Call for UiO:Energy and Environment Thematic Research Groups 2023

Through UiO:Energy and Environment TRGs, we aim to foster the development of an interdisciplinary culture as well as partnerships between researchers at UiO within sustainable energy, climate and environment. It is also desirable that the TRGs involves collaborations with international research groups and external stakeholders from the industry, governmental bodies or the society at large. The TRGs should enable the group of researchers to be more competitive when it comes to relevant funding from external sources, and may also be seen as a step towards larger, interdisciplinary projects such as UiO:Energy and Environment Convergence Environments.

Event: Information meeting for UiO:Energy and Environment Thematic Research Groups August 29 2023

Application form and template: Please use the provided application form and template.

Funding and timeline

UiO:Energy has funded three TRGs in the first call (2019-2022) and four in the second call (2022-2024). In this call for UiO:Energy and Environment TRGs, we expect to fund three or four groups. Each group will receive maximum 2 MNOK per year over a period of two-three years. The general funding is up to 5 NMOK, but in addition you may apply for up to 1 MNOK extra (see details below) The maximum total funding from UiO:Energy and Environment is thus 6 MNOK. The new TRGs will be awarded in late fall 2023 and are expected to start up in the spring of 2024. 

Timeline for UiO:Energy and Environment Thematic Research Groups:

Requirements

• The main applicant must have a permanent position at UiO
• The UiO:Energy and Environment Thematic Research Groups must be developed within one or more of UiO:Energy and Environment’s four main research areas:
• Energy transition and the environment
• People, society and climate
• Energy systems, materials and models
• A carbon-neutral society
• Should be in line with UiO:Energy and Environments Strategy and Mandate
• Should involve several researchers at UiO from different disciplines (minimum two). Each TRG must explore the possibilities for increased collaboration across faculties/departments/centres at UiO
• The involved departments/centres are required to support the proposals of TRGs, and they should be in line with the participating units´ internal priorities and strategies 
• Active collaboration with relevant stakeholders and international research groups is encouraged
• At least one recruitment position should be funded throughout the TRG project period (two or three years)
• The TRGs will report to UiO:Energy and Environment annually

Funding scheme

You may apply for up to 5 MNOK for a minimum of 2 years and maximum of three years. In addition, you may apply for up to1 MNOK extra if the TRG has costly experimental work and/or costly activities related to strengthening the interdisciplinary collaboration(s) including exchange visits. Funding from UiO:Energy and Environment may be used to cover the following:

• Temporary positions (If a temporary position is provided as own funding, finance of release of duties for permanent staff may be considered, see template of applications for more details)
  • Research assistants
  • Ph.Ds, postdoctoral/young researcher fellowships
  • Adjunct positions
• Activities related to promoting internal and external collaborations such as
  • Seminar series
  • Workshops
  • Public debates/events
  • Exchange/visits to/from existing or potential external research partners
• General running costs
• Development of new courses (see also the call for seed funding for development of courses)

Assesment criterias and application format

• Relevance to UiO:Energy and Environment strategy and mandate
• Academic quality and originality. Please describe how the TRG aims to develop knowledge beyond the state of art within its particular research field
  • The TRG description can be maximum 5 pages, including an abstract of maximum 300 words
  • Describe the Thematic Research Area and the main scientific questions to be addressed
• The track records of the principal investigators’ and their documented experience in proposing and developing these type of research collaborations within UiO, nationally and internationally
  • Name each principal investigator and describe their role in the development of the TRG. CVs for the key members shall be submitted as separate attachments
  • Plan for participation in national and/or international networks
• The added value of this research cooperation, including added value of interdisciplinary collaborations
  • Describe the contribution of the recruitment position(s)
  • Added value of internal UiO, national and international collaborations
• Societal relevance, generously understood. Describe:
  • Involvement of relevant stakeholders
  • Plans for development of projects, including plans for further external funding
  • A clear dissemination plan.
• Description of the potential for teaching, including supervision and the development of relevant courses if relevant
• A two/three-year budget must be submitted, giving a description of the financial contribution to the TRG from UiO:Energy and Environment and from other sources if relevant, including how the funds are allocated to different activities. Please do not include overhead in the costs to be covered by UiO:Energy and Environment as these these funds are internal UiO funding (part of the basis governmental funding). You may include OH in the own contribution if relevant.
• The project description and all enclosed documents must be written in English
• Nominate at least 5 scientific unbiased experts to evaluate your proposal

Please use the provided application form and template.

Evaluations and award process

Each proposal shall be evaluated by at least 3 experts proposed by the applicants (to be appointed in October 2023).  Each expert will write an individual evaluation report, that will be compiled into a common evaluation feedback report for each application. The applicants will be invited to write a short answer to the feedback report. The template for the evaluators is available here.

The applications, the individual expert reports, an the feedback reports will be given to the UiO:Energy and Environment board. The board makes their final decision and awards up to four new TRGs in December 2023. The new TRGs are expected to start their activities within spring 2024. The TRGs may run until the end of 2027, but we encourage you to plan for as early start as possible.