Introduction

Twinning stands for institutional networking. A twinning project strengthens a specific field of research in an emerging institution in a Widening country*. It links the institution with at least two internationally leading counterparts in Europe (including Spain).

Activities like short-term staff exchanges, expert visits, on-site or virtual trainings, workshops, conference attendance, dissemination and outreach are supported.

*The Member States currently eligible for Widening support are: Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia. The Associated Countries currently eligible for Widening support are: Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Georgia, Moldova, Montenegro, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey and Ukraine.

Objective

Twinning aims at significantly strengthening a defined field of research in a university or research organisation from a Widening country by linking it with at least two internationally-leading research institutions in other Member States or Associated Countries. Twinning will:

-Enhance the S&T capacity of the linked institutions with a principal focus on the university or research organisation from the Widening Country;

- Help raise the research profile of the institution from the Widening country as well as the research profile of its staff.

Successful Twinning proposals will have to clearly outline the scientific strategy for stepping up and stimulating scientific excellence and innovation capacity in a defined area of research as well as the scientific quality of the partners involved in the twinning exercise. If relevant, any links with sustainable development objectives are to be outlined.

Such a strategy should include a comprehensive set of measures to be supported. These should include at least a number of the following: short term staff exchanges; expert visits and short-term on-site or virtual training; workshops; conference attendance; organisation of joint summer school type activities; dissemination and outreach activities.

Important note

The applicant organisation (coordinator) where a defined field of research aims to be strengthened as a result of the Twinning action should be established in a Member State or Associated Country that is ranked below 70% of the EU27 average of the composite indicator on Research Excellence. In this respect, Psain cannot be the coordinator of the Action but can participate in the project as partner.

Eligible costs

In general, costs relating to administration, networking, coordination, training, management, travel costs are acceptable under a Twinning project.

Not eligible costs

- infrastructure costs; equipment; research costs (including consumables).

Duration

The duration of a Twinning project can be up to 3 years.

Budget

Max: EUR 1 million

More information at

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/opportunities/h2020/topics/widespread-05-2017.html