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The SÃO PAULO RESEARCH FOUNDATION (FAPESP), and the NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL OF CANADA (NRC), hereinafter referred to as the “Participants”.

RECOGNIZING the importance of promoting and strengthening the cooperation in scientific research and technological development between Canada and the state of Sao Paulo in Brazil, based on equality and mutual benefit;

CONSIDERING the shared goal of promoting technological innovation within companies in their respective countries;

CONSIDERING the desire to strengthen the links between the scientific and business communities in both countries and to encourage new forms of cooperation;

HAVE COME TO THE FOLLOWING UNDERSTANDING:

1. Objective

The objective of this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is to establish a framework for the Participants to facilitate Small and Medium Sized Enterprises (SMEs) cooperation in bi-lateral research and development projects focused on advancing scientific and technological developments through the joint funding of industry-led research projects.

2. Cooperative Activities

(a) The Participants will carry out the following cooperative activities:

(i) evaluation and implementation of joint research projects on issues of mutual interest, exchanging knowledge and results;

(ii) organization of scientific and technological seminars, specialized workshops, symposia and other meetings of mutual interest and benefit, to promote interactions between companies relevant to both countries;

(iii) information exchange that will help prepare the ground for the development of joint research projects;

(iv) any other cooperative activities they may jointly decide upon.

(b) The Participants may develop their cooperative activities in the areas of interest identified by the Joint Steering Committee; such activities could be developed, in principle, in all areas of knowledge.

(c) The Participants will establish one or more cooperative activities in accordance with (a) and in accordance with the scientific relevance, their respective national law and their respective resources.

(d) For the elaboration of the cooperative activities, the Participants may jointly decide upon the most appropriate procedures including mechanisms such as delegation meetings, workshops, correspondence and other procedures.

3. Steering Committee

(a) The Participants will establish a Joint Steering Committee (JSC) which will:

(i) consist of a minimum of two representatives, one from each Participant;

(ii) meet as required in order to:

A. Identify areas of interest for the cooperative activities;

B. Draft the calls for joint proposals;

C. Manage this MOU.

4. Review of joint proposals

(a) Each Participant will receive and review the proposals according to its own criteria and rules. After the revision of the proposals, the Participants will meet to decide jointly which proposals will be supported.

(b) The Participants may establish joint procedures for the submission and review of the proposals.

5. Funding

a) Each Participant will:

(i) fund its respective research projects ;

(ii) covers its own administration costs.

(b) The Participants understand that:

(i) the amount for funding necessary to support joint research projects will be defined by the Joint Steering Committee in each Call for Proposals;

(ii) the cooperative activities and the funding of the research projects are subject to the availability of their respective resources.

6. Intellectual Property

If intellectual property arises from the implementation of this MOU, the Participants will address them in a separate and appropriate instrument.

7. Points of contact

(a) The Participants designate the following as their points of contact for this MOU:

(i) For FAPESP:
Rua Pio XI, 1500 – Alto da Lapa
CEP 05468-901 – São Paulo / SP – Brasil
e-mail: dc@fapesp.br
Att.: XXX, Scientific Director

(ii) For NRC:
1200 Montreal Road.
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
Postal Code: K1A 0R6
Att.: Perry Quan, Director IRAP International.
Email: Perry.Quan@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca

(b) The Participants will ensure that any correspondence under this MOU is in writing and sent to the points of contact.

8. Ethics

The Participants will maintain the highest ethical and legal standards in funding research under this MoU.

9. Differences in interpretation and implementation

The Participants will resolve any difference in the interpretation and implementation of this MOU through written consultations.

10. Final dispositions

(a) This MoU will take effect on the date of its last signature by the Participants and will remain valid for a period of 5 (five) years. The Participants may extend this MOU upon their mutual written consent.

(b) The Participants may amend this MOU upon their mutual written consent.

(c) Either Participant may terminate this MoU by giving a six months’ written notice to the other Participant.

(d) The Participants understand that the termination of this MoU will not prevent the execution of the research projects and cooperative activities previously approved or that have already started. In such cases, the Participants will keep the budgets from the research projects and cooperative activities throughout their duration.

Signed in duplicate on January 16, 2023, in English, French and Portuguese languages, each version being equally valid.

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