Call for Proposals
2012 - Netspar Large Vision Grants

Deadline For Draft Proposals is April 15, 2012

Netspar supports innovative scientific research on all aspects of the social sciences related to aging and retirement. As part of these efforts, Netspar offers Vision Grants for up to 50% of a project's budget for three years, with a maximum of Euro 500,000 per project. This year, Netspar has a total budget of Euro 1,000,000 to allocate.

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/Dutch).

MAIN CHARACTERISTICS:
- Funding for 50% of the project budget for three years, with a maximum of Euro 500,000.
- The project team consists of several scientists, plus staff members from an industry partner. Depending on the size of the project, they represent one or more universities and/or industry organizations.
- Project team members are available during the course of the project to present research results at Netspar events.
- The PIL coordinator will encourage the project team to form task forces for writing industry-oriented Netspar publications, so that other academics and industry professionals can be involved.
- The project leader is responsible for the project in terms of content and finances. The project leader also serves as the first point of contact for project monitoring.

SELECTION CRITERIA:
- The proposal must link up with one of the PILs defined in the research agenda.
- For grant applications of up to Euro 250,000, the project team should consist of scientists and pension practitioners affiliated with at least one university and one business organization. For grant applications of between Euro 250,000 and Euro 500,000, the project team should consist of scientists and pension practitioners affiliated with at least two universities and two industry organizations.
- The application must be submitted by a Dutch university that will handle the administration if the grant is awarded.
- At least 10% of the project capacity (in Euro) must be supplied by one or more scientists associated with a foreign university.
- At least 10% of the project capacity (in Euro) must be supplied by one or more scientists associated with a Dutch university.
- 50% of the total cost of the project must be offered as matching.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS: Proposals for a Vision Grant must contain the following six documents:
- Completed Application Form
- Annex I: Detailed Description of the Proposal
- Annex II: Budget Plan, in accordance with the prescribed format
- Annex III: Output Commitments, in accordance with the prescribed format
- Annex IV: CVs of the applicant and all project members (converted into a single pdf-file)
- Annex V: Scientific End Reports for any Netspar theme projects the applicant has participated in

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

SELECTION PROCESS: There is one selection round each year.
- Applications are evaluated for academic quality by the Scientific Council.
- Applications with sufficient academic quality are submitted to the Partner Research Council, which makes recommendations to the Netspar Board.
- Grants are awarded by the Netspar Board.

TIMETABLE FOR 2012:
- February 12 Deadline Statement of interest
- March 7 Match Making Event (Maarssen)
- April 15 Deadline for draft version of application (Completed Application Form and Annexes I, III, IV and V)
- May 9-27 Feedback meeting with the Netspar PIL coordinator(s)
- May 27 Deadline for submitting draft of the Budget Plan (Annex II)
- July 1 Deadline for submitting final version (including all documents)
- July 1-August 12 Evaluation by Netspar's Scientific Council
- August 26 Deadline for applicant responses to comments made by Netspar's Scientific Council
- September 25 Recommendation by Netspar's Partner Research Council
- September 30 Formal decision by Netspar Board
- October Administrative kick-off meeting
- November Start of project

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

FURTHER INFORMATION: For questions, please contact Netspar: Ellen van de Wetering, Policy Officer, +31 (0)13 466 89 84, e.w.m.v.d.wetering@uvt.nl, or the appropriate PIL coordinator.