CALL FOR PROPOSALS OF JOINT RESEARCH PROJECTS WITHIN THE EXECUTIVE PROGRAMME OF SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL COOPERATION BETWEEN THE ITALIAN REPUBLIC AND THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINAFOR THE YEARS 2013-2015

Within the framework of Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the Italian Republic and the Government of the People's Republic of China, signed in Rome on October 6th, 1978, Unit for Scientific and Technological Cooperation of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of International Cooperation of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology (hereafter referred as to “the Parties”) initiate herewith the procedures for the drafting of the Executive Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation for the years 2013-2015.

1. EXCHANGE OF RESEARCHERS: PROCEDURES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS.

1.1 Purposes
Submission of joint research projects by researchers of both Countries is requested, with the aim of encouraging scientific and technological cooperation between Italy and China. Each researcher may submit one project only.
Financing will be granted within the limits of the available annual resources of each Party.

1.2 Priority Research Areas
Projects may be submitted in the following priority research areas:

• Applied Basic Sciences (Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics)
• Biotechnology and Medicine
• Energy & Environment
• Information Communication Technology
• Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials
• Space and Aeronautics
• Technology Applied to Cultural Heritage

NB: Projects submitted in other research areas will not be considered.

1.3 submission of Projects
The same project must be submitted by the Italian and Chinese coordinators to the Authorities responsible for the implementation of the Executive Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation in the two Countries. Projects submitted to only one of the two Parties will not be considered.
The projects, covering up to three years, must be drafted in English.

Procedures applicable to Italian researchers. The Italian coordinator must prepare and submit her/his proposal exclusively through the dedicated web-interface reachable here: http://web.esteri.it/pgr/sviluppo

The deadline is 30th of September 2012.

Any inquire about the present call can be sent to: DGSP.UST2@esteri.it

Procedures applicable to Chinese researchers.

For the Chinese call for proposals, please refer to the website of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology: http://www.most.gov.cn/tztg/index.htm or http://www.most.gov.cn/tztg/201206/t20120604_94744.htm

1.4 Project Evaluation and Selection at National and Bilateral Level
The projects will be initially evaluated at national level. Subsequently, a joint assessment will be carried out by representatives of the two Parties (in the meeting of the Joint Committee) in order to select the projects admitted for funding.
The projects will be assessed according to the following evaluation criteria:

• Scientific relevance of the research project
• Methodology and documentation
• Qualification of the applicants
• Added value of the bilateral cooperation
• Social and developmental added value
• Use and dissemination of results

Preference will be given to projects that involve industrial counterparts, benefit from third parties’ funding (such as public or private research institutes and organizations) and/or take part in multilateral and/or European research programmes, with particular regard to the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Union.

1.5 Publication of Results
For the Italian Party, the list of the selected projects and funding procedures will be posted exclusively on the website of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the address:
http://www.esteri.it/MAE/IT/Politica_Estera/CooperScientificaTecnologica/ProgrammiEsecutivi/ElencoProgrammiEsecutivi.htm

For the Chinese Party, a list of the selected projects will be sent in written notices to the successful applicants.

1.6 Granting Projects
Only the cost of the exchange of researchers will be financed. For each project 1 short-term stay (up to 10 days) or 1 long-term stay (30 days) in Italy and 1 short-term stay (up to 10 days) or 1 long-term stay (30 days) in China may be financed yearly within the limits of the available annual resources of each Party.
The Italian Party will pay the international travel expenses to researchers holding Italian nationality (or an EU nationality and resident in Italy) and will provide a contribution of 1300 Euros per month for long-term stay and of 93 Euros per day for short-term stay towards accommodation expenses in Italy to researchers holding Chinese nationality.

According to the proved procedures and regulations of the International Science and Technology Cooperation Programme (ISTCP), the Chinese Party will pay the international travel expenses to researchers holding Chinese nationality and will provide a contribution for long-term and short-term stay towards accommodation expenses in China to researchers holding Italian nationality (or an EU nationality and resident in Italy) .

Each researcher may submit one project only; the application of a proposal for the exchange of researchers excludes the possibility for the project coordinator to apply for funding a significant bilateral project pursuant to point 2. of the present call for proposals.

1.7 Reports on the Project
At the end of each year the Italian and the Chinese coordinators will report, to their respective Party, on the progress of their project. Funding for the next year will not be granted if the coordinators fail to submit their progress reports.

2. SIGNIFICANT BILATERAL PROJECTS: PROCEDURES FOR THE SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS. (“Progetti di Grande Rilevanza” ai sensi della L. 401/90)

In the course of validity of the Executive Programme of Scientific and Technological Cooperation between Italy and China for the years 2013-2015 (hereafter referred as to “the Executive Programme”), the two parties may also consider granting an annual special financial contribution, within the limits of the available financial resources, to significant bilateral research projects (“Progetti di Grande Rilevanza”), which will be part of the Executive Programme. The projects will be supported ideally on a co-funding basis, or on a national basis.

The contribution granted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is intended as a co-funding of the project and therefore a significant funding participation by the coordinating Italian Institution and/or other public/private Italian or Chinese Institutions is mandatory.
The application procedures consist in two steps.

2.1 FIRST STEP

2.1.1 Proposal submission
The Italian coordinator must prepare and submit her/his proposal exclusively through the dedicated web-interface reachable here: http://web.esteri.it/pgr/sviluppo

The deadline is 30th september 2012.

Any inquire about the present call can be sent to: DGSP.UST2@esteri.it.
The project, covering up to three years, must be drafted in English.

2.1.2 Research Areas
Project proposals may be submitted in the following priority research areas:

• Applied Basic Sciences (Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics)
• Biotechnology and Medicine
• Energy & Environment
• Information Communication Technology
• Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials
• Space and Aeronautics
• Technologies Applied to Cultural Heritage

NB: Projects submitted in other research areas will not be considered.

2.1.3 Project Evaluation and Selection at National and Bilateral Level
Projects will be initially evaluated at national level. Subsequently, the assessment will be carried out by the Joint Committee of the two Parties in order to select the projects to be listed in the Executive Programme.
Projects will be assessed according to the following evaluation criteria:

• Scientific relevance
• Methodology and documentation
• Qualification of the applicants
• Added value of the bilateral cooperation
• Social and developmental added value
• Use and dissemination of results
• Budget adequacy

Preference will be given to projects that involve industrial counterparts, benefit from third parties’ funding (such as public or private research institutes and organizations) and/or take part in multilateral and/or European research programmes, with particular regard to the Seventh Framework Programme.

2.2 SECOND STEP

The significant bilateral projects selected and listed in the Executive Programme will constitute a short-list of projects entitled to apply for funding in accordance with the specific call for proposals issued by Unit for Scientific and Technological Cooperation, Directorate General for Country Promotion (Economy, Culture and Science) of the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The call for proposals is usually published during the last trimester of the year for the following financial year.
Details on the call for proposals (in compliance with Law 401/90) will be available, in due time, at the following link:
http://www.esteri.it/MAE/IT/Politica_Estera/CooperScientificaTecnologica/AvvisiIncaricoBandi.htm.

Procedures applicable to Chinese researchers.

The significant bilateral projects selected and listed in the Executive Programme will constitute a short-list of projects entitled to apply for funding in accordance with the specific call for proposals issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The call for proposals is usually published in the first half of April.

For the Chinese call for proposals, please refer to the website of the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology: http://www.most.gov.cn/tztg/index.htm or http://www.most.gov.cn/tztg/201206/t20120604_94744.htm

Each researcher may submit one project only; the application of a proposal as significant bilateral project excludes the possibility for the project coordinator to apply for funding for the exchange of researchers pursuant to point 1. of the present call for proposals.