Agreements

Memorandum of Understanding between FAPESP and the Research Council of Norway Versão em português

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN SÃO PAULO RESEARCH FOUNDATION AND THE RESEARCH COUNCIL OF NORWAY

The São Paulo Research Foundation, 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. JOSE GOLDEMBERG, 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 August 22nd, 2015, hereinafter referred to as FAPESP, and the Research Council of Norway, organized under the auspices of the Norwegian Ministry of Education and Research, represented by its Director General Mr. Arvid Hallén, hereinafter referred to as RCN. FAPESP and RCN are collectively referred to as the "Parties" and individually as a "Party":

CONSIDERING the importance of promoting cooperation in scientific and technological research between Norway and the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, wishing to strengthen this cooperation on the basis of equality and mutual benefit;

CONSIDERING the need to strengthen the links between the scientific communities of both countries and also to encourage new forms of collaboration between their research centers;

WISHING to promote initiatives collaboration in scientific research and technological development in priority areas of interest to both Parties, fostering bilateral cooperation;

Agree as follow:

1. Purpose

Through this Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the Parties will implement scientific and technological cooperation between researchers from Norway and from the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, through inter alia the funding of joint research projects.

2. Methods of Collaboration

The Parties will promote such collaboration observing their international obligations and domestic laws and other existing regulations through mechanisms such as:

a) Funding of joint research projects on issues of common concern;

b) Organization of scientific and technological seminars, specialized workshops, symposia and other scientific meetings of mutual interest, to promote interaction between the Parties and research groups relevant to both Parties, with the goal of identifying future areas for cooperation;

c) Activities of scientific exchange that will help prepare the ground for the development of cooperative research projects between teams from the State of São Paulo and from Norway, including but not limited to, scientific exchange visits, workshops and bilateral scientific seminars.

The Parties shall consider proposals that contribute to the basis for a joint research proposal.

3. Areas

Areas of interest will be specified jointly by the Parties, in the calls for research proposals.

4. Implementation

a) In establishing methods of collaboration pursuant to Section 2 above, the Parties will do so in accordance with the scholarly relevance and the national legislation in Brazil and Norway, respectively, and each Party’s budget availability.

b) The Parties will each appoint one contact person who is responsible for the continuation of this MoU and managing the cooperation between the Parties.

c) The Parties may agree to host delegation meetings, workshops, correspondence and other procedures, as applicable.

d) Each Party will receive and review the joint proposals according to its own criteria and rules. After the revision of the joint proposals, the Parties will decide which proposals will be supported.

The Parties may establish joint procedures for the submission and review of the proposals in case of mutual interest.

5. Funding

a) For each of the research projects that are approved, the RCN will assume the funding of research teams from Norway and FAPESP of the research teams from the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil, in all cases according to their national rules and regulations and budget availability.

b) The amount of funding necessary to support Collaborative Research Projects will be defined by the Parties in each Call for Proposals.

6. Intellectual Property

a) The Parties agree that when the actions taken by virtue of this MoU result in products of commercial value and intellectual property rights, they will be regulated by national legislation and international conventions in force. Participants should also observe the Intellectual Property Policy of the Party responsible for the funding of their team.

b) In the case of joint ownership of Intellectual Property, the relevant parties will in good faith endeavor to establish a joint ownership agreement regarding the allocation and terms of exercising that joint ownership, taking into account the relevant contributions of the parties.

7. Term

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.

Either Party may terminate this MoU by a six months’ advance written notice.

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 their validity.

8. Communications

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 – Brasil
e-mail: dc@fapesp.br
Att.: Scientific Director

(b) RCN:
P.O Box 564
N-1327 Lysaker, Norway
e-mail: post@forskningsradet.no
Att. International Director

9. Modifications

This MoU may be amended by mutual consent of the Parties and made official by Addenda.

10. Miscellaneous

a) Each Party covers its own administration costs regarding its contribution to the Call for Proposals, 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 shall maintain the highest ethical and legal standards in funding research under this MoU.

d) The Parties agree that this MoU is produced in good faith, 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 mutual understanding is reached between the Parties, this MoU 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. Neither Party may use any identifying marks of the other without the express written permission of the other Party.

Signed in Sao Paulo, Brazil on ___/___/_____, in two original copies in English and Portuguese, both texts being equally authentic.

FAPESP

José Goldemberg – President

RCN

Arvid Hallén – Director General