Memorandum of Understanding on Scientific Cooperation Between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science

The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to further strengthen cooperation, including the exchange of researchers, on scientific research between Japan and Canada. The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) will endeavour, on the basis of equal and mutual benefit, to promote and support cooperation between highly qualified researchers and research institutions in Japan and Canada, in the fields of the natural sciences and engineering.

Recognising the importance of international scientific cooperation, and the mutual benefit to be derived from a strengthened bilateral collaboration, NSERC and JSPS (hereinafter each referred to as a “Party” or collectively as “the Parties”), have endeavoured 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.

This Memorandum of Understanding deals with the following specific issues:

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; and
• advising its national research community of its interest in supporting research in specified 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 visits, workshops and joint research. 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 cooperative research with Japanese partners in the selected areas of research interest. 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 Japanese researchers to establish joint projects and workshops in the selected areas.

In the case of JSPS, international collaborations will be supported through JSPS's programs with Canada and its regular programs, keeping in mind JSPS’s interest in funding co-operative research with Canadian partners in all research areas.

In addition, special arrangements for co-funding between the Parties may be made for researcher exchanges.

3. Selected Areas of Research Interest

Each Party may select specific areas of research interest and solicit from its national research community research proposals in those areas. In such a case, the Party concerned will notify the other of its selected areas. Both Parties may exchange views on their respective selected areas to promote mutual understanding and cooperation in areas of mutual research interest.

4. Staff Role

To facilitate communication between the two Parties, each will designate one person as a contact point. The NSERC contact point will be the NSERC Policy and International Relations Manager; the JSPS contact point will be the Head of the Research Cooperation Division I. Officials will discuss matters of mutual interest related to the cooperation outlined in this Memorandum of Understanding and exchange information on programs, policies and practices of the two Parties. Each Party will strive to 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 of Understanding will complement exchanges of researchers resulting from individual-to-individual or university-to-university agreements. Participating researchers will endeavour to abide by the regulations of the receiving country and the regulations of the host institutions.

This Memorandum of Understanding is based on equality, reciprocity and mutual benefit. Details of financing and other appropriate matters for implementation of the cooperative activities under this Memorandum of Understanding have been, or will be, subject to separate specific agreement between the Parties on a case-by-case basis. The Parties understand that the intention of this Memorandum of Understanding is not to create legally binding commitments between the Parties in either domestic or international legislation.

The Parties will attempt to arrive at a mutually satisfactory resolution, through amicable and expeditious consultations, or through such other means as they may mutually decide, of any matter that might affect the interpretation and application of this Memorandum of Understanding.

This Memorandum of Understanding replaces the previous one signed in 1996, and will take effect from the date of signing and continue thereafter for five years. This Memorandum of Understanding may be extended for the same period of validity, five years, in absence of a termination notice by either Party. Each Party may terminate this Memorandum of Understanding effective at the end of any calendar year, giving six month’s written notice to the other Party. It may be amended at any time by mutual written agreement of the Parties.

Signed in duplicate in English, both copies being equally authentic and of equal effect.

Date: October 7, 2009

IN WITNESS THEREOF the parties hereto have executed this Memorandum of Understanding through their duly authorized representatives: