User:Andi/Application Procedure for MPDL Projects

• work in progress

MPDL Project Aspects

The MPDL has an annual budget for MPDL Projects, so called "institutsübergreifende Maßnahmen" provided by the Präsidium of the MPG. The applicant and MPDL will work on a cover letter to the proposal which addresses the following questions:

1. Which contribution does the project make to the MPDL overall-strategy, and in particular of which generic infrastructure is it supposed to become a module (e.g. PubMan, Scholarly Workbench, Digital Editions)? In case the contribution cannot be formulated in terms of an existing generic infrastructure part, but still seems valuable, this must be considered as a challenge to the MPDL framework. In particular, the MPDL should then supplement its vision by a new element so that the proposed project does become a contribution to the MPDL overall strategy.
2. How does the proposed project make use of the existing architecture and infrastructural expertise of the MPDL?
3. How does the proposed project relate to the already existing solutions and services within MPDL?
4. Has the applicant clarified the relation between the proposed project and other software available outside the MPDL? If not, how does the MPDL see that relation?
5. Which interfaces does the proposed project offer?
6. How does the proposed project help to build bridges between existing MPDL solutions?
7. Which additional resources, not listed in the project proposal, will be required from MPDL within this project?
8. How will the maintenance of the project results be assured after the project period? What resources will be required?
9. Which MPI's and which other users will benefit from the proposed project and does it have the potential of being scaled up to all of MPG?
10. How does the proposed project contribute to Open Access, or is the proposed project with data that cannot be made openly accessible?

• A MPDL Project is supposed to strengthen the link between the participating Max Planck institutes and the MPDL. Therefore, a MPDL Project is always defined in close collaboration between the MPDL and one or more Max Planck institutes.
• The scientific relevance of the project proposal is reviewed by two independent experts from outside the MPG.
• Based on the two scientific reviews and the answers to the 10 questions above, a group of three members of the MPDL and three members of the MPDL's steering committee (SC-sInfo) issue a recommendation concerning funding of the project to the SC-sInfo.
• The Präsidium of the MPG takes the final decision on whether or not to fund the proposed project based on the reviews and the subsequent recommendation by the steering committee of the MPDL SC-sInfo.
• An annual report (see form here) on the project's progress in written form has to be delivered. The LA sInfo can request additional information.
• Once a year a project day is organized where all projects present their results.
• Funds are called in annually by the project partners from the Administrative Headquarters (GV). 15 % of the total granted budget is retained until the MPDL has positively reviewed the outcome of the project and the outflow of funds is accounted for. The retained funds are taken from the sum allotted to the last project year.

Application Stages

1. The project proposal is prepared by members of the institutes and the MPDL.
2. The project proposal including the cover letter answering the 10 questions above is submitted to a group of three members of the steering committee LA sInfo and three members of the MPDL.
3. Two external (non-MPG) experts review the project proposal.
4. If necessary the project proposal can be revised once, after which it is reviewed again.
5. In its next meeting the steering committee LA sInfo of the MPDL decides on the basis of the proposal and the reviews about suggesting the project to the Präsidium for funding.
6. In the next meeting of the Präsidium the decision about funding the proposed projects is taken.
7. If approved, the partners receive a letter of the finance department of the Administrative Headquarters with the administrative and financial details (Vorhabennummern).

Components of the proposal

1. Title and short name for the project
2. Names of the persons responsible for the proposal (one person from the institutes and one from the MPDL)
3. Cover letter answering the 10 questions mentioned above
4. Short description of the preparation phase, why and how the project was started (maximum half a A4 page)
5. Short summary of the aims of the project
6. Short statement on how the project fits into the overall strategy of the MPDL
7. Background information on the scientific importance of solving the problem
8. Description of work, including
   1. Project phases and the corresponding milestones
   2. Detailed description of work as well as number of person months and pay scale grouping of the corresponding positions
   3. Detailed Gantt Chart describing the work plans of the people to work on the project
   4. List of people involved in supervising the project and their affiliations

Submission dates for project proposals

The next submission dates for project proposals are:

• 17.12.2009
• 17.03.2010
• 23.06.2010

Funded projects (successful applications)

For a list of funded projects and their description, please visit http://mpdl.mpg.de/projects/projects_intern_en.htm?mp=64

MPDL Project Progress Report

Please use the form provided here to write your progress report.

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