The Israel Science Foundation

F.I.R.S.T. and NEST – PROMISE

ProgramsProf. Eli PollakCoordinator – FP6 - NEST PROMISEEli.Pollak@weizmann.ac.il

Prof. Eli PollakCoordinator – FP6 - NEST PROMISEEli.Pollak@weizmann.ac.il

To evaluate, select and support Israeli basic research To evaluate, select and support Israeli basic research

through competitive grants based on excellence and through competitive grants based on excellence and

scientific merit within the wide range of :scientific merit within the wide range of :

–Exact Sciences and TechnologyExact Sciences and Technology

–Life Sciences and MedicineLife Sciences and Medicine

–Humanities and Social SciencesHumanities and Social Sciences

The ISF’s MissionThe ISF’s Mission

Allocation to basic research in IsraelAllocation to basic research in Israel

ISF 54

EU6 25.5

GIF 13.2

BSF 10.5

7.2 BARD

DIP 6.2

ISF47%

EU622%

GIF11%

BSF 9%

BARD6%

DIP5%

in millions in millions of $ of $

2005 data 2005 data

Individual Research Grants - Distribution by SectorsIndividual Research Grants - Distribution by Sectors

Universities87%

Research intstitutions

4% Colleges3%Medical centers

6%

20062006 submissionssubmissions

Budgetary Distribution by AreaBudgetary Distribution by Area

Exact sciences & technology

38%

Life sciences & medicine

45%

Humanities & social sciences

17%

20052005 New GrantsNew Grants

Foundation Foundation Annual budget Budget per capita Annual budget Budget per capita (in $)(in $)

ISF (Israel)ISF (Israel) 60 60 ~ 10 ~ 10

NSF (USA)NSF (USA) 5,600 5,600 ~ 18 ~ 18

DFG (Germany)DFG (Germany) 1,600 1,600 ~ 20 ~ 20

FWF (Austria)FWF (Austria) 120 120 ~ 15 ~ 15

SNF (Swiss)SNF (Swiss) 350 350 ~ 50 ~ 50

NSFC(China)NSFC(China) 440 440 ~ 0.3 ~ 0.3

Leading basic research foundationsLeading basic research foundations(In millions of $)(In millions of $)

Scientific vs. Economic WealthScientific vs. Economic Wealth

Description of Israel – SizeDescription of Israel – Size

Technion

Tel Aviv U. Bar

IlanWeizman

n

Ben Gurion

Hebrew U.

120 miles!

International CooperationInternational Cooperation

• European Science Foundation – Representative

• ERANET

• NEST-PROMISE

• DFG (German Science Foundation)

THE ISF IS INTERESTED IN CREATING ADDITIONAL THE ISF IS INTERESTED IN CREATING ADDITIONAL BILATERAL COOPERATIVE PROJECTSBILATERAL COOPERATIVE PROJECTS

The ISF - FIRST programThe ISF - FIRST program

A special independent program supporting highly original and/or risky and/or multidisciplinary research.

Budget $1,000,000

Programs • Individual Scientist

• Institutional

• Post-Doctoral Fellowships

The need for FIRST like The need for FIRST like programsprograms

•Agencies typically support projects demonstrating feasibility with preliminary results. •Multidisciplinary research is difficult to review and assess.•Reviewing boards (especially scientists) are conservative.•Agencies want success, dislike high risk!•Established scientists are afraid to embark on new adventures – need encouragement.•Young scientists with “new” ideas need support.

The FIRST/ISF Mission The FIRST/ISF Mission

Funding for – Pioneering ideas capable of opening new

avenues of research High-risk, high-impact research. Innovative research with a multi/inter

disciplinary character Introduction of new and innovative

research areas to the universities via junior faculty members or senior researchers introducing new fields

How FIRST How FIRST operatesoperates ? ?

FIRST is run by 5 board members all scientists representing different research disciplines and

different institutes.

The board members serve for 3 years

They are all senior scientists with a broad overview of scientific activity in Israel.

Submission of proposals which are not suitable for submission to other ISF programs, because of their highly innovative character, unconventional approach, and lack of preliminary results, or their multi or inter disciplinary approach.

Pre-proposal screening

Peer reviewing

Decision by the board members + invited experts

1-3 year projects; annual budget: $30,000-$60,000 (+ additional funding for “small” equipment – up to $30,000)

Special Individual Researcher TrackSpecial Individual Researcher Track

Special Individual Researcher TrackSpecial Individual Researcher Track

Year

SubmittedFundedTotal Annual Budget ($)

Pre-proposal

s

Full Propos

als

%Number

%GrantsDedicated

Equipment

2002

542139

1120445,000

157,000

2003

632438

813320,000

110,000

2004

552749

1425585,000

137,000

2005

7633431216510,000190,000

The problem: The overall success rate should not be below 20%.

Israel’s seven research universities are invited to submit one research proposal each, in a new high-priority field of research, preferably via junior faculty, which can open new areas both within Israel and worldwide

Up to 3 year projects with a total budget of maximum $800,000

Peer reviewing and decision made by the board members

The Institutional TrackThe Institutional Track

The Institutional TrackThe Institutional Track

YearSubmittedFundedTotal Annual Budget

200262480,000200362340,000200461200,000200551234,000

Supports training of young PhDs at top institutions abroad in pre-selected subjects

The chosen researchers obtain a grant that supports their research upon returning to Israel

Thus far the four fields chosen were Evolution, Environmental Sciences, Virology and Analytical Chemistry

Post-Doctoral FellowshipsPost-Doctoral Fellowships

During the five years of operation

41 applications were submitted

21 received postdoctoral fellowships:

Environmental Sciences - 8

Evolution - 5

Analytical Chemistry - 3

Virology - 5

Post-Doctoral FellowshipsPost-Doctoral Fellowships

NEST – PROMISENEST – PROMISE www.nest-promise.net

• NEST – New and Emerging Science and Technology

• PROMISE - Promoting Research on Optimal Methodology and Impacts

CoordinatorCoordinator Israel Science Foundationwww.isf.org.il

PartnersPartners

Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research (Germany) www.isi.fhg.de

Trinity College, Trinity Centre for Bioengineering, (Ireland) www.biomechanics.ie www.pspa.ie

Consorzio Pisa Recerche Information Technology and Telecommunications Division (Italy) www.meta.cpr.it

NEST NCP, Institute for Fundamental & Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences www.pr6.pl

NEST-PROMISE GOALSNEST-PROMISE GOALS www.nest-promise.net

• Survey European and other programs supporting innovative, high risk, interdisciplinary, original research:

successes and failuresproblems and solutionssocial impacts – young and female scientists

• Analyse performance of NEST like programs:overlapbenefit optimizationcost effectiveness

• Raise awareness for funding of NEST like programs .• Provide experience validated tools to refine and optimize:

efficiencyfairnessimpact and benefitstrategies and procedure

of NEST like programs.

The bottom line: Encourage original, innovative path breaking research.

NEST-PROMISE WORKSHOPNEST-PROMISE WORKSHOP www.nest-promise.net

CONFIRMED SPEAKERSCONFIRMED SPEAKERS

Dr. Carlos Saraiva Martins, Project Officer, European Commission - DG RESEARCH Title: The NEST activity - an "open space" to stimulate creative, visionary and anticipatory science and technology

Prof. Patrick Prendergast, Partner – NEST-PROMISE, Trinity College Dublin Title: Initial Survey Results of research programs promoting novel high risk research.

Dr. Thomas Heinze, Partner – NEST PROMISE, Fraunhofer Institute ISI, Germany Title: Two case studies (US & UK) on high-risk funding programs – SGER (NSF) and Showcase (Wellcome Trust).

Prof. Eli Pollak, Coordinator – NEST-PROMISE, ISFTitle: Innovative and Interdisciplinary research in Israel

PROGRAM

NEST-PROMISE WORKSHOPNEST-PROMISE WORKSHOP www.nest-promise.net

• Presenting the Italian approach to Innovative Interdisciplinary Research (IIR).

• Bringing together the administrative and user communities of IIR

• Encouraging NEST elements in National Research Programs

• Addressing policy makers and administrative staff of national research programs

• Establishing a network of contacts in NEST like programs.

PLEASE JOIN US!

http://www.nest-promise.net/forms/registration/

GOALS

Thank you for your

attention

Thank you for your

attention

Please visit us at: Please visit us at:

www.isf.org.ilwww.isf.org.il