Conseil National des Recherches Scientifiques (CNRS) - National Council for Scientific Research is a governmental organization which supports research projects that have a direct impact on the productive sectors, the environment, public health and socio economic development in accordance with its set national research priorities.
1. CNRS Proposal Preparation
Types of Support
CNRS Research Priorities
CNRS Research Application (Proposal) Procedures
Project Period and Funding Limits
Principal Investigator Eligibility
PI and Office of Grants and Contracts Responsibilities
Proposals Requiring Special Review
Proposal Checklist
2. CNRS Grants Administration
Project Renewal
Renewal Application Checklist
Final Reporting
1. CNRS Proposal Preparation
Types of Support
1. Research Projects:
It promotes research and related activities in Lebanon and maintains Research Centers, funds research projects, sponsors various task forces, and is engaged in continuous scientific programs. It awards research grants in different fields of study especially those that are related to sustainable development. It gives priority to the support of research projects of an applied nature that may have direct impact on production, the environment, public health, human development, and the economic sectors in Lebanon. It also supports basic and social sciences research projects that would contribute to the enhancement of higher education and enhance applied research.
The Council gives priority to projects presented in a specific scientific area by a group of researchers forming a research team or part of a laboratory that is a participant in the Council's programs (associated laboratory CNRS), as long as the projects are of an applied nature. The Council encourages the formation of research teams from researchers who work in similar or complementary fields and who had previously received support from the Council.
2. Workshop/Travel Support:
The Council will provide support for those researchers wishing to participate in international conferences to represent their CNRS project findings and results. Researchers must be conference participants and submit at least a poster, or an oral presentation as approved by the conference organizers. A travel request should be either submitted during the course of an on-going CNRS supported project or three months within the end of a CNRS project. The support is provided in lump sum amounts as follows:
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660,000 L.L. for conference in Syria
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1,100,000 L.L. for a conference in Egypt, or Jordan, or Cyprus, or Turkey
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1,650,000 L.L. for a conference in the Gulf or Morocco and region
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2,200,000 L.L. for a conference in Europe or the United States of America
To apply for a workshop/travel support, faculty members are requested to:
a) use the template "Submission Letter", and
b) fill out the CNRS "Request for Workshop Attendance" form and submit to OGC.
All travel requests should be approved and officially submitted through the OGC. Researchers are allowed one travel request per awarded CNRS project.
CNRS Research Priorities
The CNRS will support projects which are aligned with its thematic priorities and research areas which include the following: agricultural sciences, basic sciences, environmental sciences, medicine and public health, human and social sciences and science and technology. The Council's thematic priority details can be found on its website: http://www.cnrs.edu.lb, where you will also find the Council's Program Guidelines and Budget Information.
CNRS Application (Proposal) Procedures
The CNRS requires that proposals be submitted on its Application Form. The application form of the CNRS is comprised of two sections:
Section one: CNRS Administrative Information Form (must be signed by the Dean and the President)
Section two: This section includes the proposal and consists of the following sections:
1. Title of the proposed project (in Arabic, English, and French)
2. Project goal
3. Project purpose
4. Project Summary (limit of 250 words) and keywords (in Arabic and English)
5. Introduction (the significance of the project and the detailed description of the project objectives)
6. Project Background
7. Outputs and activities
8. Work Plan (timeline for a maximun of 2 years)
9. Project Methodology/ Project Description
10. Measurable indicators
11. Softwares (list the needed software. Software must not be available at AUB, include a letter from AUB confirming its unavailability)
12. PI and Co-PI publications - List of publications (for the last five years) that are related to the proposed project.
13. References
14. Budget and budget justification
Project Period and Funding Limits
The Council funds one to two year projects for a total of 20,000,000 L.L per year. For projects which fall under the Humanities and Social Science program, the allowable costs include:
1. Salaries (up to 50% of total budget requested)
2. Survey costs , field work and statistical studies
3. Specific software (provided that they are not available at AUB- an official letter should be submitted by the administration confirming non-availability)
4. Miscellaneous costs (up to 5% of total budget)
For projects which fall under basic sciences, engineering, public health, medicine, environment and agriculture the allowable costs include:
1. Salaries (up to 50% of total budget requested)
2. Field work expenses, consumables
3. Chemicals and accessories, specific software (provided that they are not available at AUB- an official letter should be submitted by the administration confirming non-availability)
4. Laboratory tests
5. Miscellaneous costs (up to 5% of total budget requested) .
Applicants are also required to provide a detailed budget justification.
Unallowable costs include equipment for personal usage such as mobile phones, computers, and their accessories.
Principal Investigator Eligibility
Only full-time faculty members with a Ph.D are eligible to apply, this however does not apply to part-time medical doctors.
Proposal Submission Deadlines
The CNRS usually has one application cycle per year. The exact deadline date will be announced by OGC via e-mail. To allow ample time for review, investigators are advised to submit their applications to the Office of Grants and Contracts at least 7-8 days prior to the submission deadline.
The Council will not review application for new funding if the Principal Investigator has an on-going project whose contract period has not ended.
PI and Office of Grants and Contracts Responsibilities
While the faculty member is responsible for writing the proposal, The Office of Grants and Contracts can assist in answering any queries related to the format, structure and budgeting. The Office is the official liaison between the University and the CNRS and is responsible for reviewing the proposal application and budget before sending it to the president for his signature. The Office is also responsible for the formal submission of the proposal to the CNRS.
Proposals Requiring Special Review
a. Human Subjects
Proposals involving human testing must obtain the approval of the Institutional Research Board (IRB). For application to the IRB, faculty members should follow IRB's principles and procedures which can be found under the Faculty of Medicine Research website. Please note that faculty members are required to include the IRB approval with their proposals, as no proposal will be processed by OGC unless the human subject protocol has been either submitted for review or has been already approved.
b. Animal Subjects
Proposals involving animal subjects must obtain an animal use application and approval from the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) prior to submission of the proposal. For application to the IACUC, faculty members should follow IACUC's principles and procedures, and filing out the Animal Use Form. Please note that faculty members are required to include the IACUC's approval with their proposals, as no proposal will be processed by OGC unless the animal subject protocol has been either submitted for review or has been already approved.
c. Radio Active Material
Research proposals that involve the use of radioactive material or radiation producing machines, or use of radiation in structural programs, radiation medical applications must obtain the written approval of the University Radiation Safety Committee. This can be achieved by submitting an application for a license from the Department of Environmental Health, Safety, and Risk Management. The application must be approved by the Committee before the ordering of radioactive material or radiation producing devices.
Proposal Checklist
Applicants should complete and sign the following documents/forms included in the application package and send them to the Office of Grants and Contracts.
1. CNRS Applications Form (One original and one copy of the application)
2. The original CNRS's Administrative Information Form (Arabic)
3. The original CNRS Proposal Transmittal and Approval Form (English)
4. Two copies of the proposal
5. One original and one copy of updated curriculum vitae (CV) of the principal investigator(s) and co-investigator(s).
6. Soft copy of proposal on CD or floppy disk
7. IRB Form (if using human subjects)
8. Animal Use Form (if using animal subjects).
9. Radiation Form (If using radioactive material).
10. Signed "Survey of Scientific Resources in Lebanon" form
NOTE: Incomplete applications (i.e. those that do not include the above mentioned items or are not signed) and those that do not conform to the CNRS application guidelines will delay the submission and may result in missing the submission deadline.
2. CNRS Grants Administration
Project Renewal
If the researcher received an award for a period of two years, the project may be renewed for a second year upon reporting of satisfactory scientific results and findings. However if a PI has initially requested a one year period for his/her project, the CNRS will not approve its renewal for another year.
Project Renewal for year 2 of the Project
The researcher is requested to submit a progress report detailing the findings and project outputs which were stated in his/her application. The renewal is assured if the researcher published an article in the Lebanese scientific journal entitled: Lebanese Science Journal or any specialized and recognized academic journal (or has had an article accepted for publication), or has published a book on the researched topic.
If the project period ended without producing results, and if the researcher did not publish an article as a result of the funding, the Council will suspend any further research funding for the researcher in the future. This decision is subject for review and consideration if the researcher submits or publishes an article in the Lebanese journal entitled: Lebanese Science Journal or in a specialized and recognized academic journal.
Renewal Application Checklist
Investigators wishing to renew their projects and receive additional funds for year two of their projects they are requested to submit the following documents to the Office of Grants and Contracts:
1. One original completed and signed CNRS Renewal Application Form.
2. Two copies of the progress report. The progress report should include:
a) Description of what has been achieved as a result of CNRS support and the project findings and outputs.
b) What were the outcomes of the project? Were any abstracts, articles, or any other publications produced? Was there a conference or workshop on the subject?
3. Two copies of published articles or papers.
Final Reporting
Upon the completion of projects, principal investigators should submit a final report to the CNRS. The Office of Grants and Contracts is responsible for the formal submission of the report. The report should include the below stated sections and answer the following questions:
a) Title of the project (in English and Arabic) as stated on the CNRS contract.
b) Start date and duration of the project (as stated on the CNRS contract)
c) The objectives of the project and the expected project outcomes and results as stated in the proposal. State which of the objectives and outcomes were achieved at the end of the project.
d) A brief and precise description of the achieved project activities. Include the obstacles that were faced, if any.
e) List of publications that were published in scientific journals or presented in international conferences, with a copy of the articles as published.
The final report should also include the filling and submission of CNRS's Final Report Form, and should be submitted as a hard copy as well as electronically.