Seed meetings: from Franco-British to European scientific collaboration

One of the aims of the Science and Technology Department at the French Embassy in London is to trigger and facilitate bilateral collaborations between scientists from France and the United Kingdom, which could lead to European projects.

To achieve this, the Department offers the possibility for up to 10 scientists from the French side and up to 10 scientists from the British side, to meet and define a research topic they want to collaboratively work on. We provide the logistics and financial support for a one or two days meeting to be held in London, in our premises. In order to evaluate the quality and relevance of the submitted scientific projects, we would be grateful if you could send us a 3-4 pages long document explaining your collaborative project and its future developments.

The following information should be included:
 names and affiliations of the scientists involved in the project (a maximum of one scientist per institution/laboratory can be included in the project, unless the presence of several scientists from this institution/laboratory is justified, e.g. if they have complementary skills);
 description of the scientific project and competencies of the various institutions/laboratories involved (with an emphasis on the possible synergies);
 brief description of potentially existing links between the scientists involved (PHC, joint PhD between labs, previous visits of researchers…);
 in case those have already been identified, please specify the types/sources of funding you intend to apply for as a follow up from this meeting.

This Department will support:
 travelling costs for all the participants to the meeting (low cost air travel and equivalent 2nd class for train travel);
 accommodation and lunch catering for all the participants.

Experience shows that the best format for this type of meeting is as follows: participants arrive at the Department on day 1 for a buffet lunch, followed by an afternoon dedicated to the presentation of the various institutions/laboratories involved and the specific skills each scientist can bring into the project. On day 2, participants work on the elaboration of the collaborative network within a European perspective. This can last either the morning or the entire day.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch if there is anything else you want to know or if we can help you in any way.

Deadline for application: 31st May 2010 for a meeting in the autumn

Please send your application by email to info ambascience.co.uk or by post to:

French Embassy
Science and Technology Department
6 Cromwell place
LONDON
SW7 2JN
United Kingdom

All applications will be responded to by the end of June.