International Outgoing Fellowships for career development (IOF)

European researchers can learn a lot from conducting highlevel research in other parts of the world. The knowledge that they acquire in Third Countries can then be brought back and used in Europe.

To encourage European researchers to venture further afi eld (and then to come back), Marie Curie Actions offers International Outgoing Fellowships for Career Development (IOFs).

Who can apply?

IOFs are for researchers from EU Member States and Associated Countries. To apply, you must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years’ full-time equivalent research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate. But more experienced is welcomed, it will not affect your chances of obtaining an IOF.

Which topics can be funded?

IOF proposals are welcomed from all areas of scientific and techno logical research that are of interest to the EU. But there is one exception: research areas covered by the EURATOM Treaty cannot be funded.

What does the funding cover?

IOFs fund advanced training. In particular, they include a salary for the researcher and a contribution to research-related costs. Financial support can be given for up to 3 years in all. This includes an initial outgoing phase of 1-2 years in a Third Country followed by a mandatory reintegration phase of 1 year. In other words, you will be committing yourself to return to an EU Member State or an Associated Country.

Your host organisation should be a university, research centre or enterprise established and located in a Third Country (for the out going phase) and another one in an EU or Associated Country (for the return phase).

The main activities will be based on a research project which you should prepare in coordination with the organisation that will host you when you return to Europe. You should also agree a personal career development plan with your supervisor in the return host organisation.

An IOF should significantly develop and widen your competences. In particular, it should strengthen your multi- or interdisciplinary expertise, inter-sectoral experience and complementary skills.

The fellowships may include:

• Training-through-research under supervision, through an individual personalised project
• Hands-on training to develop your scientific skills (new techniques or instruments, etc.) and your complementary skills (proposal preparation to request funding, patent applications, project management, tasks coordination, technical staff supervision, etc.)
• Inter-sectoral or interdisciplinary knowledge transfer
• Building Collaborations
• Active scientific and financial management of your research project
• Developing organisational skills through organisation of training or dissemination events.

Who decides?

IOF proposals are selected in an open competition. Selection is through transparent, independent peer review, based on excellence using a series of predetermined criteria.

How do we apply?

Your application for an IOF should be made in liaison with the return host organisation.

Calls for IOF proposals are announced on the CORDIS website: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm

Proposals can be submitted online at: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7

For more information about Marie Curie Actions see: http://ec.europa.eu/mariecurieactions