RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme

These are the terms and conditions of the RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme. Applicants should read these carefully, as well as points 23-56 of the RSE Research Awards general terms and conditions, before completing and submitting their application.

The Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE)
As Scotland’s National Academy, the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) supports high-quality academic research and public engagement activities. The RSE delivers upon its mission ‘to promote the Advancement of Learning and Useful Knowledge’ by supporting academic researchers, practitioners and policy makers, and in assisting the development, dissemination and deployment of research. The RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme sits within, and delivers to, this overall mission.

Background

1. The new RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme funded by the Scottish Government with the purpose to facilitate international collaboration between Scottish and German institutes. It aims to develop hydrogen-related research which can inform Scottish Government policy objectives. This aligns with the RSE’s ‘knowledge made useful’ mission.

2. Policy areas and grant objectives

This programme delivers to the Scottish Government’s Climate Change Plan which is underpinned by a commitment to achieving a just transition to a low carbon and, ultimately, net zero age. Hydrogen is key to realising these ambitious climate targets and is a core element of Scotland’s decarbonisation plans. Germany is viewed by many as a leader in Europe in hydrogen energy research. This scheme seeks to foster research- and practice-based partnerships between Scotland and Germany to lead the way towards a decarbonised future. The objectives of this scheme are as follows:

• To facilitate and strengthen co-operation and learning between Scotland and Germany in the area of hydrogen research;
• To foster partnerships/networks within and beyond academia, including with local authorities and small and medium-sized enterprises (SME);
• To encourage the initiation of new partnerships and/or the development of existing partnerships;
• To contribute to policy discussion in Scotland around hydrogen.

As well as supporting Scotland’s ambitious Hydrogen Action Plan, the RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme supports other areas of Scottish Government policy including:

• Developing strong partnerships with Germany to pursue net zero transition objectives;
• Strengthening research collaborations with EU partners post-Brexit;
• Underpinning and future proofing Scottish-German partnerships in this area through joint policy, investment and trade opportunities;
• Supporting the sustainability objectives within the Scottish Government post-Covid-19 economic strategy.

3. Approach

Applications are invited from Scottish and German-based Higher Education Institutions (HEI) and Research Institutes (RI) (including R&D centres and hydrogen hubs), innovation centres and research pools. Industry (particularly SME participation) and local authorities are also welcomed as part of consortia, including appropriate German federal and state bodies including Länder and other local administrative bodies. Each application must include a Principal Investigator (PI) partner in Scotland and a lead co-investigator in Germany. Participation from other international partners is also welcome, as part of the consortium team.

4. Research themes

The RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme invites collaborative applications which aim to address one or more of the following areas:

• Optimising the production of green hydrogen – research aimed at optimising the large-scale production of green hydrogen to drive a reduction in costs;
• Hydrogen storage – research aimed at enabling and optimising medium-long term hydrogen storage solutions;
• Hydrogen distribution/transport – research aimed at enabling cost-effective, long-distance distribution solutions including for import/export.

Priority will be given to projects that clearly support, inform and build capacity around the Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Policy priorities and objectives. Further details of which can be found in a statement made in February 2021 by Paul Wheelhouse MSP, Energy Minister.

Applicant eligibility

5. For Scottish-based researchers:

• Each application should nominate a Principal Investigator who will act as the lead applicant (NB: only one application to be filled out per research project). PI are welcome from all career stages who are eligible as one of the following:
  • At least postdoctoral status or equivalent.
  • A full or part-time academic in any academic discipline and are tenured and/or salaried staff of a Higher Education Institution (HEI) or Research Institute (RI) in Scotland.
  • Applicants must be on open-ended, continuing, or fixed term contracts which extend three months beyond the end-date of the envisaged grant period. The RSE grant cannot be used to extend an applicant’s contract.
• Members of Scottish Higher Educational Institutes (HEI) and Research Institutes (RI) are welcome as project collaborators, in addition:
  • Applicants are welcome from any related/relevant discipline or field.
  • PhD students are welcome as collaborators but may not act as the PI and their international activities (e.g., travel, daily expenses, etc.) cannot be funded with project money.
  • Post docs are welcome as collaborators but may not act as the PI unless fulfilling all PI conditions stipulated above.
• Local authority members are welcome to participate as part of consortia.
• Industry participation is welcomed as part of consortia. Small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs), a company of less than 250 employees, members are welcome to join the research consortium.

6. For German-based researchers:

• Each application must identify a lead co-applicant based in a German HEI, RI, local authority or SME.
• Members of German HEI and RI are welcome as project collaborators (Including national bodies such as: Max-Plank or Fraunhofer, Leibnitz or Helmholtz), in addition:
  • Applicants are welcome from any related/relevant discipline or field.
  • PhD students are welcome as collaborators but may not act as the PI and their international activities (e.g., travel, daily expenses, etc.) cannot be funded with project money.
  • Post docs are welcome as collaborators but may not act as the PI unless fulfilling all PI conditions stipulated above.
• Local authority members are welcome to participate as part of consortia.
• Industry participation welcomed as part of consortia. Small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) members welcome to join
  research consortium.

7. Other eligibility criteria

• Upon appointment, the PI and lead German co-applicant will be required to devote themselves full time to the research project specified in the application. However, the RSE will consider applications for part-time completion, with supporting information on how the research can be delivered successfully on a part-time basis.
• An application will not be considered if a partner member has an overdue report on a previous RSE grant.
• The number of participants per team is not restricted. Team members can be from the same institution or organisation, and from any professional background or academic discipline.
• Applications will be considered for both bilateral and multilateral projects.
• International collaborators outside of Scotland and Germany are welcome to apply as project collaborators, but will not be eligible for award funding.
• Consideration may be given to collaborative applications from more than one HEI working in partnership.

Research eligibility

8. The RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme invites applications that collaborate to address the areas outlined in the ‘research themes’ section above.

9. The project can build on existing international collaboration between the two countries or demonstrate plans for the development of new collaborative partnerships.

10. Funding will be provided to support new research projects and existing projects which address the themes highlighted above.

11. One joint application should be submitted per collaborative project.

12. If a collaborator is involved in more than one consortium applying for funding, they should indicate clearly how they will manage their time on all projects if each is successful. PI and lead German co-applicants cannot apply as part of more than one consortium team.

13. Proposed projects must run for a minimum of three months. The funding window is for a maximum of 12 months.

14. To undertake research at a participating, temporary host institution, the applicant will be required to negotiate their appointment directly with their own, and with the temporary host, institution – NB: This is not the RSE’s responsibility.

15. The movement of consortium members to a host institution to undertake research is not mandatory for this award programme. However, applications which do not involve in-person activity should demonstrate how collaborative research will be achieved remotely. The RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme supports mobility of ideas then mobility of people and encourages awardees to submit contingency plans around travel, to facilitate virtual working/collaboration, as part of their application.

16. Priority will be given to projects that clearly support, inform and build capacity around the Scottish Government’s Hydrogen Policy priorities and objectives.

Funding

17. The scale of funding provided is £10,000–£30,000 per project. The maximum sum available for any one project is £30,000. Consideration will be given to small-scale start-up projects whose funding may be less than £10,000.

18. Funding can include costs incurred by every Scottish or German-based member of the research collaboration to cover universities, research institutes (including R&D centres and hydrogen hubs), innovation centres, research pools and German collaborators.

19. Funding under the Scheme can only be used by the Scottish and German members in any consortium, not partners overseas.

20. Match funding from consortia members’ institutions is welcomed but is not a requirement.

21. Eligible costs:

• Research consumables: Research expenses may be used against any materials related to the research aspect of the award. Examples include licenses for archival or other relevant material or for software that are required for research to be undertaken; tea, coffee, lunch for meetings etc.; postage, stationery, and photocopying, library fees, illustration permissions, copyright fees, photographic services.
• Research-related travel: Reasonable expenses, using standard class fares excluding first and business class travel; where using private car, the rate equivalent of GBP0.40 per mile is allowed.
  • Throughout the duration of the funded project, Scottish and UK Government, and appropriate in-country EU, legislation and guidelines for Covid-19 safe travel and contact must be observed.
  • Where travel costs are concerned, advantage should be taken of any discount or concessionary fares.
  • Applicants are strongly encouraged to consider low carbon options such as online events and to justify fully any stated travel needs. Advantage should be taken of appropriate inexpensive accommodation available if relevant to the application.
  • Costs for legally-required PCR tests for travel are included.
  • Carbon offsetting costs are eligible.
• Result dissemination: Costs associated with disseminating results arising from the project – through publication or presentation at specialist conferences, dissemination costs are normally up to a maximum of 10% of the requested budget.
• Eligible staff categories: Salary contribution for part time or full time research assistants, administrative assistants, technicians, fieldworkers.
  • Salary contributions should be calculated on a daily or hourly basis, using appropriate and recognised salary costs, and based on average pay for the grade of work and expertise required. We strongly advise that research office personnel assist with salary calculations.
  • Contributions exclude on-costs.
  • These contributions are only eligible in relation to Scottish and German collaborators’ activities.
  • You may find it useful to read the European Charter for Researchers and he Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers.

22. Ineligible costs:

• Salary contributions for PI or collaborators’ own salary costs.
• Expenses relating to accompanying dependents or contributions towards salaries.
• Stipends or scholarships for collaborators or students involved in the project.
• Salary on-costs (National Insurance, Pension contributions) for research assistants, administrative assistants, technicians or fieldworkers.
• Visa-related costs.

23. Other funding criteria:

• Award money will be released to the Scottish HEI involved in the application, not an individual applicant directly, at the start of the award period. NB: it is the responsibility of the collaborators to manage financial agreements, and ensure both parties are aware of, and agree to, their entitlements and responsibilities.
• Applicants should abide by their own institution’s finance policies in administering these funds.
• If applicants require funding from other sources in addition to the RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme to complete the research, this should be clearly stated in the application form. This should include the amount sought, and the progress and likelihood of securing the funding. The RSE must be informed of any additional funding which has been requested or secured for the project.
• Requested figures must be in GBP and award funds will be paid in GBP.
• Award costs incurred outside the funding window cannot be recouped.

Selection criteria

24. Applications will be assessed with reference to:

• The strength of the proposal in relation to potential outcomes/impact, especially in relation to the Scottish Government’s hydrogen policy and objectives;
• Adherence to the objectives of the call;
• Whether the funding request is within the threshold and justified in relation to project delivery;
• The quality of the project plan, outputs and impact;
• Quality and importance of the proposed research;
• The feasibility of the proposed research;
• The outputs and impact of the proposed research;
• The track record of the applicant;
• Value for money;
• The research background of the Scottish and overseas applicants;
• The established strength and research profile of the institution in the area of the proposed research;
• The mutual benefit of the collaboration;
• The potential contribution to the Scottish and wider UK knowledge base.

Contact detail and letter of support requirements

25. Applications must include the following supporting documentation:

• Two referee letters of support: Two referee forms are required per application and must be provided by someone independent of and knowledgeable on the project. Letters should include a) a detailed appraisal of the merit of the proposed research and potential impact; b) a reasoned judgement about the PI and lead collaborators’ suitability to undertake the proposed work. Please note:
  • Applications without referee forms cannot be accepted.
  • Please find the referee form under ‘resources for applicants’ on the RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme webpage.
  • We ask that the referees are not recent collaborators or members of the PI’s own institution or the lead German collaborators institution/organisation. Referees should be from two different institutions.
  • References are not uploaded as part of the application and applicants need to arrange for these to be sent on the correct form to the RSE as detailed on the RSE website.
• Host statement of support: If the PI and lead collaborators plan to undertake their research at a different institution to the one from where they are usually employed, a statement of support from that institution is required. The institutional statement of support should be from the research office stating that they have read the application and agree that if an RSE Research Award is granted and accepted by the applicant, this institution will be bound by the terms and conditions, will provide the necessary facilities, and will administer the Award where necessary.
• Head of department OR research office letter of support: This letter of support should be written by the PI’s Head of Department or Research Office. It should include details of the suitability of the applicant, the impact of the proposed work, and their support for it. They must also state that they have read the application, agree that if an RSE Award is granted and accepted by the applicant, this institution will be bound by the terms and conditions, will provide the necessary facilities, and will administer the Award.
• Letter of intent from collaborators: All leading collaborators, aside from the PI, should write a statement to confirm their involvement in the project, support for the application and agreement to the Scheme’s terms and conditions.

Other terms and conditions

26. Please refer to points 23-56 of the RSE Research Awards general terms and conditions, which are applicable terms and condition requirements for this Scheme. NB: All other terms and conditions in the RSE Research Awards general terms and conditions are not applicable for this Scheme.

27. Retrospective applications will be deemed ineligible.

28. Unspent funds over £30 should be returned to the RSE.

29. If the PI resigns from their employment post before the project is complete, an alternative PI should be instated by the consortium.

30. Application forms must be submitted in English.

31. Should an award be made, you will be given a document – Acknowledgement of funding from the RSE – which you should refer to for any matters relating to publications and dissemination.

32. Applicants should follow the Visa regulations and guidelines of their current institution.

33. Applicants should follow the environmental sustainability regulations and guidelines of their current institution.

Acceptance of terms and conditions

34. By signing the application form and accepting any grant offer letter, the applicants and any hosting institutions agree to be bound by the applicable general terms and conditions as well as the grant specific terms and conditions. Both the funder and the RSE shall be entitled to enforce these terms and conditions.

35. Award holders will be required to participate in two surveys, one during and one after completion of their award.

36. Award acceptance should be completed as requested in the award letter.

37. The RSE is not liable for any costs incurred before the official start date of the grant on acceptance of the award.

Next steps

38. Application forms are in Word document format and need to be downloaded from the RSE Scotland-Germany Hydrogen Research Scheme webpage .The call for applications open on the Wednesday 10 November 2021 at 11:00. The deadline for applications is Friday 11 February 2022, 11:00.

Contact us

39. Please direct enquiries to: [email protected].