Funding Information and Resources

Funding Agencies / Programs

This section provides important introductory information on research programs and application process of external funding agencies.

1. European Commission

A. TEMPUS PROGRAM - Modernization in Higher Education

The Tempus is a program funded by the European Commission that supports the modernization of higher education in the partner countries of the Western Balkans, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, North Africa and the Middle East. It contributes to creating an area of cooperation in the field of higher education between the European Union and partner countries (one of which is Lebanon) surrounding the European Union.

Tempus has recently launched its 4th program (Tempus IV 2008-2013) with a focus on institutional cooperation using three types of actions:

1. Joint Projects (implemented at the institutional level) with 4 areas of activity: Curricular reform, Governance reform, higher education and society, and thematic networks.

2. Structural Measures (implemented at the system level) with 2 areas of activity: Governance reform, and higher education and society.

3. Accompanying Measures funded through calls for proposals, tender calls for thematic conferences and workshops.

FIRST CALL: Tempus IV is inviting the submission of cooperative projects under two actions types: Joint Projects and Structural Measures, from partnerships comprised of higher education institutions, enterprises, ministries, NGOs, associations etc., from the EU and the partner countries. For more information regarding the priorities, the application procedures and forms please visit the following website: http://ec.europa.eu/education/programmes/tempus/index_en.html. While the deadline for submission of application to the first call will be April 28, 2008, the second call will be in mid-December 2008.  

B. Framework Programme 7 (FP7)

FP7 is the European Union’s main instrument for funding research and development activities covering almost all scientific disciplines. It will run for 7 years (2007 – 2013) for an overall budget of 50.5 Billion Euros and is open for international cooperation in particular with Mediterranean Countries. Almost all programs must be undertaken by a consortium and must include partners from the European Union’s member state.

 FP7 is made up 4 specific programs (SP):

1. Cooperation - Collaborative Research
   - Health
   - Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology
   - Information & communication technologies (ICT)
   - Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials & new production technologies
   - Energy
   - Environment (including climate change)
   - Transport (including aeronautics)
   - Socio-economic sciences and the humanities
   - Space
   - Security
    

2. People - Human Potential, Marie Curie
   - Initial Training of Researchers - Marie Curie Networks
   - Life-Long training and career development - individual fellowships
   - Industry-academia pathways and partnerships
   - International dimension - outgoing and incoming fellowships, international cooperation scheme,
     reintegration grants
   - Excellent Awards
    

3. Capacities - Research Capacities
   - Research infrastructure
   - Research for the benefit of SMEs
   - Regions of Knowledge
   - Research Potential
   - Science in Society
   - Support to the coherent development of research policies
   - Specific activities of international cooperation
    

4. Ideas - Implemented through the European Research Council which supports "excellence at the frontier of knowledge in all scientific and technological fields".

For Further Information:

• For more information on FP7: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/home_en.html
   

• Where to Start From? To get more information on how to participate in FP7 please see First Steps to Participate in FP7.
   

• To Access the OPEN CALLS page: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/
   

• To Find Project Partners see the following page:
  http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/partners_en.html. The "Search for Partners is a free service to help in identifying potential partners for participation in the FP7 programs. At any one time you can access between 7,000 and 10,000 organizations actively looking for partners. The service is dynamic and the numbers increase or decrease depending on the collaboration needs of the organizations entering their partner profiles.

2. The National Science Foundation (NSF)

NSF is an independent agency of the U.S. Government. NSF funds research and education in most fields of science and engineering (biology, computer and information sciences, education, engineering, environmental research and education, geosciences, math and physical sciences, and social behavior and economic sciences). It does this through grants to and cooperative agreements with more than 2,000 colleges, universities, K-12 school systems, businesses, informal science organizations, and other research institutions throughout the United States. NSF accounts for about one-fourth of all Federal support to academic institutions for basic research.

Proposals are submitted on line via fastlane, kindly request from OGC to provide you with access to NSF Fastlane. For instructions on proposal preparation and guidelines refer to NSF's Grant Proposal Guide.

Most NSF funding opportunities are divided into broad program areas:

• Biology
• Computer and Information Sciences
• Crosscutting Programs
• Education
• Engineering
• Geosciences
• International
• Math, Physical Sciences
• Polar Research
• Science Statistics
• Social, Behavioral Sciences

For more information on NSF funding opportunities see the following:

1- Active funding opportunities - Recently Announced.

2- Upcoming due Dates.

3- A-Z Index of funding opportunities.

3. CEDRE

Signé entre le Gouvernement français et le Gouvernement libanais le vendredi 5 avril 1996 par les ministres des affaires étrangères, et par le ministre français de l'éducation nationale, de l'enseignement supérieur et de la recherche et le ministre libanais de la Culture et de l'Enseignement supérieur, en présence du Président de la République française et du Premier Ministre libanais, est communément appelé " Accord CEDRE ".

For information about the program and application procedures please see the following website: http://www.ul.edu.lb/, and click here for CEDRE's application forms.

4. Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS)

TWAS is an autonomous international organization which aims at promoting scientific capacity and excellence for sustainable development in the South and encouraging scientific research on major Third World problems. Research grants of up to US$10,000 each are offered to scientists from developing countries of proven ability for research projects in biology, chemistry, mathematics and physics. The Grants are intended to cover the costs of specialized equipment, essential consumable material, and scientific literature. Deadlines: 1 July and 1 December each year. Please refer to this website: http://www.ictp.trieste.it/~twas/mtm/RG_Form.html for the application form and for guidelines for completing the form.

5. The Ford Foundation

The goals of the Ford foundation are to strengthen democratic values, reduce poverty and injustice, and promote international cooperation. The Foundation provides grants in asset building and community development (economic development), peace and social justice (human rights, governance and civil society), and education, sexuality, religion, media, arts and culture. Applications are considered throughout the year. For information about the application procedures and the current research interests of the foundation please refer to: Guidelines for Grant Seekers.

6. International Development Research Center (IDRC)

IDRC aims to help developing countries find long-term solutions to the social, economic, and environmental problems they face through research. It funds the work of scientists working in universities, private enterprise, government, and nonprofit organizations in developing countries and provides some support to regional research networks and institutions in the Third World. IDRC's four program areas are:

1- Environment and Natural Resource Management
2- Information and Communication Technologies for Development
3-Innovation, Policy and Science (IPS)
4- Social and Economic Policy

For application procedures please refer to Funding Opportunities IDRC's webpage.

7. National Institute of Health (NIH)

The National Institute of Health (NIH) is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and is the primary federal agency for conducting and supporting medical research. It is composed of 27 Institutes and Centers, and provides financial support to researchers in every state and throughout the world.

Types of NIH Programs: NIH uses activity codes (e.g. R01, R21, etc.) to differentiate the wide variety of research-related programs in supports. NIH Institutes and Centers (ICs) may vary in the way they use activity codes; not all ICs accept applications for all types of grant programs or they apply specialized eligibility criteria.

NIH Funding Opportunities and Notices; The NIH Guide for Grants and Contracts is the official publication for NIH medical and behavioral research grant policies, guidelines and funding opportunities. it is published on a weekly basis and users may subscribe to it by going to the following website: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/description.htm#foa

To search for funding opportunities, investigators can look at "Research for Applications" (RFAs), or "program Announcements" (PAs), or "Recent Notices" by accessing this website: http://grants.nih.gov/grants/guide/index.html

For unsolicited or investigator initiated proposals, investigators can look at "Parent Announcements" which have been developed for use by applicants who wish to submit "unsolicited" applications.