On Monday (April 22), the National Council of Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq) and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), in partnership with the Indian Ministry of Science and Technology, released two public invitations through the departments of Science and Technology (DST) and Biotechnology (DBT) intended to support scientific and technological development in the two countries.

The content of the public invitations can be found on the CNPq website. Registration periods for those interested in presenting joint projects with Indian researchers end on July 19 and July 22, 2013, according to the content. The maximum period for execution of projects in both public invitations is 36 months.

According to CNPq International Cooperation Science and Technology Analyst, Flávio Velame, the public invitations stand out for the amount of funds allocated to the development of proposals. "This is undoubtedly one of the greatest volumes of funds ever used in joint public invitations" he said.

"The Brazilian and Indian initiative gains importance due to the potential of the scientific communities in the two countries, which strengthens this and other partnerships that may come to be established. This provides an exchange of knowledge at a high level and creates the prospect of receiving proposals of excellent quality," Velame concluded.

The two public invitations enable quotas of scholarships to be granted for the PhD Sandwich Abroad (SWE), Postdoctoral Abroad (PDE), Junior Technological and Innovation Development Abroad (DEJ) and Senior Technological and Innovation Development Abroad (DES) programs, according to the specific rules for each program.

CNPq Public Invitation No. 12/2013 - MCTI-CNPq/DBT (India) Cooperation: This public invitation is aimed at supporting joint projects involving the following topics: Biotechnology and Health (especially biotechnological products), and Agriculture, including Bioenergy.

The total funds allocated for this public invitation amount to R$ 1.4 million, of which R$ 900,000 is to come from the Science without Borders Program (CsF), and R$ 500,000 from Sector Funds, coordinated by MCTI. Each proposal may be awarded funding of up to R$ 400,000 from Brazilian funds.

Public Invitation No. 13/2012 - MCTI-CNPq/DST (India) Cooperation: This public invitation is aimed at supporting joint projects involving the following topics: Information Technology and Computing; Geosciences, (including Oceanography and Climate Change); Engineering, Materials Science and Nanotechnology; Health and Biomedical Sciences; Mathematics, and Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Low Carbon Technologies.

The total funds allocated for this public invitation amount to R$ 6.7 million, of which R$ 4.7 million is to come from the Science without Borders program and R$ 2 million from Sector Funds. Each proposal may be awarded funding of up to R$ 400,000 from Brazilian funds.

Source:

CNPq

27 April 2013