CIMO Fellowship

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Is there anybody here who has been awarded a CIMO fellowship? (Not the government pool scholarship but the other one)
There are some prioritized geographic regions (that doesn't include my country) but applications seems to be open worldwide so I want to apply.

I have a few questions:

-What are the important criteria for approval? What would be the advantage/disadvantage points?
-I've read that fellowships previously granted to the hosting department may also restrict prospective applications, does CIMO also have emphasis on specific research fields?
-They require a preliminary plan for subsequent funding if the research is in its early stages. How "preliminary" can this plan be? Application can be made for at least 5 months before the study. Scholarship lasts 12 months, so we're talking about a plan for 1,5 years ahead. Is it possible to use a CV as a ground of qualification for possible employments? Would that kind of 'preliminary' plan can be taken into consideration?
-"The scholarship holder cannot receive another full scholarship nor salary with a CIMO grant" What is considered a "full" scholarship? Is there a specific amount for an additional scholarship that applicant is allowed to receive along with CIMO grant? I understand that I can't be employed somewhere during grant period, does payments from contract based or freelance jobs considered "salary"?
-They wrote processing of applications takes 3 months (or longer during summer), how long did it take to receive the decision in your case?

I know the applications can only be made by the university on behalf of the applicant, my department is willing to apply for me, so they'll be writing the application letter, not me, but I want to give them the right information.
I just got an initial positive response but we'll be discussing further details in the next weeks. So I'll ask the same questions to them also.
I only have one shot for the application so I would very much appreciate if you can share your experiences. Thanks!

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[Tom_Campbell75]

You need to find the academy professor in your field, whose work you are interested in, tell them about your interest in their work, your ideas that you want to investigate, and ask him/her about whether they'd be prepared to invite you through such a scheme. S/he will probably then play a game of chess with a number of people and figure out how to on board you in this way if it is meant to happen. Some such academy professors have quite close relations to CIMO. Sure, CIMO are into supporting the research of those from The Russian Federation for whom it can seem a good deal compared to the even more difficult working conditions in Russian science. They can be enthusiastic idealists about their field who make exceedingly good researchers. A focus of Finnish research funding is on exchanges from the neighbouring countries where the average person is less affluent. As an insight into their geographical interests, I tried bringing in a German postdoctoral researcher through CIMO but they weren't having it. I think this was mainly to do with the German partner organization DAAD who thought CIMO did not offer the right economic conditions for a researcher at that stage in their career. I basically agree and we eventually found a better way. However, I have known many Russian postdocs to be supported on a CIMO grant. I'd suggest to apply for a relevant summer school at a university and attend in every sense of the term. The instructors sift out those who don't listen and don't think at such courses and communicate their opinions to CIMO. One of these instructors may ultimately be your real supervisor, whilst the academy professor is your formal supervisor. Between lunches with influential people and occasionally signing his name, the academy professor sits there posing as the thinker whilst watching paint dry instead. You submit a proposal in the application that you should write, where the academic quality matters. It's rather brief and your would-be academy professor "supervisor" writes a letter of support. The last I dealt with CIMO they were doing stipends of 1000 euro a month and they don't pay your ticket to Finland. The money is not good, and not enough to support more than one person, though there can be discounted shared accommodation for CIMO grant recipients that softens the financial issue somewhat. Social capital and intellectual inspiration goes a long way, so it seems.

[Tom_Campbell75]

If you're convinced your dept have the right person with experience with CIMO to write your recommendation letter already, I'd suggest not to try to find someone else: my generic advice of getting in touch with the academy professor suggested above is not the best in that case. I've know some centres of excellence top up the ca. 1000 euro/month CIMO grants by something like 100 euro/month for full-time work, if this gives you a feel of the kind of cost-sharing that is considered a legitimate practise. However, I have worked in places where the wages are considerably below the national average for researchers.

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Hello Tom, thank you very much for your answer.
I've already been admitted to Aalto as a doctoral student. As far as I know, only the hosting university could act as an applicant so the professor in charge of doctoral studies in my department kindly applied for me. He said all 8 applications made last year from our department were rejected so I don't have high hopes for that. (post docs don't seem to be eligible for 'cimo fellowship' and visiting researchers are only eligible on exceptionally good grounds.)
You're also right about Russia. They say emphasis will be given to applicants from Russia, China, India, Chile, Brazil and North America. Field of study is another important criterion, my field is Humanities, I guess scientists may be prioritized.
Maximum allowance was 1200eur, so my department applied for 1200eur for 12 months. I'll be by myself so I think I can manage with that amount if I get granted (but no other salary rule is ambiguous.)
Accommodation is surely a big issue, I could't see any student housing option for doctoral researchers. CIMO halls of residences seem to be transferred to some company (AnttiKorppi) HOAS only offers housing in east Vantaa for post grads. I think I'll try open market.

My chances seem low, but we'll see Thanks again.

[Tom_Campbell75]

Hi, It looks like you have a lot to be concerned about including ending up on a CIMO fellowship with Greater Helsinki prices. Your doctoral director sounds an honest person, but it also sounds like their track record of securing CIMO funding is not as good as you need it to be. What I have seen is CIMO place faith in the effective research managers they know, whose applications run smoothly. I hope you are surprised. It is important to be loyal to your genuine supervisor who may have a more reliable plan, which you may be able to discuss better as you work progresses well. I remember the AnttiKorppi residence. Great sauna. Russian postdocs funded by CIMO were around as late as 2010, it wasn't possible for German postdocs around that time. There were various CIMO schemes back then, but even postdoc arrangements may be a thing of the past at CIMO. I didn't become an old unemployed foreign researcher in Finland, without being a young one first...

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New funding scheme seems to be intended for researchers who do not have a long post-Master’s research career behind them. I got my MA in 2009, I've been teaching full time since then but without any research activity. I'm 27 now so I somewhat fit into the target group except the geographic priorities.
I think the main reason for not being able to secure CIMO funds in my department may be the field of study. I googled previous CIMO fellowship grantees and I didn't come across with any artistic researches.

Unfortunately I don't have a more reliable option right now and I don't want to move there before financially securing my first year. Leaving my job (plus a scholarship offer for the doctoral program in my university) seems too much of a risk. I'm still doing pros and cons but if I get the fund I'll go for it.
Worst part is, processing of the grant application takes a long time and I'll soon be running out of time for residence permit applications.

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I'm posting an update about my CIMO Fellowship application, for those who might check this thread for information in the future.
Application from my university was sent on 23 April and the decision letter from CIMO is postmarked 27 May.
So it proceeded much faster than I expected.
Requested funding period was 12 months but I was only awarded for 4 months.
Better than nothing of course

[HauskaTavata]

Hei numb,

although your posting was long time ago, I would like to ask something: Which nationality do you have? And did you apply for further funding with CIMO again, after the first 4 months?

Kind regards
D.

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Hello,

Prioritized nationalities are listed under the fellowships so it doesn't really matter what nationality you are unless you fall under one of the listed prioritized nationalities.
As far as I know, the previous fellowships granted to your department have crucial importance. For instance; if there is someone in the same department who already got a 10 months CIMO fellowship, you are more likely to get only a 2 months fellowship. (They don't usually grant more than 1 year worth of fellowships to the same department.) But these are just guesses and could be totally wrong so there is no harm in applying.

I've never really heard of anybody who got an extension on CIMO fellowship. Those grants are mostly intended for short term mobility or a head-start until you find a more reliable funding option but there can always be exceptions.

Good luck!

[HauskaTavata]

Hello,

thank you for your answer.

Well, I do NOT fall under the prioritized nationalities...this probably means that my chances are low...