RICHEN Competition

Project presentation
 

RICHEN EUROPE is the European operating branch of the RICHEN GROUP, a major international group of medical device manufacturers with a global commitment. The company specializes in developing the best solutions for patients in the field of gastroenterology. Over the years our R&D department has excelled in the design and development of high-performance safe equipment and reagents in the area of Helicobacter pylori and Microbiota.
​Since 2015, the Richen Group has been supporting the European Helicobacter & Microbiota Study Group (EHMSG) as Platinum Sponsor. The EHMSG was founded in 1987 thanks to a collaboration of Helicobacter pioneers who created networks in their own countries and now represent them among the European Study Group. This multidisciplinary group is composed of one representative from most countries of the European Union and organizes an annual workshop in a different
country every year.
The Richen Group is always looking for new ways to increase the quality, reliability and certainty of diagnostic results as well as recognising the needs of its customers and working with research groups to further develop its product portfolio. Thanks to this philosophy, the Richen Group has launched its first ever research competition in 2021, with the aims of encouraging and supporting
early career medical researchers to conduct studies and to generate results within a 1-year timeframe, enabling them to apply for more substantial competitive funding. 
Richen is offering the successful applicant 1 instrument plus accessories and kits for the purpose of conducting the approved Research Project. Richen Europe shall offer assistance and training; it will also be the reference contact point the duration of the Project. Proposals may be in any area relevant to research in the field of Helicobacter pylori and Microbiota. Applications must be
submitted with the official form and adhere to instructions within these guidelines.

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Assessment Procedure

In assessing applicatons, the Research Grants Panel (RGP) gives consideraton to:

!  The originality of the applicaton
!  Assessors scores
!  Expert comment from the RGP members

The RGP shall select up to 4 Research Projects from those submitted before the deadline of 20th November 2026. The applications will be evaluated by the RGP (23/11 to 18/12), which shall then communicate to the Richen Group the selected project for the Open Competition (21/12). The selected candidate shall receive the required instrument by the end of the week of 11 January 2027, together with a maximum of 100 test kits free of charge. Further kits shall be provided by Richen Europe at a special price dedicated to the Competition. At the end of the Research Project (January-July 2027, for a maximum period of 6 months), the results need to be sent to the Organizers and, upon completion of all requirements, shall be published during the XLth EHMSG Workshop in Athens (September 2027). The selected candidate will receive one (1) free registration to the 2027 EHMSG Workshop, including travel and accommodation, and will be invited to present the Research Project during the sponsored Symposium. 
The instrument used for the Research Project may be donated to the University/Hospital/ Research Center where the awarded candidated is employed. The instrument shall not be donated to the Research team.

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Requirements and Details

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• The Competition is open to all early career researchers including post-doc students and junior professionals in the field of gastroenterology, exclusively from the country of Serbia.

• Research proposals may be in any area relevant to research in the field of H. pylori and Microbiota, including but not exclusively epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic aspects.

• The Research Project shall be completed and its results presented to the Organizers before the deadline (within 6 months from the delivery of the instrument), in order to be considered for the final award. 

• Ethics approval must be provided at the time of the application in order to be evaluated.

• The awarded candidate shall present to the Competition's Organizers the list of possible scientific journals/magazines/reviews or other publishing entities that shall be contacted for the publication of the Research Project's results whether its validity is confirmed by scientific data. 

• Whilst the candidates shall remain the sole owner of the publication, the latter must acknowledge that the Project has been supported by Richen.

• All Research Projects must be presented in the English language only.

• For an application to be valid, candidates must submit:

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✓  the application form with personal data

✓  copy of ID

✓  detailed CV (max. 2 pages)

✓  official statement of professional status

✓  description of the Project’s objectives and Research background

✓  request for instrument needed and number of foreseen tests/patients

✓  Research Project’s duration (max. 6 months), including a draft calendar and its expected publication date

 

It does not represent a reason for exclusion whether the Research Project is already being funded by a different entity, which shall however be by no means in contrast or in competition with Richen Europe and the EHMSG Organization. This other funding must be mentioned in the application process.
The complete dossier needs to be sent in a single attachment to the attention of the Organizer's contact e-mail: attiliocitrino@china-richen.com.cn .
Incomplete or late applications will not be considered.

Aligned with the EU competition rules, the Organizers shall accept applications without discrimination on grounds of sex, race, colour, ethnic or social origin, genetic features, language, religion or belief, political or any other opinion, membership or national minority, property, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation.

Calendar and deadlines 

• 31/07 – 20/11/2026: Presentation of applications 

• Friday, 20th November 2026: Application deadline (including ethics approval)

• 23/11 – 18/12/2026: Selection process

• 21st December 2026: Notification of selected Project

• 11-15/01/2027: Delivery of instrument and start of Research Project

• 11/01 – 16/07/2027: Undertaking of Research Project

• 19/07/2027: Deadline for the Project's delivery and presentation of results

• September 2027: Presentation of Research Project at the EHMSG in Athens

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