REX Call Information
Seventh Call for Applications
Call opens: 22nd September 2017
Extended Deadline: 22nd October 2017
For exchanges starting from November/December 2017
Online application form starts with a click here
The Exchange Programme Management Committee of the ELECTRA Integrated Research Programme is pleased to announce the seventh call for applications for Smart Grid researcher exchanges. Three parallel streams will operate under this ELECTRA REX call for applications:
• International cooperation stream – this supports Global Exchange applications involving collaboration between an organisation from outside Europe and an ELECTRA/EERA partner
• Industry cooperation stream – this supports European or Global Exchange applications between an industry partner (as host or sending organisation) and an ELECTRA/EERA partner. Collaborations involving experimental validation are particularly welcomed
• Intra-ELECTRA or European-ELECTRA cooperation stream - this supports exchange applications between European research organisations
The ELECTRA Researcher Exchange (REX) Programme provides funding for travel and subsistence costs to the successful researcher applicants to support an exchange to another country in keeping with the aims and objectives of the overall ELECTRA Integrated Research Programme (IRP). These aims and objectives encompass two aspects: ELECTRA's research goals for advanced real time control in smart grids, and its ambition for establishing working relationships with leading international research organisations.
This Call is open to applicants from research or industrial organisations, according to eligibility criteria reported below. Applications are particularly welcome at this time in relation to one of the following priority, though not exclusive, topics:
- Cyber security assessment using SGAM and NIST IR
- SGAM, reference test networks and use cases for controller conflict modeling
- Supervision and inter-cell coordination strategies in the Web of Cells (WoC) concept
- Information exchange protocols for WoC distributed control
- Analysing communications system performance for WoC distributed control
- Future DSO/TSO control room concepts and functionality
- Cost benefit analysis for the WoC concept
- Integration and simulation of adaptive protection, PMUs and WoC distributed control
- Market mechanisms for the optimal control of flexibility resources
- From simulation-based proof-of-concept to laboratory experiments for distributed control validation
- KPIs and requirements for validating distributed control concepts to TRL3-6
- Self-defined topic
It is important to note that the proposed exchange must be agreed with the Host Organisation in advance of submission. While a prospective applicant may start discussions with more than one possible host, they should advise them that they are considering a number of alternatives. By working together, the proposed Host Organisation and Home Organisation should demonstrate that:
• The proposed work is relevant to the goals of creating and demonstrating advanced voltage and frequency control as described by the ELECTRA IRP.
• The Exchange Researcher will be capable of completing a quality body of work from the exchange and will gain useful personal development from it.
• The value of the exchange is such that the host organization and key individuals are willing and able to commit to producing valuable outcome
Full rules and procedures are available within deliverable D9.1 under the Dissemination Tab, but the following provides some key clarifications.
The results from previous calls are summarized here
1. Eligibility criteria
The Call is open to researchers within research organisations and industry as well. Either the Home or Host Organization must be an ELECTRA IRP Partner or an EERA JPSG participant/associate. Exchanges with extra EU organization are also welcome.
As a general rule, the Home (sending) organization will receive the funding from the REX Coordinator to provide support to the Exchange Researcher.
The application must be made using the REX on-line form, available here on the ELECTRA IRP website upon registration.
2. Financial rules
Funding is available to pay for the Exchange Researcher’s accommodation and travel. A laboratory bench fee for the Host may be payable under certain circumstances. For longer exchanges a financial contribution from the Host may be required. This funding will not cover the salary of the Exchange Researcher.
2.1 Grant funding available
Table 1 Maximum daily support for researcher exchanges
Table 2 Maximum travel support for different types of exchanges
*Travel to/from host should be on the most economical transport available, for flights only economy class flights will be reimbursed.
2.2 Grants available per year and per type
Table 3 Total number of individual grants and number of man-months allocated to the mobility programme within the 4 year duration of ELECTRA IRP
Table 4 Number of individual grants per annum
3. Evaluation of the applications
Each application will be reviewed by the Exchange Programme Management Committee (EPMC). The EPMC is composed of representatives of each of the research work packages, along with the REX Coordinator (who is also the WP9 lead), REX Deputy Coordinator, and the IRP Coordinator. The EPMC is chaired by the REX Coordinator, and assesses each application against the fixed scoring criteria. A score is applied to each application, and the best applications thus identified for approval. Scores encompass main criteria (70%) and additional criteria (30%) as follows:
Main evaluation criteria refers to relevance, quality and value.
a. The proposed work is relevant to the goals of creating and demonstrating advanced voltage and frequency control as described by the ELECTRA IRP.
b. The Exchange Researcher will be capable of completing a quality body of work from the exchange and will gain useful personal development from it.
c. The value of the exchange is such that the host organization and key individuals are willing and able to commit to producing valuable outcomes.
Additional criteria take into consideration balance and targets.
a. The balance of intra-ELECTRA, European and Global exchanges.
b. Alignment with targeted partnerships as guided by the ELECTRA IRP Steering Committee, Advisory Board and International Coordination Board. Whether the researcher is female and whether the researcher is an ‘early career researcher’.
c. The IRP encourages female researchers to apply to the call for the benefit of gender equality.
The results of the evaluations will be made known to the applicants within 6 weeks of the closing date for applications.
4. Application form
The application form for funding an ELECTRA researcher exchange is split into three parts, in accordance with the threefold REX objectives:
a. The proposed work is relevant to the goals of creating and demonstrating advanced voltage and frequency control as described by the ELECTRA IRP.
i. Details of the applicant
ii. Proposed host
iii. Type of project
iv. Description of the work to be performed during the exchange
v. Which ELECTRA Work Packages/Tasks does the work specifically contribute to
vi. Details of how this piece of work links to the ELECTRA IRP
vii. Duration of the Exchange (from 2 weeks to 3 months)
viii. Planned start date
ix. Plan for exploitation and dissemination: papers/ conferences/ workshops etc.
x. Proposed budget for REX grant period (flights, accommodation, subsistence)
If neither the host nor the home institution in a proposed exchange are ELECTRA Partners, then the EERA JP Partner or Associate Partner who is involved should formally request a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) from the Project Coordinator and proceed to have this officially signed by the proposal's parties. This will then provide access to the Description of Work (DoW) of ELECTRA that will support the preparation of a strong proposal, particularly in relation to items v and vi above.
b. The Exchange Researcher will be capable of completing a quality body of work from the exchange and will gain useful personal development from it.
i. Attach an up-to-date academic style CV including work experience, projects, papers etc.
ii. Describe/highlight relevant experience to show technical capabilities, e.g. projects worked on, significant papers, technical skills
iii. Personal ambition for the exchange in terms of a development opportunity
c. The value of the exchange is such that the Home and Host organizations and key individuals are willing and able to commit to producing valuable outcomes.
i. Describe the research facilities, training and development, opportunities to engage with wider Host Organisation, and anything further that the Host will arrange for the Exchange Researcher
ii. List the key individuals involved in the Exchange and their roles
iii. Two letters of intent (one each from the Home and Host Organisations)
iv. Plan for exploitation and impact
v. Training and development opportunities during the Researcher's visit
vi. Agreed principles on which Intellectual Property (IP) will be managed
5. Procedure after the completion of the grant
A final abstract in the standard format will be due from the Exchange Researcher not later than twice the grant period with a maximum of three months from the completion of the REX.
This timescale may be extended where a reverse exchange (usally self-funded) is scheduled.
The report must be completed and submitted online.
A questionnaire evaluating the completed exchange must be completed online by the Exchange Researcher, Host Organisation, and Home Organisation.
The final report and questionnaire statistics will be used to review and approve the completed exchange by the EPMC.
Exchange Researchers are expected to remain engaged with the on-line network of researchers beyond completion of their respective exchanges to support the successive development of best practice.
6. Final report template
The final Report must be submitted online on the ELECTRA IRP website.
For further information, please contact the Exchange Programme Management Committee at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .