Call for Applications for the First VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants
March 24, 2025
To strengthen the research and development human capital performance of Ventspils University of Applied Sciences (VUAS) and Vidzeme University of Applied Sciences (ViA) in areas of smart specialization and university specialization, in 2025, with the financial support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the project "VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants" has been launched, and the call for applications for the first doctoral grant is announced.
Applications must be submitted by April 23, 2025, at 24:00.
Online seminar on the announcement of the Doctoral Grant: March 26 at 16:00.
The project aims to promote the involvement of doctoral grant recipients in the academic and scientific community by employing them in work primarily related to their scientific research and the topic of their doctoral thesis, thus fostering the piloting of innovations in practice.
The project provides ERDF support for the involvement of doctoral students in university work, ensuring remuneration and necessary research funding for a period of 12 months throughout the project implementation. A total of 8 doctoral grant recipients will be supported—four at VUAS and four at ViA. In the first grant application round, support is planned for three doctoral students—two at VUAS and one at ViA.
The doctoral grant is targeted, competitively awarded funding for conducting doctoral research related to the successful development of the doctoral thesis, providing:
- Paid workload at the university for the development of the doctoral dissertation, not exceeding 50% of full-time employment;
- Remuneration not exceeding EUR 1300 per month, including the employer's mandatory state social insurance contributions, for 50% of full-time employment;
- Coverage of research expenses amounting to EUR 500 per month for purchasing necessary research materials, technology rights protection, outsourcing costs, education expenses, and networking event costs, including travel, conference participation fees, and involvement in informational events, by the unit cost methodology.
Project No. 1.1.1.8/1/24/I/001 "VUAS and ViA Doctoral Grants" is part of the European Union Cohesion Policy Program 2021–2027 under specific support objective 1.1.1 "Strengthening research and innovation capacity and the introduction of advanced technologies in the overall R&D system," measure 1.1.1.8 "Doctoral Grants."
The project will be implemented at VUAS and ViA until December 31, 2029.
The total project budget is EUR 305,324, including 85% ERDF funding (EUR 259,525.39) and 15% State budget funding (EUR 45,798.60).
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