Scientific Research Infrastructure Programme (PIKSH)

What it is

Scientific research infrastructures provide resources and services to research communities, so that they can carry out research and drive innovation. They include major scientific equipment or sets of research instruments; collections, archives or scientific data; computing systems and communication networks; and any other research and innovation infrastructure of a unique nature that is open to external users.

The Scientific Research Infrastructure Programme began in 2019, under the Pact for the University, through the financing by the National Agency for Scientific Research and Innovation of research infrastructure projects at higher education institutions. Strengthening the research infrastructure capacity of these institutions is one of the principal strategic objectives for scientific research and innovation in Albania, in line with the principles of the European Research Area and with the country’s European Union accession perspective.

Objectives

• To support scientific research and innovation in line with the country’s national priorities for social, economic and cultural development and with global development trends, in the service of public higher education institutions and the scientific community.
• To improve scientific research infrastructure by financing infrastructure projects, based on the national priority fields and in step with regional and European developments in scientific research.
• To contribute to the standardisation of the institutional system of scientific research and to orient it towards a competitive and innovative economy.

Who can apply

The right to apply belongs to public higher education institutions that, under the legislation in force on higher education and scientific research, carry out scientific research.

Projects are submitted in the priority fields approved by Decision no. 2, dated 11.05.2018, of the NASRI Administration Board:

• Agriculture, Food and Biotechnology
• Biodiversity and Environment
• Water and Energy
• Social and Albanological Sciences
• Health and Medical Sciences
• Information Systems and Technologies

What it funds

The programme finances the establishment, modernisation and development of research infrastructure — laboratories, equipment and technology platforms — at public higher education institutions.

The amount of financing and the duration of projects are set in the call approved by decision of the Administration Board; the guide does not fix them.

Once the winning projects are approved and the contract is signed, the beneficiary receives the funds within no more than 45 days of the financing decision being announced. Changes to budget lines are permitted up to 10% of the amount financed by NASRI, only within the same line and only with prior approval. Substantive changes to how activities are carried out require the prior approval of the Board; the request must be sent at least 15 days before the project ends.

The application process

The Administration Board approves the opening of the call and the decision is published on the official NASRI website.

The project proposal is prepared according to the Application Format for Scientific Research Infrastructure (Annex 1) and the Budget Form (Annex 2). The documentation is submitted through the registry in 2 printed copies and in electronic form, accompanied by an official covering letter from the applicant institution.

The formal check is carried out by the Directorate of National Programmes, Technology and Innovation Sector. Proposals that meet the administrative criteria proceed to technical evaluation by the expert committees. Following approval by the Administration Board, the successful applicants are notified by official letter and the outcome is also announced on the official NASRI website.

During implementation, an interim report is submitted in the first half of the implementation year. At the end, the final report is submitted, comprising the narrative report, the financial report and photographic and video documentation of the work carried out.