The 3rd Southeast Asia – Europe JFS Matchmaking Event took place on October 28th 2020, following the World Health Summit. The matchmaking event was held fully virtually and gave the opportunity to eight SEA and European researchers to introduce their research projects on health-related topics which are at the core of the 2020 S&T and Innovation Joint Calls for Proposals, currently open for submission of research proposals.

The event started with the welcoming speech of Adele Clausen, Service Delivery Manager of SEA-Europe JFS. She emphasized the timeliness of the event as international scientific cooperation in health is absolutely necessary to overcome the COVID-19 crisis. The new calls are particularly relevant to the current situation as two topics are focused on health: Infectious Diseases (5th S&T Call) and Digital Health (6th Innovation Call). 

Adele also introduced the JFS scheme and shared with the audience the selection process of projects. Once an application is received it goes through an eligibility check done by the JFS management team. For applications to be eligible, the consortium must include partners from both regions (Europe and Southeast Asia) and from three different participating countries, which is referred to as the 2+1 rule. Then, as each participating country funds its own researchers (with a few exceptions), the proposals are directed to national contact points which will check whether the proposal is eligible according to national regulations. Subsequently, two rounds of peer-review take place and the final selection is announced. For the 5th and 6th Call, the results are expected to be known in May 2021. The deadline for the 5th Call is set on the 15th of December, while the deadline for the 6th call is on the 15th of January. For more information on how to apply please click here.

The event is a first opportunity for researchers interested in applying to the JFS health-related calls to connect with potential partners. Soon our website will host a Partnering Tool to facilitate the construction of bi-regional consortia. In addition, virtual lab tours will be organized.

During the Matchmaking Event, which gathered 66 participants from Europe and Southeast Asia, researchers, selected from the Call for Speakers applications, took the floor to introduce their research project in the intend to find interested partners to bring their research project to the next level. Five presentations focused on Infectious Diseases while three other researchers presented their research ideas on the topic of Digital Health. In many presentations, the COVID-19 pandemic was addressed as either a reason for actions or a subject of study. For example, Rizaldy Taslim Pinzon from Bethesda Hospital / Duta Wacana Christian University School of Medicine (Indonesia), presented a research project on telemedicine for neurological patient. The project has been inspired by the necessity created by the pandemic to avoid for non-COVID-19 related patients to have to travel to the hospital, while at the same time ensuring continuity of treatment and care. Another project, instigated by Heni Mufliah  from the Faculty of Medicine at Universitas Islam Bandung (Indonesia), also build up from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on other diseases and health problems: tuberculosis. In this research project, researchers want to curb the decrease in testing of tuberculosis induced by the COVID-19 pandemic by capitalizing on the co-testing potential of the two diseases. The project aims at sharing innovation and resources to develop one-point care of COVID-19 and tuberculosis. Yet another project proposal, presented by Romulo de Castro from the University of San Agustin (Philippines), aims at introducing AI solutions for the COVID-19 pandemic, where data and AI systems could efficiently foster better policy making. Finally, another Indonesian project presented by Nina Dwi Putri from the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Indonesia, addresses the COVID-19 pandemic from an under-researched sample population: pediatric patients. The proposed project aims at identifying the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on children.

The other presentations diverged more from the COVID-19 topics and presented new and unique project proposals extremely relevant from the perspective of the JFS scheme. Martin Metzner from the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA (Germany), introduced his project idea which links material engineering and infectious diseases. The project is focused on the investigation and further development of antimicrobial coatings to prevent the spread of diseases causing agents like bacteria, fungi and viruses. Another project, introduced by  Roland Gilbert from Remenyi Clinical & Translational Research Institute at the Medical City (Philippines) , focuses on antimicrobial resistance, which has been identified as one of the biggest health threat to humans. In this innovative project, researchers propose to harness the power of phage therapy and 3D bioprinting to counter antimicrobial resistance. Another project idea presented by Ucar Baris from BYS Grup (Turkey), which also relies on cutting edge technology, proposes to develop a robotic-care system to support patients with dementia (RODE). Innovation is also at the core of the project idea presented Lalintip Hocharoen from the King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Thailand). The project aims at setting up of biopharmaceuticals and vaccines in animal production capacity in Thailand and South East Asia. After the presentations, participants were given the opportunity to discuss with each speakers in dedicated break-out rooms. There, participants were able to ask questions and network with the speakers to possibly start a cooperation which might lead to a concrete research project in the scope of the new JFS calls.

If you were not able to attend the event and would like to access the slides of the various presentations don’t hesitate to contact us:  sea_eu_jfs@servicefacility.eu

***Call for speaker’s applications Open Now – Deadline: October 21, 2020***

Find matching partners for your research consortium by presenting your research and your project idea at the upcoming health-related 3rd Virtual JFS Matchmaking Event for the 2020 S&T and Innovation Joint Calls.

The Southeast Asia - Europe Joint Funding Scheme for Research and Innovation (JFS) is looking for researchers from Southeast Asia and Europe that are interested in presenting their research ideas at our 3rd Virtual Matchmaking Event following the World Health Summit 2020 in Berlin, Germany.

Deadline for application: October 21, 2020

Who should apply:

• Are you from a Southeast Asian or European country participating in one of our health-related open JFS Calls for Proposals ?

                   - 2020 S&T Joint Call in the thematic area of Infectious Diseases

                      Deadline for research proposal submission: December 15, 2020

                   - 2020 Innovation Joint Call in the thematic area of Digital Health

                      Deadline for research proposal submission: January 15, 2020

• Do you have an idea for a research project proposal to be submitted under one of these 2020 Joint Calls?
• Are you still looking for a partner to complete your project consortium?

If yes, apply now to find your matching partner at the 3rd Virtual JFS Matchmaking Event organized on October 28, 2020.

How to apply:

Please submit your application by filling the Application Form and sending it back to us through SEA_EU_JFS@servicefacility.eu 

Deadline for application: October 21, 2020

The selected applicants will get a 15 minutes slot at our Virtual JFS Matchmaking Event on October 28, 2020, which will be promoted through the World Health Summit 2020.

World Health Summit 2020

October 25-27, 2020:

The World Health Summit was founded in 2009 on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Berlin’s Charité Hospital and draws international experts from academia, politics, the private sector, and civil society to Berlin. During the three-day summit, stakeholders and decision-makers from 100 countries and every field in healthcare work together to find solutions to global health challenges and set the agenda for a healthier future. The World Health Summit is traditionally held under the patronage of the German Chancellor, the President of the Republic of France, the President of the European Commission, and the Director-General of the World Health Organization.

All sessions are cost-free and can be accessed via a link in the program. So, get prepared for the 3rd Virtual JFS Matchmaking Event by visiting the Sessions of the World Health Summit

3rd Virtual JFS Matchmaking Event

October 28, 2020 – 09:00 am CET / 15:00 pm Jakarta time:

The 3rd Virtual JFS Matchmaking Event on health-related topics will take place in the spirit of the Word Health Summit 2020, which highlights both - the role of international cooperation and the role of research - when coping with the global health challenges.

The 3rd Virtual JFS Matchmaking Event will provide information about the Southeast Asia – Europe Joint Funding Scheme (JFS) and the health-related 2020 S&T and Innovation Joint Calls for Proposals, which are currently open for submission of research proposals. To support the set-up of powerful consortia for the submission of strong project proposals, selected Southeast Asian and European researchers seeking for complementing partner organizations will present their institution and project ideas.

Save the Date to not miss the chance to meet excellent researchers from Southeast Asia and Europe and get to know about their latest research and innovation ideas by visiting our 3rd Virtual JFS Matchmaking Event on October 29, 2020, 09:00 am CET / 15:00 pm Jakarta time. Maybe you are the perfect match complementing the expertise for a promising project proposal to be funded under the 2020 Joint Calls for Proposals.

All details for your participation will be published on our website and distributed through our social media channels soon.

JFS is glad to announce that we plan to release a partnering tool on our website soon.

JFS mission is to foster scientific cooperation and bi-regional project consortiums. However, finding the perfect partner for your research endeavours is far from easy. This is why we offer a partnering tool which will facilitate that process.

You will be able to create a profile under which you can:

1. Specify your own Research Profile

2. Create project ideas, e.g. for a proposal submission under one of our open Calls for Proposals

3. Enquire for a partner, e.g. to complete your project consortium

Further you will be able to browse through the research profiles, project ideas and partner requests of other registered researchers even using your individual filters, if you wish.

Those functions will render your search for an international research partner or project much easier!

Keep an eye on this page for the release of the tool.

1.30 –3.30 pm, 19 June 2020

Are you interested in pursuing a PhD in Europe? Are you looking for research funding? Do you want to collaborate with European research partners?

This webinar is your chance to meet representatives from the French Embassy and Campus France Thailand, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in Thailand, the Spanish Embassy in New Delhi, and the Southeast Asia –Europe Joint Funding Scheme for Research and InnovationThey will cover the following topics:

• What are the PhD opportunities and how do I apply?
• What postdoctoral fellowships are available to researchers in Thailand?
• How can I access research funding and find research partners in Europe?
• How do I prepare a successful proposal?

Thai alumni of European research funding programmes will share their experience, and offer advice on how to be successful in your application. And there will be a presentation from the project manager of the SEA-Europe Joint Funding Scheme for Research and Innovation (JFS) introducing the 5th and 6th JFS Calls for Proposals launched just on 15. June 2020

Please register at https://bit.ly/2XLOVaM.

For further details of the agenda, please download the flyer.

We are looking forward to welcome you on Friday!

***UPDATE: Deadline extended***

The 5th (S&T) and 6th (Innovation) Joint Call for Proposals under the Southeast Asia – Europe Joint Funding Scheme for Research and Innovation (JFS) are now open for submission until 15. December (S&T Call) / 15 January (Innovation Call)!

Note that the original deadlines (15 October & 16 November) have been extended.

The thematic areas selected for the Calls are:

5th Call (S&T)

1. Infectious Diseases (incl. Covid-19)
2. Nanotechnologies

6th Call (Innovation)

1. Digital Health
2. Bioeconomy (incl. Application of ICT-based Approaches)

Funding is provided by national funding agencies or ministries from Southeast Asia and Europe according to their National Regulations. Funding agencies or ministries from the following countries already plan their participation in the Joint Calls of the JFS (could be subject to changes).

• Belgium
• Brunei Darussalam
• Bulgaria
• Cambodia
• Czech Republic
• Germany
• Indonesia
• Lao PDR
• Myanmar
• Spain
• Switzerland
• Thailand
• Turkey
• The Philippines
• Viet Nam

Please visit our Call-section for further details!

On April 7, the JFS Programme Steering Committee (PSC) meeting for the selection of projects to be funded under the  2019 JFS Innovation Call on Infectious Diseases (including Antimicrobial Resistance) was successfully held online.

After the initial postponement of the funding decision (as announced on our website on March 10) due to cancellation of the PSC meeting in Bonn/Germany from March 3-5 caused by the outbreak of the Coronavirus, it was necessary to convene an online meeting soon.

The applicants will now be informed about the selected projects for funding during the next couple of days. The decision of the PSC was based on the ranking lists prepared by the two Scientific Councils for each of the thematic areas of the calls. The meetings to prepare the ranking lists were also held online from 1-2 April.

More information on the single projects will be published on the JFS website as soon as possible.

Further actions of the JFS to connect research from Southeast Asia and Europe that helps tackling the current Covid-19 crisis were discussed in the meeting as well. Details about these activities will be released soon. Stay tuned.

On April 8, the JFS Programme Steering Committee (PSC) meeting for the selection of projects to be funded under the 2019 JFS S&T Call on Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) and Nanotechnology was successfully held online.

After the initial postponement of the funding decision (as announced on our website on March 10) due to cancellation of the PSC meeting in Bonn/Germany from March 3-5 caused by the outbreak of the Coronavirus, it was necessary to convene an online meeting soon.

The applicants will now be informed about the selected projects for funding during the next couple of days. The decision of the PSC was based on the ranking lists prepared by the two Scientific Councils for each of the thematic areas of the calls. The meetings to prepare the ranking lists were also held online from 30-31 March.

More information on the single projects will be published on the JFS website as soon as possible.

Further actions of the JFS to connect research from Southeast Asia and Europe that helps tackling the current Covid-19 crisis were discussed in the meeting as well. Details about these activities will be released soon. Stay tuned.

Information to all applicants of the 2019 JFS Calls for Proposals: Due to the worldwide outbreak of COVID-19, the funding decision for the 3rd Call for Proposals (S&T) and the 4th Call for Proposals (Innovation) is delayed. We kindly ask for your understanding. You will be informed about the outcome of the funding decision as soon as possible.

From September 25-27 the Bio Investment Asia 2019 conference took place in Bangkok. The event's aim was to promote advanced technologies related to biotechnology and life sciences in Asia, to stimulate bio-businesses and investment in biotechnologies and to create a platform for knowledge sharing in biotechnology between stakeholders from Southeast Asia and other parts of the world.

The SEA-EU JFS was invited to the event for presenting its activities and raising awareness about the currently two open calls among the scientific and entrepreneurial community present in Bangkok.

On the one hand, the JFS hosted a booth at the conference's exhibition area. The exhibition as part of the Bio Investment Asia 2019 was visited by several thousand attendees from more than 30 countries over three days (from September 25-27). Over the course of the three days, the JFS service delivery team had several conversations with people interested in the JFS' activities. At the booth visitors could also learn from six posters prepared by European investigators, which were invited to the event following a call for applications for travel grants to attend this networking opportunity in Southeast Asia. In total, 6 European researchers/entrepreneurs were selected for a travel grant and had the chance to present their ideas and meet potentially interested Southeast Asian counterparts related to one of the two currently open calls of the JFS (S&T Call for Proposals: Integrated Water Resource Management and Nanotechnologies, deadline October 18, AND Innovation Call for Proposals: Infectious diseases and smart cities, deadline November 18).

The six invited European researchers/entrepreneurs and their topic were:

1. Towards photodynamic antimicrobials - a serious alternative to antibiotics
   
   Ms. Fabienne Dumoulin, Associate Professor, Gebze Technical University, Turkey
2. Ways to improve the data integration and processing (big data, machine learning / AI) of infectious disease events
   
   Mr. Jorge Cortell, CEO, Kanteron Systems, Spain
3. Development of rapid, sensitive and on-site detection system for microorganisms that cause infection due to climate change
   
   Ms. Esra Agel, Project Manager, TUBITAK Marmara Research Center, Material Institute, Turkey
4. Performing a clinical trial to show the safety and efficacy of the Ruti therapeutic vaccine to improve the standard antibiotic treatment
   
   Ms. Olga Rue Claros, CEO, ARCHIVEL FARMA, S.L., Spain
5. Development of rapid diagnostic test kits for vector borne diseases threating both Europe and Southeast Asia
   
   Mr. İbrahim SÖZDUTMAZ, Ass. Prof. / Co-founder and director, Erciyes University and Klonbiyotek Biyoteknoloji, Turkey
6. Medical device which performs advanced semen analysis for in vitro fertilization procedures and fertility treatments
   
   Mr. Burak Ozkosem, CEO, PERA LABS, Turkey

On the other, the JFS organised its own information, networking and matchmaking event on September 26, in order to support the set-up of powerful consortia for the submission of strong project proposals for two open JFS calls. After an introduction to the SEA-EU JFS and its call scheme by Hans Westphal (Service Delivery Manager), the six grantees from above had the chance to speak more in detail about their individual topics. They also met with potential partners from Southeast Asia to discuss a joint proposal submission for one of the two open JFS calls.

As an additional task, the service delivery team managed to record some statements from those beneficiaries, funded under the 1st and 2nd call of the funding scheme. These video clips will be used to produce an official promotional video for the JFS with a planned publication date in spring 2020. Stay tuned!

Do you have an idea for a project proposal under the

• 2019 Joint S&T Call for Proposals in the thematic area of Nanotechnologies or
• 2019 Joint Innovation Call for Proposals in the thematic area of Infectious Diseases?

Are you from a European country participating in the respective call for proposals?

Are you still looking for a partner from Southeast Asia?

If yes, apply for a travel grant to one of our conference-attached networking events:

S&T networking event (Nanotechnologies) attached to 14th Joint Conference on Chemistry:

On 10. September 2019, a Southeast Asia – Europe Joint Funding Scheme (JFS) ½-day Networking Event will be organized attached to the 14th Joint Conference on Chemistry in Surakarta, Indonesia.

The Joint Conference on Chemistry is an annual conference organized by the consortium of Chemistry Department of five universities in Central Java: Universitas Sebelas Maret  (UNS), Universitas Diponegoro (UNDIP), Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Universitas Jenderal Soedirman (UNSOED) and Universitas Kristen Satya Wacana (UKSW). This joint conference has been held since 2006 which initially started with a local seminar to accommodate the dissemination of research results from chemistry lecturers and researchers from the five universities. Starting 2014, the scope of conference was enhanced to be an International Conference by inviting overseas participant from all over the world. Nanotechnologies is one of the main topics of the conference.

The JFS Networking Event provides information about the Joint Funding Scheme and the related activities. The currently open Joint Calls for Proposals will be presented in detail with a focus on the Joint Innovation Call and its thematic area Infectious Diseases.

To support the set-up of powerful consortia for the submission of strong project proposals, selected European researchers seeking for complementing partner organizations will present their institution and project ideas.

If you plan to submit a project proposal under the 2019 S&T Call for Proposals in the thematic area of Nanotechnologies and you are seeking for a complementing project partner for your project consortium, apply for a travel grant now by filling the application form and sending the filled application form together with your CV to sea_eu_jfs@servicefacility.eu (copy adele.clausen@dlr.de).

For the travel grant application form “Nanotechnologies” please check the attachment section below.

Innovation networking event (Infectious Diseases) attached to Bio Investment Asia 2019:

On 26. September 2019, a Southeast Asia – Europe Joint Funding Scheme (JFS) ½-day Networking Event will be organized attached to the Bio Investment Asia 2019 exhibition and conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Bio Investment Asia 2019 is organized by the Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) under the umbrella of Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL 2019. The aim of the event is to accelerate biotechnology and life sciences innovation, business and investment in Thailand and Asia Pacific with the highlights of international exhibition, conference, business forum, company presentations and facility visits. The organizer expects to host more than 10,000 participants from over 30 countries.

The JFS Networking Event provides information about the Joint Funding Scheme and the related activities. The currently open Joint Calls for Proposals will be presented in detail with a focus on the Joint Innovation Call and its thematic area Infectious Diseases.

To support the set-up of powerful consortia for the submission of strong project proposals, selected European researchers seeking for complementing partner organizations will present their institution and project ideas. Furthermore, we aim to organize meetings with potential partners for your project on the side of the conference with our Thai partners.

If you plan to submit a project proposal under the 2019 Joint Innovation call for Proposals in the thematic area of Infectious Diseases and you are seeking for a complementing project partner for your project consortium, apply for a travel grant now by filling the application form and sending the filled application form together with your CV to sea_eu_jfs@servicefacility.eu (copy hans.westphal@dlr.de ).

For the travel grant application form  “Infectious Diseases” please check the attachment section below.