Advanced Computing Committee (ACC) Research Equipment Call for 2020 Faculty-prioritised Research Computer Grants

Deadline for Applications to Faculty Computing/IT Committees: 30 May 2020

(Please send queries to your Faculty Committee representative- see Table 1 below)

Purpose:

The purpose of these grants is to provide funding to faculties for prioritised pieces of medium size (R50 000 to R750 000) computer related hardware and software. The Advanced Computing Committee (ACC) considers applications from Faculties for strategic research related computer equipment and software items including implementation support (e.g. specialised computing services) that are not covered in the conventional way by Faculty Equipment IT Committees.

Should you wish to apply for large computer equipment (>R750,000), please submit to ACC as part of this call, an application that is part of a coordinated effort across departments and/or faculties and include one or more of the following: e-Research, Data Institute and ICTS.

Eligibility:

UCT researchers are eligible to apply if they are:

·    Permanent academic staff; or

·    Joint PGWC/UCT academic staff in Health Sciences on UCT Conditions of Service (excluding registrars), or

·    Contract staff on academic conditions T2, with a co-applicant from one of the above categories

Honorary Research Associates; Emeritus Professors; Emeritus Associate Professors; Honorary Professors; Honorary Associate Professors and Senior Research Scholars are NOT eligible to apply. Those who wish to have access to new computer equipment and software must form part of research groupings and may not be the Principal Applicant.

Submission process:

·         The applicant must use the latest version of application form R&I33 downloadable from http://forms.uct.ac.za/forms.htm#ResearchInnovation

·         Department/individual researchers must make applications directly to the Faculty ACC representatives (see Table 1 below).

·         The application form accompanied by two recent quotes must provide details on the projected lifetimes and motivations for each item. These motivations must show that the appropriate infrastructural support for the functioning of each item has been investigated.

·         The applicant must ensure that the complete and correctly endorsed application reaches the relevant faculty committee, as listed in table 1, by the deadline date of 30 May 2020. Please submit your application via email to your relevant faculty committee (see Table 1 above for details).

·         The relevant faculty committee prioritises the requests and submits the applications to the ACC via email to Robyn Udemans at researchfunding@uct.ac.za. Hardcopies are not accepted.

·           The ACC will not accept late or retrospective applications as well as adhoc applications.

Table 1: Details of the Faculty ACC representatives

Award Conditions:

·         Applicants must be able to show that they have tried to get funding elsewhere, i.e. demonstrated fundraising effort is important. If part of the funding is going to be solicited from outside bodies, it is mandatory that a donor prospect clearance be obtained from the Development Office before approaching the ACC.

·         Confirmation of external co-funding that forms part of an application must be submitted within the calendar year of the ACC application. Failure to do so will result in the award being rescinded.

·         The Advanced Computing Committee will not be responsible for currency differences caused by delays in purchasing equipment.

·         In the event that there is a saving due to currency differences, excess funds must be returned to the ACC.

·         Copies of the invoices of the final amounts must be submitted to the ACC.

·         A report on the expenditure of this equipment award is required to be submitted to the ACC in November 2021.

Timeline:

·         Applications to reach the Faculty Advanced Computing Committee Representative: 30 May 2020

·         Relevant Faculty IT committee representatives to submit applications to the ACC for review: 19 June 2020

·         ACC meeting to review applications and prepare recommendations to Resource Allocation Advisory Group (RAAG): 15 July 2020

·         ACC communicates recommendations to Faculty ACC Representatives and applicants: 31 July 2020

·         ACC submits applications and recommendations to RAAG: August 2020

·         Funding outcome to Faculty Advanced Computing Committee Representatives and applicants: January 2021