Welcome

to the submission platform of the call “Sources, distribution & impact of microplastics in the marine environment” for transnational research projects under the framework of JPI Oceans.

News

We finished the evaluation phase and eligibility check of the proposals and received the evaluation reports from independent, international peer referees.

According to our call-procedures the Principal Investigators have now the chance to rebut and comment on the evaluations reports from the international referees.

The deadline to rebut the evaluation reports is 15.07.2019, 15:00 CET. The portal will be closed on this day.

The next steps of evaluation are the panel meeting taking place on August, 8 and the funders meeting will be in the first week of September. I hope we can give a feedback about the decision of funding in the middle of September. The projects should start in Spring 2020.

PROCEDURES OF EVALUATION

1. After the submission deadline, all proposals are checked against the mandatory call eligibility criteria by the LEAD AGENCY. FUNDING PARTNERS check the eligibility criteria specified in the National annex. The national eligibility check will include an ethics screening to ensure that the proposals comply with applicable national rules and regulations.

2. Eligible proposals are sent to independent, international peer referees for assessment.

3. Principal Investigators will have the chance to rebut.

4. An EVALUATION PANEL, consisting of independent, international experts, ranks the proposals based on the results of the peer-review procedure (review reports).The EVALUATION PANEL recommends the top-ranked proposals for funding.

5. The FUNDING PARTNERS jointly agree on a short-list of projects selected for funding out of the top-ranked proposals based on the recommendations from the EVALUATION PANEL.

FOCUS OF THE CALL

This call comprises four main themes:

1. Identification, characterisation and quantification of the major microplastic sources, especially mechanisms and time scales of macroplastic fragmentation

2. New sampling and analytical methodologies - focusing on the smaller (nano-)particles and in situ measurement methods for all matrices (water, sediment, biota)

3. Monitoring and mapping of microplastics in the marine environment including its effects on the marine environment

4. Concepts to reduce inputs of plastics into the marine environment including through new recycling methods, raising public awareness, promoting behavioural change, socio-economic analyses

Please note that not all countries fund all four themes. We therefore strongly encourage you to take a close look at the national funding guidelines before drafting your proposal.

RULES OF PARTICIPATION

A total amount of up to € 10.5 million has been blocked by the Funding Partners. Each participant in a funded consortium will be funded by his or her national partner organisation. For this call funding partners from Belgium, Brazil, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Italy, Malta, Norway, Portugal, Spain and Sweden have allocated funding. In addition, researchers based in other countries are able to participate with their own resources.

In addition, researchers from Canada are encouraged to participate with their own resources.

Proposals need to involve eligible research partners from at least three participating countries. Projects will be funded for up to 36 months. The maximum requested funding per proposal is € 2,000,000.