Call for Proposals for 2007: Funding of the Extension of Bilateral Cooperation with South Korea within the Framework of the Korean-German Science & Technology

1. Background and objectives

The Korean-German Science & Technology Collaborative Committee was initiated by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the Korean Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) and met for the first time at the end of 2003. It discusses the objectives and the content of more intensive bilateral cooperation in the areas of education, research and technology and is financed by research institutions. On the German side it is headed by the President of the Helmholtz Association of National Research Centres (HGF). On the Korean side it is headed by the President of the Korean Institute of Science and Technology (KIST). The Committee primarily supports cooperation between German and Korean research institutions and institutions of higher education in the priority areas it has defined and initiates joint projects. Future projects are to be implemented with the participation of commercial enterprises, in particular small and medium-sized enterprises, if possible.

On the occasion of the second Committee meeting in Seoul in October 2004, MOST and BMBF agreed on an additional funding programme under the title of Korean-German Science & Technology Collaboration Advancement Program to extend basic R&D cooperation within the framework of the Committee. The following topics are envisaged for 2007:

• basic physical research, nanotechnology and materials research
• life sciences, in particular biotechnology, biomedical research, health research and neurosciences
• environmental research and technology as well as earth system research and management.

By means of mobility support, existing collaborations are to be extended and new contacts are to be forged and collaborations initiated with regard to these topics.

2. What is funded?

Different funding measures are available in line with the two objectives of extending existing and initiating new collaborations within the framework of the Committee:

a) If contacts already exist, the following measures to initiate or prepare joint projects on the above-mentioned topics can be promoted with BMBF funds:

•  Exchanges of experts
  For periods of work spent by particularly qualified young German scientists and experts in Korea, grants of €2,350 per month are awarded for a maximum of 3 months and a one-off payment of €1,300 maximum is made to cover travel expenses.
• Workshops
  For the organization of bilateral workshops in Germany, grants of up to €6,000 per workshop and applicant are awarded to cover, for example, transfers in Germany and the cost of accommodation and premises.
  Travel grants can be awarded for participation in bilateral workshops in South Korea (per application a maximum of 4 flights Economy class and a per diem of €107 for stays of up to 5 workdays).
• Exploratory trips
  Grants can also be awarded for trips to explore the Korean R&D sector in a specific field and to look for further cooperation partners (per application a maximum of 4 flights Economy class and a per diem of €107 for stays of up to 15 workdays.

Applications for these measures have to be submitted in conjunction with South Korean partner institutions, which submit complementary applications on the Korean side (cf. 4. below).

 b) If contacts are to be newly established or potential partners in Korea are to be sought for cooperation within the framework of the above-mentioned topics, funds can be made available to cover travelling expenses (per application a maximum of 2 flights Economy class and a per diem of €107 for stays of up to 5 working days).

3. Who is funded?

Research proposals may be submitted by state-funded and non-state-funded institutions of higher education and non-university research institutions which are headquartered in Germany. If existing collaborations indicate possibilities for commercial exploitation, small and medium-sized commercial enterprises which are headquartered in Germany can also be funded.
 
4. What are the prerequisites for funding?

The prerequisites for funding are the suitability of the proposals with regard to the objectives of this announcement and the expertise of the applicants as shown by their previous work.
All measures applied for must either be implemented this year or started this year and completed by the first half of 2008.

Furthermore, the South Korean partners must submit complementary applications to the Korea Foundation for International Cooperation of Science & Technology (KICOS) for applications for the funding instruments listed in 2.a above). KICOS will in that case issue a similar call with an identical deadline. If, for example, an application is submitted for a stay in Korea, the Korean partner should submit an application to KICOS for a comparable stay in Germany. If an application is submitted for organizing a workshop in Germany, the Korean partner/s should submit to KICOS an application for funds to cover travelling expenses, etc. Exceptions from this rule can be made in individual well-founded cases. The contact in Korea is:

KICOS (Korean Foundation for International Cooperation of Science and Technology)
2nd floor, Trust Tower, 275-7, Yangjae-Dong, Seocho-Gu, Seoul, Korea
(zip : 137-739)
Phone: 82-2-6710-7461
Fax: 82-2-6710-7409
E-mail: jklee@kicos.or.kr
Internet: http://www.kicos.or.kr

When funding has ended, meaningful reports must be drafted which provide information on contacts visited, results or planned follow-up activities, depending on the funding measure.

5. Procedure

a) Involvement of the International Bureau at the DLR

The BMBF has commissioned the following agency with implementing the funding programme to extend bilateral cooperation with South Korea within the framework of the Korean-German Science & Technology Collaborative Committee:

Internationales Büro des BMBF beim Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
(DLR)
Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
53227 Bonn
Internet: http://www.internationales-buero.de

b) Forms and deadlines for application

An Internet-based set of forms available at:
http://www.ewa.internationales-buero.de/
must be used for application.

In addition to the electronic application, a signed copy of the final application should at the same time be sent to the following address no later than 10th September 2007:

   Internationales Büro des BMBF beim Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
   (DLR)
   Dr. Andreas Suthhof
   Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
   53227 Bonn

The deadline for submission is a cut-off deadline. Applications for funding received after the deadline cannot be considered for funding. The deadline is identical on the Korean side.
If you have any questions on Internet-based application, please contact:

   Internationales Büro des BMBF beim Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
   (DLR)
   Nathalie Brew
   Heinrich-Konen-Str. 1
   53227 Bonn
   E-mail: nathalie.brew@dlr.de
   Phone: +49 (0)228 3821 454

c) Selection and decision-making procedure

The received applications for funding are evaluated by means of the following criteria:

• Agreement with the given content priorities
• Expertise of the applicant and the partners involved
• Quality and originality of the idea
• Chances for success of a planned collaboration or the planned project, in particular regarding the BMBF's funding programmes and the EU's Research Framework Programme as well as other providers of external funds
• If applicable, evaluation of the application of the Korean partners by the Korean side
• Initiation of new partnerships
• Benefit of cooperation and, if applicable, possibilities for commercialization of the expected results.

It is planned that the applicants will be informed in writing about the results of the competitive selection process by mid of October. The International Bureau at the DLR will conclude a funding contract under private law with the selected applicants.

d) Content information and counselling

Further information will be provided upon request by:

   Dr. Andreas Suthhof
   Internationales Büro des BMBF beim Deutschen Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
   (DLR)
   E-mail: andreas.suthhof@dlr.de
   Phone: +49 (0)228 3821 414