Strategic initiatives at the LTV Faculty – equipment grant 2024

The faculty strives for continuous improvement of the quality of the main infrastructure at the LTV faculty. Small-scale equipment to be used in research and education is equally important and valuable. Therefore, the aim of this call is to fund small-scale equipment relevant for the research and education at the faculty.

The purpose of the call is to

• offer an opportunity for funding of small-scale equipment at the faculty
• promote high quality research and education
• promote greater use of advanced research equipment in education, and
• encourage collaboration to improve the quality and use of infrastructure.

Total funding available in this call is 2.5 million SEK.

Funding conditions

The equipment grant is intended for providing new opportunities for research and education. The equipment may be a system, database, instrument, etc. It may also be an existing equipment requiring an upgrade.

To be considered for funding, the equipment must normally meet the following primary criteria:

• Provide new opportunities for research and/or education.
• Be utilized by two or more research teams and/or at least one first or second cycle programme at SLU.
• Be open and readily accessible to all users within and outside the own department/team/programme.
• Have a long-term plan for scientific and educational objectives, funding and utilisation, including support for and training of users.

Funding may be granted for acquisition of new equipment, or alternatively upgrading and supplementation or replacement of existing equipment (investments, installations, service contracts, etc.). Equipment to be utilised directly in the LTV research infrastructures is preferred although not mandatory. 

Funding will not be granted for salaries or other direct research/teaching expenses, rent, service or renovation of premises, fittings, etc.

Equipment costs ranging between 250 000 and 500 000 SEK will be considered for funding. In case an equipment costs most than the maximum amount, funding for the additional amount should have been secured prior to the deadline of this application. Participating departments are responsible for finding supplementary funding through other funding sources.

Unutilised funding one year after the decision will need to be returned.

Time schedule

• October 31, 2024: Final date for submission of applications.
• November 22, 2024: Decision on which applications will be funded.
• February, 2025: Distribution of the grant to the receiving departments.
• November 30, 2025: Short report to the faculty (e-mail to tomas.osterman@slu.se) on how the funding was utilised. Unutilised funding by this date will be asked to be returned back to the faculty.

Assessment and prioritisation of applications

A review panel consisting of the Dean, Prodean, Vicedean for research infrastructure and Faculty research officer will be responsible for reviewing and prioritising the applications.

The applications will be prioritised based on the added value to scientific and educational quality, relevance for the faculty strategy and for the purpose of the call, and plan for accessibility for other users.

Decisions on allocation of infrastructure grants

The dean will take the formal decision on allocation of the grant. The decision cannot be appealed.

Instructions on the structure of applications 

         
Individual teachers, researchers (including postdocs), research teams or departments may submit applications. Note that applications must be formatted as follows:

• A collective PDF file which includes all text sections (parts 1, 2, 4 and 5 below)
• An Excel file containing the application calculation signed by the head of department and department economic officer (part 3 below)

Applications can be in English or Swedish and should include the following:

1.     Cover letter

The cover letter should contain information about:

• Title of the application/name of the equipment
• Abstract (the intention with the application by answering the questions; What and Why? max. half a page).
• Name, title and contact details of the primary applicant
• List of co-applicants (name, title, department, email address)

2.     Description of the equipment (totalling max. 2 pages incl. key references)

The description should contain the following headings:

• Technical description (function, capacity, estimated service life, etc.; why has precisely this equipment been selected, where will it be located - physically and administratively?)
• Scientific significance (the scientific targets of the equipment; description of the research field(s) requiring the equipment, including key publications from SLU or other researchers using the equipment).
• Educational significance (list of the courses that would benefit from the equipment and a description of how the equipment will be used in teaching).
• Relevance for the faculty (description of existing and potential user groups at the faculty; description of the novelty of the equipment of its added value compared to already existing equipment at SLU)
• Plan for accessibility and user support (how will the equipment be made available to potential users, students and others?)
• If the application relates to upgrading of an existing equipment/infrastructure, a description of the present status and reasons for the upgrade must be enclosed. Information on the degree of utilization at present and after the planned upgrade must be included.

3.     Budget details
Calculation showing the total cost, specified cost elements, the amount applied for and clear information on funding beyond the grant applied for. Use SLU's "Project calculator". Depreciation costs must be specified in accordance with normal practice. Specify in part 2 if the acquisition of the equipment will require a procuring procedure.

4.     CV enclosure
Max. 2 pages per person. To be enclosed for both the primary applicant and all the co-applicants.

5.     Certificate from the head of the department
Certificate in which the head of the department with primary responsibility supports the application. In case the total cost of the equipment to be purchased is higher than the maximum amount for this call, a confirmation to be included in the letter guaranteeing availability of rest of the funding from the department.

Applications must be submitted to tomas.osterman@slu.se by October 31 2024.

Please contact Tomas Österman if you have any questions regarding this grant.