Vitalise-Project / FAQs: Transnational Access to Research Infrastructures

FAQs: Transnational Access to Research Infrastructures

This page is dedicated to the frequently asked questions (FAQs) and will be updated as we receive questions from the applicants for Transnational Access to the Research Infrastructures of VITALISE Project.
For information on the application process, we recommend to read carefully the Application Manual at the link below

WHO CAN APPLY – ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Who can apply for TA and VA?

The following persons can apply for TA and VA:

  • Academia Researchers
  • Industrial researchers
  • Living Lab practitioners
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Master’s students (Master’s students are eligible for application only if tutored by 1 person holding a master’s degree. For further information, please see next question)

Could the leader of the research project be a master’ student?

Yes. However, the research team should include at least another person holding a Master’s degree.
Should all the researchers of the team come from the same institution?

It is not necessary that all the people that are part of the research team come from the same institution. In fact, collaborative applications from teams and/or institutions is strongly encouraged as far as the other eligibly criteria are matched.

I am an industrial researcher/entrepreneur and I want to test a prototype but I cannot share the results. Can I apply?

Yes, you can. 20% of the Transnational Access positions are reserved for industrial researchers and entrepreneurs who cannot disseminate/share the results for justified reasons.

Can an undergraduate/bachelor student participate to TA?

Yes, an undergraduate/bachelor student can perform TA as a member of a research team. In this case, the leading applicant must be either professor or postdoc affiliated to university or research centres, and he will act as supervisor of the undergraduate/bachelor student.

Can a researcher submit 1 application asking to visit 2 LLs to conduct her/his study?

A research team can apply for TA asking to visit more than one Living Lab to conduct its study. In this case, you must submit more than one complementary application, duly justifying your choices in the application templates.

EXPENSES COVERED

Which are the covered expenses?

The VITALISE project funding covers national and/or international travel costs and daily subsistence for each day of fully in-person or partially remote TA at the selected research facility. The funding covering TA visits has the following limits per person (average flat rate):

  • Travel costs: max. 500€
  • Housing and subsistence: max. 100 €/day

 Could there be any exception to the limit of covered expenses?

Yes, there could be exceptions. However, these particular cases should be discussed with the Research Infrastructure Leader (RIL) after the publication of the application results. If the beneficiary request will be retained duly justified and financially viable, the RIL will release a written confirmation that will extend the covering of expenses.

 Could I travel 2 times to the infrastructures? Will my expenses be covered?

After publication of the final ranking list, you will be put in contact with the Research Infrastructure Leader with whom you will define your traveling plan. If you manage to allocate less than 500€ for your first travel to the infrastructure, you could use the remaining budget for a second travel to the infrastructure. This could be done in case you need to carry out a first period of in-person TA 1 period of remote TA, and 1 more period of in-person TA.

Is the indicated budget for TA per person or per team?

The limits of the expenses covered are per person.

How will the reimbursement of expenses be paid?

Each infrastructure will handle the reimbursements differently. If your application will be approved, you will be put in contact with the RIL to discuss all the details.

How do I know if a budget limit exception will be made for my project?

The RILs cannot assure the applicant to be able to cover higher costs, since it will much depend on the number of approved projects (and their position in the final ranking list) and the total available resources of the LL. If your application will be approved, you will be put in contact with the RIL to discuss all the details, including any exception to budget limits.

DEADLINES & TIMELINE FOR TA

When can I apply for the next Open Call?

The next call will be open will be open from the 1st of March to 30th of April.

The following table illustrates the deadlines for the 3 Open Calls. Always refer to the latest version of the Application Manual for the final deadlines.

Open Call First Call Second Call Third call
Submission 1 Mar – 30 Apr 22 1st cut-off (20 Sept – 31 Oct 22)
2nd cut-off (1 Nov – 11 Jan 23)
1st cut-off (1 Mar – 2 Apr 23)
2nd cut-off (3 Apr – 30 Apr 23)
Notification of results for TA 31 July 22 1st cut-off (Feb 23)
2nd cut-off (Mar 23)
1st cut-off (Approx. end June 23)
2nd cut-off (Approx. end Jul 23)
TA (preferable period) Sept – Dec 22 May-June 23 Sept 23-Jan 24

What is the application procedure?

The following figure illustrates in detail the application procedure.

TRANSNATIONAL ACCESS (TA)

What does it mean Transnational Access to the infrastructure?

You can submit an application for free accessing one of the many infrastructures available within the VITALISE consortium (as long as you do not work in the same country where the infrastructure is based). During Transnational Access, applicants will receive support from the facility’s staff to conduct their research project.

What are the 3 different types of Transnational Access?

The transnational access to is possible through 3 different modes:

  • Fully in-person: the applicant(s) will access the infrastructure physically for a predefined time period;
  • Partially remote: the applicant(s) will access the infrastructure physically for some time and then will access remotely (or vice-versa);
  • Fully remote: the applicant(s) will access the infrastructure exclusively remotely for predefined time period

I have to conduct research involving subjects but I don’t speak the language of the infrastructure where I would like to go, how can I do?

Dedicated staff will be at disposal to coordinate the activities and support you in conducting your research project, especially when dealing with local subjects.

VIRTUAL ACCESS (VA)

What does it mean Virtual Access to the VITALISE database?

The applicants will be granted remote access to VITALISE datasets. In the application for the Virtual Access the applicant is asked to meet some eligibility criteria and briefly describe the objective of their research and how long they need access to the datasets. Then they will receive credentials for accessing the VITALISE datasets.

When will it be possible to apply for VA?

Access to VITALISE datasets will be granted in 2023. It is recommended to subscribe to the project newsletter to be informed about it.

SELECTION PROCESS

What are the steps of the selection process for TA?

The selection process for TA is composed of 3 steps:

  • Eligibility check: the Transnational Access Manager – TAM will check if the application meets the eligibility criteria indicated in the Application Manual;
  • Feasibility check: the Research Infrastructure Leaders (RILs) will assess whether it is possible to conduct the described research project at their facility;
  • Scientific evaluation: the scientific evaluation board will evaluate the scientific soundness of the research project.

What are the steps of the selection process for VA?

It is not necessary to undergo a selection process to apply for VA. The applicants are only asked to meet some eligibility criteria.

JOINT RESEARCH ACTIVITIES (JRAS)

What are the Joint Research Activities?

All the Living Labs involved within VITALISE are conducting some collaborative Research project that will lead to joint results. The final goal is to create innovative testbeds for three different domains in the Living Lab Health & Wellbeing research:

  • Rehabilitation
  • Transitional care
  • Everyday living environments

Do I have to conduct research in the JRAs or can I conduct other type of research?

External researchers may apply to join one of the 3 JRAs or they can submit an application in a different domain.

For more information on the application process, we recommend to read carefully the Application Manual at the link below:

Still have questions? Submit your query at info@vitalise-project.eu.