Programmes and projects

Slovenian Research Agency, Bleiweisova cesta 30, 1000 Ljubljana, on the basis of Article 11 of the Rules on procedures for financing, co-financing, evaluating and monitoring the implementation of research activities (Official Gazette of the RS, Nos. 52/16, 79/17, 65/19, 78/20 and 145/20), in connection with Article 15 of the Research and Development Activity Act (Official Gazette of the RS, No. 22/06 – official consolidated text, 61/06-ZDru-1 112/07, 9/11, 57/12-ZPOP-1A, 21/18-ZNOrg and 9/19) and on the basis of the Methodology for evaluating applications for tenders No. 6319-2/2013-38 of 5 June 2017 – official consolidated text, 6319-2/2013-39 of 11 December 2017, 6319-2/2013-40 of 22 January 2018, 6319-2/2013-41 of 1 February 2018, 6319-2/2013-42 of 19 February 2018, 6319-2/2013-43 of 5 March 2018, 6319-2/2013-44 of 14 May 2018, 6319-2/2013-45 of 20 June 2018, 6319-2/2013-46 of 9 July 2018, 6319-2/2013-47 of 17 August 2018, 6319-2/2013-48 of 18 October 2018, 6319-2/2013-49 of 19 November 2018, 6319-2/2013-50 of 17 December 2018, 6319-2/2013-51 of 4 February 2019, 6319-2/2013-52 of 18 February 2019, 631-2/2013-53 of 13 May 2019, 6319-2/2013-54 of 14 October 2019, 6319-2/2013-55 of 28 October 2019, 6319-2/2013-56 of 2 December 2019, 6319-2/2013-57 of 3 February 2020, 6319-2/2013-58 of 18 May 2020,6319-2/2013-59 of 14 September 2020, 6319-2/2013-60 of 5 October 2020 and 6319-2/2013-61 of 30 November 2020, hereby publishes

Public call for the (co-)financing of research projects in 2021

1. Title and address of the budgetary funds user

Slovenian Research Agency, Bleiweisova cesta 30, 1000 Ljubljana (hereinafter: the Agency).

2. Subject of the Call

The subject of the Public call for the (co-)financing of research projects in 2021 (hereinafter: the Call) is the (co-)financing of research projects:

1. small basic research projects (hereinafter: basic projects) and small applied research projects (hereinafter: applied projects)
2. post-doctoral basic and post-doctoral applied research projects (hereinafter: post-doctoral basic projects, post-doctoral applied projects)
3. small basic research projects - Dr. Aleš Debeljak Programme (hereinafter: basic research projects - AD Programme)
4. major basic and major applied research projects (hereinafter: major projects).
    

3. Amount of funds for the Call

The estimated annual amount of funding for the realization of items 2.a and 2.b of this Call is €16,400,000.00. When allocating funds for the co-financing of research projects as part of the implementation of the Call, the distribution of funds is considered by scientific discipline per annum so that the ratio of resources among scientific disciplines in 2021 is approximately the same as the ratio in 2020.

The estimated annual amount of funding for the realization of item 2.c of this Call is €1,200,000.00.

The estimated annual amount of funding for the realization of item 2.d of this Call is €1,600,000.00.

The Call will be realised in view of the funding resources available in the budget of the Republic of Slovenia and the Agency's financial plan.
 

3.1. Distribution of approximate annual funds in the amount of €16,400,000.00 per scientific discipline:

Approximately 10% of the funding of each scientific discipline is allocated to interdisciplinary studies. Applicants for interdisciplinary projects must state the sustainable development objective of their research project proposal when applying.

Below is the list of sustainable development objectives defined by the ministry of science:

1. No poverty
2. Zero hunger
3. Good health and well-being
4. Quality education
5. Gender equality
6. Clean water and sanitation
7. Affordable and clean energy
8. Decent work and economic growth
9. Industry, innovation and infrastructure
10. Reduced inequalities
11. Sustainable cities and communities
12. Responsible consumption and production
13. Climate action
14. Life Below Water
15. Live on land
16. Peace, justice and strong institutions
17. Partnerships for the goals

Short descriptions of the sustainable development objectives and their relevant thematic fields or research fields are published on the Agency's website (Indicators (stat.si)).

Information about the capacity of research fields is published on the Agency's website.
 

3.2. Amount of (co-)financing

Basic and applied projects will be financed in the approximate annual amount of €100,000. Any project applying for €100,000 may be approved for either €100,000 or €50,000.

Calculated in terms of effective project research hours, this equates to approximately 3069 hours annually in Price Class A (1535 for projects valued at €50,000), 2726 hours annually in Price Class B (1363 for projects valued at €50,000), 2384 hours annually in Price Class C (1192 for projects valued at €50,000), 2139 hours annually in Price Class D (1070 for projects valued at €50,000), 1942 hours annually in Price Class E (971 for projects valued at €50,000) or 1779 hours annually in Price Class F (889 for projects valued at €50,000).

Basic research projects - AD Programme will be financed in the approximate annual amount of €100,000. Calculated in terms of effective project research hours, this equates to approximately 3069 hours annually in Price Class A, 2726 hours annually in Price Class B, 2384 hours annually in Price Class C, 2139 hours annually in Price Class D, 1942 hours annually in Price Class E or 1779 hours annually in Price Class F.

Major projects will be financed in the approximate annual amount of €200,000. Calculated in terms of effective project research hours, this equates to approximately 6139 hours annually in Price Class A, 5451 hours annually in Price Class B, 4769 hours annually in Price Class C, 4278 hours annually in Price Class D, 3884 hours annually in Price Class E or 3557 hours annually in Price Class F.

The Agency will finance up to 100% of eligible project costs for basic projects and basic research projects – AD Programme and major basic projects. The Agency will co-finance up to 75% of eligible project costs for applied projects and major applied projects. The scope of a post-doctoral project is 1700 effective research hours annually (1 FTE) in Price Class B, whereby the amount of co-financing of an applied post-doctoral project by the Agency shall amount to 1275 effective research hours annually (0.75 FTE) in Price Class B.

The applicant of a major applied project, applied project or applied post-doctoral project must ensure that at least 25% of eligible project costs are covered by other interested users and submit proof of the project's co-financing (a co-financing agreement) for the entire period of the project's implementation in view of the value of the effective research hours at the start of financing. Projects cannot be co-financed by research organisations listed in the register of ROs, with the exception of corporate entities. Co-financing can only be in the form of money.

A co-financer of a major applied project and applied project may also be a co-implementer of the same applied project, not exceeding 10% of the scope of the project financed by the Agency, unless they are the applicant of the same applied project.

In view of the number of effective research hours financed by the budget of the Republic of Slovenia, the Agency will, in accordance with the provisions of the Decree on norms and standards used to determine funding for research activities financed by the budget of the Republic of Slovenia (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia, Nos. 103/11, 56/12, 15/14, 103/15, 27/17, 9/18, 62/19 and 105/20)), finance an individual researcher in view of the ratio of employment options for research, but no more than 1700 effective research hours per annum. The minimum annual workload of a researcher per individual project is 17 hours. The participating RO must collaborate for at least 170 hours during the period of the project's implementation, whereby the minimum amount of RO collaboration is 170 hours per annum. During the project's implementation, the number of hours rendered annually by the participating RO can be 0.
 

4. Entities eligible for applying to the Call

The Call is open to research organisations registered in the database of research and development activity providers (hereinafter: the RO Records) as well as private researchers registered in the register of private researchers, with both the RO Records and the register being kept by the Agency, and that meet the requirements set out in the Research and Development Activity Act and in the Rules on procedures for financing, co-financing, evaluating and monitoring the implementation of research activities (hereinafter: the Rules). Only research organizations can apply for the basic research projects – AD Programme and major projects.

If there are several providers of research activities collaborating on a research activity, the applicant is the parent RO. A parent RO is the RO that submits the application for the research project, is listed first on the application form and employs the leader of the research project upon signing the agreement on implementation and (co-)financing. Research projects that are (co-)financed by the Agency and comply with the framework programme of research and technology development activities of the EU are open to research subjects from the EU, whereby these subjects finance their own part of the research using their own funds. The applicants may register these subjects as participating research groups.

5. Objectives of the Call

5.1. The objective of the Call is to select:

• small (basic and applied) research projects
• post-doctoral (basic and applied) research projects

Within each discipline, at least 10% of the funds must be allocated to post-doctoral projects relative to the amount of funding for the selected applications within the discipline. At least 30% of funding for projects in the field of engineering, at least 20% in the field of biotechnology, at least 10% in the field of social sciences and at least 5% in the field of natural sciences and medicine must be allocated to applied projects. At least 20% of the approved funds in the Call must be awarded for projects carried out by young doctors (maximum 10 years after having defended their doctoral dissertation).

No more than 10% of projects amounting to €50,000 can be approved for all the disciplines in total (particularly in clinical medicine, mathematics and social sciences). Projects amounting to €50,000 are usually assigned to applications that are at the bottom of the list of approved projects.

In the medical sciences, clinical research must demonstrate the participation of healthcare institutions/educational establishments in at least 30% of research hours. For each project application where the applicant chooses to conduct research in the field of clinical medicine, the applicant must specifically justify that it is a clinically oriented project, and the justification will be verified and confirmed/rejected by the international panel as part of the assessment process.
 

5.2. The objective of the Call is also to select:

• basic research projects – AD Programme.

As a rule, two top ranked projects in the assessment are selected per research discipline, whereby they cannot belong to the same field within the discipline.

In case the project submitted for consideration for the AD Programme is not selected, it can be submitted for consideration for basic research projects in line with the rules applicable for the selection of these projects.   
 

5.3. The objective of the Call is also to select:

• major projects.

Major applied projects must include at least three ROs of a different type (with regard to their status, i.e. research institution, university or independent higher education institution, and company) and shall provide evidence of co-financing. Major basic projects must include at least two Slovenian ROs of a different type (with regard to their status, i.e. research institution, university or independent higher education institution, or company). The candidates for co-financing will comprise:

• two best rated major natural science projects;
• two best rated major engineering projects;
• one best rated major medicine project;
• one best rated major biotechnology project;
• one best rated major social science project;
• one best rated major humanities project.

Major projects are not to be submitted for under the agreement with the Hungarian agency NKFIH and the Swiss agency SNSF and under the CEUS agreement with the Austrian agency FWF, the Polish agency NCN and the Czech agency GACR. Major projects are not to be applied for as interdisciplinary research.
 

6. Requirements

Terms and conditions for the participation of basic and applied research projects, and post-doctoral basic and applied research projects in the Call are set out in the Research and Development Activity Act, Methodology for evaluating applications for tenders (hereinafter: the Methodology), in the Rules and in the Rules on criteria for establishing compliance with the conditions for being the head of a research project (Official Gazette of the RS, No. 53/16; hereinafter: Rules on the criteria for the project leader). All listed documents are published on the Agency's website.

The requirements for participation in the Call for basic research projects - AD Programme are laid out in the Methodology.

6.1. Requirements for major projects, basic and applied projects and post-doctoral (basic and applied) projects

6.1.1. Basic requirements for applicants and project leaders

Major projects, and basic and applied projects are to be carried out by a project group comprising the project leader, researchers, as well as professional and technical associates.

The Call applicant must be an eligible applicant in accordance with item 4 of the Call. If the project group comprises several project subgroups at various research organisations, the applicant must have a signed agreement with the other participating research organisations on the regulation of mutual rights and obligations.

The participating RO must collaborate for at least 170 hours during the period of the project's implementation, whereby the minimum amount of RO collaboration is 170 hours per annum. During the project's implementation, the number of hours rendered annually by the participating RO can be 0. If the project is granted €50,000, the applicant can exclude or reduce the share carried out by the participating research organisations and must state this in the application – item 28 (indication of the share of participating research organisations).

The applicant of an applied project, major applied project and post-doctoral applied project must ensure that at least 25% of the eligible project costs are financed by other interested users.

The project leader must have a researcher record number, which means that they must be entered into the database of research and development activity providers kept by the Agency. For a project leader without an assigned researcher record number, the applicant must fill out the ARRS-ZOP-02-2018-1 form and submit an accompanying Statement on the intention of employment.

Researchers who have received a negative grade on a final report for a project in which they were project leaders in the period of three years prior to the starting year of the Call cannot apply as project leaders on this Call.

If a project received a lower number of points in the evaluation in a previous call (carried out in a single phase) than the amount defined as the overall threshold for the sum of all scores, as specified in Articles 99 or 100 of the Rules, the researcher carrying out the role of a project leader may not apply as a project leader under this Call.

Only researchers who are project leaders for a maximum of one project during the period of one year after the deadline for the submission of the application, including projects with an extended deadline for project conclusion in accordance with Article 104 of the Rules, may apply as project leaders under this Call. Targeted research programmes (TRP) and projects under Articles 139 and 146 of the Rules, as well as new projects and projects under Article 145 of the Rules, for which the co-financed amount is under €50,000.00 per annum, are excluded from the limitation laid out in the previous sentence.

Young doctors are researchers for whom on the closing date of the call no more than ten years have passed since the defence of their first doctorate. Researchers who have already carried out a project as young doctors can no longer register their project as young doctors.

A post-doctoral project can be only carried out by one researcher - a post-doctoral researcher. Post-doctoral researchers fulfil the post-doctoral project leader requirements if no more than three years have passed since they defended their first doctorate (i.e. the doctorate was defended in the period from 1 January 2018 to the end of this Call). A post-doctoral researcher shall have defended his or her doctoral dissertation by 12 February 2021. If a post-doctoral researcher takes parental leave under the parental protection insurance, the time period following the year of doctoral defence is extended beyond the three years for a period of one year per child. The same applies to documented absences due to sick or injury leave, other types of absence provided for in the regulations on health insurance, and employment outside research exceeding three months.

Researchers who have already carried out a post-doctoral project or have received funds from the “Researchers at the start of their career/Raziskovalci na začetku kariere” call may no longer register a post-doctoral project.

A researcher may apply as leader for only one research project within the Call.
 

6.1.2. Additional terms for applicants who submit projects under the agreement with the Hungarian agency NKFIH and the Swiss agency SNSF and under the CEUS agreement with the Austrian agency FWF, the Polish agency NCN and the Czech agency GACR

6.1.2.1. Additional terms for applicants who submit projects under the agreement with the Hungarian agency NKFIH and the Swiss agency SNSF

Pursuant to an agreement with Hungarian agency NKFIH and Swiss agency SNSF, the applicant may submit projects in collaboration with Hungarian or Swiss researchers (researchers who work in Hungarian or Swiss research organisations), whereby the Agency acts as the “lead agency” and performs the project review. The Hungarian or Swiss researchers shall submit the application together with the Slovenian researchers, as well as send the application documentation to NKFIH or SNSF as required by the said agencies. The joint project may only be (co-)financed if the project is co-financed by the Agency and NKFIH or SNSF. In the case of co-financing by the NKFIH, the volume of NKFIH funds must be less than the volume of Slovenian part. Projects submitted under an agreement with the two partner agencies may only be minor basic research projects as defined in point 2.a of the Call.

6.1.2.2. Additional terms for applicants submitting projects under the CEUS agreement with Austrian agency FWF, Polish agency NCN and Czech agency GACR

Under the CEUS agreement with Austrian agency FWF, Polish agency NCN and Czech agency GACR, applicants can submit projects in collaboration with Austrian, Polish and Czech researchers (researchers working in Austrian, Polish and Czech research organizations), where the Agency acts as a “lead agency", which reviews the project. Slovenian researchers can submit an application together with:

• Austrian researchers who simultaneously submit the application documentation to the FWF as required by the FWF,
• Polish researchers who simultaneously submit the application documentation to the NCN as required by the NCN,
• Czech researchers who simultaneously submit the application documentation to the GACR as required by the GACR,
• Austrian and Polish researchers who simultaneously submit the application documentation to the FWF and NCN as required by the FWF and NCN,
• Austrian and Czech researchers who simultaneously submit the application documentation to the FWF and GACR as required by the FWF and GACR,
• Polish and Czech researchers who simultaneously submit the application documentation to the NCN and GACR as required by the NCN and GACR.

A joint project can only be (co-)financed if the project is co-financed by an agency and a partner agency when two agencies are involved, or by an agency and both partner agencies when three agencies are involved. In the event that the project is financed by two agencies, the volume of funding of the Slovenian contractor must be at least 40% of the funds allocated to the project as a whole. In the event that the project is financed by three agencies, the volume of funding of the Slovenian contractor must be at least 25% of the funds allocated to the project as a whole. Projects submitted under an agreement with the specified partner agencies may only be minor basic research projects as defined in point 2.a of the Call.

Applicants submitting a project under the CEUS agreement with Austrian agency FWF, Polish agency NCN or Czech agency GACR shall also submit the completed signed and stamped CEUS Cost Sheet form: ARRS-RPROJ-CEUS-STROSKOVNIK-20 - CEUS.xlsl

6.1.2.3. Common provisions for applicants submitting a project under agreements with partner agencies

Submission of a joint project consists of a joint scientific description of the project, which describes scientific contributions of individual partners. Cost estimates must be provided separately for each national part of the project and must follow the guidelines of the funding partner agency. Should the joint project be approved, the project parts will be financed by the Agency and the partner agency(ies) in accordance with their regulations.

Following the completion of the assessment procedure, the Agency informs the partner agency(ies) of the assessment procedure results, and the partner agency in turn, after consideration by its decision-making bodies, provides confirmation of the Agency's decision or a reasoned rejection. Each partner agency shall inform the applicants of its national part of the joint project regarding the outcome of the assessment procedure.

If the entry conditions of one of the participating agencies are not met, the application will be deemed to have been rejected by all participating agencies.

Should the success degree of public call applications (number of approved projects in relation to the received applications) exceed 20%, then pursuant to the agreement between the partner agencies, the applications ranking lower than applications that are among the 20% of applications (taking into account the percentage of the value of the application evaluation ratio in relation to the highest possible evaluation of an individual application), shall not be included in the selection for co-financing.

6.1.2.4. COOPERATION WITH POLISH RESEARCHERS

In accordance with the entry conditions of Polish agency NCN, the head of the Polish part of the research project must submit an application to a parallel call of the Polish agency NCN by 31 December 2020. In order to meet the entry conditions with Polish agency NCN, no later than by 31 December 2020, an application must be submitted to the agency by the Slovenian project manager.
 

6.1.3. Available capacities and employment

The project leader and the members of the project groups must have available capacities as regards effective research hours to carry out the research project (the maximum permitted capacity for full-time employment is 1700 effective research hours annually, or one FTE) and must be employed by the RO that will carry out the project, or have the status of private researcher. Upon signing the contract, the project leader must have at least 170 effective research hours (0.1 FTE) available annually. A project group member (except for young researchers, doctoral students, financed from other sources, retired researchers and PRO heads who may participate in the project with 0 hours) must upon signing the agreement participate with at least 17 effective research hours (0.01 FTE) available annually.

The agreement must be signed no later than three months after the adoption of the decision on the selection of projects, except in the case of delay of the beginning of co-financing. The project leader must be employed in at least a 40% full-time capacity at the RO in the Republic of Slovenia carrying out the research project.
 

6.1.4. Research performance of project leaders

Research project leaders must hold a doctoral degree and comply with the following conditions, stated with the minimum values for each parameter. Researchers with young doctor status must fulfil the requirements for young doctors where expressly required.

Requirements for leaders of basic and applied projects, and major projects are:

• Achieved requirements regarding citations and a minimum number of points for scientific publications as laid out by Articles 2 and 3 of the Rules on criteria for project leaders,
• A^1/2 ≥ 400 or A' ≥ 200 or A" ≥ 50 or basic requirement,
• value A' > 0.

Basic requirements for project leaders candidates are: A₁ ≥ A₁ minimum, CI ≥ CI minimum and A3 ≥ A3 minimum.

Requirements for A₁ minimum, CI minimum and A3 minimum for each discipline and field are listed in the table below. The field is listed if it is considered an exception and therefore has different requirements than the discipline. For fields that are not listed, the requirements for the discipline are applicable.

1. Grade A₁

1. A₁ minimum is as follows:
    

Discipline/Field	A1 minimum
Natural Sciences, Engineering, Medical Sciences, Biotechnical Sciences, Social Sciences, Archaeology, Geography	0.5
Humanities, Law, National Issues	1

 

2. For project leaders with young doctor status, the A1 minimum is set out in the following table:
    

Discipline/Field	A1 minimum
Natural Sciences, Engineering, Medical Sciences, Biotechnical Sciences, Social Sciences, Archaeology, Geography	0.4
Humanities, Law, National Issues	1

2. Pure citations

1. The minimum number of pure citations, CI minimum, for project leaders is as follows:
    

Discipline/Field	CI minimum
Humanities, Law, National Issues	1
Social Sciences, Archaeology, Geography	5
Mining and Geotechnology, Geodesy, Transport, Hydrology, Psychology, Sport	15
Engineering, Biotechnical Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Geology	50
Medical Sciences, Biology, Computationally Intensive Methods and Applications, Chemical Engineering, Energy Engineering, Materials	100
Natural Sciences, Microbiology and Immunology, Biotechnology	200

2. For research project leaders with young doctor status, the minimum number of pure citations, CI minimum, is as follows:
    

Discipline/Field	CI minimum
Humanities, Law, National Issues	1
Social Sciences, Mining and Geotechnology, Transport, Hydrology	5
Engineering, Mathematical Sciences, Geology, Forestry, Wood and Paper Industry, Plant Production and Processing, Geography	10
Natural Sciences, Medical Sciences, Biotechnical Sciences	20

3. Other quantitative conditions

For project leaders, A3 minimum equals 0.

Requirements for post-doctoral project leaders are:

• At least one scientific publication, as laid out in the secondary regulations setting our research performance criteria,
• organizational and leadership skills,
• value A₁> 0,
• value A' > 0.

Quantitative grades for each evaluation factor (A1 and CI) and for each scientific discipline defined in the Methodology are obtained and calculated by the Agency. To calculate the quantitative grade, the Agency will use the data entered into the SICRIS (COBISS) databases and the Agency's records on the closing date of the call (A1) or on the day of the last data capture in the SICRIS (COBISS) database prior to the closure of the Call (CI).

For the purpose of evaluating bibliographic indicators of a researcher's research performance (calculation of quantitative assessments), researchers themselves must, through an authorized library, timely enter the researcher's record number from the database on research and development activity providers, maintained by the Agency, into the normative record for the author in the CONOR.SI normative database.

6.2. Requirements for basic research projects – AD Programme

• On the closing date of the Call, the leader of the submitted project must be living abroad for at least one year and must not be employed in the Republic of Slovenia. The requirement of living abroad for a period of one year is also considered fulfilled if the leader of the submitted project defended their doctoral dissertation abroad in 2020 or prior to the closure of the Call.
• On the closing date of the Call, the leader of the submitted project must fulfil the requirement that no more than 10 years have passed since he defended his first doctorate.
• The leader of the submitted project must be a citizen of the Republic of Slovenia on the closing date of the Call.
• The leader of the submitted project must be listed as working on the research project they lead for at least 680 effective research hours annually (40% of 1700 effective research hours). Upon concluding the agreement on co-financing a project successful on the Call, the project leader must be listed as employed for research activities in a share of no less than 40%.
• The leader of the submitted project must fulfil the requirements for leaders of basic projects.
• In case of a successful application, the researchers cannot submit a second project for consideration within the same or a similar mechanism, that is a mechanism for co-financing projects of researchers returning to the Republic of Slovenia from abroad.

7. Applying to the Call

Applications for the Call are made by completing the ARRS-RPROJ-JR-Prijava/2020 available on the Agency's web portal eObrazci. The portal may be used by researchers listed in the Agency register, administrators of the eObrazci portal at an RO, RO representatives, RO authorized representatives and additional users. The eObrazci web portal can be accessed in two ways:

• using a digital certificate (SIGEN-CA, SIGOV-CA, NLB-CA, POSTArCA or HALCOM-CA),
• using a username and password (researchers can obtain a password themselves by going to the eObrazci website, whereas other users are given a password by the eObrazci administrator at the RO or by the Agency). The application form must be filled out in Slovenian and English - it must be completed in both languages.

The applicant must state in the application form whether the content of the research project proposal should be treated as a trade secret. On the basis of Article 39 of the Companies Act (Official Gazette of the RS, No. 65/09 – official consolidated text, 33/11, 91/11, 100/11 – Constitutional Court decision, 32/12, 57/12, 44/13 – Constitutional Court decision, 82/13, 55/15, 15/17 and 22/19 - ZPosS) any information that meets the requirements for business secrets in accordance with the law governing business secrets shall be deemed a business secret.

Setting-up a project group is an integral part of the application. The project group as listed on the application form cannot be changed before the end of the year in which the implementation of the research project begins, except in the case of employment termination, retirement, death of a project group member or other reasons substantiated in writing.

The applicants proposing projects in which a corporate entity will be registered as project implementer, co-implementer or co-financer, will, pursuant to the Rules on State Aid for research activities, No. 007-7/2015-11, be published on 8. April 2016, entering into force on 9 April 2016, also have to submit a completed, signed and stamped ARRS-RPROJ-JR-Prijava/2020-DP form for Granting State Aid.

8. Evaluation criteria

The evaluation requirements, criteria and indicators for evaluating the project proposals are set out in the Rules and the Rules on the criteria for qualification for project leaders, and the evaluation method is set out in the Methodology.

Criteria and indicators for research project assessment are specified in Articles 99 and 100 of the Rules and are as follows:

• for basic projects, major basic projects and post-doctoral basic projects:

• Scientific excellence of researchers
• Scientific, technological or innovation excellence
• Quality and efficiency of implementation and management

• for applied projects, major applied projects and post-doctoral applied projects:

• Scientific excellence of researchers
• Scientific, technological or innovation excellence
• Potential impact due to the development, dissemination and application of expected research results
• Quality and efficiency of implementation and management

Basic research projects - AD Programme are evaluated according to the criteria and indicators for evaluating basic projects, as set out in Article 99 of the Rules.

9. Project evaluation

The application evaluation procedure is carried out in a single phase. Applications are evaluated in accordance with the provisions of the Rules applicable to evaluation of applications in the second phase.

Applications for major projects, basic and applied projects, post-doctoral basic and applied projects and basic research projects - AD Programme are evaluated by two foreign reviewers according to the procedure laid out in Article 93 of the Rules. In case of diverging reports, the temporary expert body appoints a third reviewer.

10. Research project duration

The anticipated beginning of the (co-)financing of project implementation is 1 August 2021, depending of the funds available in the budget of the Republic of Slovenia and the Agency’s financial plan, as well as other objective circumstances that may affect the Call implementation. Any changes of the expected start date of the co-financing of project implementation will be communicated to the applicants while the Call is in progress.

The selected projects are (co-)financed by the Agency in the period of up to three years, with the exception of post-doctoral research projects, which are (co-)financed in the period of two years. The selected projects will be allocated an annual amount of research hours, and this number of effective research hours is applicable for each year of the project's duration as part of this Call.
 

11. Project selection

Projects with a total or individual grade that is lower than the threshold set in the Rules and Methodology cannot be selected as co-financed projects.

A temporary expert body draws up a draft priority list of projects and submits it to the SCA for discussion. The SCA draws up a draft of the financially evaluated priority list for the selection of projects and sends it to the Managing Director of the Agency for a decision. On the basis of a decision, the Managing Director of the Agency then issues each applicant a notification on the selection or rejection of their application.

Basic research projects - AD Programme are selected according to the following procedure:

• The temporary expert body draws up a draft priority list of projects, starting with the 2 best evaluated projects per research discipline, which must concern different fields within the discipline. In case all submitted projects within the discipline concern the same field, the priority list includes 2 projects concerning the same field.
• If the draft priority project list contains fewer than 12 project applications, the remainder of the funds for the Call (allocated for Item 2.c of the Call) shall be proportionately divided among those disciplines of the entire Call, for which the temporary expert body did not list 2 project submissions on the draft priority project list.
• If a basic research project – AD Programme is not selected within this programme, it can be submitted for consideration for basic research projects in line with the rules applicable for the selection of these projects.
• The panel for each discipline including applications for (co-)financing basic research projects - AD Programme that fulfil the requirements of the Call and have not been listed on the draft priority project list based on indents 1 and 3 of this paragraph, additionally proposes up to three applications for the reserve list. The reserve list applications are to be considered by the SCA within the scope of its competences, adding to the draft priority project list up to the amount of the funds available for the Call (for Item 2.c of the Call), whereby the draft priority list may include more than two projects per research discipline.
• If the number of applications that meet the Call conditions and are not graded below the prescribed project selection threshold is equal to or less than the maximum number of possible selected applications in relation to the funds available, all applications will be included in the selection.
   

12. Legal remedies

An applicant may appeal the decision on the results of the application selection within 15 days of receiving notification of the selection. Management Board of the Agency issues a decision on the appeal.

A filed appeal does not delay the signing of contracts with selected applicants.

13. Open access to reviewed scientific publications and web access to information about the research project

In accordance with the provisions of the National strategy for open access to scientific publications and research data in the Republic of Slovenia 2015-2020*, all reviewed scientific publications arising from the implementation of a research project must be published in open access. A reviewed scientific publication must also include information on the financer or financers and the project number in accordance with Article 105 of the Rules.

After the project is approved, the applicant must create a website or subpage on their RO's website dedicated to the project and enabling the dissemination of its results. The minimum requirements of the website content are: a description of the project’s content including basic information about financing, composition of the project group with links to data in the SICRIS system, the project phases and descriptions of their implementation, bibliographical references arising directly from the implementation of the project, as well as the Slovenian Research Agency’s logo and logos of other co-financers. Content included in the SICRIS system should be linked and need not be provided twice. The project presentation website must remain active for five years following the conclusion of the project. The implementer reports on the establishment of the website in the interim and final report.

*Web address
 

14. Means, form and deadline for application submission

The application to the Call shall be submitted in electronic form with a qualified digital certificate in the electronic application system.

The application for the Call may be submitted in the manner specified in point 14.1. (electronic application with a qualified digital signature) or for justified reasons in the manner specified in point 14.2. (in electronic form without a qualified digital signature and printed application).

Applicants are advised not to submit their applications on the final day before the closure of the Call, as the server may be overloaded.

A reviewer receives for evaluation the application filled out in English, as completed by the applicant on the Agency web portal. This means that the reviewer receives only the application text entered in the fields for the English text, together with the attachments uploaded to the section for the English text. It is the responsibility of the applicant to complete the application correctly and that the applications in Slovene and English are identical in content. The Agency will not verify the correctness of the application or its attachments.

14.1. Submitting applications using a qualified digital signature

The application must be completed and submitted using the ARRS-RPROJ-JR-Prijava/2020 Application form available on the Agency's website at eObrazci. A submitted application is deemed complete if it carries both digital signatures (the applicant’s representative or authorised person and the research project leader).

Applications must be submitted by 12 February 2021 by 2 p.m. An application using a digital signature shall be deemed timely if it is filled out and carries both digital signatures at the Agency web portal eObrazci by 12 February 2021 by 2 p.m.

 

14.2. Submitting applications without a qualified digital signature

If the applicant (representative or authorised person of the applicant) and/or project leader do not have a digital signature, the application can be completed and submitted in electronic form (digitally unsigned) on the Agency's website at eObrazci (the ARRS-RPROJ-JR-Prijava/2020 Application Form) and in printed form, which must have a handwritten signature of the representative or authorised person of the applicant and project leader, as well as a stamp of the applicant.

Both forms of application, electronic without a digital signature and printed application, must be completely identical in content.

The printed application must be delivered in a sealed envelope marked “Do not open – application for the Public call for the (co-)financing of research projects in 2021 – application no. ______” and the name and address of the applicant to: Javna agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost Republike Slovenije, Bleiweisova cesta 30, 1000 Ljubljana.

An application without a digital signature shall be deemed timely if it is filled out on the Agency web portal eObrazci by 12 February 2021 by 2 p.m. and arrives in printed form at the main office of the Public Agency for Research of the Republic of Slovenia by 12 February 2021 by 2 p.m. An application shall also be deemed timely if it sent by registered mail in Slovenia 12 February 2021 by 2 p.m. (the postmark will serve as proof).
 

15. Opening of applications

The committee for opening applications will open all applications that will be delivered in time and marked correctly on 16 February 2021 at 10:00 a.m. at the registered office of the Slovenian Research Agency, Bleiweisova cesta 30, 1000 Ljubljana.

Untimely and incorrectly marked applications will not be considered by the committee for opening applications and will be returned unopened to the applicant with an accompanying letter (except in the event that the applicant's details on the envelope are illegible and the application must be opened).
 

16. Deadline for the notification of applicants on the outcome of the Call

It is expected that the applicants will be notified about the project selection in July 2021.
 

17. Time, place and person where interested parties can collect the Call documents

The call documents are available on the Agency website (http://www.arrs.si/sl/razpisi/).

Information in connection with the Call can be found on the Agency website at http://www.arrs.si/sl/ or obtained at the Slovenian Research Agency, Bleiweisova cesta 30, 1000 Ljubljana, weekdays from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m.

Contact persons: Ms. Vanja Rodič, Ms. Almira Bremec, Ms. Alja Kastelic Primc, Ms. Mateja Gašpirc and Ms. Tina Valenci (e-mails are published at: ARRS - Research projects - Contact points); for projects where ARRS is the lead agency in connection with a partner agency: Mojca Boc).

Links to public calls with partner agencies:

• FWF: https://www.fwf.ac.at/en/research-funding/fwf-programmes/international-programmes/joint-projects
• SNSF  http://www.snf.ch/en/funding/projects/lead-agency/Pages/default.aspx
• GACR: https://gacr.cz/en/
• NCN: https://www.ncn.gov.pl/ogloszenia/konkursy/ceus-unisono-2020?language=en
• NKFIH: https://nkfih.gov.hu/for-the-applicants

Number: 6316-16/2020-7
Date:    8. December 2020

Slovenian Research Agency
Prof. Dr. Robert Repnik
Managing Director