102 Roudebush Hall • Phone: 513-529-3600• Fax: 513-529-3762

Research Incentive Grants Deadline Jan 24, 2008

January 24, 2008

Previous Deadline: Concept papers requesting funding under this program are due in the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS, 102 Roudebush Hall) by noon on Thursday, January 24, 2008.

CONTENTS

CALL FOR CONCEPT PAPERS
INTRODUCTION
PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT
TYPES OF PROJECTS
- Collaborations
- Centers
- Individuals
ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURES IN PROJECTS
SELECTION PROCESS
TIMETABLE
SAMPLE COVER

Download Research Incentive Program Guidelines in PDF format.

CALL FOR CONCEPT PAPERS

MEMORANDUM

To: Miami University Faculty
From: Gilbert E. Pacey, Associate Dean for Research and Scholarship
Date: October 24, 2007
Subject: Research Incentive Concept Papers

The Research Incentive Program was created in 1985 by the Ohio Board of Regents (OBR), to enhance the capability of Ohio universities to attract external (federal, corporate, and foundation) funding for research. The OBR directs Ohio universities to invest Research Incentive funding in such a manner as to:

stimulate and improve the quality of research and scholarship at Ohio's Universities;

increase the amount of federal and other research funding received by Ohio's universities, and;

encourage research efforts that address critical state needs such as economic development.

The Ohio Board of Regents continues to strengthen the link between the Institutional Plan for Research Incentive Funds and the Ohio Third Frontier (http://www.ohio3rdfrontier.org/). As stated by OBR, “Universities are strongly encouraged to increase their efforts to work in partnership with industry to the greatest degree possible in the areas of research that lend themselves to possible future commercialization activities”. Therefore, Miami University's Research Incentive will align with the Ohio Third Frontier by encouraging collaborations and center formation in the areas of interest.

In this round of proposals, all Research Incentive awards will be made for establishing new collaborations and new centers; there are no individual awards.

The 2007-2009 Research Incentive Guidelines have been modified significantly from previous years. Faculty are encouraged to discuss their ideas with the staff of the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship. It is expected that successful Research Incentive Awardees would be positioning themselves for participation in collaborative BRTT, Ohio Third Frontier Action Fund, or Wright Centers of Innovation state funding. This “Call for Concept Papers”describes procedures whereby groups of faculty can suggest promising research projects and dialogue with the University's Research Incentive Advisory Committee concerning the project's merit and potential.

Miami University expects to invest significant funds from its 2007-2009 Research Incentive allocation in support of ideas and projects suggested in response to this announcement. It is strongly encourage potential investigators to discuss their ideas with the Associate Dean for Research. Additional collaborations, involvement of existing centers, and external collaborations will be the focus of these discussions.

INTRODUCTION

The Research Incentive Program (formally Research Challenge was created in 1985 by the Ohio Board of Regents (OBR) to enhance the capability of Ohio universities to attract external (federal, corporate, and foundation) funding for research. The OBR directs Ohio universities to invest Research Incentive funding in such a manner as to:

stimulate and improve the quality of research and scholarship at Ohio’s Universities
increase the amount of federal and other research funding received by Ohio’s universities, and;
encourage research efforts that address critical state needs such as economic development.

With the implementation of Ohio’s Third Frontier Project, additional specificity is now provided for university’s efforts to use Research Incentive Program funding in the prior areas. As stated by OBR, “Universities are strongly encouraged to increase their efforts to work in partnership with industry to the greatest degree possible in the areas of research that lend themselves to possible future commercialization activities”. Therefore, Miami University’s Research Incentive will align with the Ohio Third Frontier by encouraging collaborations and center formation in the areas of interest. It is expected that successful Research Incentive Awardees would be positioning themselves for participation in collaborative BRCP, Ohio Third Frontier Action Fund, or Wright Centers of Innovation state funding. This “Call for Concept Papers” describes procedures whereby groups of faculty can suggest promising research projects and enter into a dialogue with the University’s Research Incentive Advisory Committee concerning the project’s merit and potential.

Miami University expects to invest significant funds from its 2007-2008 Research Incentive allocation in support of ideas and projects suggested in response to this announcement.

PROJECTS ELIGIBLE FOR SUPPORT

As prescribed by the OBR, “Funds should be used with the intent of building strengths, fostering additional externally funded research, and promoting Ohio's economic revitalization."

Research Incentive funds may be used to encourage research or scholarly activity in existing or new research directions in any discipline or research area present in the University. The primary OBR (and Miami) requirement is that Research Incentive funds are used in areas that are aligned with Ohio’s Third Frontier Project and are to be used with the clear intent to foster additional externally funded research.

TYPES OF PROJECTS

For the 2007-08 Research Incentive competition, the Miami University Research Incentive Advisory Committee will give priority to Collaborative projects or Research Center Development projects. (maximum award of $50,000)

This category of support is intended to provide seed funding either for interdisciplinary research projects, collaborative work leading to new research centers at Miami, or work strengthening established research centers in ways that will significantly improve their capacity to generate external support.

COLLABORATIONS

The required format for concept papers for collaborations is as follows:

cover page (available from OARS) with appropriate endorsements
clearly identify what area of the Third Frontier this collaboration is addressing
identify potential collaborations in terms of center formation or external collaborations with other institutions and industry
identify which state of Ohio funding source (Wright Centers, BRCP, or Third Frontier Action Fund) is targeted
a maximum five-page project description
one-page budget request and budget justification
one-page statement of the plan for obtaining traditional external funding
one to two-page vitae for each research program faculty member including funding record
listing of proposals submitted since 2000 and their status (as many pages as needed)

The project description that comprises the body of the concept paper should concisely address the following questions:

• What are your objectives and vision?
• Why is the project significant?
• How are you going to conduct the project?
• What resources are needed for conducting the program for which you are requesting Research Incentive funding (give cost details in budget page)?
• What is the plan for attracting external support, and which agencies, foundations or corporations would be likely sponsors?

The concept paper must be endorsed by the appropriate department chair(s) and divisional dean(s).

Previous recipients of Research Incentive funds are eligible to submit concept papers, but are required to include an additional statement demonstrating the effectiveness of the earlier funding in attracting external funds from the federal government, foundation, or industry.

Centers The required format for concept papers for Centers is as follows:

cover page (available from OARS) with appropriate endorsements
clearly identify what area of the Third Frontier this Center is addressing
identify potential external collaborations with other institutions and industry (letters from these collaborators will improve the prospects for funding)
identify which state of Ohio or federal funding sources (e.g. Wright Centers, BRTT, or Third Frontier Action Fund, ODE) are targeted
an approximate five-page project description
a maximum two-page description on how the Center will operate
one-page budget request and budget justification
one-page statement of the plan for obtaining traditional external funding
one to two-page vitae for each research program faculty member including funding record
listing of proposals submitted since 2001 and their status (as many pages as needed)

In addition to the proposal, the document for Approval of Centers at Miami University must be attached. This will require that the Provost or Dean has agreed to be the oversight authority for the Center. Actual approval of the Center does not have to exist at the time of the proposal submission, but designated funds will not be released until the Center is approved by the Provost.

The project description that comprises the body of the concept paper should concisely address the following questions:

The concept paper must be endorsed by the appropriate department chairs and divisional deans.

INDIVIDUALS

No individual awards will be made on this round

ALLOWABLE EXPENDITURES IN PROJECTS

Specific allowable costs are direct costs normally incurred during the conduct of sponsored research, including salaries, consultant fees, equipment, domestic travel necessary for the conduct of the research, publications, supplies, and other direct costs. The following specific points also are noteworthy

Miami expenditures for equipment are limited to 25% of the total Research Incentive Program funds awarded to the institution in any one biennium. Equipment is defined as having a $1,200 or more unit price with a useful life of at least five years. Requests for equipment totaling over 25% of a project budget should be cleared with the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship prior to submission.
Faculty, student, and technician salaries (and associated fringe benefits) may be charged to Research Incentive Program funds. Research Incentive Program funds may not be used to pay salaries for sabbaticals or professional leaves of absences. Faculty summer salary requests are limited to $6,200 (plus 34.7% fringe benefits) for summer 2008. If release time for the academic year is requested, the budget must identify the amounts of funding necessary to hire faculty replacements for assigned instructional responsibilities. If a graduate research assistant is requested, it will be necessary to request the stipend and tuition/fees.
Research Incentive Program funds may not be used for training students in research methods and techniques as part of course work, workshops, or conferences; sponsoring conferences, symposia or workshops; presentations at conferences; or international travel.
Research Incentive funding may be combined with other funding available through sponsored programs or from funds available in departments and academic divisions.
Funds from this Research Incentive program must be expended prior to August 31, 2009.

SELECTION PROCESS

A Research Incentive Advisory Committee will be appointed by the University to review proposed projects and to make recommendations regarding the most meritorious projects to be funded. Faculty should anticipate a considerable breadth in Advisory Committee (reviewer) backgrounds. Faculty also are encouraged to discuss ideas with the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship prior to submittal of their proposal.

Submissions will be reviewed and ranked by the Advisory Committee utilizing the following criteria

alignment with the Third Frontier Project
extent to which the project will enhance the ability to attract external research funds
intrinsic merit and timeliness of the proposed work and the probability that it will make a significant contribution to the field of knowledge
importance of the project in relation to departmental, college, or university thrusts in particular the strength and potential of the collaboration or Center
previous record of the principal investigator(s) in seeking external funds for research quality of the personnel and adequacy of the resources necessary for the project
clarity of the written document (it must be understandable to a non-specialist

Faculty who suggest projects for funding through Research Incentive may be asked to meet personally with the Research Incentive advisory committee to discuss their ideas and proposed project.

TIMETABLE

January 24, 2008	10 copies of each concept paper are due by noon in the Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship (OARS) 102 Roudebush Hall
February 2008	Review by the Research Incentive Advisory Committee; possible meetings and/or discussions with the Committee
March 2008	Research Incentive Advisory Committee forwards its recommendations to the Provost
May 2008*	Distribution of funds to specific research projects at Miami University
May 2008 -August 31, 2009	Research Projects

* For Center Proposals, the Center must be approved before funds will be distributed.

For additional information relating to the Research Incentive Program, please contact

Gilbert E. Pacey Associate Dean for Research
Office for the Advancement of Research and Scholarship
102 Roudebush Hall
513-529-3600