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Grant Analysis

Purpose & Target

This grant, 'FuseNet Support of Master Students going on an internship abroad,' aims to facilitate international internships for Master's students specializing in fusion research. Its core objective is to stimulate the quality of education through international exchanges. The primary target recipients are Master's (MSc) students in fusion, with eligibility tied to their home university or internship host institution being a FuseNet member and the home university being in a EUROfusion member state. This is a SECTOR-SPECIFIC grant, exclusively focused on fusion research. The geographic scope for the internship itself is worldwide, though applicant eligibility is tied to specific European regions. This grant is part of the broader Euratom program (2021-2027), indicating it's a recurring opportunity within that period.

Financial Structure

Funding Amounts and Types This grant provides financial support to eligible Master's students in the form of a fixed amount for: * Travel support: The amount provided for travel depends on the travel distance to the internship location. * Accommodation/living support: The amount provided for living expenses depends on the duration of the internship. Specific minimum or maximum amounts per student are not defined in the provided documents, as these are calculated based on individual circumstances (distance, duration). The total budget allocated for this specific competitive call within the broader program is EUR 100,000.0. Other Financial Considerations

Other Funding Sources: Applicants are required to declare any other financial support they are receiving for the internship. This includes scholarships, other grants, any compensation or salary from the host institution, or funds from other EU support schemes. This information is used by FuseNet to determine the appropriate level of support.
Cost-Sharing/Co-financing: There are no explicit matching fund or co-financing requirements from the student or their institutions specified. The grant aims to provide direct financial support.
Currency: The currency used for funding is EUR (implied, as it's an EU program, though not explicitly stated in the provided text).

Eligibility Requirements

Organizational & Individual Eligibility This grant is specifically designed for Master's (MSc) students in the field of fusion research. To be eligible, students must meet the following criteria:

Student Status: Must be an enrolled Master's student.
Academic Focus: Specialization in fusion research is mandatory.
Institutional Affiliation: The student's home university must be located in one of the EUROfusion member states. Additionally, either the student's home university OR the host institution for the internship (where the internship takes place) must be a FuseNet member.
- Definition of FuseNet member: A list of FuseNet members can typically be found on the FuseNet website. (Exact definition not provided in the given documents, but implies a specific network of academic and research institutions).
- Definition of EUROfusion member states: This includes all current EU member states (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden) plus Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.
Internship Requirements:
- The internship must take place at a fusion research center or a university involved in fusion research.
- Internship duration must be between 6 weeks and 6 months.
- The internship location is not limited to Europe; it can be worldwide.

Exclusion & Restriction Criteria

Applicants who have received previous funding from FuseNet for internships may have their new funding restricted. The exact nature of this restriction (e.g., maximum number of grants, reduced amounts) is not specified but is detailed in the full terms and conditions.

Application Process

Application Process Overview Applications for this grant are submitted through a dedicated FuseNet online page.

Submission Platform: The application link can be found on the FuseNet webpage.
Application Materials: While not explicitly listed, the application likely requires details about the student, their home university, the proposed internship (host institution, duration, location, fusion relevance), and a declaration of any other funding sources.
Communication: Applicants are specifically instructed to use their institutional email for all communications regarding the application.

Key Timelines and Deadlines

Application Submission Window: Applications must be submitted:
- At least 2 weeks before the intended start date of the internship.
- Within 6 months of the intended start date of the internship.
- There is also an overarching program deadline of December 31, 2025, at 23:59:00 UTC+0000. This means that applications for internships starting after approximately June 2026 (allowing for the 6-month submission window) would not be possible under this call.
Evaluation Timeline: A decision on the application is communicated by email within 2 weeks after the complete submission of the application.

Post-Award Requirements

Reporting: The FuseNet webpage mentions the need to send in an 'initial claims form' and a 'final claims form', implying financial reporting and perhaps a brief summary of the internship experience, but specific reporting schedules or detailed content are not provided.

Evaluation Criteria

The evaluation of applications is primarily conducted by the FuseNet Executive Office. The main criterion for assessment appears to be strict adherence to the eligibility requirements outlined above. There are no explicit scoring factors for elements like innovation, specific project impact, or the student's academic performance beyond their enrollment in a relevant Master's program.

Primary Focus: Verification of eligibility regarding student status, institutional affiliations (FuseNet and EUROfusion membership), and internship characteristics (fusion focus, duration, type of host).
Conflict Resolution: In cases where there is doubt regarding an applicant's eligibility, the FuseNet Executive Office will consult the Academic Council of FuseNet through a written procedure. The decision made by the Academic Council is described as final and binding, meaning it cannot be appealed or changed.
Other Funding Disclosure: While not an explicit evaluation criterion for scoring, applicants are required to specify all other sources of funding for their internship (e.g., scholarships, grants, compensation from host, other EU support). This disclosure might influence the final grant amount awarded to prevent overfunding, but it is not stated as a factor for rejection if other funding exists.

Compliance & Special Requirements

General Compliance As part of the Euratom program, this grant is subject to relevant European regulations, though specific compliance requirements (e.g., data protection regulations like GDPR, environmental standards) are not detailed within the provided documents. Standard academic and research ethical guidelines are implicitly expected. Intellectual Property (IP) Policy No explicit intellectual property policies are mentioned. Given this is a student internship grant, IP implications would likely be governed by agreements between the student, their home university, and the host institution, rather than directly by this FuseNet grant. Risk Management No specific risk management expectations are detailed for the student applicants. The primary risk mentioned is related to funding restrictions for students who have previously received FuseNet support. Unique Aspects & Strategic Opportunities

International Mobility: A key unique aspect is the strong emphasis on facilitating international mobility for Master's students in fusion, thereby supporting global collaboration and knowledge exchange in a critical energy research field.
Specific Niche Focus: The grant's highly specialized focus on 'fusion research' means it targets a very specific academic and research community, making it highly relevant for those within this niche.
Flexibility in Host Location: The ability to undertake internships worldwide (not limited to Europe) offers significant flexibility and broadens opportunities for students.
Impact on Education Quality: The grant explicitly aims to stimulate the 'quality of education through exchanges', highlighting its contribution to human capital development in fusion science.

Grant Details