Memorandum of Understanding on Scientific Cooperation between the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC)and The Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) of the Republic of Korea

Recognising the benefits that each country derives from increased mobility of their researchers, and from research exchanges and collaboration between their countries, the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and the Korea Science and Engineering Foundation (KOSEF) 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 with 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.

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 program¹.

3. 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 KOSEF contact point will be the Representative of the Department of International Co-operation. 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.

4. 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.

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

6. 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 months' notice in writing. It may be amended at any time by mutual written agreement of the parties.

Signed in duplicate in Ottawa on the 31st day of July, 1995.

1 Canadian participants will make use of funds awarded through NSERC's regular grants programs. NSERC grants are available only to researchers holding faculty-level positions at Canadian universities.

ANNEX to revised NSERC -- KOSEF Memorandum of Understanding

Within the context of the Memorandum of Understanding, KOSEF and NSERC further agree to solicit proposals from their respective research communities in areas of mutual research interest. These areas of mutual research interest will be established by discussion between the two agencies, and in consultation with their respective research communities. Each agency will advise its national research community of its interest in supporting research in these areas. Researchers will be invited to submit proposals for joint workshops and joint research projects in the defined areas.

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 Korean 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, Internet, and other publications). Canadian researchers will be encouraged to contact interested Korean researchers to establish joint projects and workshops in the selected areas.

In KOSEF's case, proposals will be submitted and evaluated through KOSEF's international programs and in accordance with the international program cycle and regulations, keeping in mind KOSEF's interest in funding co-operative research with Canadian partners in the selected areas. Korean researchers will be notified of the selected areas, and the opportunity to apply for funding, through KOSEF's normal information channels (newsletters, posters, and other publications). Korean researchers will be encouraged to contact interested Canadian researchers to establish joint projects and workshops in the selected areas.

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 agencies. 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 6 months prior to the change coming into effect. There will be a maximum of five (5) selected areas of mutual research interest identified at any given time.

Each party will further ensure that the other is kept aware of joint applications for support coming from their respective research communities.