Rules of Procedure of the Icelandic Physiotherapy Association's Science Fund

Approved at the FS Annual General Meeting, March 9, 2021

1. Name of the fund and custody

1.1. The fund is called the Science Fund of the Icelandic Association of Physical Therapists (FS). It is in the custody of the treasurer of the association.

2. Objectives of the Icelandic Science Fund

2.1. The objectives of the Science Fund are to support research projects, development projects, extensive writing and translations of recognized measurement tools and questionnaires within physiotherapy. Supported projects/research must be carried out by physiotherapists, have professional value within physiotherapy and be of benefit to the profession.

2.2. The Science Fund's goal is also to promote the testing of measurement instruments/questionnaires in Iceland after translation. It is clear that the translation of measurement instruments/questionnaires is an important first step in increasing the possibilities for Icelandic physiotherapists to use approved instruments in the assessment/reassessment of clients. However, their testing is a prerequisite for new or translated measurement instruments to be of proper use.

3. Board of Directors of the Icelandic Science Fund

3.1. The Board of Directors of the Icelandic Science Fund is appointed at the annual general meeting in accordance with the Icelandic Science Fund Act, Article 12.

3.2. The Board of the Icelandic Science Fund shall keep a record of the minutes of its meetings.

4. Income and expenses of the Icelandic Science Fund

4.1. The Science Fund's income is as follows:

4.1.1. Statutory contributions to the Science Fund according to the Science Fund Act, Article 17.

4.1.2. Voluntary donations from the fund's benefactors.

4.1.3. Proceeds from the physiotherapy day each year shall go to the Science Fund of the Icelandic Physiotherapy Association.

4.2. The expenses of the Icelandic Science Fund (postage, stationery, envelopes and telephone costs) are paid from the operating funds of the Icelandic Science Fund office.

5. Grant applications

5.1. Applications for grants must be submitted electronically to the Board of the Icelandic Science Fund on the forms provided for this purpose, which are available on the company's website, no later than January 15th or the first working day thereafter. Debt-free members of the Faculty of Social Sciences are eligible to apply for grants and must have been members of the Faculty for at least 1 year.

5.2. Applications for grants to the Icelandic Science Fund must include:

• Theoretical background that justifies the importance of the project and its value for physiotherapists in Iceland.
• Detailed work plan.
• Reasoned cost estimate.
• Necessary permits for the study (if applicable).
• If it is a translation project, you must also follow:
• Detailed information about the measuring instrument to be translated and its value for physiotherapists in Iceland.
• A detailed work plan. When translating/back-translating questionnaires, the following procedures are recommended:

1.     WHO:

         https://www.who.int/substance_abuse/research_tools/translation/en/.

2.     Dorcas E. Beaton og félagar: Guidelines for the Process of Cross-Cultural Adaptation of Self-Report Measures, Spine 2000; 25(24):3186-3191).

6. Grants

6.1. The Icelandic Science Fund funds the following, one or more components, depending on the nature and scope of the project:

• Expenses incurred for the project, such as postage, purchased statistical processing and computer work (setup, images, etc.)
• Work contribution of the applicant and/or others involved in the project. Costs for purchased translation work. An attempt must be made to take into account the estimated work contribution, but it should be submitted as work in hours.
• Purchase of necessary research equipment for the project. No funding is available for the purchase of general office equipment and devices such as computers, etc.

6.2. Applications will be assessed by the Icelandic Science Fund's board. Each year's allocation of funds will then be divided according to the board's assessment. The board may decide to allocate all of the funds to one applicant or to divide the funds among several applicants.

6.3. Grants will not be awarded for the same project more than once, unless there is a fundamental change in its scope (expansion from a master's project to a doctoral project).

6.4. Grants are not awarded retroactively for a project that has been completed.

6.5. The Icelandic Science Fund Board reserves the right to reject one or more applications or request a review of the project and/or cost plan. Valid applications that cannot be funded will be returned. They will not receive priority in the next allocation but will be evaluated on an equal basis with new applications.

7. Allocation

7.1. Up to 90% of all contributions to the fund, plus unused grants, may be allocated each year.

7.2. Grants from the fund are allocated to specific applicants for research/projects. If an applicant withdraws from the project for any reason, the grant will be returned to the Icelandic Science Fund but will not be attached to the project.

7.3. The Science Fund's board reports on the selection of grantees on Physiotherapy Day each year.

7.3.1. Half of the grant amount will be paid to the grantee at that time, but the general rule for allocating the grant money is that the amount is paid in two installments. However, the grant may be paid in one installment if circumstances require, in the opinion of the board.

7.3.2. The second part of the grant amount is disbursed upon receipt of a progress report, which must be submitted to the board of the Science Fund by December 1 of the grant year. The grantee must present the results at a conference, open seminar or other comparable forum and/or publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal such as Sjúkrathjálfaran, the professional journal of the Icelandic Association of Physiotherapists. If normal progress of the project is not demonstrated, the Science Fund has the right to reclaim the allocated funds.

7.4. The CEO of SIGL handles the payment of grants from the allocation fund upon receipt of confirmation from the Board of the Icelandic Science Fund. 7.5. The CEO of SIGL sends the grantee a pay slip for the grant and the grantee is required to declare the grant for tax purposes but may declare actual costs as a deduction against it.

8. Dispute over ruling, incompetence of the board of the Icelandic Science Fund

8.1. The decision of the Icelandic Science Fund's board cannot be appealed, but a justification for a rejection can be requested.

8.2. If one or more board members are disqualified due to a conflict of interest, the board of directors shall call for an alternate or alternates to replace the disqualified member or members and, once appointed, the board shall evaluate applications. If all three board members are disqualified, the FS board shall appoint a third alternate temporarily to take his seat along with the elected alternates.

8.3. If a board member applies for a grant, an alternate will take his place for that period.

9. Entry into force

9.1. These rules of procedure come into effect on March 9, 2021.

9.2. The fund's rules shall be reviewed every three years.

9.3. Changes to the rules of procedure are subject to approval by the general meeting of FS. Reykjavík,

9. mars 2021



Board of Directors of the Icelandic Association of Physiotherapists