SMALL VISION GRANT

Deadline for draft proposals: April 1, 2012

Netspar supports innovative scientific research on all aspects of the social sciences related to aging and retirement. As part of these efforts, Netspar offers Small Vision Grants for up to 50% of the cost of a PhD student, or the equivalent amount of funds for a postdoc researcher, for a maximum of three years. This year’s budget amount is a maximum of € 260,000 (equivalent to four projects). Current topics on the research agenda are grouped under the following Pension Innovation Labs (PILs):

• Risk Management during Working Life
• Risk Management during Retirement Years
• The Art of Choosing
• Supervision of Fully Funded Pensions: Solvency and Transparency
• Risk Sharing and Distribution among Generations: Full Funding, Pay-as-you-go, Taxation
• The Labor Market
• Heterogeneity within Generations and the Position of Senior Citizens

A more detailed description of the research agenda can be found in the Netspar Research Agenda for 2011-2014 (English/Dutch).

Main characteristics

• Funding for:
  • 50% of the appointment of a PhD student, for a maximum of three years (maximum of € 21,500 each year) or,
  • 33% of the appointment of a postdoc researcher, for a maximum of three years (maximum of € 21,500 each year)
• Matching offered for:
  • 50% of the appointment of a PhD student or
  • 33% of the appointment of a postdoc researcher.
• The PhD student or postdoc researcher must write two industry-oriented publications during the first two years of the project
• In order to free up time for writing industry-oriented papers and participating in Netspar events:
  • the PhD student will have no teaching obligations or
  • the postdoc researcher will have no teaching obligations for the 67% of his/her time spent working on the Netspar project
• Industry partners are invited to become involved with the project. Netspar will encourage the project team to set up so called task forces for writing the industry-oriented articles and papers.
• The person ultimately in charge of the project is the supervisor of the PhD or postdoc researcher

Selection criteria

• The proposal must link up with one of the PILs defined in the research agenda.
• The project involves high-quality scientific research and has a clear link to the pension practice.
• The project involves the appointment of a highly talented PhD candidate or postdoc researcher.
• The application is submitted by a Dutch university and the project preferably has several industry partners participating in it. (For suggsetions of possible forms of involvement, see explanation in Annex I).
• If a PhD student is appointed, the proposal must meet the requirements for the preparation of a doctoral dissertation as defined by the involved graduate school (or university) involved.

Selection process

Timetable for 2012

Application requirements

• Completed Application Form, including CVs, submitted as a single file
• Completed Annex I: Form to Confirm Industry Involvement

Submission

Contact