The Royal Society of Edinburgh Open Programme

The Royal Society of Edinburgh is keen to facilitate, encourage and support research collaboration in all areas between Scottish and overseas research groups. As well as specific exchange programmes with China, Poland and Taiwan, where the Society has links with relevant academies, the Society is now offering grant awards to researchers wishing to further collaboration with research groups in other countries.

Under this exchange programme, grants will be awarded through open competition for a limited period. Grants are awarded for short-term visits of one up to a maximum of four weeks’ duration, the key objectives being to enhance the research capabilities of individual researchers, initiate and develop international research collaborative links/shared research projects between countries, and enable participation in international research programmes, e.g. FP6. Both visitors and hosts should have established contact before submitting an application, either by previous collaboration or by scientific correspondence.

Eligibility

• Researchers must have post-doctoral status or equivalent at the time of travel.
• Researchers going from Scotland must be working in a Scottish research institution and visiting researchers must be hosted by academics in Scotland. Applications are considered in all areas of the natural sciences, social sciences, arts, letters and humanities.
• Both visitors and hosts should have established contact before submitting an application, and provide written evidence at the time of application. For those visiting Scotland under this exchange programme, the Scottish host should make the application on the visitor's behalf.
• Applicants should provide written evidence from the travelling researcher’s Head of Department allowing leave of absence.
• Referee statements (two) should accompany applications submitted, by the closing date.
• Applications will not normally be considered for travel combined with attendance at conferences.

Travel and Accommodation Costs

For visits to countries where the Royal Society of Edinburgh does not have formal links, the Society will pay the cost of APEX or equivalent fares plus travel to and from the UK departure point as well as visa costs and local costs (accommodation, subsistence and local travel). Applicants are strongly advised to keep costs low by arranging reasonably priced accommodation with their hosts, preferably in university halls of residence or local guesthouses. Excessive requests will be scaled down. For such visits the award does not cover any costs associated with accompanying dependants, bench fees or laboratory costs, conference fees, insurance or medical expenses.

Closing Dates

The closing dates in 2004 are: 29 February, 31 May, 31 August and 30 November. Completed applications should be received by these dates. Results are available around two months after the deadline.

Applications should be sent to:

Michael White
International Officer
Royal Society of Edinburgh
22-26 George Street
Edinburgh, EH2 2PQ
Tel: +44 (0)131 240 5018/5000
Fax: +44 (0)131 240 5024
E-mail: international@royalsoced.org.uk