MOST: ISRAEL-JAPAN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COOPERATION in Stem Cells and Brain Research

http://www.most.gov.il/יחידות/קשרי+מדע+בינלאומיים/אסיה/Japan/CFP+Japan2009/default.htm

MINISTRY OF SCIENCE                                   JAPAN SCIENCE AND

AND TECHNOLOGY                                         TECHNOLOGY AGENCY

STATE OF ISRAEL                                            (JST) JAPAN                                                                                                                                                                                        

ISRAEL-JAPAN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH COOPERATION

First Call for Project Proposals

2009-2011

A. AREAS OF COOPERATION

Within the framework of the Israeli-Japanese MOU on scientific cooperation, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the State of Israel (hereinunder referred to as "MOST") and Japan Science and Technology Agency, Japan (hereinunder referred to as "JST") provide financial support for joint research activities carried out by Israeli and Japanese researchers. Israeli-Japanese research teams are hereby invited to submit joint proposals on the topics detailed below.

1. Stem Cells

2. Brain Research

B. MODE OF COOPERATION

Cooperation may take the form of:

• joint research activities where interdependent subprojects of a single project are conducted in the Israeli and the Japanese laboratories;
• complementary methodological approaches to a common problem;
• joint use of research facilities, materials, equipment and/or services by cooperating scientists;
• joint planning of research and evaluation of results.

C. LEVEL OF FUNDING AND PROJECT DURATION

The framework of funding is  450,000 USD for the Israeli side and 45,000,000 JPY for the Japanese side, for the period of three years. The allocation for each project will be up to 150,000 USD on the Israeli side and up to 15,000,000 JPY on the Japanese side for three years.

Support will be given to around 3 joint projects. Projects should be planned on a three year basis. Contracts will be signed accordingly.

The financial implementation of the approved projects depends on the approval of the 2009 state's budgets in both countries.

D. Eligibility and application

1.  Proposals must involve a Principal Investigator from each country.  Proposals should be built on and reinforce on-going research activities in each research group.

2. The Principal Investigator on each side must be affiliated to an academic institution or research institute (hereinunder referred to as "an Institution".) Researchers from industry may take part in the program: In Israel - as partners in teams headed by Principal Investigators from an Institution; In Japan - they may act as Principal Investigators.

3. The Principal Investigator and the affiliated Institutions are expected to take responsibility for the execution of the research work throughout the duration of the project.

4.  It is strongly recommended that the Israeli and Japanese research teams and their institutions enter into agreements regarding intellectual property rights prior to the start of collaboration activities.

5. Israeli Principal Investigators should submit proposals in English and Hebrew using the attached Applications Forms "E-H" in 10 copies by post to the following postal address of MOST as well as electronically to the following Email: Japan@most.gov.il (in "pdf" or "doc" format).

Avi ANATI

Deputy Director General for Planning & Control

Ministry of Science and Technology

P.O. Box 49100

Jerusalem 91490

Tel: 02-5411170/3

Fax: 02-5823030

E-mail: avi@most.gov.il

6. Japanese Principal Investigators should electronically submit proposals in English and Japanese using the attached Application Forms "E-J" and "E-H" by means of "e-Rad" system to Japan Science and Technology Agency in Japan by 17:00 (Japanese Standard Time) on the due date mentioned below (03/08/2009).

All applications, including all relevant materials and attachments, must be received not later than 03/08/2009 until 12:00 AM

E. FUNDED EXPENSES

Funding provided within this call is intended to enhance the capacity of the applicants to collaborate. Funding will therefore be provided mainly in support of the collaboration vectors and of the local research that is necessary for the collaboration.

For Israeli researchers, funding can be provided by MOST for:

• (1) Stipend or salary for a PhD student, stipend or salary for a post-doctoral fellow, salary for a technician and a laboratory worker (on temporary position up to 3 years);
• (2) Consumables;
• (3) Small equipment;
• (4) Travel and visiting costs;
• (5) Joint seminars and workshops; and
• (6) Overhead expenses up to 15% of the total amount inclusive of the fund.

For Japanese researchers, funding can be provided by JST for:

     (1) Stipend for a PHD student, stipend or salary for a post-doctoral fellow (i.e. a temporary position

           for up to 3 years);

     (2) Consumables;

     (3) Small equipment (maybe requested only for the first fiscal year);

     (4) Travel and visiting costs;

     (5) Joint seminars and workshops; and

     (6) Overhead expenses up to 10% of the total amount inclusive of the fund.

     The budget for a project may differ in each year, for example 4 million yen for the first year, 6 million

      for the second and 5 million for the final.

All budget items must conform to the national rules relevant for each applicant.

F. MUTUAL VISITS

Participating researchers are encouraged to spend an extended period of time visiting their counterparts' Institutions. So long as the visits are an integral part of research collaboration, international travel and in-country living expenses of visiting researchers will be borne by MOST for Israeli researcher and by JST for Japanese researchers. International travel costs and in-country living expenses should be included in the budget of the visiting side. The visits must take place in Israel or Japan only.   In exceptional cases, the Principal Investigators should consult the relevant Party (MOST for Israeli and JST for Japanese Principal Investigators) and get their approval in advance.

G. PROPOSAL REVIEW

After the evaluation of proposals are conducted in each country separately, a joint Israeli-Japanese Scientific Committee, composed of scientists from each country will discuss the proposals and formulate recommendations. The necessary procedures will be held and contracts will be signed by MOST in Israel and by JST in Japan.

Evaluation will be based on:

1. Conformity with the definition of program research topics presented above;
2. Capability of Principal Investigators (one for each country). The Principal Investigator should have the insight, appropriate expertise, the ability to manage the collaboration and reach the project goals during the period of support.
3. Significance (quantitative whenever relevant) of the problem being addressed, and the potential impact of the proposed approach on solving it. (Proposals should address these issues explicitly and provide as much evidence as possible.)
4. Scientific merit, with emphasis upon the originality and novelty of the proposed research;
5. Clarity and quality of the research proposal itself - presentation of the topic, definition of research objectives, presentation of research methodology and detailed program of work;
6. Feasibility of the research project;
7. Practical applicability of expected research findings;
8. On-going research activity: The proposed collaboration should build on, reinforce and add significant value to on-going research activities in each research group.
9. Extent of genuine collaboration between the Israeli and Japanese research teams.
10. Nurturing of researchers able to play a central role in future research exchanges with the counterpart 

country.

H. CONTRACTS, PAYMENTS AND REPORTS

1.  The expected starting date for approved projects is1/12/2009.

2.  Contracts

Upon approval of a particular project, separate contracts will be signed in Israel and Japan respectively, between MOST and institution of Israeli Principal Investigator and between JST and institution of Japanese Principal Investigator. The contracts in Israel will include provisions regarding intellectual property rights, as agreed upon by the Israeli and Japanese research teams and their institutions. An application for the continuation of research funding for the second year must be submitted to the responsible Party (MOST for Israeli and JST for Japanese researchers) on the appropriate forms at least two months prior in Israel and one month prior in Japan to the end of the first year of the project.  In Israel, it should be submitted together with the annual scientific report. The same procedure will be held for the third year.

3.  While projects are, in principle, to be authorized for a period of three years, the research contract relates to the first year only. In Israel; the research contract is signed for three years, but is renewed each year on the basis of the application for renewal (see 2. above). MOST and JST reserve the right not to fund a second or third year of work for scientific-professional, administrative or budgetary reasons.

4.  Payments

Payments will be made in keeping with the provisions of the contracts mentioned above, according to the practices and regulations in effect in each country.

5.  Reports

a) Financial Reports

Financial reports will be submitted according to the practice of each country, as specified in the research contract.

b) Scientific Reports

In Israel: A scientific report must be submitted to MOST two months prior to the end of the first - and second - year of the research contract, together with the application for continuation of research funding (see Paragraph 2. above).

In Japan: A scientific report must be submitted to JST one month after the end of the fiscal year.

A final report covering the work carried out during the entire three-year project period must be submitted to MOST in the English language within two months and to JST in the Japanese language within one month after the conclusion of the project. The Principal Investigators will submit a joint summary of the final report to MOST and JST, in English, within two months after the conclusion of the project. Additional interim progress reports may be required, according to the practices and regulations of each country, as specified in the research contracts.

6.  Intellectual Property Rights (For Japanese Researchers Only)

As for the contract between the Japanese institution and JST, it stipulates that Article 19 of the Industrial Technology Enhancement ACT (Japanese version of the Bayh-Dole Act) and the Article 25 of the ACT on Protection of the Creation, Protection and Exploitation of Content (tentative translation) will be applied to all intellectual property rights generated as a result of this project, and that these can be the properties of the institution with which the Principal Investigator is affiliated.

I. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND REQUIREMENTS FOR JAPANESE RESEARCHERS

Please see the annex sheets for such requirements.

J. INFORMATION

Additional information can be obtained from the following:

ISRAEL:

On administrative matters:

Mr. Avi Anati

Deputy Director General for Planning & Control

Tel: 02-5411170/3

Fax: 02-5823030

E-mail: avi@most.gov.il

Mrs. Yehudith Nathan

International Relations

Tel: 02-5411145

Fax: 02- 5825725

E-mail: Yehudith@most.gov.il

Ministry of Science and Technology

P.O. Box 49100

Jerusalem 91490                                                               

On scientific matters:

Dr. Shlomo Sarig

Director, Bio-Medical Research

Tel:02-5411128

Fax: 02-5322124

Dr. Mahmoud Taya

Director, Biotechnological Research

Tel: 02-5411126

Fax: 02-5322124

JAPAN:

Ms. Saori Tsuchiya, Mr. Masahiro Yamamura

Department of International Affairs

Tel: 03-5214-7375

Fax: 03-5214-7379

E-mail: sicpis@jst.go.jp

תאריך פרסום קול קורא - 3.6.2009
(annex)

Additional Requirements for Japanese Researchers

I-1. Submitting a Report on the Implementation Status of Systems Specified in the Guidelines for Managing and Auditing Public Research Funds at Research Institutes

The contract for a project requires that each research institute submit a report based on the reporting guidelines concerning the status of development, implementation, and other aspects of management and audit systems for research funds. (Research projects without a status report may not be approved.)

For the aforementioned reason, a status report must be submitted from research institutes to Office of Research Funding Administration, Research and Coordination Division, Science and Technology Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) by the expected contractual date, following the procedures and using the format available in the website below:

URL: http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/02_b/08191222/001.htm

Concerning details as submission deadline, submission manners and so on, Research Institutes Inspection Division, Department of General Affairs of JST will send a letter to successful applicants after his/her proposal is approved.  JST shall proceed to a contract only when it confirms that such a report has been submitted.

However, if a status report has already been submitted in conjunction with applications for other projects or with other instances in or after April 2009, there is no need to submit a new report. In this case, a letter (in any format) indicating the date of the prior submission of the status report must be enclosed with the application.

If the project continues during and after fiscal year 2011, our plan is to request the submission of another report in the fall of 2010. Therefore, research institutes should heed announcements from MEXT and JST.

After the submission of a report, as the need arises, MEXT (as well as other fund distributing agencies) may request on-site investigations regarding the status of the development of management and audit systems. In addition, with regard to reported contents, research funds may not be delivered if it is judged that problems such as improper or insufficient compliance to the required items specified by the Notification of the Director-General of the Science and Technology Policy Bureau of May 31, 2007 are not resolved.

I-2. Treatment of Information on Accepted Projects

The information regarding the individual accepted projects (program name, research title, name of representative researcher, budget size, and duration of the project) is treated as "information that is scheduled to be made public" defined by Article 5(1)(a) of the Law Concerning Access to Information held by Incorporated Administrative Agencies, etc (Law No. 140 of 2001). The information will be made public via the website of appropriate agencies after project acceptance.

I-3. Information Sharing from"e-Rad" to the Government Research and Development Database*

Various types of information may be provided to the database created by the Cabinet Office through "e-Rad" managed by MEXT.

* In order to appropriately evaluate research and development supported by public funds and to effectively and efficiently plan policies for general strategies and resource allocation, the Council for Science and Technology Policy of the Cabinet Office has constructed a unified, comprehensive database containing various categories of information that provides search and analysis capabilities for necessary information.

I-4. Unreasonable Overlaps and Excessive Concentration

In order to eliminate unreasonable overlaps and excessive concentration of public funds, information regarding part of the content of the application (or accepted projects) may, to a necessary extent, be provided to offices in charge of managing competitive funds, including those of other Offices and Ministries, through "e-Rad" and other means. (In addition, when information on applications overlapping in other competitive funding programs is requested, relevant information may similarly be made available.)

II. Additional Instructions for Japanese Applicants

II-1. Regulations Associated with National Security Export Control

Not only the export of research equipment, but also technical data and assistance may be subject to export regulations. All Japanese researchers must comply with all relevant laws and institutions of Japan and other involved nations as well as international rules.

Reference:

Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry website

http://www.meti.go.jp/policy/anpo/index.html

In recent years, there have been numerous suggestions and media reports that Japan's crucial advanced technology information has inadvertently been leaked to foreign entities, which has affected Japan's industrial competitiveness and other national issues. Also, from the perspective of national security export control, those who possess sensitive technology critical to national security must act cautiously because a careless leak of technology involving the development, production, or use of weapons of mass destruction, once in the hands of terrorists, can have a serious impact on the maintenance of peace and safety of Japan and the international community. [Source: "The Guidance for the Control of Sensitive Technologies (January 2008)" available in Japanese at the above website.]

With regard to bringing back information, documents, or samples from foreign countries, you must follow their laws. If you plan to use biological/genetic resources of foreign countries for your research, you must sufficiently know in advance about their ratification and compliance status regarding relevant treaties such as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, the Convention on Biological Diversity and so on.

Refer to the following websites for detailed information on the access to biological/genetic resources and the Convention on Biological Diversity.

References:

Japan Bioindustry Association website

http://www.mabs.jp/index.html

Convention on Biological Diversity website

http://www.cbd.int

II-2. Ensuring Bioethics and Safety

When a researcher conducts life science research, he/she must observe laws, ordinances, and guidelines issued by each Ministry to ensure bioethics and safety. If organizations with which the researchers are affiliated require approvals, reports, or confirmations associated with his/her research, he/she must follow the procedures specified by the organizations.

The following are main laws and regulations issued by various Ministries. Please note that some research topics may be subject to other laws and regulations.

(1) Act on the Regulation of Human Cloning Techniques (Act No. 146 of 2000)

(2) Guidelines for the Handling of Specific Embryos (Public Notice of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, No. 173 of 2001)

(3) Guidelines for the Derivation and Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells (Public Notice of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, No. 87 of 2007)

(4) Ethics Guidelines for Research on the Human Genome and Gene Analysis (Public Notice of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, and Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry, No. 1 of 2004)

(5) Ordinance for Implementation Standards for Clinical Tests of Drugs (Ordinance of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, No. 28 of 1997)

(6) On the Approach of Research and Development Using Human Tissues Obtained from Surgery (Report of the Health Science Council, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, 1998)

(7) Ethics Guidelines for Epidemiological Research (Public Notice of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, No. 1 of 2007)

(8) Guidelines for Gene Therapy Clinical Research (Public Notice of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, No. 2 of 2004)

(9) Ethics Guidelines for Clinical Research (Public Notice of the Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, No. 415 of 2008, Revised on July 31, 2008, Effective on April 1, 2009)

(10) Act on the Conservation of Biological Diversity through Regulations on the Use of Living Modified Organisms (Act No. 97 of 2003)

In addition, the following website offers detailed information on how the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) ensures bioethics and safety.

Reference:

"Efforts for Promoting Bioethics and Safety" at the MEXT website

http://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shinkou/seimei/main.htm

II-3. Handling of Samples and Specimens

If a research plan involves the acquisition of samples or specimens in foreign countries, a researcher must make appropriate preparations regarding the handling of biological resources before application.

II-4. Protection of Interests and Human Rights

If a research plan requires agreements or cooperation from parties involved or social consensus, a researcher must make appropriate preparations regarding the protection of interests and human rights before application.

II-5. Social and Ethical Considerations

A research plan or its implementation deemed unacceptable from a social and ethical standpoint will not be considered during the selection process. Also, any violation of the above mentioned guidelines or any inappropriate conduct may result in the cancellation of the selection or the termination of the research project, full or partial return of awarded funds, and a public announcement of the misconduct.

II-6. Responsibility for the Safety of Researchers

JST will not assume any responsibility for injuries or illnesses that occur during the period of this research exchange program.

II-7. Ban on the Military Application of Research Results

The military application of research results from this exchange program is strictly prohibited.