Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation; Collaborative Projects Request

Authority

This program is established under the Agreement for Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the Government of the United States and the Government of Spain. A solicitation for this program began September 1, and will continue until the closing date of December 1, 1998. The Department of State and the Foreign Ministry of Spain announce the second call for collaborative projects under the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation, which entered into force in 1996. The purpose of the Agreement is to encourage and support scientific and technological cooperation between the United States and Spain. Grants under this project call, that are approved by the Joint Commission on Scientific and Technological Cooperation will assist with the costs for international collaboration between research teams from science agencies and universities of the two countries. Basic research costs must be funded from other sources. Costs supported will normally not exceed $30,000 in the first year; a renewal may be requested under a later project call.

Basic Terms

The funds available to the Joint Commission as described in Article VII(2) of the Agreement, are being used as follows. Approximately twenty-five percent of the funds are being used in the first year of the program, or approximately $750,000 for thirty-six grants. In the second call for proposals, approximately 40% of the funds, or about $1,200,000 will be used for new proposals and for approved renewals. The remaining funds will be used in the third year. Costs supported include travel, at government contract rates or tourist class; per diem lodging, meals and incidentals; international mail and messenger service; minimal amounts of equipment (normally no more than $2000 would be approved), and the like. Living costs will be supported up to a maximum of $175 per day, but teams are encouraged to find less expensive options for meals and lodging for stays of more than a few days, to maximize the funds available. Normally travel should be for a minimum of a week and a maximum of a month. The call for proposals is open until December 1, 1998; grants will be decided in April 1999. There will normally be a maximum of twelve months for use of granted funds. A mid-term report after the first six months will be the basis of an application for a renewal if one is desired. Proposals will be subject to peer review in both countries. Proposals will be submitted as a single package in both English and Spanish; U.S. principal investigators should forward their portion of the document to their Spanish counterpart, to facilitate the submission of the package to the Program Secretariat in Madrid. Collaborative proposals are expected to have secured funding for the basic research, and preferably be already established projects in at least one of the two countries.

Priorities

Emphasis will be given by the Joint Commission in the 1998 awards to the following fields: 1. Life Sciences 1.1 Infectious and degenerative diseases, including diseases of animals 1.2 Biotechnology of plants, plant health, and integrated pest management 1.3 Food biotechnology 1.4 Molecular design in the production of pharmaceuticals 2. Environment 2.1 Biodiversity 2.2 Natural reserves and protected ecosystems 2.3 Conservation of soils and forests and problems of desertification 2.4 Integrated water management; resources, use and reuse 2.5 Combating pollution and treatment of wastes 3. Information and Communication Technology 3.1 Electronic and microelectronic technology 3.2 Advanced communication technology: satellites, mobile units, Internet II 3.3 Informatics 4. Materials Sciences 4.1 Ceramics, metals, polymers, compounds and superconductors 4.2 Advanced production technology for new materials 5. Energy and High Energy Physics 5.1 Alternate energy: Solar and Wind 5.2 Clean technologies for fossil fuels and/or alternatives 5.3 Cooperative research with U.S. High Energy Physics Labs

Applicants will indicate on the cover sheet the number of the field under which the project falls. Projects submitted outside these categories should simply be designated as ``6. Other Fields.''

Research Teams

All scientists working in research agencies of the two governments, or in universities of the two countries, are eligible to apply. Each project should have a principal investigator on the U.S. side and on the Spanish side. These should be nationals or residents of the respective countries; teams may include citizens of other countries if this is justified in the research plan. U.S. researchers are reminded that Spain requires a visa for holders of official or diplomatic passports. Spanish researchers will not normally require a special visa. Janet Mayland, Deputy Director, Office of Science and Technology Cooperation, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs. [FR Doc. 98-28291 Filed 10-21-98; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4710-09-M