OPTICON

Optical Infrared Coordination Network for Astronomy

Horizon 2020

Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently asked questions for the OPTICON project.

Q. How do I acknowledge OPTICON support?

A. Please add this sentence to your paper or other publication:

FP7/2007-2013: The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement number RG226604 (OPTICON).

FP7/2013-2016: The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2013-2016) under grant agreement number 312430 (OPTICON).

Horizon 2020: This project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement No 730890. This material reflects only the authors views and the Commission is not liable for any use that may be made of the information contained therein.

Where possible add the EU emblem (see below).

Q: Where can I download H2020 logos for my presentations, posters etc.

A: There is no logo for Horizon 2020. In line with the European Commission's policy on corporate visual identity, Horizon 2020 will be promoted as a verbal brand, meaning no "visual mark" or logotype.

When Horizon 2020 is promoted by beneficiaries and other third parties, the EU emblem (flag) can be used in conjunction with the words "Horizon 2020". See https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/horizon2020/en/content/will-horizon-2020-have-logo-andor-visual-identity-which-easy-reproduce

The EU flag/emblems are available to download at the following URL: https://europa.eu/european-union/about-eu/symbols/flag_en see the rules for their use.

Q. How do I claim travel expenses?

A. Please refer to the travel page.

Q. In the past, I've received OPTICON support from time to time. Usually, I knew only after proposal acceptance if OPTICON funds were granted or not.

A. This has changed. OPTICON is no longer retrospectivly allocating funds to runs assigned by various national TACS. There is a dedicated OPTICON TAC to allocate all the time OPTICON is able to support.

Q. If I fill in the OPTICON proposal do I have to enter the same proposal during the telescope's regular call in addition?

A. No, if you want OPTICON support you ONLY apply to the OPTICON call. If your proposal is accepted by OPTICON this news and your proposal will be communicated to the telescope director for scheduling.

Q. When do we know if support is granted?

A. Allocations will normally be done by mid-late April and mid-late November, ahead of all the national allocation meetings. You should recive a message soon after the TAC meeting.

Q. Can I submit the same proposal to both OPTICON and to a national panel for the same telescope to avoid potential rejection?

A. You can apply to the same telescope using the national procedures if this is allowed by the telescope in question. However, time granted via any national TAC will not qualify for OPTICON travel support. The national allocation committees will be informed of successful OPTICON proposals to avoid scheduling the same proposal twice.

Q. What happens if the OPTICON TAC rejects my proposal or it is judged by them to be scientifically OK but impossible to schedule with the OPTICON resources?

A. As with any other observatory, your project will regrettably fail. Proposals not funded by OPTICON will not automatically be sent to the national telecope committee for a second try.

Q. Can I request ToO overrides?

A. The TNA call page sets out what kind of ToO, overides etc. are available at each telescope in the network.

Q. Northstar doesn't recognise me/my password but I'm sure I've registered.

A. You must register with the OPTICON version of Northstar. The user databases are not shared with other Northstar applications, for example it cannot see the Radionet or Dutch national community versions.