2024 Call for Proposals

OVERVIEW

The French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE) aims to carry out mission-oriented research and training for better food and nutrition, the preservation of the environment, and competitive sustainable agricultural practices. In order to face these global challenges, INRAE acknowledges that research has to go beyond national frontiers and promotes the development of strategic international partnerships to support scientific cooperation.

The University of Florida - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) is committed to fostering integrated, team science that addresses grand challenges faced by Florida and the world and assists faculty in developing international networks necessary to drive meaningful collaborations for discovery.

As strategic partners who wish to strengthen their collaboration, the University of Florida (UF) and INRAE signed a Memorandum of Understanding in 2020, followed by a Joint Linkage Call (JLC) to fund INRAE scientific staff and UF IFAS faculty exchanges and cross visits.

The first edition was highly successful and provided funds to support the development of seven collaborative projects. INRAE and IFAS wish to continue collaborating and extended the MoU for a further 5-year period. In order to promote new joint projects, INRAE and UF/IFAS are launching a 2^nd JLC in 2024.

SCOPE AND CRITERIA

Joint linkage calls act as seed funding for bilateral research projects. In a spirit of reciprocity, the call aims to foster short-term exchanges of scientific staff between UF faculty and scientists working at INRAE research units in order to strengthen the reciprocal knowledge and facilitate the implementation of further research projects on the topics of the call. Successful joint linkage activities will lead to the development and advancement of projects, collection of new data, and/or analysis of existing data to assist in creating and transferring tools and technologies.

We expect proposals in the following priority areas:

1. AI and Big Data (Remote sensing, big data, machine learning, precision agriculture)
2. Water management and drought monitoring  
3. Zoonotic diseases (including, early detection)
4. Biological carbon sequestration and storage
5. Modelling in climate change context (grasslands, crops, forests)

At least one grant will be awarded for each priority area, provided compelling proposals are submitted. Projects in other research areas may be considered for evaluation, subject to availability of funds.

FUNDING

A total of up to $50,000 will be awarded by UF/IFAS and €50,000 by INRAE. 

Each partner will only fund the outgoing mobility of their own scientific staff. Therefore, funds should be spent according to the budgetary rules applying to each organization.

When budgeting, please remember that only travel costs (including ground transportation, airfare, food, and lodging) are eligible for funding. Note that funds may not cover salaries.

ELIGIBILITY

Proposals not adhering to the specified format (proposal template) or not submitted before the deadline (December 1^st) will not be considered.

Proposals should be jointly written by UF and INRAE teams.

Submission Deadline: December 1st, 2024

• Proposal Submission

  Please submit proposals to both INRAE and UF/IFAS at the email addresses noted below and using the INRAE PROPOSAL TEMPLATE. Lead researchers should copy their teams when submitting proposals for review.

  • INRAE International Relations Office: herrero-corral@inrae.fr and laura.goncalves-de-souza@inrae.fr
  • UF/IFAS: gfsi@ifas.ufl.edu

   

• Selection Process and Expected Timeline

  A joint selection committee, comprised of representatives from both partner organizations will select the projects for funding based on:

  • Quality of the scientific project;
  • Potential for the creation of long-term solid international collaborations between UF and INRAE teams;
  • Potential of the collaboration to further lead to extramural private and/or public sector funding;
  • Contribution of the project’s scientific outputs to INRAE’s Scientific Divisions strategic priorities and IFAS Research and Extension program development;
  • The involvement of multiple scientists and specifically early-career scientists are encouraged (including PhD students)

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  INRAE and UF/IFAS representatives are responsible for final award decisions after a first screening from the Scientific Divisions.

  INRAE and UF/IFAS will announce funding decisions no later than January 31^st, 2025. Travel may begin in 2025 and can be organized throughout the funding period (until December 31, 2025)