Newton – Kâtip Çelebi Fund Turkey and United Kingdom Bilateral Joint Call for EUREKA Network Projects, Second Stage

Kâtip Çelebi – Newton Fund aims to bring together the scientific research and innovation sectors in Turkey and the UK to find joint solutions to the challenges in economic development and social welfare. By working together on bilateral programmes with a research and innovation focus, the two countries will build strong, sustainable, systemic relationships. Kâtip Çelebi – Newton Fund is worth £8 million per year and is supported by the UK and Turkish governments between 2014 and 2019.

In the second phase, partners with approved outlines will be invited to submit their national applications according to the relevant authority’s own procedures no later than November 20th 2015 at 17:30.

EUREKA / Kâtip Çelebi – Newton 2015 Call Project Scope

Within the cooperation practices existing between Turkey and United Kingdom under the Kâtip Çelebi – Newton Fund in the fields of industrial and technological research and development and in the framework of the EUREKA program, in which both countries are full and active members, participants from both countries are invited to submit joint project proposals. The Turkish and United Kingdom Kâtip Çelebi – Newton joint call will be an open call within the following sectors. Proposals that fit in the sectors below, dealing with the challenges and opportunities are sought. Project partners will have to demonstrate which societal challenge the project is targeted at, aims and objectives, how it tackles the challenge, and how this will be achieved through the collaboration.

• Energy
• Smart Cities
• Urbanization

Evaluation Criteria

The projects will be evaluated using three criteria

Project Partners and Collaboration

– Can the project partners undertake the work involved in the project?

– Does the project have the right project partner mix to achieve the aims and objectives?

– Is the project collaborative? Are all partners adding value?

– Is it clear what each partner is doing and the benefits for each partner?

Innovation

– Is the project ‘innovative’?

– Is there a clear logical work flow and structure?

Aims and Objectives

– How does the project meet the Official Development Assistance (ODA) aims, objectives and rules for the Newton fund?

– Are there clear achievable aims and objectives?

– Does the innovation have an application in Turkey?

– What are the economic and social benefits?

Turkish and UK partners must express the will to cooperate, on an equal base, for the development of new products, industrial processes and/or services. The product, process or service must be innovative and there must be a technological risk involved.

Project Eligibility

• The projects has to be in line with Official Development Assistance (ODA) rules, it should demonstrate a clear added value for the economic and social development of Turkey, showing clearly potential for wider impact for the development of the country.
• The project should have an obvious advantage and added value resulting from the technological cooperation between the participants from the two countries (e.g. increased knowledge base, commercial leads, access to R&D infrastructure etc.).
• The project should demonstrate the contribution of the participants from both countries on an equal base, and the project must be equally significant to both participants.
• The partners should include at least one Turkish and one UK R&D performing commercial company. Participation of research institutes/universities is welcome, according to each country’s funding regulations.
• Companies from other countries may participate, they will not be funded by InnovateUK or by TÜBİTAK.
• Turkish and UK partners must express the will to cooperate, on an equal base, to the development of a new product, industrial process or service. The product, process or service must be innovative and there must be a technological risk involved.
• The participants are required, prior to obtaining the EUREKA label and funding, to have signed a consortium agreement.

Projects duration between 12 and 36 months.

Any partner whose cooperative R&D project is consistent with the aforesaid criteria can apply to the present announcement in accordance with the national laws, rules, regulations and procedures in effect.

Turkish Partner Eligibility

• All companies that were established in accordance with Turkish law can apply for funding for their international projects. There is no budget limit for international projects and they can be funded by TÜBİTAK without any restriction in project duration. Only companies participating in international projects can be funded within this program but universities and research centres can be funded as subcontractors.
• There is no maximum or minimum limit to the budget of the project. Companies will receive a certain percentage of their eligible costs as a grant in this call. The percentage is 60% for large companies and 75% for SMEs. For further information about financing of Turkish participants please directly contact with TÜBİTAK.
• The eligibility criteria must be met at the closing date for applications.

United Kingdom Partner Eligibility

• Industry partners are eligible for funding in the Kâtip Çelebi – Newton call for proposals. There MUST BE a UK industrial partner [SME or Large Company] in a proposal.
• Projects can be led by a large company, an SME or an RTO.
• There must be a UK large company or SME in the project.
• Participants in a project must be separate legal entities.
• Companies must be registered at Companies House and have been trading for 12 months prior to the closing date for applications.
• UK Project costs must be incurred in the UK or Turkey.
• All eligible labour costs have to be PAYE.
• Subcontracting is capped at 20% of the UK partner eligible costs.
• Subcontracting between partners is not eligible.
• UK lead projects must be managed by the UK partner. Project management cannot be subcontracted.

The eligibility criteria must be met at the closing date for applications.

UK Eligible Costs The eligible costs for UK applicants are as follows:

• UK maximum grant limit per project is €450,000 [excluding the Turkish budget].
• UK academics are welcome to participate but must self-fund or have funding in place at the time of application.
• The UK budget for the call is €1.8 million [Euros].