Frequently asked questions by researchers
Who are eligible participants in project consortia?
Which countries participate in BONUS?
How many participants have to be in projects?
Can one partner be listed more than once in the proposal?
Can a NGO participate a project?
Can a company participate in a project?
What are state aid rules?
What percentage of the eligible projects costs does BONUS fund?
Does BONUS fund costs for using infrastructure?
What is the overhead percentage?
Is socio-economic research included in BONUS?
Is technological research included in BONUS?
What kind of calls for proposal BONUS launches?
When will BONUS calls be launched?
What are the themes of the calls?
What is BONUS strategic research agenda?
How have the themes for calls been defined?
How are BONUS projects funded?
What is a call [for proposals]?
How can Russian participants be involved in BONUS projects?
What can I do?
Did not find an answer to your question yet?
What kind
of research does BONUS fund?
BONUS funds basic and applied research which aims at the development and implementation of ‘fit-for-purpose’ regulations, policies and management practices, to respond effectively to the major environmental and key societal challenges which the Baltic Sea region faces and will face in the coming years. The scientific content of the research to be funded is described in detail in BONUS Strategic Research Agenda. Projects selected for funding must demonstrate a high quality in the context of the topics and criteria set out in the calls for proposals.
Return to headlines
Who are
eligible participants in project consortia?
Eligible participants are independent legal entities from different EU Member States or associated countries. At least two project participants have to be from participating states (Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden). BONUS projects can include participants from third countries, but these project participants have to cover all of their project costs from their own sources. The project participants form a consortium.
Which
countries participate in BONUS?
The EU Member States that participate in the BONUS programme (= participating states) are Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Sweden. It means that these countries provide funding for the BONUS programme. However, projects may include research organisations from other countries as well, although they have to cover their project costs partly or fully by themselves.
How many participants have to be in projects?
The minimum number of participants is three.
Can one partner be listed more than once in the proposal?
No. Applicant/participant/beneficiary in BONUS context is legal entity (research institute, university, enterprise or other entity) that is part of the consortium. Each applicant can be listed in one proposal only once. If a coordinator is considering adding the CV-s of prominent professors/researchers who are acting as WP leaders or group leaders in proposals but are not the persons in charge very crucial, then these CV-s can be submitted as annexes to the work-plan (not within page limits) – but this is really an exceptional case.Return to headlines
Can a NGO
participate a project?
In principle, BONUS is a research programme and therefore the key participants are research organisations i.e. non-profit organisations which carry out research or technological development as one of their main objectives. A NGO may participate a project in a well justified case, where it can be demonstrated that the specific task appointed to such participant cannot be implemented otherwise.
Can a
company participate in a project?
BONUS is encouraging an adequate participation of enterprises in BONUS projects. In case of enterprise participation, state aid rules have to be taken into account.
What are
state aid rules?
The EU’s framework rules which aim at ensuring efficient use of state aid subsidies in order to strengthen the competiveness of the member states and regions. State aid rules have to be taken into account when a consortium involves enterprises and a project may produce commercially exploitable products. In practice, the rules define the level of BONUS funding for small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises (LEs).
What
percentage of the eligible projects costs does BONUS fund?
Information available when the first call is launched.
Does BONUS fund costs for using infrastructure?
Information available when the first call is launched.
What is the overhead percentage?
Information available when the first call is launched.
Is socio-economic research included in BONUS?
The research to be supported by BONUS has a strong interdisciplinary character. Socio-economic approaches are crucial to develop ‘fit-for-purpose’ regulations, policies and management practices and decision support tools in support of sustainable development of the Baltic sea region.
Is technological research included in BONUS?
Yes. Technological research can be funded in so called innovation
calls under themes derived from the strategic research agenda which include technological
development and have a commercialising potential (strategic research agenda themes 2.4, 3.5, 5.2 and
5.3).
What kind of calls for proposal BONUS launches?
BONUS launches two types of calls. Calls addressing themes which do not explicitly include commercialising potential, but are more focused on fundamental research are named as ‘thematic calls’. BONUS aims also at launching calls under themes derived from the strategic research agenda which include technological development and have a commercialising potential (strategic research agenda themes 2.4, 3.5, 5.2 and 5.3). These calls are termed ‘innovation calls’.
Return to headlines
When will BONUS calls be launched?
The first thematic call will be launched in the first half of 2012. Further information about the other BONUS thematic calls will be available later. Tentatively BONUS innovation calls are planned for 2012 and 2013.
What are the themes of the calls?
The themes of the calls are described in a call fact sheet, which is published in connection of opening individual calls.
The complete set of themes (19 in total) and timings of the calls is presented
in BONUS strategic research agenda.
What is BONUS strategic research agenda?
The BONUS strategic research agenda is a document defining the scientific content of the BONUS programme
2010-2016, its strategic objectives and themes. The SRA has been developed
through a broad consultation with key stakeholders such as policy-makers, the
scientific community and funders. The strategic research agenda is updated every second year in order
to take into account recent scientific development and emerging needs arising
from the policy development.
How have the themes for calls been defined?
The themes of the BONUS calls for proposals are derived from the
strategic research agenda, which has been developed and agreed upon in
consultation among the participating states, a broad range of stakeholders and
the European Commission.
How are BONUS projects funded?
BONUS projects are funded through two sources, by 1) national funding institutions to the respective national project participants and 2) the BONUS Secretariat (EEIG) to project coordinators, who distribute the EU funding to the project participants.
What is a call [for proposals]?
An announcement inviting proposals for research activities within
certain themes presented in the BONUS strategic research agenda. The full information on the calls can
be found in the call specific fact sheets published with the opening of each call (see www.bonusportal.org/calls).
Return to headlines
How can Russian participants be involved in BONUS projects?
This question will be answered later.
What can I do?
If you have or are planning to orient to a scientific career you can consider how BONUS strategic objectives could be approached from your discipline’s point of view. You can approach other scientists and present your ideas, and start establishing a consortium, which could prepare and submit a project proposal to BONUS.
Did not find an answer to your question yet?
Ask your own question, and we will answer it!
Subscribe to the BONUS in Brief newsletter by emailing us at bonus(at)bonuseeig.fi. Previous issues are available at the publications section (category BONUS in Brief)
See also:
Frequently asked questions about BONUS
Questions of interest to policy makers
Return to headlines