Commission on Higher Education Office of Planning, Research and Knowledge Management Call for Proposal 1. “Food Produetion and Security” 2. “Environment, Disaster Prevention, Climate Change and Energy” 3. “Terrestrial and Marine Economy: Biodiversity and Conservation” 4, “Smart Analytics and Engineering Innovations” 5. “Health Systems” 6. “Education” 9 November 2015 I. Background Pursuant to Republic Act 7722, “An Act Creating the Commission on Higher Education,” which states that “...the knowledge society or knowledge economy characterizes the university not just a generator of knowledge, an educator of young minds and a transmitter of culture but also as a major agent of economic growth, a Research and Development laboratory and a mechanism through which the nation builds its human capital to enable it to actively participate in the global economy” it is, therefore, imperative to encourage Philippine higher education institutions become platforms for innovation and drivers of competitiveness and economic growth, However, Philippine higher education institutions face critical and urgent challenges in major fronts of the research and development, and extension (RDE) enterprise'. Essential issues need to be addressed such as a) improving capabilities of faculty as well as physical resources and infrastructure to carry out research, b) increasing research productivity, and upgrading quality and impact, c) stepping up linkages with community, business and industry stakeholders in order to further sharpen knowledge production, dissemination, extension and utilization, including product development and commercialization, c) using products of research as inputs to policy initiatives and reforms, and d) building up a steady pipeline of young talented researchers ‘who can carry on the task of unleashing innovations that can create new businesses, generate employment opportunities, and in so doing, alleviate poverty and guarantee the prosperity of the nation in the long term. Given these challenges, Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) * in The Global innovation index 2014: The Human Factor in Innovation, the Philippines ranks 100 out of 143 countries, compared to Singapore (7), Malaysia (33), Thailand (48), Vietnam (71), Bhutan (86), Indonesia (87), Brunei Darussalam (88), and Cambodia (106)must be supported in their pursuit of higher education goals of knowledge production and generation; in the transmission, dissemination and extension of innovations; in their participation in the global scientific discourse; in developing a new generation of catalysts of scientific, technological, social, economic and creative innovations. The National Higher Education Research Agenda II, formulated in 2008, articulates CHED’s commitment to improving RDE capabilities, enhancing RDE productivity, generating innovations, and promoting and utilizing RDE outputs and innovations. This CMO js intended to provide strategic focus, purposive direction and blueprint towards actualizing the outcomes of NHERA. A deeper purpose is to contribute to the development of a strong research culture and an innovation ecosystem that enables researchers and scientists in HEIs to explore new frontiers that may lead to new technological innovations and better ways to solve economie and social issues in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders. The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) sees the Grants-in-Aid (GIA) programs as strategic investments in the country’s research and development in pursuit of national development and inclusive growth. RDE Grants-in-Aid should enable HEIs to establish a niche. In this regard, RDEs will be supported in any of the following six multidisciplinary and trans- disciplinary research platforms: a) Food Production and Security, b) Environment, Disaster Prevention, Climate Change and Energy, ) Terrestrial and Marine Economy: Biodiversity and Conservation, d) Smart Analytics and Engineering Innovations, e) Health Systems, and f) Education for STEAM. IL Platforms Covered Proposals are requested for research and development, and extension projects focusing on the following areas: a) Smart Analytics and Engineering Innovations, b) Health Systems, and c) Food Production and Security. Proponent investigators from higher education institutions are advised to read and refer to the attached CHED Memorandum Order No. 3, Series of 2015: POLICY REFORMS FOR THE GRANTS-IN-AID FUNDS OF THE COMMISSION ON. HIGHER EDUCATION (CHED) FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, AND EXTENSION for guidance. TIL — General Instruetions A. Submission of proposals 1. Proponents must first submit a project concept note using Form A: CHED RDE Proposal Concept Note). The project concept note must resonate with the Grant Aid principles as outlined and articulated in the CMO No. 3, Series of 2015.2. The project concept note must be written in English and typed on standard 8.5x11 inch paper, single-spaced, with each page numbered consecutively. It must not exceed cight (8) pages, excluding pages for a couple of annexes (estimated budget and curriculum vitae of investigators). The project concept note must be submitted electronically and should reach Ms, Mayumi Belandres, (chedresearch@gmail.com) at the Research Management Division, Office of Planning, Research and Knowledge Management, Commission on Higher Education at end-of-business day on December 29, 2015, no exception. Any project concept note received electronically after 3:00 pm on December 29, 2015 will not be considered for review by a technical panel designated by CHED. Project concept notes will be reviewed based on the principles and general criteria articulated in CMO No. 3, Series of 2015 (see attached). 4. Only those whose project concept notes pass the technical panel review will be asked to write and submit a full-blown proposal and proceed to the next steps. These requirements will be communicated to proponents who qualify in the short list, 5. Results of the review of the concept notes are expected to be announced on February 15, 2015. All proponents will be notified of the outcome of the technical review. 6. The notice to proceed to write and submit a full-blown proposal is not a guarantee of an award or grant. B. Details of the Award 1. For this particular call, the Commission on Higher Education intends to award up to two (2) grants, ranging from Php3 million to Php10 million for each of the six platforms a) Food Production and Security, b) Environment, Disaster Prevention, Climate Change and Energy, c) Terrestrial and Marine Economy: Biodiversity and Conservation, d) Smart Analytics and Engineering Innovations, e) Health Systems, and f) Education. Thus, conceivably, there will be a total of twelve (12) grants ranging from PhpS million to Php10 million each grant. 2. Exchanges by officials or staff of OPRKM-CHED with proponents for purposes of clarifications regarding their submissions constitute neither an offer nor a rejection by CHED. 2.1 CHED reserves the right to conduct a pre-award audit/survey which may not be limited to a) interviews with principal and co-investigators to establish their ability to perform grant duties under project conditions; and b) review of the proponent’s financial condition (e.g., unliquidated funds from the Philippine government, personnel policies and procedures), and ¢) site visits to the participating institutions, field sites, and laboratories.2.2 CHED, may evaluate proposal and award a grant without discussion with proponents. ‘The Commission on Higher Education reserves the right to not consider any or all proposals,