The EC launched a one-stop shop for Covid-19 R&I funding and projects, several other platforms follow suit to create an overview and support researchers.
Never before has a crisis led to such an effort in research and innovation (R&I) activities. Covid-19 has caused an unprecedented wave of funding opportunities and research projects, making it challenging for researchers to keep an overview and find the right match for support or partnering. However, good coordination and quick mobilisation of funds are essential for an efficient response to the outbreak.
In an effort to shed light onto the plethora of opportunities, the European Commission (EC) launched the European Research Area (ERA) Corona Platform on 14 May. The platform is a one-stop shop targeting current as well as prospective beneficiaries of the European R&I programmes and provides information, dedicated support and real-time updates on funding opportunities for Covid-19 related R&I. Beyond funding, the platform also gathers ongoing projects, updates on extended Horizon 2020 deadlines and links to tailored Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). It is also the first one of ten dedicated priority actions forming the ERAvsCorona action plan, which is the result of a larger coordination effort between the EU and its Member States as well as associated countries including Switzerland. The action plan defines short-term actions for close cooperation and coordination, data sharing and joint funding efforts.
Apart from listing EU funding opportunities, EU funded projects and their calls and actions for third parties, the website also contains a dedicated section for national activities. Here, researchers and innovators can find details on actions in all EU Member States as well as Norway, Faroe Islands, Iceland and Switzerland. The Swiss page prominently features the new National Research Programme (NRP) on Covid-19, which will provide CHF 20 Mio of support for a period of two years. The programme will capitalise on and bundle existing national research competencies into more extensive projects and multidisciplinary cooperation. The call for projects closed on 25 May. Further information is provided on an earlier call by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) as well as on the Swiss National Covid-19 Task Force and their work.
The EC is not the only institution collecting information on Covid-19 related R&I funding, projects and policy. The OECD created ‘STIP Covid-19 Watch’, the OECD monitor of science and innovation policy responses to the Covid-19 crisis. Policy responses on a global level are listed by country and include information on scientific advice to governments, coordination efforts at an international level as well as dedicated R&I funding sources and other immediate response mechanisms. The OECD also puts an emphasis on the communication of scientific information and advice on Covid-19 and mechanisms for refuting misleading information.
Beyond governments and public bodies, several private players have started to bundle information on R&I projects and opportunities related to the crisis. Science Business launched its own web portal, the ‘Coronavirus R&D Gateway’ as a resource for researchers, companies, policy makers and the public at large on 14 May too. The portal’s heart is an online database covering calls from over 46 countries combined with links to initiatives for matchmaking. Readers will also find news on R&I projects and policies and a live blog on events. The open access publisher Frontiers provides yet another curated list on open funding calls. Here, Covid-19 researchers short of support can find opportunities by region and funding organisation. The choice is yours!