five results across three axis:
1. Co-ordination and networking in applied research - Results to be achieved: Networks established or consolidated at intra ACP-level with linkages to international networks and Increased capacity to assess research needs to facilitate the formulation and implementation of research policies.
2. Instruments for collaborative research - Results to be achieved: Increased capacity and incentives to research network partners to prepare and submit project proposals to funding.
3. Management of research activities and reinforcement of research quality - Results to be achieved: Research results better capitalized and disseminated and Quality of research results improved.
It is necessary for applicants to clearly specify in the Grant Application Form - Part B Section I.1.6 which axis or combination of axes they are focused on.
Thematic areas to be Supported
The ACP Science and Technology Programme will fund projects that primarily focus on:
- Quality health care: with special attention both to traditional and biodiversity dependent community medicines and to the developments taking place in biotechnology.
- Environmental research activities: addressing climatic variability, loss of biodiversity, deforestation, desertification and rising sea levels, as well as issues associated with upgrading and mainstreaming appropriate indigenous technology and establishing efficient mechanisms for access to and the adaptation of appropriate foreign technology.
- Energy: with special attention to renewable sources of energy such as solar, wind, hydro and biomass energy.
- Transport: addressing transport congestion, air pollution and accidents.
- Agriculture and agro-industry: addressing food productivity and security, adding value to agro-products and encouraging a stronger participation by farmers in production and post-harvest management.
- Sustainable trade: in order to increase investments, encourage development in the private sector and improve the trading capacity of ACP countries. Attention will be given to the socio-economic impact of international trade agreements and protocols on sustainable development in ACP countries.
Overview of Lots
| Lot | Duration | Grant | Participants | Total Budget |
| 1 - EDF | 12 months - 36 months | 350,000 - 1,000,000 euro | Organisations based in ACP countries or EU Member States | 28,000,000 euro |
| 2 - Budget | 12 months - 36 months | 350,000 - 1,000,000 euro | Organisations based in ACP countries or EU Member States, EEA, Official EU Candidate countries | 5,000,000 euro |
Applicants must operate with a partnership that must involve at least three organisations from at least two different ACP Member States. The number of non-ACP partners in a partnership cannot be greater than the number of ACP partners.
Grants may be awarded up to maximum of 85% of the total eligible costs. The balance of the funding must be achieved from Applicant's own resources. Only eligible costs incurred during this period will be recognized for funding. All Actions have to be completed by the deadline of 31 December 2012.
Actions should mainly take place in one or more of the 79 ACP Member States.
Types of Action
The three types of Action/Axis must relate to the Programme's overall objectives, purpose and expected results. It is possible to select either one type or a combination of types of Action, but they should always address one or more of the corresponding project activities outlined below:
1. Support to Co-ordination and networking in applied research (Axis 1):
- Promotion and strengthening of networks inter-linking research institutes, researchers, civil society, business sectors and policy makers as well as 'Centres of Excellence', science and technology consortia.
- Establishment of research frameworks with the aim of achieving a greater and more market-oriented use of ACP research resources.
- Multi-stakeholder in-depth assessments of research and innovation needs in science and technology at regional and sub-regional levels and the design of dynamic databases indicating available expertise.
- Organisation of public debates and consultations on research needs in relation with indigenous knowledge and interests (surveys, focus groups, citizens' debates, etc.), incl. capacity building for civil society groups on research issues.
2. Support to Instruments for collaborative research (Axis 2):
- Establishment or consolidation of intra ACP advisory or observatory bodies on research and innovation for sustainable development in order to collect, share and analyze information on the latest developments in science and technology and their potential applications and provide advice to the policy makers and relevant science and technology non-state actors.
- Definition and implementation of technical instruments: designing tax incentives for firms engaged with universities and research institutions, review and strengthening of legislation relating to property rights, etc.
- Benchmarking good practices and designing 'models of research instruments' in order to promote the best modalities of industry-academia links and co-operation.
3. Support to Management of research activities and reinforcement of research quality (Axis 3):
- Definition and promotion of peer review and evaluation procedures and indicators in order to increase quality and efficiency in regional and national science and technology programmes.
- Implementation of multi-stakeholder activities (publications, database building, ICT development, information management, consulting, seminars, short-term training, etc.) in order to capitalize, disseminate and implement knowledge and innovations (the results of research), incl. targeted communication and debates with civil society groups concerned.
- Organisation of short-term training sessions at regional, sub-regional and country levels in order to strengthen and upgrade the competences of the scientific community in the following areas: research methods, research fund management, research managerial capacities, etc.
In the description of the project activities, the choice of the activities, the role of each partner, and the related costs must be clearly justified.
The following types of Action are not eligible:
- Actions that conflict, either directly or indirectly, with the policies of the European Union or which may be linked with a prejudicial image.
- Actions concerned only or mainly with individual sponsorships for participation in workshops, seminars, conferences, congresses, etc.
- Actions concerned only or mainly with individual scholarships for studies or training courses.
- Research and Development activities
Contact Point for Further Information
Questions may be sent by e-mail or by fax no later than 21 days before the deadline for the submission of proposals to the addresse(s) listed below, indicating clearly the reference of the call for proposals:
E-mail address: info@acp-st.eu
Fax. +32-(0)2-280.1406
Indicative Timetable
| Date and Time | |
| Extended Deadline for request for any clarifications | 20/02/2009 |
| Extended date on which clarification are issued by Secretariat | 02/03/2009 |
| Extended Deadline for postal receipt of application form in Brussels | 13/03/2009 16:00 CET |
Relevant Documents to be downloaded
ACP-S&T Programme - Guide for Grant Applicants