In addition to earlier announced competitions for Russian scientists to obtain financial support (grants) to conduct basic scientific research, the RFBR Board has adopted a decision to hold in 2005 a new competition in knowledge area (08) Fundamentals of Engineering Sciences (FES). The main goal of the competition is to support scientists engaged in the following branches of science: theoretical engineering (science of machines) and engineering mechanics, heat-and-mass exchange processes, properties of substances and materials, electro-physics and electrical engineering, power engineering, including atomic power engineering, technical systems and control processes, chemical sciences and biotechnologies. A competition of projects in FES should allow RFBR to involve in its competitive selection processes a large group of scientists doing research in the above areas.
The Foundation hereby announces a 2005 selection competition in knowledge area 08 Fundamentals of Engineering Sciences for private-initiative-based research projects under paragraph a conducted by small (up to 10 persons) research teams or by individual researchers.
Note to Prospective Applicants! Application forms in electronic form are provided on our website, and also are available via anonymous FTP (ftp.rfbr.ru in folder /pub/konkurs2005/).
Note to project leaders/managers who earlier received grants under paragraph a competitions but in other areas of knowledge! We would like to remind you the following RFBR rule: if an initiative-based project continues to be researched in 2005 as specified in the initial application, its project leader/manager may not participate in our competition to win funding for research in knowledge area 08.
Time periods and methods to submit applications to participate in our paragraph a competition in knowledge area 08 in 2005 are as follows:
Reviewed will be only those applications that are prepared using our interactive Grant-Express system (via the Internet).
Applications prepared using our interactive system should be submitted to the Foundation for registration by July 18, 2005 (after receipt of a registration number, each project leader should submit to RFBR 3 (three) printed copies of their respective applications by July 28, 2005).
Complete rules and regulations governing the use of the Grant-Express system are provided on our server at http://grant.rfbr.ru or http://grant.rffi.ru. If necessary, queries related to the operation of our system for remote application registration may be sent to the e-mail address grant@intra.
Address of the Foundation. Printed copies of applications should be sent to the following postal address: Russian Foundation for Basic Research, Leninsky Prospekt, 32a, Moscow, V-334, GSP-1, 119991 (non-registered mail).
In addition, applications may be personally delivered and deposited into the Foundations special mail boxes installed in the building at the above address, daily from 10:00 to 17:00, except for Saturdays and Sundays.
Information. Information telephone line: (095) 938-5532.
Applications submitted by fax or via e-mail will not be registered or reviewed.

General selection competition guidelines

1. Rules and regulations applicable to preparation of applications to participate in our paragraph a competition were published in the Poisk newsletter, issues 17-18, April 30, 2004, and are available to view on RFBRs website.
2. RFBR Classifier for our competition in knowledge area 08 is provided in an appendix to this announcement.

Detailed information: RFBR competition in knowledge area 08

1. The competition to obtain funding available in 2005 is held for projects to be implemented in 1, 2 or 3 stages. Stages 2 and 3 have standard duration until completion which is 1 year, however Stage 3 consists of two sub-stages: Sub-stage 1a will last from the date of the competition announcement and to the end of 2005, with reports to be submitted in January 2006; Sub-stage 1b will last for the whole of 2006, with reports to be submitted in January 2007. The reports to be submitted in January 2007 may be provided in simplified format: it will be required to provide a brief abstract which can be used to adjust the funding of the project in 2006. Information on the procedure for submission of such reports will be published in the Poisk newspaper by December 2005.
2. The competition can naturally be held within a limited timeframe because Sub-stage 1a needs to be completed by January 1, 2006. Sub-stage 1a completion milestones are as follows: submission of applications following the publication of this announcement - by July 18, 2005; holding of merit reviews (expert examinations) and approval of their results - by September 30, 2005; funding of accepted projects to be provided in October 2005. Thereafter, the competition in FES will follow exactly the timelines under other initiative-based selection competitions held in other knowledge areas.
3. Funding of projects accepted earlier based on the results of our paragraph a competitions (up to and including 2005) in sciences transferred to knowledge area (08) from other branches of science will be continued until completion under their respective sections.