International Incoming Fellowships (IIF)

Top-class researchers from Third Countries are welcome to work on projects in Europe. This helps to develop research cooperation between Europe and other parts of the world – to everybody’s benefit
International Incoming Fellowships (IIFs) are a Marie Curie Action specially designed to encourage these moves.

Who can apply?

Researchers can be of any nationality and must demonstrate mobility from a Third Country to a Member State or Associated country. Third Countries are neither EU Member States nor Associated Countries. To apply, you must have either a doctoral degree or at least 4 years’ full-time equivalent research experience, after obtaining a degree permitting you to embark on a doctorate. But that is the minimum. The more experience you have, the better will be your chances of being accepted for this Action.

Your application for an IIF should be made in liaison with the organisation or institution that would be willing to host you in Europe. Host organisations can be universities, research centres or companies.

Which topics can be funded?

All areas of scientific and technological research that are of interest to the EU may be eligible for IIF funding. But there is one exception: research areas covered by the EURATOM Treaty cannot be funded.

What does the funding cover?

IIF funding is provided for a research project which will transfer knowledge into your host organisation and building or enhancing collaborations between Europe and the rest of the world. The research project will also allow you to advance your career. Financial support is provided for 12-24 months (full-time equivalent).

Funding allows you to:

• join a European research team that doesn’t have your experience
• establish a collaboration through a research project with your lab or your country
• gain new knowledge in a European lab.

Your IIF may also cover a return phase of up to one year. This will be spent back in your country of origin, applying the experience that you have gained. To qualify for a return phase, you must be from one of the International Cooperation Partner Countries. These are listed at ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/icpc-list.pdf. If you want a return phase, you must include details of it in your initial application. And you must specify the potential return host organization in your country of origin.

Who decides?

IIF proposals are selected in an open competition. Selection is through transparent, independent peer review, based on excellence using a series of predetermined criteria.

How do we apply?

Calls for IIF proposals are announced on the CORDIS website: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm

Proposals can be submitted online at: http://cordis.europa.eu/fp7/dc/index.cfm?fuseaction=UserSite.FP7SubmitProposalPage