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Announcement

Ponsse Fund
Grants for 2007

Forestry operations and environment related management are under continuous development. New technologies are needed to improve the cost-efficiency and sustainability impacts of forest regeneration, silvicultural treatments, wood harvesting, and biomass collection for generation of bio-energy. Mechanised and automated solutions have been developed in all work phases of forest management operations. The competitiveness and sustainability of the European forest sector can be further improved by promoting innovations in forest management. The grants of the Ponsse Fund, awarded by the Foundation for European Forest Research, aim at promoting such innovations.

The Foundation for European Forest Research welcomes applications for research scholarships, prizes, and other grants on the following topic:

Contribution of modern forest management technologies to sustainable and competitive forestry in Europe
within the following research areas:

  1. Development and transfer of new forest technologies to European and global conditions.
  2. Socio-economic and environmental impacts of applying high-tech in forestry operations.
  3. Contribution of new technologies and logistical solutions to improving the sustainability impacts of the production of forest products and bio-energy.

Deadline for applications: 15 February 2007

Instructions for applications

Research Scholarships

Research Scholarships are awarded for PhD or post-doctoral studies, or other relevant research on modern forest management technologies contributing to sustainable development. The amount of awarded scholarships is up to 16 000 euro annually, for one full time or several part-time scholarships. The work is aimed to be conducted at the EFI headquarters in Joensuu, Finland.

A scholarship can be awarded for several years (up to 3-4 years), however, a researcher whose scholarship has been accepted as continued (i.e. that is possibly funded for several years) also has to apply for funding each year. When funding is applied for a continued scholarship, a report on the progress and the use of funds of the research project so far has to be attached. The selection criteria for the scholarship are the following:

  1. The relevance of the proposed research work to the scope of the Ponsse Fund
  2. The scientific quality and feasibility of the research plan
  3. The previous scientific merits of the candidate.
  4. The candidate's existing or potential additional funding for the planned research.

The scholarship applications will undergo an independent scientific evaluation. The decision on the scholarships will be made in March 2007 and the successful candidates will be notified by a letter.

Application form

Other grants

Other grants will be awarded within the scope of the Ponsse grant as travelling grants for attending scientific meetings, or for publishing costs. A typical size of a grant in this category is 2000 - 5000 euro.

The decision on these grants will be made by the Board of the Foundation for European Forest Research in March 2007, and the successful candidates will be notified by a letter.

Application form

Prizes

Special prizes are awarded for achievements in research or in the implementation of modern technologies in practical forestry to support sustainable development. The size of the prizes 5000 euro and is awarded, based on nominations, for persons, research teams or organisations.

The prize applications will undergo an independent scientific evaluation. The decision on the prizes will be made in March 2007 and the successful awardees will be notified by a letter.

Template for prize nominations

  1. Name(s) of the candidate(s)
  2. Description of the work to be awarded (max 2 pages)
  3. Contribution of the candidate(s) achievements in research or in the implementation of modern technologies in practical forestry to support sustainable development. (max 1 page)
  4. Signature of the organisation nominating the candidate

Appendices: CV:s of the candidate(s) (in case of organisations: track record in relevant field). Selected publications relevant to the work to be awarded

Deadline and further information:

Further information can be obtained from foundation@fefr.org.

Deadline for all applications and nominations: 15 February 2007
The applications should be sent, both by email as well as one original by mail to: Foundation for European Forest Research, c/o Jerker Brolén, Torikatu 34, 80100 Joensuu, Finland. Email: foundation@fefr.org.