Agreements
Memorandum of Understanding between The State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) and The Research Councils of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Versão em português
This Memorandum of Understanding is made being the following parties:
1. The Arts and Humanities Research Council (‘the AHRC’)
2. The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (‘the
BBSRC’)
3. The Economic and Social Research Council (‘the ESRC’)
4. The Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (‘the
EPSRC’)
5. The Medical Research Council (‘the MRC’)
6. The Natural Environment Research Council (‘NERC’)
7. The Science and Technology Facilities Council (‘the STFC’)
with these seven Parties being collectively referred to herein as ‘the UK Research Councils’, and
8. The State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP)
Whereas
A.The UK Research Councils and the State of São Paulo Research Foundation are all charged with fostering and supporting academic research within their own communities in their respective countries. The Parties also recognise that the very best research in all countries may be delivered by working with the best researchers internationally.
B.To this end the Parties welcome, encourage and support applications that may cut across their national boundaries and involve international collaborative teams. The parties also welcome both single-disciplinary and cross-disciplinary applications.
C. This Memorandum of Understanding shall cover research in all fields funded by the Parties.
The Parties Hereby Agree as Follows:
1) For applicants within the United Kingdom and Brazil who fall within the overlap of their various jurisdictions, the Parties will welcome andreceive applications from eligible participants in both countries.
2) The broad framework for the collaborative mechanism (to be supplemented by more detailed guidance to applicants) will be as follows:
a) Applications must be made directly to any one or more of the UK Research Councils by the partner applicant in the UK, which will inform the State of São Paulo Research Foundation of the application.
b) Applicants from the UK and from Brazil must satisfy the eligibility criteria of the relevant UK Research Council or Councils and FAPESP respectively.
c) Applications should be submitted on the official application material of the relevant UK Research Council or Councils agreementing to the applicable rules and closing dates.
i) The same application must be submitted to FAPESP using the appropriate application forms and materials.
d) Each application should be identified clearly as a collaborative proposal under the UK/Brazil Research MoU, in agreementance with specific guidance from the UK Research Councils and FAPESP.
e) Applications shall clearly differentiate the costs to be incurred by teams based in the United Kingdom and in Brazil.
f) Costs to be incurred by applicants based in the United Kingdom and costs to be incurred in Brazil must be compatible with existing financial practices pertinent to the UK Research Councils and the FAPESP respectively.
g) Award holders from the United Kingdom and from Brazil will be subject respectively to the Terms and Conditions of the UK Research Councils and the FAPESP.
h) Proposals will be processed and assessed by the applicable UK Research Council or Councils agreementing to its own rules and processes. For each proposal, FAPESP will nominate peer reviewers to provide input into the peer-review process of the applicable UK Research Council or Councils and will have a representative on the relevant panel.
i) The views expressed by the experts nominated by FAPESP will be formally incorporated into the UK peer review processes. The selection process, as a whole, remains a process of the applicable UK Research Council or Councils. FAPESP agrees in principle to accept the results of the peer-review process as presented by contacts nominated by the applicable UK Research Council or Councils.
j) The relevant UK Research Council or Councils will forward copies of all peer reviews relating to applications under this MOU to FAPESP within a reasonable time-scale prior to any decision being taken with respect to such an application.
k) Ultimate responsibility for decisions to recommend funding for its part of a proposal, however, remains with the UK or Brazilian Party respectively. FAPESP will confirm any budgetary constraints on submitted projects prior to a final decision on an award being made by the relevant UK review process.
l) When the relevant UK evaluation process is complete, the applicable UK Research Council or Councils shall communicate the final results of the competition to a designated contact within FAPESP. The applicable UK Research Council or Councils and FAPESP shall then proceed to fund the British and Brazilian components of successful applications respectively, in agreementance with their existing financial practices.
3) Timing of announcements related to this MOU shall be coordinated by agreement with all Parties.
4) This MOU will be supplemented by guidance to applicants, including on issues such as Intellectual Property, to be developed by the UK Research Councils and FAPESP.
5) This MOU is not a funding document and all funding is subject to the availability of appropriated funds.
6) This MOU may be terminated by any Party giving six months advance written notice. This MOU will otherwise terminate by the end of 2012.
September 15th, 2009
Signed
| Professor Philip Esler Chief Executive Arts and Humanities Research Council For and on behalf of: The Arts & Humanities Research Council The Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council The Engineering & Physical Sciences Research Council The Economic & Social Research Council The Medical Research Council The Natural Environment Research Council The Science & Technology Facilities Council |
Professor Celso Lafer President For and on behalf of: The State of São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) |