Translations
The Digiteo-DIM Logiciels Systèmes Complexes 2010 Call for proposals has been launched
Marie-Claude GAUDEL and Catherine DAL BALCON discuss the procedure to answer the call for proposals opened on December 2009.
Marie-Claude GAUDEL is an emeritus professor at Paris-Sud 11 University
She has chaired the Digiteo Programme committee (since it was created), as well as the DIM 2009 committee. She is also a member of the Digiteo's steering committee, where she represents Paris-Sud 11 University.
Catherine DAL BALCON is the administrative manager of the Digiteo Programme committee and the DIM (Domaines d'Intérêt Majeurs - Domain of Major Interest) committee.
Answer the call for proposals
Digiteo and the Software and Complex Systems Domain of Major Interest (DIM)
Can you explain the relationship between Digiteo and the DIM LSC ?
The DIM was created in 2005, and was managed up to 2007 by services of the Île-de-France Region.
In 2007, Digiteo was requested to ensure management and organization of the DIM. We recall that Digiteo is the RTRA (Réseau Thématique de Recherche Avancée - Thematic Network for Advanced Research) located in the south of Île-de-France, on subjects similar to those of the DIM.
It must be avoided to confuse Digiteo with the DIM whose committee represents all teams in Île-de-France.
Digiteo is relevant to Plateau de Saclay, and gathers several well defined partners with goals that were established when the network was created.
The DIM is relevant to the region.
What are the goals of the DIM and what topics are covered?
The LSC (Logiciels et Systèmes Complexes - Software and Complex Systems) DIM aims to develop science and technologies for software of complex systems. This involves working on issues raised by the software within these systems, which also leads to address research questions, on control, signal processing, hardware architectures, and user interactions.
Another goal of the DIM is to encourage regional collaboration in these topics.
How does project selection work? Who are the experts and what are their jobs?
(Catherine Dal Balcon) Projects are selected with the help of external French or foreign experts (2 experts per project) outside the Île-de-France region. The choice of experts is made by the DIM committee, which takes care of avoiding any conflicts of interest. Each project has a caretaker, who is a DIM committee member, who gives a presentation and a summary of the project and of its expertise reports during the selection meetings.
After a committee discussion, projects are selected, often with a restricted budget. Unfortunately, we do not have the means to fully fund all good projects.
What are the main criteria for making a choice?
The main criteria for making a choice include the scientific quality of the project.
We encourage collaborations between partners of the DIM. The project must also correspond to the themes and goals of the DIM.
What are the big steps for the next call for proposals?
The call for proposals began on December 2009, and will be closed February 28, 2010. (answer the call for proposals)
The expertise phase then lasts 3 weeks, with some synthesis meetings starting mid-April.
Publication of results is planned for the beginning of May; it is issued conditionnally to the vote the Île-de-France region competent assembly (in July).
We want the selected projects to be announced in May and to start early, in September, in order to attract the best possible doctoral candidates.
How is the DIM call for proposals positioned in the most general way for calls for research proposals?
Visibly, the call corresponds to some needs of the researchers. We have had positive feedbacks from applicants.
They appreciate the flexibility of the rules for the projects: there is no obligation for industrial collaboration or large consortium. For example, two young researchers who have an idea for an original thesis, which may be a little risky, may suggest the project to the DIM. Currently, there are several projects of this type. We have had extremely positive results from our young colleagues that were thus able to investigate new ideas that they are publishing with the PhD students they were able to hire.
Another important point is that when you want to collaborate between laboratories of the Île-de-France region, the DIM is a chance for funding and leading projects. Such projects, after a first local phase, may then continue on to a wider scope (national, European, etc.). The DIM call for proposal is at an intermediate level between pure local groups and the calls for proposals of the ANR and the European Union.
Number of proposals :
2007:
- 45 proposals submitted
- 23 proposals selected
2008:
- 34 proposals submitted
- 21 proposals selected
2009:
- 64 projects submitted, as well as 6 scientific demonstrations files
- 19 projects selected, as well as 6 scientific demonstrations
