« Interdisciplinarity » call for projects Principles of the

“Interdisciplinarity” call for projects
« Interdisciplinarity » call for projects
Principles of the « Interdisciplinarity » call for projects:
The most important knowledge breakthroughs often arise at the interface of several
disciplines. Since Aix-Marseille University and its partners cover the entirety of disciplinary
fields, as illustrated by A*MIDEX five priority themes, the Excellence Initiative is a breeding
ground for the spring-up of interdisciplinary research projects. This has already been
demonstrated through the dynamics set off by the “Investments for the Future” program,
especially with the applications to the Labex calls for projets.
Definition of interdisciplinarity:
Interdisciplinary research is necessary to address problems whose solutions identified within
a single discipline are manifestly incomplete. However, while research projects often involve
scientists from multiple disciplines, this does not necessarily mean that the research in the
project is truly interdisciplinary. There is an important distinction between multidisciplinarity
and interdisciplinarity.
In interdisciplinary research, insights and methods from different scientific disciplines are
integrated and used to investigate a jointly defined research problem through a joint research
effort.
By contrast, in multidisciplinary research, related research problems are investigated from
different disciplines. The extent to which researchers from the different disciplines
communicate with and draw inspiration from each other may differ, but there is no real
integration of insights and methods from the participating disciplines.
Another important difference between multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research is their
effect on the research fields they bring together. In multidisciplinary collaboration,
researchers from different disciplines work on a common problem and split apart unchanged
once their task has been accomplished. Interdisciplinary collaboration, however, has the
potential to forge new research fields or disciplines1.
Given this distinction, supporting interdisciplinarity is essential to a cutting-edge scientific
research policy and these innovative scientific projects should be funded, since their results
may be of major impact, fundamental or applied. Yet given the uncertainty linked to their
newness, it is often difficult for such projects to get adequate funding through national and
international calls for proposals.
As an answer to this need, the means A*MIDEX devotes to this policy of support to
interdisciplinary research constitute the “Interdisciplinarity” Fund which is the subject of this
first call for projects (CFP).
It covers the entirety of research themes and is open to all fields and disciplines with no
exception. It is intended for the scientific community of Aix-Marseille University and its
A*MIDEX partners on the Aix-Marseille site.
1
See for example : Thinking across disciplines, 2008, DEA/Danmarks Erhvervsforsknings Akademi
“Interdisciplinarity” call for projects
The « Interdisciplinarity » projects may deal with fundamental or more applied research, but
also with works leading to innovations, in association with socio-economic partners, in
A*MIDEX 5 priority themes: Energy ; Environment, planet and universe ; Health and life
sciences ; Sciences and technologies ; Societies, cultures and exchanges.
Objectives of the “Interdisciplinarity” Fund:
‐ Supporting interdisciplinary research projects
‐ Promoting scientific daring and solving new issues through interdisciplinarity
‐ Favoring the development of new interdisciplinary fields, better yet of new disciplines
‐ Encouraging the production of innovative knowledge that may be potentially fruitful
‐ Maximizing the impact on the Aix-Marseille site in terms of knowledge progress, of
importance of the results targeted by supported projects and of development of
sustainable interactions between disciplines
‐ Improving the positioning of Aix-Marseille site in terms of interdisciplinary
innovation and international influence.
Field of the « Interdisciplinarity » call for projects:
‐ All scientific fields, all interdisciplinary themes, in A*MIDEX 5 priority themes
‐ Basic or applied research, including experimental development and collaborative
projects
Grant:
1,6 M€ funding a limited number of projects.
Contract staff, operating costs and light equipment are eligible expenses.
Term of the funding: 2 years that may be extended to 3 years.
A Go/No Go milestone will be set 18 months after the operational start of the project to
explore the relevance of the approach and assessing whether it should be pursued, reoriented
or broadened.
Selection process:
An international jury will be called upon to assess and rank submitted projects.
The A*MIDEX Steering Committee will make the final decision taking into account the
jury’s evaluation and A*MIDEX wider strategic objectives.
“Interdisciplinarity” call for projects
Selection criteria:
‐ Novelty of the approach and/ or the issue
‐ Originality and relevance of the combination of disciplines
‐ Results formerly obtained by the teams involved in the project
‐ Potential impact of the project, fundamental or applied
‐ Potential of the project in terms of socio-economic impact and international reputation
‐ Relevance and added value of the project for Aix-Marseille University and its partners on
the Aix-Marseille site
Deadline to submit a project: May 31st, 2013 at 17.00, Paris time.
Application procedure: on-line submission of the application (pdf file) on the site
http://amidex.univ-amu.fr/
For more information: [email protected]
“Interdisciplinarity” call for projects
Model of application and guidelines
A*MIDEX – Interdisciplinary CFP
Important: This document should not exceed 25 pages (the text must be in size 11 font, with
1,5 spacing, normal margins, A4 format), and should be written in English for the
international experts (if the application is submitted in French, its translation in English
should be provided within 15 days after the closing of the CFP).
Cover of the application form:
The first page of the file should display the following information:
I/ Acronyme du projet/ Acronym of the project
II/ Titre du projet/ Project title
III/ Coordinateur du projet/ Project PI
IV/ Axe(s) thématique(s) prioritaire(s)/ Priority theme(s)
1 Energie/ Energy
2 Environnement, Planète & Univers/ Environment, Planet & Universe
3 Santé & Sciences de la Vie/ Health & Life Sciences
4 Sciences & Technologies Avancées/ Sciences & Advanced Technologies
5 Sociétés cultures et échanges/ Societies, cultures and exchanges
V/ Financement demandé / Requested funding
Structure of the application file:
The file should respect the following structure:
I/ Sommaire/ Table of contents
II/ Résumé non-confidentiel de la proposition/ Non-confidential executive summary (1 page)
III/ Contexte, positionnement interdisciplinaire et objectifs du projet/ Context,
interdisciplinary position and objectives of the project
IV/ Programme scientifique et technique, Organisation du projet / Scientific and technical
program, project organization : Programme, management, tâches, calendrier des tâches,
livrables et jalons/ Scientific program, management, tasks, tasks schedule, deliverables and
milestones
V/ Description des équipes impliquées/ Description of the teams involved
VI/ Stratégie de valorisation (le cas échéant)/ Exploitation of results (if necessary)
VII/ Impact potentiel du projet pour le site/ Potential impact of the project for the site
VIII/ Justification des moyens demandés/ Scientific justification of required means
IX/ Références bibliographiques/ Bibliographical references
The CV of the teams involved as well as complementary elements may be added if necessary
in an annex. This document should be of reasonable dimensions and should not exceed the
length of the file itself limited to 25 pages.