Work plan & Management

Work Plan (CHIST-ERA II)

CHIST-ERA involves all four types of ERA-Net activities:

1. Information exchange;
2. Definition and preparation of joint activities;
3. Implementation of joint activities;
4. Last but not least, funding of joint transnational research actions.

The ERA-Net is organized into six work packages:

WP1: The first work-package concerns the management and the coordination of the Project (Consortium Agreement, management structures...), the dissemination (website, flyers...) and communication with EC and Flagships initiatives.

WP2: The second work-package deals with the improvement of the CHIST-ERA collaboration framework (topics selection, proposals selection, projects funding...), taking into account lessons learned at each call, and the elaboration of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the funding partners for each call.

WP3: The third work-package concentrates mainly on the implementation of the topics selection process, as defined in WP2, for each call of CHIST-ERA; and on the organisation of the yearly Strategic Conference to refine the scientific text of the call.

WP4: The fourth work-package deals with the implementation of the transnational evaluation (eligibility and scientific evaluation), selection, and funding processes for each of the four calls: maintenance and fine-tuning of the CHIST-ERA Electronic Submission System, publication of the call documents (documents for call preparation and reviewing), organisation of the evaluation and selection panels, list of funded projects.

WP5: The fifth work-package deals with the CHIST-ERA programme assessment (feedback on the calls), in order to highlight promising research topics recommended for future FET workprogramme and with the funded projects monitoring especially through the organisation of the CHIST-ERA yearly event.

WP6: Finally, the sixth work-package addresses the sustainability and the openness of CHISTERA with proactive actions toward the new European and non-European potential members and thus prepare the future of the CHIST-ERA network.

Management

The organisation of CHISTERA follows the common two levels organisation of the Research & Development supportive programmes:

(1) Steering Committee

A strategic level, where the implementation, the content and the programmes funding decisions are made. It is the task of the Steering Committee (SC). The SC is composed of one representative per member and chaired by the Coordinator of the Consortium (ANR). It is the ultimate decision-making body of the Consortium for any issue concerning its operation and the content of its work program, and as the arbitration body for proposals submitted by the partners, the associates, or the Executive Board (EB, see below). It reviews progress accomplished in each workpackage, considers proposals, and decides on the actions to be undertaken. It decides on all major issues addressed during the course of the project, which affect substantially the scope, direction and content of CHIST-ERA, including questions regarding network extension, public relations, etc.

At all levels of the project, the SC can consult the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). The SAB is composed of members selected by the SC, among high-level experts from leading public research institutes, industry as well as other relevant stakeholders. The SAB is asked to critically accompanying the programme, suggest further activities, gauge the impact of the actions of the Consortium, or ensure complementarities with the activities of the other European research management institutions.

(2) Executive Board & Joint Secretariat

And an operational level, the Executive Board (EB) and the Joint Secretariat (JS), in charge of the organisation, the promotion and the implementation of the calls for proposals (selection, funding, contracts, follow-up of the projects). The EB is composed of the work package leaders (WPL), and chaired by the Coordinator (ANR). It takes operational decisions and prepares, proposes, and implements the decisions of the SC. Each WPL is responsible for the coordination, planning, monitoring and reporting for the respective Work Package (WP) activities as well as the coherence of this WP with other WPs in the network. On a regular basis, the EB meets to discuss the progress made and - if necessary - suggests remedial actions to the SC. The Joint Secretariat's duties include all aspects of the administrative support of the coordinator and the other management bodies as well as all the entire communication and interaction with the European Commission.