Joint call by Formas and BeFo for applications for grants for research and development projects in the area of Rock Engineering and Technology

List of those wha has received a grant.

The Swedish Research Council Formas and the Rock Engineering Research Foundation (BeFo) are launching a joint call for applications for grants for research and development projects in the area of Rock Engineering and Technology.

The mission of the Research Council Formas is to promote and support basic research and need-driven research of the highest scientific quality in the areas Environment, Agricultural Sciences and Spatial Planning. The Research Council is also responsible for information on research and research results.

The mission of BeFo is to promote and support research and development in rock engineering applicable to constructions above and below ground. Rock engineering can be divided into several areas which are to a high degree interconnected. The common aim is to promote economic, safe and environmentally sound Rock Construction. In the areas described below there are projects with the aim of developing knowledge as well as projects which aim at practical application. BeFo prioritises need-driven projects with a high degree of participation by the affected parties to improve the conditions for the implementation of results. A more detailed description can be found at www.befoonline.org

The research and development should contribute to the sustainable development of society - a development which implies that the finite resources of the planet and the environment are not consumed or degraded in an irrevocable manner, to the detriment of future generations, the environment and the viability of nature, with due consideration of economics, ethics, and social and cultural values. A more detailed description of the areas of responsibility of Formas can be found in Formas' strategies and research programmes.

The call has identified the following prioritised areas (The list does not show any order of priority):

• Construction of tunnels and reinforcement of the rock masses. Reinforcement through bolting and injection of cracks is in continuous development and new requirements are tabled, in parallel with the economic requirements. Tunnel driving methods have improved and become more effective. However, there is still a need to develop methods, techniques and practical ways aiming to minimise time and costs for driving, sealing, reinforcing tunnels and to create the best possible result concerning the completed construction and its cost and security in a life cycle perspective. 
• Working environment and safety. This refers mainly to the working environment in plants under construction and during operation. To secure satisfactory low concentration of airborne particles there is a need for reliable methods for monitoring and ventilation, especially for plants in full operation. The acceptance and willingness to use underground facilities is highly due to proper user design, sound environment and safety.
• Design of tunnels and rock caverns. The design of tunnels and rock caverns mainly involves the rock mass itself and this cannot be analysed in the same way as for steel and concrete. There is a great need for development of methods which can meet the new European regulations. Underground constructions are usually composite constructions between rock, steel and concrete.
• Environmental impact. Various impacts from rock excavation, e.g. noise and vibrations, are frequent during the construction work; Examples of other impact factors are polluted water, transport, lightning, plants, animals and people in the near area. The reason for underground localisation is often directly or indirectly due to environmentally considerations.
• New materials and old – function and durability. Environmental impact from grouting, rock bolts and sprayed concrete. New materials need to be compared to conventional ones, and performance requirements for these must be specified.
• Planning and performance. The process of planning is long, complicated and affected by many factors. Communication and co-operation within the line of business as well as with society, politics and the public must be improved. Examples of this issue could be to develop better ways of replacement, quality control, risk assessment and risk distribution which are adapted to the construction process and will be required because the detailed conditions are not fully known ”around the corner” or further ahead in the tunnel.
• Sealing of rock constructions. There is a need of developing new technologies and materials for the sealing of rock and to develop of new requirements concerning leakage into the rock cavern in different urban areas. There are also needs to develop of new methods for rock characterisation and hydro geological models for leakage in rock caverns before and after grouting. Sealing is important both for the environment outside the tunnel and also for the performance requirements for the tunnel itself.
• General investigations and design – before, during and after. Rock and underground construction is dependent on thorough investigations and assessments rock conditions prior to different phases in the construction process, during the planning process as well as during construction and use.

The criteria for the assessment and ranking of the applications are the scientific and societal values relating to Formas’ and BeFo’s areas of responsibility. Gender perspectives should be taken into account in project proposals where this is relevant. Grants may be used as Swedish co-funding of EU projects with an R&D orientation.

The earliest date of commencement of projects is 1 June 2010. Applications for funds may be made for not more than three years, 2010 – 2012. The main applicant must have been awarded her/his doctorate not later than 1 April 2010. Applications will be assessed by Formas' and BeFo’s joint expert committee, which is primarily made up of active and highly qualified researchers and experts on user’s value. Formal decision will be taken by Formas Council and BeFos board of directors in April 2010.

The budget for this call is up to 6 MSEK/year for projects with duration up to 3 years, 50 % of which is contributed by each funding institution - Formas and BeFo. This includes overhead costs. The total costs of the project, divided into direct and indirect costs (overhead) should be included in the application.

Formas Handbook 2009 contains a detailed description of Formas policies and rules, the forms of project support and the application procedure, and information on how applications are assessed. On the BeFo website you will find the BeFo R&D plan, (“FUD-plan BeFo 2009-2012 – www.befoonline.org), which can serve as an additional guide in the design of your project application.

The call will close and the application has to be registered in Formas Direct by 24:00 hrs, 11 December 2009. Technical support from Formas and BeFo is provided until 16:00 on the last day of application. Please make certain to submit your application in time before 16:00 in case you will need technical support.

For further information, please contact:
Formas: Björn Sellberg, Senior Research Officer
Tel. +46 8-775 40 28
E-mail:

BeFo: Mikael Hellsten, Research Director
Tel: +46 8 – 762 62 21
E-mail: