Memorandum of Understanding on Scientific Cooperation between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and The National Natural Sciences Foundation of China

Recognising the importance of international scientific co-operation and the mutual benefit to be derived from bilateral collaboration, the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) have agreed to:

• exchange information;
• facilitate the movement of researchers and students between their countries; and
• provide support to researchers in their countries to travel and participate in international collaborations.

More specifically, the parties agree to:

1. Provision of Information

Each party will facilitate research exchanges and collaboration in the natural sciences and engineering in the other country by:

• publicising and providing information on mechanisms of support for scientific collaboration with the other country;
• publicising and providing information on research activities in both countries, so as to assist researchers in developing joint research projects.
• establishing areas of mutual research interest, and soliciting research proposals from their respective research communities in these areas. Each agency will advise its national research community of its interest in supporting research in these areas

2. Support Mechanisms

Each party will have in place funding mechanisms with a degree of flexibility sufficient to permit their use for the support of bilateral visits, joint research, and workshops. Applicants and applications will be required to meet selection criteria for the relevant program.

In NSERC's case, proposals will be submitted and evaluated through NSERC's regular programs and in accordance with the normal program cycle and regulations, keeping in mind NSERC's interest in funding co-operative research with Chinese partners in the selected areas.

Canadian researchers will be notified of the selected areas, and the opportunity to apply for funding, through NSERC's normal information channels (newsletters, other publications, and Internet). Canadian researchers will be encouraged to contact interested Chinese researchers to establish joint projects and workshops in the selected areas.

In the case of the National Natural Science Foundation of China, proposals for international cooperation activities with Canadian researchers (bilateral visits, joint research, and workshops) will be submitted and evaluated in accordance with the normal cycle and regulations of NSFC's international programs.

Chinese researchers will be notified of the selected areas, and the opportunity to apply for funding, through NSFC's normal information channels (newsletters, other publications, and Internet). Chinese researchers will be encouraged to contact interested Canadian researchers to establish joint projects and workshops in the selected areas.

3. Selected Areas of Mutual Research Interest

The selected areas of mutual research interest will be subject to periodic review by both agencies. Areas may be dropped or added with the agreement of both parties. The agencies will ensure that their research communities receive sufficient notice of changes in selected areas, that is, changes to the list of selected areas will be announced at least six (6) months prior to the change coming into effect. There will be a maximum of five (5) selected areas of mutual interest identified at any given time.

4. Staff Role

To facilitate communication between the two agencies, each party will designate one person as a contact point. The NSERC contact point will be the NSERC International Relations Advisor; the contact point for the National Natural Science Foundation of China will be the Division Chief for Americas, Oceania, and East Europe of NSFC's Bureau of International Cooperation. Officials of the parties will meet as necessary to discuss matters of mutual interest related to the co-operation outlined in this Memorandum of Understanding, and to exchange information on programs, policies, and practices of the two agencies. Each party will further ensure that the other is kept aware of joint applications for support coming from their respective research communities.

5. Other

The information exchange and dissemination activities outlined in this Memorandum will complement exchanges of scientists and engineers resulting from individual-to-individual or university-to-university agreements.

This Memorandum is based on equality, reciprocity, and mutual benefit, and implies no financial commitment from either party.

This Memorandum of Understanding replaces the previous one, and will take effect on April 1, 1996. It will remain in force until terminated by either party giving six (6) months' notice in writing. It may be amended at any time by mutual written agreement of the parties.

Signed in duplicate in English. The Chinese version of the text will be prepared and signed through correspondence. Both versions will be equally valid.

Date: _______________