International Networking for Young Scientists (INYS) is a programme for bringing together young researchers from the UK and other countries to make new contacts and promote the creative exchange of ideas through short conferences.

Particularly for young researchers, mobility is the extended laboratory: it is a powerful source of new ideas and a strong force for creativity.

Through our INYS programme we help develop quality collaboration in science and technology between the UK and Lithuania and show the UK as a leading partner for achievement in world science, now and in the future.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

The purpose of INYS is to hold short conferences in specific research areas and to support the creation of subsequent links and collaboration.

The conferences are held in partnership with leading Lithuanian institutions and the local British Council office. They are usually held in Lithuania where the partner is based, though they can be held in the UK. The British Council contribution is roughly half of the overall cost of the workshop, the partner institution supplying the other half financially or in kind.

Each conference is held in a subject area that is identified as a priority for both the UK Research Councils and Lithuania’s national government. The conferences are co-ordinated by a UK and Lithuania’s scientist who should be acknowledged leaders in their fields.

WHO CAN TAKE PART?

Participants are researchers from the UK and an equal number of local researchers from Lithuania - ideally 10-30 people from each country. INYS is specifically aimed at postdoctoral researchers or people who have up to ten years postdoctoral experience. We want to concentrate on creating new links rather than furthering already established collaborations.

The conferences are also open to PhD students who are considering applying for postdoctoral fellowships.

Normally there will be an open call for participants to ensure the widest possible inclusion of young researchers in a given field. Our aim is to have as broad a range of institutions as possible represented at the conferences.

HOW DO WE APPLY?

If you are interested in becoming a co-ordinator in the INYS programme, please contact Egle Staskunaite at Egle.Staskunaite@britishcouncil.lt. The applications for funding of INYS networking workshops should be submitted to the British Council Lithuania by 15 March 2007. The primary selection of the proposals will be made at the British Council Lithuania. The final selection will be made in the UK reviewing the proposals against UK research priorities by asking the research councils or other leading bodies to comment on the suitability of the topic and co-ordinators, after initial filtering.

In order to submit a proposal you will need to have identified some of the following areas:

			The conference topic: evidence that the subject is both a national priority and a priority for one of the eight UK Research Councils. All proposals will be reviewed by the relevant UK Research Council. The conference can be in any area of science, engineering and technology, however we would particularly welcome proposals in these areas: Climate change Food, nutrition and health Sports science Evolutionary biology Bio-medical imaging
			Local co-ordinator: this should be national scientist who is a leader in his or her field. Their role is to jointly design and run the event with the UK co-ordinator and to act as a mentor for the young scientists involved.
			UK co-ordinator: a UK scientist who is a leader in his or her field to be the joint co-ordinator and work with the young UK scientists as a mentor. The local co-ordinator should be able to identify their counterpart in the UK and will probably already have had some contact with them. However, if this is not the case we can help identify someone suitable.
			Local partner institution: usually this will be where the local co-ordinator is based. This partner will find matched or significant co-funding for the conference, whether financially or in kind (e.g. facilities, transport and accommodation), normally including the local participants’ costs.
			Monitoring and evaluation plan: based on a report which will contain a summary of the event (programme, participant list etc) and an action plan provided by the participants as a conclusion of the event.
			Geographical spread: it is possible to run multi-lateral conference, for example a workshop involving young researchers from UK, Canada and Spain.
			Budget: up to £10,000 is available for each successful proposal. The total size of the fund for the INYS programme in 2006-07 is £220,000.
			A publicity plan
			Post-event follow up plan: to help record any long term outcomes, for example any funding bids that have been submitted.

WHEN WILL THINGS HAPPEN?

• 15 March - deadline for submission of the application to the British Council Lithuania
• 31 March -deadline for submission of proposals to Manchester
• April - proposals reviewed and selected for funding
• 15 May - applicants notified of outcome
• May-August - call for participants and selection of the applications
• July - conferences begin
• March 2008 - deadline for holding conferences