Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en technologie

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Agentschap voor Innovatie door Wetenschap en
technologie Agency for Innovation by Science and
Technology
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Doctoraatsbeurzen voor strategisch basisonderzoek
(SB)

• Doctoral (PhD) Grants for Strategic Basic
  Research

July 1st, 2013
Dr. Michele Oleo
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IWT Mission

• IWT is the government agency for Innovation by
  Science and Technology. We help Flemish companies
  and research centres in realizing their research
  and development projects. We offer them financial
  funding, advice and a network of potential
  partners in Flanders and abroad. We also support
  the Flemish Government in its innovation policy.
• Budget approx. 300 mln
• PhD Grants (2012) 29 mln 800 fellowships
• 200/year

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Overview

1. How to get a PhD in Flanders?
2. What is an IWT PhD Grant?
3. Who can apply?
4. How to apply?
5. Evaluation and selection
6. Suggestions

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How to get a PhD at a Flemish University?

• Research projects ca. 47
• A.A.P. (assistants) ca. 21.1
• IWT (Phd) 8.9
• FWO mandats 8.4
• University Scholarships 3.5
• Other 11.1
• IWT Baekeland-program
• website
• http//www.doctorereninvlaanderen.be/

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How to get a PhD at a Flemisch University?Bron
steunpunt ECOOM
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IWT applicants success rates
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Success rates 43 29 22 34 37 38 42 56 40 30 31 29 (28)
N fellows 150 150 150 200 200 200 200 200 200 200 201 200
N applicants 353 521 676 585 548 524 478 357 495 655 644 697 (709)
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Success rates IWT

• Why these high success rates?

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Who is successfulsuccess rates per diploma in
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Higher Education Institute 36 40 37 15 30 17

University 43 58 41 32 31 30
Pharmacy 67 76 36 33 30 44
Medicine 38 50 38 42 25 18
Bio-engineer 54 58 31 34 34 26
Engineer 43 59 46 43 39 36
Veterinary medicine 33 47 50 35 30 9
Sciences 39 57 43 28 29 29
Humanities, Social Sciences - - 38 27 25 24
Kinesiology and Rehabilitation - - 40 25 0 33
Average 42 56 40 30 31 29
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Who is successfulsuccesrates of reapplications

• First application candidate-score 13/20-14/20
• Reapplication succesrate very low 15-20
• First application candidate-score 15/20-15,5/20
• Reapplication succesrate or gt average

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Success rates per university over the years.
20042012
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What is an IWT PhD Grant?See reglement en
handleiding, rules and handbook (www.iwt.be)

• Strategic Basic Research
• research with a goal/application!
• high quality, innovative research with enough
  challenges for the PhD-student
• scientific or technological capacity as a base
  for future application
• Economic purpose
• in the long-term!
• potential for applications for companies
• potential for applications for a(n) (industrial)
  sector
• in line with one of 6 strategic VRWI-clusters

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What is an IWT Phd Grant?(the VRWI-clusters)

1. Transport Logistics Services Supply Chain
   Management
2. ICT and services for Healthcare
3. Healthcare Prevention and Treatment Food
4. New Materials Nanotechnology Processing
   Industry
5. ICT for Socio-Economic Innovation
6. Energy and Environment for Service and Processing
   Industry

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What is an IWT Phd Grant?

• 100 subsidised
• University owner of the scientific results (IPR)
• We require freedom to operate

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Evaluation- and selection procedure

• Jurypanels of experts (ad-hoc and mixed)
• Language of the defence
• Timing november-december
• Duration
• min. 30 min./candidate
• 1 minute introduction
• Score based on 3 criteria
• Candidate /20
• Project /5
• Application /5 (score grid on website)

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Evaluation- and selection procedurecandidate
/20

• Unacceptable lt 14/20
• Poor 14/20
• Fair 15/20
• Good 16/20
• Very good 17/20
• Excellent 18/20

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Evaluation- and selection procedurecandidate 16
/20

• Good scientific and literature knowledge, good
  expertise in the research field (no mistakes no
  gaps)
• Necessary research skills
• Good motivation
• Masters the research proposal, critical
  scientific mindset
• Is able to explain the application potential

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Evaluation- and selection procedure Project 3/5

• Good scientific quality, scientific and
  intellectual challenges
• Innovative and inventive
• Good planning, approach is well thought out to
  achieve the targeted objectives
• feasible

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Evaluation- and selection procedure Application
Strategy 2/5

• The project has a strategic dimension
• The chosen research approach is alligned with and
  will (in case of success) contribute to the
  intended application
• The targeted application is relevant
• The support is aimed at developing application
  oriented thinking

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What is an IWT PhD Grant?See reglement en
handleiding, rules and handbook (www.iwt.be)

• Duration
• 4 years, mid term evaluation after 24 months
• Fulltime
• Principles
• Grantholder
• Promotor
• IWT is employer
• University is host (In co-operation higher
  education institute, research institute)
• Finance
• Scholarship 2000 netto/month (incl holiday
  pay, end-of-year bonus, allowance for commuting)
• Benchfee 3000/year
• Doctoral bonus 1189,92 after 4 years when PhD
  is obtained
• Start date
• between 1st october and 1st january (desicion
  mid december)

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What is an IWT PhD Grant?See reglement en
handleiding, rules and handbook (www.iwt.be)

• Tax
• equal to a study grant
• Social Security
• equal to an employer
• leaves/sick-leaves
• Maternity- and breastfeeding leave
• illness/accidents gt 1 month
• Childs allowance and birth premium

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Applicants eligible for fundingWho can apply
See reglement en handleiding, rules and
handbook (www.iwt.be)

• Diploma
• Master from a Flemish University (ManaBa)
• Master from a higher education institution
  agreement university
• Foreign Masterdiploma attestation university
• Study results
• "age requirement"
• Nationality
• lt18 months scientific experience

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Processing of the applicationCall for proposals
www.iwt.be

• Call 25/06/2013- 13/09/2013 (12 noon, online
  tool 10 am)
• How to apply
• Online registration tool (IWT.be)
• Personalia
• Diplomas
• Summary of PhD project
• Promotors recommendation
• PhD project (not via online tool)
• Annexes
• In hard-copy

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How to prepare ?(practical suggestions)

• Be convinced for 100 that a PhD is the right
  start for your career
• Be motivated
• Check the score grid (http//www.iwt.be/sb)
• Good planning, right methodology
• IMPORTANT Incomplete ineligible !
• Start in time (online module)
• Keep in mind the final date for submission

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How to prepare ?(practical suggestions)

• Refresh your knowledge!
• Live your project, know it inside out
• Consult relevant literature
• Be the devils advocate!
• Exercise your 1 minute introduction and the
  interactive discussion with colleagues
  /promotor(s)!
• Be on time, but not too early!

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How to prepare ?(practical suggestions)

• your introduction keep to the time limit, give
  only the essentials
• Anticipate to the questions, give yourself enough
  time for reflection, be precise.
• Be enthusiastic,
• Defend your project,
• Do not get discouraged because of difficult
  questions

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Contact persons Doctoral (PhD) Grants for
Strategic Basic Research

• Program Michèle Oleo (sb-support_at_iwt.be)
• Secretariat Ann Joris (aj_at_iwt.be)
• Database en information processing Kristof
  Fostier
• Info general info Michèle Oleo
• Life Sciences Mia Callens
• ICT-mechatronica Carine Lucas
• Materials-chemistry-procestechnology Veerle
  Cauwenberg
• Humane sciences Michèle Oleo
• Management Maarten Sileghem
• Websitehttp//www.iwt.be/subsidies/sb
• Also read the reglement en handleiding and the
  score grids.

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Ellipsgebouw, Koning Albertl II-laan 35 bus
16 B-1030 Brussel Tel. [phone] Fax.
32 (0)2 432 43 99 E-mailadres i.v.m.
beursaanvragen sb-support_at_iwt.be www.iwt.be