Browse our list of frequently asked questions about imec.icon and get details on partnerships, project roles, financing, subcontracting, and more.
Yes, foreign partners can join the consortium. See next question for more details on possible funding aspects.
No, it cannot apply for funding from the Agentschap Innoveren en Ondernemen (VLAIO). However, they are free to obtain funding via other ways (in their own country, EU programs like Eureka or FP,…). It should be noted that every funding authority has specific rules for approving funding and some of them may contradict imec.icon ruling. Please contact your local funding body for more details. Still it is worthwhile for a foreign partner to get involved in imec.icon even without funding, since the research groups involved in the project are funded by imec, and the IPR agreement can turn out positively for the foreign partner.
It is possible for a foreign research institution to participate in an imec.icon project
No, the research lead is from an imec research group.
No. For practical reasons, there is only one research lead per project.
Yes, the PL is from one of the involved companies. However, if the project applies for VLAIO funding, the PL should be someone from these companies.
You can contact one of the imec research groups or contact other companies in your network. There are a few specific organizations like the VLAIO front office that can help in partner search.
Yes, Flemish non-imec research groups can participate in an imec.icon project and will be treated as an imec research group (i.e. the research man months will be paid for). There are however some conditions that apply:
Mind: this means that the research group accepts the IP arrangements in imec.icon (a FAQ on IPR can be found here).
Companies located in the Brussels region need to apply for funding via Innoviris.
However, Brussels-based companies with an exploitation seat in Flanders that will do valorization in Flanders can apply for VLAIO funding.
Other SOCs (VIB, VITO and Flanders Make) are treated as an external partner. While they cannot obtain VLAIO funding within an imec.icon project, bilateral agreements with Flanders Make allows these research groups to participate with their own funding.
Partners can leave the project. Depending on the project, a review of the innovation goals, the project workplan, the budget and MM table is demanded by VLAIO and imec.
The project will need a formal “go” from VLAIO and imec in order to continue.
The 50/50 rule: The joint contribution of the external partners with funding (from VLAIO, Innoviris or any other funding agency) in the project should be more than the joint contribution of the research partners over the total duration and realization of the project.
The 50/50 rule applies to the total project cost (total budget for the 2 years) at full proposal phase. During the abstract phase (where the consortium only needs to give a number of MM), it is up to the consortium to answer to the best of one's knowledge.
Mind: 50% is a bare minimum; a balance of 55-70% can be interpreted as stronger commitment from the external partners. Also, this is a safer option, for instance if one of the partners drops out during project execution.
Yes. However, the project manager has to be directly involved in the project and cannot be a purely administrative person. The amount of effort strongly depends on the complexity of your project: more complex projects probably need more management overhead.
Every project can have a WP0 to include overall project and research management efforts. It can also contain specific tasks related to WP lead.
This is explained in the VLAIO document on the cost model (pdf).
This is possible, however
Yes, they have to account for the fact that they're part of the project for a reason and contribute to demonstrate valorization potential of the project.
As a rule, the Steerco has to have a representative per external partner, and a representative per research partner. They can however choose to be represented by another person (on an ad hoc basis or for the entire duration of the project).
The names of the Steerco members have to be submitted after the first kick-off meeting.
Steerco meeting can only be valid if all members are present or are duly represented by someone.
All changes in consortium composition, budget, man months, the work plan, ...
Approval of all communication (publications, leaflets, project pages on imec.be, press releases…). Note: any changes affecting the budget or innovation goals need to be approved by imec and the relevant funding agency.
The consortium can decide to set up a user group if this is useful to the progress of the project. The user group is a counseling committee with representatives of relevant economic and/or societal target group(s). Their task is to give advice concerning the progress of the imec.icon project and the valorization possibilities of the developed foreground.
A user group is present in the project to provide specific input, to act as a sparring partner, to validate certain results, to provide certain data, to set up requirements…
Subcontractor costs can be accepted as direct costs in the projects, but research activities can never be subcontracted, either in part or in full, without the prior written consent from imec.
Subcontracting between project partners is not permitted.
The following are exempt from this obligation:
More information about subcontracting can be found in the imec.icon manual, section 4.3.
No, deliverables are not transferred to VLAIO. However, they need to be available on MyProjects so that they are accessible to all consortium partners.
Yes. Explanation meetings allow the funding agencies to highlight areas of the proposal that may need further clarification, in partucular with respect to valorization cases. More information can be found in the imec.icon manual section 3.2.2
Consult the VLAIO website
Consult the VLAIO website.
The payments are effectuated made:
Yes, until 1 year after project end the publication will need approval. This approval will have to come from all project parties, to protect the interests of all parties.
For all types of publications, including but not limited to: scientific, non-scientific, speeches, posters, leaflets, blogs, web posts, tweets, …
An acknowledgement always has to be added. Also, the affiliation has to be mentioned, regardless of whether the researcher is on the payroll on a temporary or permanent basis.
No, only the Dutch version is authentic. The English version is only available for information
Yes
We are using DocuSign as digital signing procedure. The contract will be sent to the legal representative by email, with a link to the document on DocuSign.
It is OK to use open source software (OSS). The use of OSS can speed up research but may affect other parties’ background of foreground.
Licenses of open source can contain stipulations that are in conflict with the imec.icon Collaboration Agreement, for instance on IP, or that are detrimental to the protection of IP of other partners. The project’s Steerco needs to review the use of OSS.