CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR BILATERAL S&T COOPERATION

BETWEEN

THE HELLENIC REPUBLIC AND THE REPUBLIC OF ALBANIA

The General Secretariat for Research and Technology of Greece (GRST) and the Ministry of Education and Science of Albania (MESA) are inviting members of the scientific communities from both countries to submit common proposals in the framework of the Bilateral S&T Cooperation Programme (BSTCP) between the two countries for the years 2000-2001.

Participation

Participation is open to any legal person in the two countries: Academia, Research Centres or Institutes, Universities, Public and Private Companies.

Actions

The actions to be financed in the framework of BSTCP are:

1. Joint Research Projects (JRP) in priority areas. These may include Mobility Grants aiming at permitting individual young researchers from both countries to stay for a short period of time, up to three months, at institutes, laboratories and enterprises of the other country, for training or participating in the research activities.

2. Technical Assistance Projects (TAP), aiming at providing assistance by exchanging equipment and visits of specialists, scientific material, documentation, publications and various S&T information, and demonstration of new technologies.

3. Networking Projects (NP), aiming at the establishment of scientific and technological networks between the institutions and companies of both countries, through contacts between scientists and engineers, facilitating the exchange of scientific and technical information, supporting the organization and/or participation at conferences, workshops and training seminars of mutual interest and joint publications of the research results and/or presentation of them at international conferences in the two countries.

Priority Action Areas of Cooperation

1. Agriculture and Food

2. Biology – Biotechnology

3. Cultural Heritage

4. Earth Sciences

5. Energy

6. Environment

7. Health Sciences

8. Industrial Technologies

9. Information Networks and Telecommunications

10. Materials Science & Technology

11. Transport

Submission of proposals

The Joint Committee of BSTCP invites interested persons and organizations to submit proposals related to the actions and priority areas set out above.

Proposals for participation in joint projects should include at least one partner from each country. Proposals for networking projects including at least two partners from each country would be favored.

Proposals should be presented using the appropriate form distributed by the relevant Division of Bilateral Cooperation of GSRT and the Division of Scientific and Technological Development Programs of MESA. The proposals by Greek participants should be submitted in 3 copies (one in English and two in Greek), together with the CV-s of the participating scientists, attached to each copy in the respective language. The proposals by the Albanian participants should be submitted in 3 copies (two in English and one in Albanian), together with the CV-s of the participating scientists, attached to each copy in the respective language. The English copies presented by both parts should be identical. The proposed research projects have to be well documented and with clear aims and objectives, having a duration, which must not exceed two years. The projects will start after the signing of the Protocol of S&T Cooperation.

The Greek applicants should submit their proposals to the following Greek Institution:

Ministry of Development

General Secretariat for Research and Technology

International S&T Cooperation Directorate

Bilateral Cooperation Division

14-18 Messogion Ave., 115 10 Athens, Greece

The Albanian applicants should submit their proposals to the following Albanian Institution:

Ministry of Education and Science

Directorate of Scientific Research

S&TD Programs Division

Rr. e Durrësit, No. 23, Tirana, Albania

Only proposals submitted jointly will be eligible for funding.

Closing date of call: 20 December 1999.

Activities to be funded and Allowable costs

Funding will be focused mainly on selected activities of the projects such as: short term visits dedicated to research and training, joint workshops, joint publishing of results and presentation of them at international conferences at the two countries. The contribution of the Programme to the selected activities will cover the corresponding travel and subsistence, publication costs, consumables and small equipment.

The per diem allowance provided to the Greek and Albanian scientists will be equivalent in both countries.

The total financial support provided by the GSRT to the Greek partners will not exceed the amount of 3,5 million Drs per project. The total financial support provided by the MESA to the Albanian partners will not exceed the amount of 1 million Lekë per project. More specifically:

The GSRT could finance:

· Travel costs for the Greek scientists visiting Albania.

· Daily subsistence allowance for Albanian scientists visiting Greece.

· Salaries (up to 1 million Drs in total ) to Greek young researchers involved in the bilateral project or visit costs (up to 1 million Drs in total ) for a 1 to 3 months stay of Albanian young researchers who are going to work in a Greek institution for the needs of the project, for a limited number of projects (the best ones for the Greek side).

· Additional costs (consumable, publication costs, small equipment).

The GSRT will also provide higher financial support (up to 7 million Drs) to exceptional projects submitted by consortia including a Greek private or public enterprise. Allowable costs may include equipment items, consumable, travel expenses as well as the salary of one young scientist who is going to work in the enterprise in the framework of the bilateral project.

In the case the proposal is selected for funding, the enterprise will have to cover by its own funds an amount equal to the financial contribution of the GSRT.

The MESA could finance:

· Travel costs for the Albanian scientists visiting Greece.

· Daily subsistence allowance for Greek scientists visiting Albania.

· Additional costs (consumable, publication costs, small equipment).

Commercial companies have to cover by their own funds an amount equal to at least the financial contribution requested from MESA.

Further information and working packages are distributed by:

in Greece:

Ministry of Development

General Secretariat for Research and Technology

International S&T Cooperation Directorate

Bilateral Cooperation Division

14-18 Messogion Ave., 115 10 Athens, Greece

Phone: 7752222 and 6911122 #340; Fax: 7714153) (c/o: ).

All the documents are retrievable through the Internet, with the help of the web server of the GSRT, at the following address: www.gsrt.gr

in Albania:

Ministry of Education and Science

Directorate of Scientific Research

S&TD Programs Division

Rr. e Durrësit, No. 23, Tirana, Albania

Phone: +355 42 26955; Fax: +355 42 40435 (c/o: Mr.