1CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Overview ofCREST R&D Grant
About CREST R&D Grant
• Philosophy– Higher value Electrical & Electronics (E&E) economic sector can be
achieved when R&D thrives in the ecosystem– This can be accelerated by promoting collaborative research between
industry and academia
• Objectives– To accelerate university’s ability to produce industry-ready researchers– To increase competitiveness of E&E industry
• Key features– Focused on E&E industry, but not limited to E&E discipline– Research results prepositioned for industrial application– Accommodating intellectual property arrangement – Plausible augmentation to in-company R&D initiative
3CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Basic Terms and Conditions (Cycle 2/2013)
Partnership1. Research project involves at least one company pairing with at least one
university. 2. At least one of the universities involved must be located in Malaysia.3. Companies involved must be registered in Malaysia. 4. Companies involved must not be owned by the university.
Personnel5. Either project lead or principal investigator must be Malaysian citizen. In the
event the project lead and principal investigator is the same person, he/she must be Malaysian citizen.
6. Full-time post-graduate student researchers and full-time post-doctorate researchers whose tuition fees and/or allowance are paid by CREST R&D Grant must be Malaysian citizen.
7. Students involved in the research project (regardless of whether allowance/tuition fee is paid by CREST Grant) shall not be the project lead.
4CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Basic Terms and Conditions (Cycle 2/2013)
Limitation8. Approved funded research duration corresponds to research scope. Maximum
approved duration is not more than 3 years. Financial
9. Company contribution is at least 50% of total research project budget. 10. Any equipment and software purchased under CREST R&D Grant is owned by
CREST.Obligation
11. Each approved research project is obligated to meet stated deliverable (output) obligation.
12. Project funded by CREST R&D Grant must not share any of its deliverables to meet other grant obligation (except for university’s contribution for student allowance).
5CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Allowable Budget Request *
Eligible spending items• Tuition fee, examination, thesis for full-time post-graduate student (non company employee)
MSc: up to RM10k/year for up to 2 years PhD: up to RM10k/year for up to 3 years
• Post graduate student allowance for full-time post graduate student (non company employee) MSc: RM1800/month for up to 2 years PhD: RM2500/month for up to 3 years
• Full-time post-doctorate allowance up to RM6.5k/month for up to 2 years• Software, non-customized equipment and material consumables to support research• Software or equipment rental not exceed RM50k/project• Reasonable travel from university to company and vice versa
Non-eligible spending items• Consultation fee• Conference travel and fee• Publication fee• Training fee• Intellectual property filing• Maintenance and repair• Legal fee
* non-exhaustive list
6CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
GRASP
Graduate Research Assistance Scholarship Program• Supplementary to existing CREST R&D Grant terms & conditions• Full-time post graduate student allowance
MSc: RM2500/month for up to 2 years PhD: RM3500/month for up to 3 years
Eligibility• Master candidates with BSc in field related to E&E sector
– with CGPA of ≥ 3.67, or– Working experience in E&E sector of > 3 years with CGPA > 3.3
• PhD candidates– Without Master’s degree, but with BSc in field related to E&E sector with CGPA
of ≥ 3.67, or– With Master’s degree in field related to E&E sector with 3 journal papers, or– Working experience in E&E sector of >3 years after graduation of Master degree
7CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Examples of Industry Contribution
* non-exhaustive list
8
Company employees’ time working on the research
Use of lab or factory equipment or machine
Software license
Training to research team members
Intellectual property filing
Conference travel and fee
Additional allowance or scholarship for students (non company employee)
Necessary
Optional
Encouraged
Total industry contribution > 50% of research cost
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Deliverable Obligations
• Report and review– Quarterly progress report submission– Quarterly financial report submission – Periodic face to face project review and audit– Final report submission and review
• Two outputs1. Graduation of post-graduate student(s)2. Either
a) Publication in journal or refereed conference 2 publications per funded MSc student researcher, and 3 publications per funded PhD student researcher, and 3 publications per year per funded post-doctorate researcher
b) Filing of intellectual property Prove of filing for patent or prove of filing for other unprotected IP
9CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Q1
Jan
Q3
Jul Application opensRoadshow/briefing
Feb Aug Roadshow/briefingApplication closes
Mar Sep Application reviewEvaluation complete
Q2
Apr
Q4
Oct BoD endorsementApplication result letter sent
May
Nov MOA template sentBriefing for approved research teams
Jun Dec MOA preparation
CREST R&D Grant Yearly Calendar
10CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Q3
Jul
Q1
Jan MOA finalization
Aug Feb MOA signed & stamped
Sep Mar
Q4
Oct
Q2
Apr Disbursement
Nov May
Dec Jun Report submissionFace to face project review
CREST R&D Grant Yearly Calendar (cont.)
11CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
EvaluationProcess & Criteria
Evaluation Process
• Individual assessment process– In depth evaluation of each individual proposal– Would the proposed research produce the desired outcome?– Assessment is done based on predefined criteria– Evaluation conducted by panel member
• Portfolio assessment review– Balancing different buckets of funded researches– How grant money should be distributed in a way that maximize the
overall outcome?– Assessment is done in relation to other proposals and ongoing funded
researches– Review conducted by R&D Grant Secretariat
14CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Individual Assessment Process
Submission forms
Meet T&C requirement?
Very Good& Excellent
rating?
Individual Assessment
Strategic FitAnd Importance
Technicalmerit
Operationalmerit
Individual Assessment
Strategic FitAnd Importance
Technicalmerit
Operationalmerit
Individual Assessment
Strategic FitAnd Importance
Technicalmerit
Operationalmerit
Individual Assessment
Strategic FitAnd Importance
Technicalmerit
Operationalmerit
Shortlisted proposals
yes
no
yes
no
Rejectedproposals
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Strategic Fit And Importance
• Alignment of research project to priority areas• Value to E&E eco-system• Impact to industry-industry relationship• Alignment to cluster collaboration goal
Technical Merit
• Innovation, contribution to knowledge• Viability of research objectives• Appropriateness of research methodology• Technical complexity• Publishable research outcome
Operational Merit
• Thoroughness of research execution plan• Appropriateness of milestones• Soundness of human resource plan• Project execution risks and ability to address
them
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Proposed research portfolio
Portfolio Assessment Process
All shortlisted proposals
Any more option to get portfolio
optimized?
Different approval/disapproval
combination of shortlisted proposals
yes,maybe
no
Proposed research portfolio
Existing funded researches
BoDratification
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Perform Assessment
Count Amount
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Distribution of Past Approved Research
Semi-conductor
Industrial Electronics
OthersOpto-electronics
Solar
Cycle 1/2012 (total 10)Cycle 2/2012 (total 16)Cycle 1/2013 (total 9)Combined (total 35)
17CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Highlights from Past Cycles
• 35 applications worth RM24.1m approved– CREST contributes RM8.3m, industry contributes RM15.8m– 27 companies (12 local, 15 MNCs), and 16 univs (15 local, 1 foreign)– 22 IPs, 100 publications, 58 graduates (38 MSc, 20 PhD students)
• Observations– R&D collaboration can happen between strangers– R&D collaboration discussion brings business partnership– Business partnership brings R&D collaboration
• Lessons– Not all explorations result to partnership. Keep trying. – Relationship takes time to develop. Increase touch points. – Execution issues happen, but solvable. Confront issues.
18CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Collaborative R&DInitiation & Planning
Getting Started
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Rough research area
Industry problem
Refine research topic
Research proposal
Industry challenge
Rough research area
Refine research topic
Research proposal
Research proposal
Find partner
Find partner
Find partner
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Collaboration Assistance
22
Collaboration
potential
MNCs
Foreign Univ
Local Co
Local Univ
Contact CREST for referral assistanceCREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
various topics must be discussed among
research partners prior to submitting
application
Exploring R&D Collaboration
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Research Topic
• Purpose
• Diff from past attempt
• Objectives and expected
outcome
• Competencies to leverage
and to build
Collaboration
• Goal• Best partner to work with• Best participants to
participate• Benefits to company,
university and industry
Funding• Company contribution• University contribution
• Sources of funding: available, best suited, best chance• Funding mechanism
Legal Matters
• Confidentiality, NDA• Back and foreground IP• IP ownership, filing, cost• Permission for publication• Corp policy, review,
exception
Roles and Responsibilities• Project lead, grant applicant• Principal investigator• Research team members• Students, academic advisor• Management champion
Research Project Plan
• Scope plan, schedule plan, cost plan, quality plan, human resource plan, communication plan, risk plan, procurement plan
Grant Application• Answers to questions• Content• Documentation• Formalities• Communication
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Guideline onApplication Form
26
Project leader should be the applicant.Student should not be the project leader.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
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Describe company’s business.
Be consistent with industry contribution section.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
28
Describe the university.
High level description of role -researchers, supervisor, student, lab, etc.
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29
Include to-be-hired student placeholder to show completeness.
Okay not to have CV for to-be-hired students.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
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For guidance only, will not affect evaluation.
Avoid using names that indicate identity of parties involved.
Duration: from start of MOA, until final report submission, student graduation.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
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Keep it short and simple. Be concise !
May use abstract format.
Include both business and technological issues as background.
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Avoid using names that indicate identity of parties involved.
Problem statement: research gap, technology challenge, design trade-off, etc.
Avoid using business issue as problem statement.
Objectives must be attainable.
Should not be affected by the result of the experiment, validation, etc.
Methodology used must be justifiable. Correspond to each objective.
THIS SECTION AFFECTS EVALUATION ON WORTHINESS OF THIS PROPOSAL.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
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Cover project scope and research scope.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
34
Show subcomponents, tasks, milestones, owner, duration.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
35
Show team composition, roles and responsibilities. Same person may have multiple roles and responsibilities.
Roles: project leader, principal investigator, researchers, advisors, stakeholders.
Critical responsibility not covered by anyone indicates incomplete team composition.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
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State identified risks and response plan.
Not stating risks that exist indicates weak proposal.
Declaring risk with good response plan indicates strong proposal.
Risk should be ranked and categorized according to probability and impact.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
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THIS SECTION AFFECTS EVALUATION ON WORTHINESS OF THIS PROPOSAL.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Example of Inadequate Schedule
task names arenot meaningful
important milestone not
indicated
inappropriate timeline resolution
start date, dependency andtask owner are missing
38CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Example of Better Schedule
meaningful task namescalendar with appropriate resolution
bars showduration of tasks
milestone isdifferentiated
properdecomposition
of researchcomponent
39CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Risk Plan
• Example of risk plan that should be included in the application
• Should include both technical and operational
Rank Risk StatementRisk code
Risk response
1 Stability of software ABC for simulation work
1 Avoid: Pull in development of software ABC 4 weeks earlier and include software regression test
2 Inbility to hire PhD student researcher before Q4'13
2 Mitigate: Hire MSc student currently studying in school
3 Fluctuation in currency exchange causing RM10k above budget
3 Accept: justify need for additional fund from school
40CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Risk Statement
• Decent risk statement– If the team does not have stable software code, then the experiment
work slips
• Clearer risk statement– If the team does not have stable XYZ software code at ABC lab 4 weeks
before experiment work starts, then the experiment work slips
• Better risk statement– If the Unit 1 research team does not have stable XYZ software code at
ABC lab 4 weeks before DEF experiment work starts, then the completion of the DEF experiment work slips 5 weeks impacting Unit 2 of the research.
41CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
42
State deliverable commitment.
Articulate the benefit of the result of your research and the benefit of your collaboration.
Make your point why it should be funded.
THIS SECTION AFFECTS EVALUATION ON WORTHINESS OF THIS PROPOSAL.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
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Include those from company and university.
Have you done your exercise to be prudent in coming up with your requested budget?
Spreadsheet that summarizes cost plan.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Budget
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Project Title/Code :
Name of Project Leader :
2014 2015 2016Grand Total 2014 2015 2016
Grand Total
1) Allowances and Study Fees-$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Total: Allowances and Study Fees -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
2) Other Personnel Cost (travel, transport, accommodation, etc.)-$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Total: Other Personnel Cost -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
3) Rental (space, equipment, software, etc.)-$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Total: Rental -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
4) Procurement of Equipment (Refer Definition Tab)
-$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Total: Procurement of Equipment -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
5) Procurement of Software-$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Total: Procurement of Software -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
6) Procurement of Research Materials etc.-$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Total: Procurement of Research Materials etc. -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
7) Maintenance and Repairs-$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Total: Maintenance and Repairs -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
8) Miscellaneous -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Total: Miscellaneous -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
Grant Total -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$ -$
BUDGET
Description
Amount requested by applicant Industry contribution
Project Title/Code :
Name of Project Leader :
2014 2015 2016Grand Total 2014 2015 2016
Grand Total
BUDGET
Description
Amount requested by applicant Industry contribution
Itemize cost elements by category and by year.
Observe terms and conditions (e.g. allowable budget request, category limit, industry contribution).
Add more columns for company or university contribution if needed.
Include all supporting documents (e.g. quotation, salary/burden rate, etc.)
Approved project may not have all requested budget approved.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
45
Non-disclosure will effect evaluation and approval.
Project leader to sign.
CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
Application Submission
• Softcopy to [email protected]• Hardcopy to:
Collaborative Research in Engineering, Science & Technology (CREST) Centersains@usm,Block C, Ground Floor, No. 10 Persiaran Bukit Jambul,11900 Bayan Lepas, Penang.
• Dateline: 31-JULY-2013• Inquiry: 04-652 0088• Website: www.crest.my
46CREST R&D Grant Briefing Cycle 2/2013
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