Due to its cross-cutting nature and commonality across the UJA Research, UJA International R&D&I, and UJA Transfer programs, this action is integrated into these complementary measures and is intrinsically linked to the Strategic Research Support Service (SAI). In this way, the SAI acts as the backbone ensuring that the project readjustment maximizes the chances of success in subsequent calls for proposals.

• Objetives

The main objective of this action is to increase the success rate of the University of Jaén in competitive R&D&I project calls at the regional, national, and international levels. This is carried out through the SAI, a high-value-added initiative of the Research Management Service designed to maximize the return on UJA's talent.

• Conditions

  • Target Group: Research teams that submitted an application to an immediately preceding competitive call at the regional, national, and/or international level and did not receive funding, but:
    • Achieved a minimum score of 75% of the maximum grade or, in the case of international projects where an absolute maximum is not defined, exceeded the minimum funding threshold (Threshold) without securing the project.
  • Purpose: The grant must be used for activities that address the weaknesses identified in the evaluation report:
    • Execution of a one-year research project based on the submitted proposal, which includes—in the case of consortia and/or coordinated projects—at least one of the partner entities from the original proposal, except for ERC projects, where including external partners is not required. It must be sufficiently justified that the execution of this project will result in an improvement of the unfunded proposal.
    • Hiring external consultancy services for writing, reviewing, pre-evaluating, and advising on project proposals.
    • Attendance at informative events, networking sessions, or workshops directly related to the preparation of proposals for any of the funding calls included in the call.

Actions may be combined, provided they do not exceed the economic allocation awarded to the applicant.

• • Link with the SAI: Awarding this grant will activate, unless expressly waived, the SAI's "Excellence Roadmap," which will provide a diagnosis of weaknesses and support during the execution of the grant.
  • Requirements specified both in the general rules and in the text of the corresponding call for proposals must be met.
  • Maximum fundable amounts are established based on the funding program and whether the University of Jaén leads the proposal or participates as a partner, within the framework of the following funding programs:
    • European Framework Programme (coordinated by UJA): up to €6,000
    • Other international programs (coordinated by UJA): up to €3,000
    • Projects under the calls of the State Plan for Scientific, Technical and Innovation Research: R&D&I Projects (in the case of coordinated projects, they must be led by UJA): up to €5,000
    • Projects under regional calls within the framework of the Andalusian Research, Development and Innovation Strategy (EIDIA) Horizon 2027 (in the case of coordinated projects, they must be led by UJA): up to €1,250
    • For European Research Council project applicants who pass the first phase, an additional allocation is provided to cover travel expenses for interview preparation, which will be granted automatically, provided the Plan has sufficient funds.
  • Applications for this action must be submitted at least two months prior to the closing date of the call to which the project proposal will be presented.
  • In the case of International calls, proposals intended for the following project calls are excluded from this action:
    • MSCA-Postdoctoral Fellowships (MSCA-PF)
    • COST Actions 87
  • Travel expenses for attending consortium preparation meetings or generalist events and workshops are excluded.

• Applicant Requirements

  • Must be the Principal Investigator of the proposal to be improved and hold a permanent link with UJA or, failing that, have the approval of the Vice-Rectorate for Teaching and Research Staff and the Vice-Rectorate for Research and Knowledge Transfer.

• Submission of Applications

Applications must be submitted through the Electronic Office of the University of Jaén.

• Evaluation Criteria

  • Applications will be ranked within each scope and call (regional, national, and/or international) strictly by the score obtained in the evaluation of the unfunded project.

  • Approval by the leadership of the Vice-Rectorate for Research and Knowledge Transfer, according to the conditions set out in the call.

• Obligations of Beneficiaries

  • A binding commitment to submit the project (improved or new) to the next immediate call of the scheme through which Action C.1 was applied for. In duly justified cases and subject to prior approval by the Vice-Rectorate for Research and Knowledge Transfer, modifications to the target call of the project will be permitted.
  • If the incentive chosen takes the form of a research project, this period may be extended for an additional year.
  • Collaboration with the SAI: Participate in monitoring meetings and deliverable validation sessions determined by the Strategic Support Service.
  • Failure to fulfill the obligation to submit the project to the official call will require the full reimbursement of the grant received, except in cases of force majeure duly justified and accepted by the Research Committee.
  • Compliance with requirements set out both in the general regulations and in the text of the corresponding call.