DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION MINISTRY OF HIGHER EDUCATION GUIDELINES OF FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH GRANT SCHEME (FRGS) (AMENDMENT YEAR 2021) BAHAGIAN KECEMERLANGAN PENYELIDIKAN IPT JABATAN PENDIDIKAN TINGGI KEMENTERIAN PENGAJIAN TINGGI ARAS 7, NO. 2, MENARA 2 JALAN P5/6, PRESINT 5 62200 PUTRAJAYA TEL. NO.: 03-8870 6974/6975 FAX NO.: 03-8870 6867 TABLE OF CONTENTS Vision and Mission of Fundamental Research 3 PART 1 (INTRODUCTION) 1.1 Introduction 4 1.2 Philosophy 4 1.3 Definition 4 1.4 Purpose 4 PART 2 (APPLICATION) 2.1 General terms of application 5 2.2 Research priority areas 6 2.3 Research duration 8 2.4 Ceiling of fund 8 2.5 Research output 9 2.6 Application rules 10 PART 3 (ASSESSMENT) 3.1 Application assessment 11 3.2 Assessment criteria 12 PART 4 (MONITORING) 4.1 Research implementation 13 4.2 Monitoring 13 PART 5 (FINANCIAL REGULATIONS) 5.1 Expenditure codes 15 5.2 Use of provisions 16 PART 6 (RESULTS) 6.1 Result announcement and fund distribution 18 6.2 Agreement document and contract 18 APPENDICES 19 Application Flow Chart Monitoring Flow Chart Scheduled Monitoring Cycle List of Higher Education Institutions (Appendix A) 2 VISION AND MISSION OF FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH Vision Competitive fundamental research for knowledge transformation and national excellence. Mission Cultivate, empower and preserve high impact research capacity to generate knowledge that can contribute to talent development, intellectual growth, new technology invention and dynamic civilization. 3 1 PART 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 INTRODUCTION The Guidelines of Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) Amendment Year 2021 document is prepared as a reference and guide for application of research grant under the Department of Higher Education (JPT), Ministry of Higher Education (KPT). These guidelines should be referenced in conjunction with the Administrative Guide for Ministry of Higher Education Research Fund. 1.2 PHILOSOPHY As a country aspiring to become a developed country, Malaysia needs to nurture a research culture. Hence, a special fund is needed to meet the aspiration. The philosophy of the Fundamental Research Grant Scheme (FRGS) is to encourage basic research to generate new Malaysian molded knowledge that can contribute to the increase of intellectual level, the invention of new technologies and the nurturing of a dynamic culture in line with the national aspirations. 1.3 DEFINITION Fundamental research is basic research that can produce new Malaysian molded theories, concepts and ideas for the development of knowledge. 1.4 PURPOSE This research aims to accelerate the generation of new Malaysian molded theories, concepts and ideas that are the catalyst for new discoveries that break the boundaries of knowledge and innovative creation. 4 2 PART 2 APPLICATION JPT, KPT will announce the opening of the FRGS application through official letters to Institutions. The Institution will need to announce the opening of the application and carry out the evaluation of application in accordance with the rules of JPT, KPT. The flow chart for the application process is shown in Figure 1. 2.1 GENERAL TERMS OF APPLICATION This grant is open to academic staff (Professors, Associate Professors, Senior Lecturers and Lecturers) who have at least a Master's Degree in the Institutions as listed in Appendix A with the following conditions:- 2.1.1 Permanent or contracted Malaysian Principal Investigator is required to have at least one (1) co-researcher of Malaysian citizenship with a permanent position in the same field of expertise and from the same institution only. 2.1.2 Permanent or contracted non-Malaysian Principal Investigator is required to have at least one (1) co-researcher of Malaysian citizenship with a permanent position in the same field of expertise and from the same institution only. 2.1.3 A full-time Malaysian Research Fellow from a Public University with a contract period of not less than one (1) year is allowed to apply for the grant as a Principal Investigator. However, the application must have at least one (1) co-researcher of Malaysian citizenship with a permanent position in the same field of expertise and from the same Institution. 2.1.4 Applications from Branch Universities must comply to the following requirement: 2.1.4.1 Non-Malaysian Principal Investigator is allowed to apply provided that there is at least one (1) co-researcher of Malaysian citizenship with a permanent position in the same field of expertise and from the same Institution. 2.1.5 Research officers or postdoctoral officers from Public Universities or Private Universities, research officers from Research Institutions (RI) as well as lecturers from the Malaysian Institute of Teacher Education (IPGM) and the Department of Polytechnic Education and Community Colleges (JPPKK) are only allowed to be co-researchers. 2.1.6 New applications for those who have been approved of the FRGS in the previous phase will be considered with proof that the projects have been 75% completed in the MyGRANTS System Monitoring Module and verified by the Institutional Research Management Center (RMC). Researchers are requested to update the performance of research projects online through the MyGRANTS System every February and August annually. 5 2.1.7 Academic staff who are on study and sabbatical leave (domestic and overseas for more than 6 months) are not allowed to make new applications. However, the academic staff may be a member of the research group. Information regarding the duration of study/sabbatical leave should be updated by the researcher and verified by the Institution RMC. 2.1.8 Every research project applied for must produce talent in research as stated in the Malaysian Education Development Plan 2015–2025 (Higher Education). Talent generation is as follows:- 2.1.8.1 Three (3) year project - is required to produce at least one (1) Ph.D student in full-time research mode or two (2) Masters students in full-time research mode or a combination of both as Graduate Research Assistant (GRA). 2.1.8.2 Two (2) year project - is required to produce at least one (1) Masters student in full-time research mode as a Graduate Research Assistant (GRA). 2.1.9 Research and talent generation must be done locally. 2.1.10 Applicants are strongly encouraged to collaborate with the relevant Industry/Agency to implement the research project (documents of proof include at least a letter of intent and other related documents). 2.1.11 Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit a patent search for each project application. 2.1.12 Applicants are required to identify research risks and submit a risk assessment plan for each project application. 2.1.13 Each applicant is only allowed to submit one (1) project application at each phase. 2.1.14 The Principal Investigator must have at least one (1) year left in service at the Institution from the closing date of FRGS application. 2.1.15 Approval of the Human/Animal Research Ethics Committee (if applicable) must be included with the first progress report. 2.2 RESEARCH PRIORITY AREAS (The evaluation for this research grant application is based on the Research Domains.) 2.2.1 Research Domains Each application must meet one (1) of the seven (7) Research Domains as follows:- (a) Pure and Applied Sciences; (b) Technology and Engineering; (c) Clinical and Health Sciences; 6 (d) Social Sciences; (e) Arts and Applied Arts; (f) Natural and Cultural Heritage; or (g) Information and Communication Technology. 2.2.2 Research Clusters Each application must meet one (1) of the eight (8) Research Clusters as follows:- (a) Food Safety and Security; (b) Basic Infrastructure; (c) Climate Change and Environment; (d) Health; (e) Education and Knowledgeable Civil Society; (f) National Security; (g) Social and Economic Wellbeing; or (h) Frontier Technologies and Advanced Manufacturing; 2.2.3 The 10-10 Framework of MySTIE – Malaysian Science, Technology, Innovation and Economy Each application must meet one (1) of the ten (10) Socio-Economic Drivers as follows:- (a) Energy; (b) Business and Financial Services; (c) Culture, Arts and Tourism; (d) Medical and Healthcare; (e) Smart Technology and Systems (Next Generation Engineering and Manufacturing); (f) Smart Cities and Transportation; (g) Water and Food; (h) Agriculture and Forestry; (i) Education; or (j) Environment and Biodiversity. 2.2.4 SPV 2030 – Shared Prosperity Vision 2030 Each application must meet one (1) of the 15 Key Economic Growth Activities (KEGA) as follows:- (a) KEGA 1 – Islamic Finance Hub 2.0; (b) KEGA 2 – Digital Economy; (c) KEGA 3 – Industrial Revolution 4.0; (d) KEGA 4 – Content Industry; (e) KEGA 5 – ASEAN Hub; (f) KEGA 6 – Halal and Food Hub; (g) KEGA 7 – Commodity Malaysia 2.0; (h) KEGA 8 – Logistic, Transportation and Sustainable Mobility; (i) KEGA 9 – Coastal and Maritime Economy; 7 (j) KEGA 10 – Centers of Excellence; (k) KEGA 11 – Renewable Energy; (l) KEGA 12 – Green Economy; (m) KEGA 13 – Smart and High Value Agriculture; (n) KEGA 14 – Advanced and Modern Services; or (o) KEGA 15 – Malaysia Truly Asia. 2.2.5 SDGs - Sustainable Development Goals Each application must meet one (1) of the 18 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as follows:- (a) SDG 1 – No Poverty; (b) SDG 2 – Zero Hunger; (c) SDG 3 – Good Health and Wellbeing; (d) SDG 4 – Quality Education; (e) SDG 5 – Gender Equality; (f) SDG 6 – Clean Water and Sanitation; (g) SDG 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy; (h) SDG 8 – Decent Work and Economic Growth; (i) SDG 9 – Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure; (j) SDG 10 – Reduced Inequalities; (k) SDG 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities; (l) SDG 12 – Responsible Consumption and Production; (m) SDG 13 – Climate Action; (n) SDG 14 – Life below Water; (o) SDG 15 – Life on Land; (p) SDG 16 – Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions; (q) SDG 17 – Partnerships for the Goals; or (r) Others – Societal Harmony and Happiness.