Agreements
MOU between FAPESP and The British Council
MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING (“MOU”) BETWEEN THE SÃO PAULO RESEARCH FOUNDATION AND THE BRITISH COUNCIL
The SÃO PAULO RESEARCH FOUNDATION - FAPESP, established by Law nº 5.918, of October 18th, 1960, with headquarters at Rua Pio XI, 1500, Alto da Lapa, São Paulo, SP, enrolled in CNPJ/MF under nº 43.828.151/0001-45, herein represented according to article 11, “a” of Law nº 5.918, combined with its General Rule approved by Decree n° 40.132, of May 23, 1962, represented by its President, Prof. Dr. CELSO LAFER, in the exercise of the powers delegated by Act of the Governor of the State of São Paulo, published in the Official Gazette of the State, of June 21, 2010, hereinafter referred to as FAPESP, and the BRITISH COUNCIL, incorporated in the UK by Royal Charter on October 7 1940, and established in Brazil by Decree 19.446 of August 16 1945, operating though its local office in São Paulo, located at Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 741 - 3° andar, CEP 05428 002, enrolled in CNPJ under n. 03.738.996/0001-25, represented by its Direction Operations Stephen David Ashworth, hereinafter referred to as BRITISH COUNCIL, and both hereinafter referred to as “Parties”:
CONSIDERING the importance of promoting cooperation in research between UK and the State of São Paulo, Brazil in order to reach mutual benefit;
CONSIDERING the desire to strengthen the links between the scientific communities of UK and the State of São Paulo, Brazil and also to encourage new forms of collaboration between their researchers;
WISHING to promote collaboration in scientific research in priority areas of interest to both parties;
Agree as follows:
1. Purpose
Through this MoU, the Parties will foster research cooperation between scientists in UK and in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, through the funding of collaborative research activities under the guidelines of the British Council’s Researcher Links programme.
2. Methods of Collaboration
The Parties will promote such collaboration by jointly offering funds, through publicly announced calls for proposals. The activities developed under this MoU shall be named “FAPESP – British Council Research Links” and will be composed of:
a) The organization of research workshops to promote the interaction between researchers., with the goal of identifying themes and opportunities for cooperation;
b) The exchange of researchers and students active in themes and topics identified in the joint workshops mentioned in 2.a.
3. Implementation
a) The Parties will appoint two representatives one from each agency, which will form a joint Steering Committee (SC) responsible for the implementation of the actions agreed in this MoU, following the procedures of each one of the Parties.
b) Details of the implementation plan are described at Annex I, which is part of this MoU.
4. Scientific Areas
The workshops mentioned in the item 2.a could be developed, in principle, in all areas of knowledge. Areas of interest can be specified by the Steering Committee.
5. Funding
For each workshop, the British Council and FAPESP will assume the funding as described in item 4 of the Annex I and, in all cases, according to their national rules and regulations and budget availability.
6. Term
a) This MOU shall be valid for a period of 5 (five) years from the date of its signing and may be extended by mutual agreement between the Parties in a written amendment to this MoU.
b) The Party may terminate this MoU by written notice, with a period of six months in advance.
c) The termination of this MoU shall not bring harm to the implementation of projects and programs already approved or which had already started. In which case the Parties should keep their budget for the projects and programs during the term of its validity.
7. Modifications
This MoU may be amended by mutual consent of the Parties and made official by Addenda.
8. Communication
Any notice to be served on either of the Parties by the other shall be made in writing and shall be sent to the following addresses:
(a) FAPESP:
Rua Pio XI, 1500 – Alto da Lapa
CEP 05468-901 – São Paulo / SP – Brazil
e-mail: dc@fapesp.br
Att.: Scientific Director
(b) BRITISH COUNCIL:
Rua Ferreira de Araújo, 741 – Pinheiros
CEP 05428-002 – São Paulo/SP – Brazil
e-mail: centro.info@britishcouncil.org.br
Att: Director Education
9. Miscellaneous
a) Each Party covers its own administration costs regarding its contribution to the call, unless otherwise jointly decided.
b) This MoU is subject to the availability of funds in the budget of the Parties and the applicable laws and regulations of their respective countries.
c) The Parties agree to follow the highest ethical and legal standards of professional work in the funding of the activities proposed in the present agreement.
d) The Parties agree that this MoU is produced in good faith, and no Party shall be legally bound by any part of it, so that any dispute and / or interpretation arising therefrom in relation to its implementation, execution and compliance will be resolved jointly by them and shall be in writing. If no agreement is reached between the Parties, this document will be terminated without liability to the Parties that should agree how to conclude the actions in progress to date of notification of termination by either party.
Signed in Sao Paulo, Brazil on 17/06/2013, in two original copies in English and Portuguese, both texts being equally authentic.
ANNEX I
1. Introduction
The FAPESP - British Council Researcher Links will promote the collaboration of UK and São Paulo state researchers. The programme will make use of networking tools, experience exchange, funding for new research links, with the goal of fostering sustainable working relationships in the areas of knowledge of mutual interest for the UK and the State of São Paulo. As a result, it is expected the development of new research links, new opportunities for international research collaboration, and the strengthening of existing cooperation between the participants.
2. Governance
Project will be managed by steering committee (SC) formed by FAPESP and BC representatives. It is the SC role to define the themes for the workshops, supervise the process of selection of workshop leaders via open call, and overlook the general implementation of the project in agreement with the British Council and FAPESP.
3. Activities proposed
FAPESP-British Council Research Links will be developed through the following activities:
3.1 Workshops
Training sessions will be organised in four phases: definition of subject by BC and FAPESP, competitive selection of workshop coordinators, selection of Brazilian and UK participants, and the implementation of the activity.
The competitive selection of workshop coordinators will be done through an open call for experienced researchers from the UK and Brazil in the subject defined by the Parties. The Steering Committee will select the workshop leaders on the basis of quality of the leading researchers, fit to priority areas, and potential for long term sustainability. Guidelines for the development of the workshop:
- Workshop will be organised by the British Council, FAPESP and the selected workshop leaders;
- Content and schedule will be the responsibility of the selected workshop leaders;
- Language will be English without translation;
- Maximum duration 3 days;
- Approx. 40 participants. Equal number from the UK and partner countries;
- Target audience: early career researchers, finished their PhD until 2008 (max. 5 years);
- There will be an open call for participants to the workshops, with clear selection criteria and process defined by BC and FAPESP.
- Workshops may include local site visits as part of the programme.
3.2. Seed funding for research cooperation
As an extension of the workshop, FAPESP and the BC may decide to launch a call to support joint research projects. After consulting with FAPESP and the British Council, the SC will decide upon the value and the number of grants to be offered.
3.3. British Council Travel Grants
Apart from the seed research funding provided to workshop participants jointly by BC and FAPESP, the British Council will open a call for travel grants for mobility between the UK and São Paulo State researchers. This call will be open to all researchers who have participated in editions of the British Council Researcher Links programme around the world. Grants will cover:
- The call could be open to workshop participants or other researchers
- Short research visits (up to 3 months) with the aim of starting up a longer term collaboration
- Either inward or outward mobility, or combination of both
- One call per year
- Selection of proposals will be done by the BC Researcher Links Steering Committee, with the support from RCUK
4. Funding
BC and FAPESP will contribute with 50% of the costs each (except for item 3.3). Expenses can be related to: transport costs for British and Brazilian participants, accommodation for a max of 42 attendees, expenses with coffee breaks and refreshments, funds for seed research funding, promotional material, equipment, contingency. Costs will be negotiated.
5. Proposed calendar:
May/2013: Call for expressions of interest to run a workshop
June or July/2013: Call for select participants
August/2013: Publication of results of participants selection
November/2013: Run workshop in São Paulo State
November or December/2013: Launching call for seed research funding BC-FAPESP, and British Council Travel Grant
February – March 2014: proposals selected and travel grants disbursed
April – May 2014: Implementation of research grants