[Strategic Focus Area – Advanced Manufacturing call for projects | ETH Domain]
Event details
| Date | 28.08.2020 |
| Category | Call for proposal |
In its Strategic Planning for 2021-2024 for the ETH Domain, the ETH Board approved the continuation program of the Strategic Focus Area - Advanced Manufacturing (SFA-AM) in the next four-year planning period.
The SFA-AM addresses the opportunities for technology development offered by the advances in computer and data science. It combines measures of research projects, of capacity buildup and technology platforms as well as of knowledge and technology transfer, enabling cutting-edge research and the development of new and disruptive technologies in the field of advanced manufacturing. The SFA-AM also fosters the collaboration of scientists and research groups across the 4 participating institutions of the ETH Domain, ETHZ, EPFL, PSI and Empa.
The scope of the program in the period 2021-2024 and in particular of this call includes all material topics and sub-topics of advanced manufacturing. Four specific Technical Focus Areas (TFAs) were defined to emphasize key aspects and future challenges:
- "TFA I – Manufacturing Technologies" and "TFA II – Functionality Integration" address the technologies to fabricate components or products – the first predominantly individual manufacturing technologies, the second manufacturing technologies that enable the integration of specific and often combined and complex functionalities into products.
- "TFA III – Sensing Technologies" and "TFA IV – Intelligent Systems and Advanced Automation" address the new possibilities of the digitalization to better control individual manufacturing processes as well as complete supply and value chains.
The project proposals can either address challenges that have already been a topic in a running SFA-AM funded research project or pick up on new challenges and topics to complement the research activities of the period 2017-2020. Projects should be carried out by consortia of PIs from at least 2 different ETH institutions, with a preference for projects involving more than 2 ETH institutions.
An online workshop will be organized on 13 July 2020 to give PIs the opportunity to present and discuss their project ideas with other PIs in the ETH Domain. Information and registration (deadline 3 July) here.
Eligibility
Researchers at one of the 4 participating ETH Institutions (ETHZ, EPFL, PSI and Empa), in particular, but not limited to, professors, lab head or group leaders. Partners outside the ETH Domain (universities, industry) are welcome but should participate with their own funding.
Funding
Total funding for the period 2021-2024 is 11.9 MCHF.
Personnel costs: most of the budget should be used for hiring young talents (PhDs, postdocs). See salary scales in the Call document.
Equipment costs: should not exceed 20% of the total project funding and the purchased equipment should be made available to PIs across the ETH Domain.
Duration
Generally 48 months (early breakthrough is one of the evaluation criteria: one milestone is demonstrating significant breakthrough after 24 months)
Timeline
Online Workshop: 13 July 2020 (deadline for registration is 3 July)
Deadline to submit pre-proposals: 28 August 2020 (extended from 14 August 2020)
Deadline to submit full-proposals (upon invitation): 09 November 2020
Decisions: 15 January 2021
Start of research projects: 1 February – 1 May 2021
Submission
Pre- and full proposals must be submitted to the Programme Manager by email using the provided Word template.or Rich Text Format template.
For further information: SFA-AM webpage, SFA-AM Call document, or contact the Programme Manager.
Practical information
- General public
- Free