Call For Proposals
2013 - Netspar Small Vision Grants

Deadline For Draft Proposals is March 31, 2013

Netspar supports innovative academic research on all aspects of the social sciences related to aging and retirement. As part of these efforts, Netspar offers Small Vision Grants for up to 50% of the cost of a PhD student, or the equivalent amount of funds for a postdoc researcher, for a maximum of three years. This year's budget amount is a maximum of kEuro 195 (equivalent to three projects).

TOPICS: Current topics on the research agenda are grouped under the following Pension Innovation Labs (PILs):
- Risk Management during Working Life
- Risk Management during Retirement Years
- The Art of Choosing
- Supervision of Fully Funded Pensions: Solvency and Transparency
- Risk Sharing and Distribution among Generations: Full Funding, Pay-as-you-go, Taxation
- The Labor Market
- Heterogeneity within Generations and the Position of Senior Citizens

A more detailed description of the research agenda can be found in the Netspar Research Agenda for 2011-2014 (English: http://www.netspar.nl/files/documenten/pdfs%2520en%2520docs/Innovatieprogramma's/Netspar%2520Research%2520and%2520Innovation%2520Agenda%25202011-2014%2520DEF%2520Eng.pdf / Dutch: http://www.netspar.nl/files/documenten/pdfs%20en%20docs/Innovatieprogramma's/Netspar%20Research%20and%20Innovation%20Agenda%202011-2014%20DEF%20NL.pdf)

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:
- Funding for:
50% of the appointment of a PhD student, for a maximum of three years (maximum of Euro21,500 each year) or
33% of the appointment of a post-doc researcher, for a maximum of three years (maximum of Euro21,500 each year)
- Required matching by a university offered for:
50% of the appointment of a PhD student or
33% of the appointment of a post-doc researcher
- The PhD student or post-doc researcher must write two industry-oriented publications (http://www.netspar.nl/research_database_publication_procedures_industry_papers.htm) during the first two years of the project.
- In order to free up time for writing industry-oriented papers and participating in Netspar events: the PhD student will have no teaching obligations or
the post-doc researcher will have no teaching obligations for the 67% of his/her time spent working on the Netspar project
- The project team will participate in so called task force meetings when writing industry-oriented papers.
- The person ultimately in charge of the project is the supervisor of the PhD student or postdoc researcher.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
- The proposal must link up with one of the PILs defined in the research agenda.
- The project involves high-quality academic research and has a clear link to the pension practice.
- The project involves the appointment of a highly talented PhD student or post-doc researcher.
- The application is submitted by a Dutch university and the project preferably has several industry partners participating in it. (For suggestions of possible forms of involvement, see explanation in Annex I).
- If a PhD student is appointed, the proposal must meet the requirements for the preparation of a doctoral dissertation as defined by the graduate school (or university) involved.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Proposals for a Small Vision Grant must contain the following two documents:
- Completed Application Form (http://www.netspar.nl/files/documenten/pdfs%20en%20docs/Statement%20of%20Interest/Match%20Making%202013/Application%20Form%20-%20Small%20Vision%20Grants%202013.docx), in accordance with the Netspar format
- Annex I: Form (http://www.netspar.nl/files/documenten/pdfs%20en%20docs/Statement%20of%20Interest/Match%20Making%202013/Annex%20I%20-%20Form%20to%20confirm%20industry%20partner%20involvement%20-%20Small%20Vision%20Grants%202013.docx) to Confirm Industry Involvement
- Annex II: CVs of the applicant and the candidate submitted as a single pdf-file. In case of a PhD student, also include a list of grades

Only applications in accordance with the Netspar format will be accepted for the selection procedure.

SELECTION PROCESS: Grants are awarded by the Netspar Board (http://www.netspar.nl/organization_board_of_directors.htm) by May 30, 2013, at the latest, so that projects can start as of September.

TIMETABLE FOR 2013:
February 17 Deadline Statement of interest (http://www.netspar.nl/files/documenten/pdfs%20en%20docs/Statement%20of%20Interest/Match%20Making%202013/Statement%20of%20Interest%20Researchers%20ENG%202013.docx)
March 12 Match Making Event (Maarssen)
March 31 Deadline for draft version of application (Completed Application Form)
April 12 Feedback by e-mail from appointed PIL coordinator(s)
April 28 Deadline for submitting final version, including Annex I
May 12 Evaluation by PIL coordinator(s)
May 16 Recommendation by Netspar's Partner Research Council
May 31 Formal decision by the Netspar Board

PAPER SUBMISSION PROCEDURE: Submit to info@netspar.nl and mention ‘Application for Netspar Small Vision Project' in the subject line.

FURTHER INFORMATION: For questions, please contact Netspar: Corine Hannen, Policy Officer, +31 (0)13 466 89 84, c.l.a.hannen@uvt.nl, or the appropriate PIL coordinator (http://www.netspar.nl/organization_pil_coordinators.htm).