Memorandum of Understanding of Scientific Cooperation

Introduction

The Australia-Taiwan Business Council (ATBC) regularly holds Bilateral Economic Talks.

Cooperation in science and technology is usually discussed in the meetings. At the Australia-Taiwan Business Council meeting held in Australia in September 2000 the Australian Commerce and Industry Office Taipei (ACIO) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office Australia (TECO) signed three documents:

• Memorandum of Understanding on scientific cooperation
• Memorandum of Understanding on Promotion and Facilitation of Two-Way Investment in Biotechnology
• Joint Statement on Electronic Commerce

At the time of the ATBC meeting in September 2000 the following technology sectors were identified for science and technology collaboration: bio-technology, bio-medicine, information technology, renewable energy.

It is expected that the current level of collaboration will be expended to new areas and activities to mutual benefit of the two countries. The MOU says : "Each cooperating agency may select specific areas of research interest and solicit from its research community research proposals in these areas." Proposals for new research areas will be discussed regularly between the agencies.

Memorandum of Understanding on scientific cooperation between the Australian Commerce and Industry Office and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Australia

Recognizing the importance of international scientific cooperation and the mutual benefit to be derived from bilateral cooperation, the Australian Commerce and Industry Office (ACIO) and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO), Australia, hereafter referred to as "the Parties", have mutually decided to:

• facilitate the exchange of information;
• facilitate the movement of researchers between Canberra and Taipei;
• promote bilateral research collaboration in the fields of science and technology; and
• encourage commercial exploitation of such bilateral research collaboration.

More specifically, the Parties have decided to:

1. Implementation and Coordination

The cooperation agencies for the Parties shall be the National Science Council (NSC) in Taipei and the Department of Industry Science and Resources (ISR) in Canberra.

Each agency will designate one person as a contact point. Officials of the cooperating agencies will contact each other and meet as necessary to discuss matters of mutual interest related to the cooperation outlined in this Memorandum of Understanding, to exchange information on their respective programs, policies, practices, and to share information about requests for support involving bilateral collaboration, as appropriate.

2. Provision of Information

The cooperating agencies will facilitate research exchanges and collaboration in science and technology between each other by:

• publicizing and providing information on mechanisms of support for scientific collaboration;
• publicizing and providing information on research activities, so as to assist researchers in developing joint research projects; and
• advising the research community of its interest in supporting research in specified areas, if appropriate.

3. Support Mechanisms

Each cooperating agency will have in place funding mechanisms with a degree with flexibility sufficient to permit their use for the support of joint research, bilateral visits, and workshops. Applicants and applications will be required to meet selection criteria for the relevant program.

In ISR's case, proposals will be submitted and evaluated through ISR's regular programs and in accordance with the normal program cycle and regulations, keeping in mind ISR's interest in funding cooperative research with partners from Taiwan. Australian researchers will be notified of the opportunity to apply for funding, through ISR's normal information channels (newsletters, other publications, and Internet). Australian researchers will be encouraged to contact interested researchers from Taiwan to establish joint projects and workshops.

In the case of NSC, international collaborations will be supported through funding those Australian researchers and Taiwan researchers conducting joint research projects after undergoing merit evaluation process. Department in the NSC will do the same as ISR to notify Taiwan researchers and encourage them to contact researchers from Australia to establish joint projects and workshops.

4. Selected Areas of Research Interest

Each cooperating agency may select specific areas of research interest and solicit from its research community research proposals in these areas. In such case, the agency concerned will notify the other of its selected areas. Both agencies may also exchange views on their respective selected areas to promote mutual understanding and cooperation in areas of mutual research interest.

5. Protection of Intellectual Property

The Parties recognize the importance of their respective intellectual property rights in the works applied and created in the context of research and technical activities. Intellectual property rights in that context will be allocated on the basis of respective contribution and equitable interests. Similarly rewards for the exploitation of intellectual property rights will be allocated having regard to these principles. Intellectual property is to be defined in terms of Article 2 of the WIPO convention (Stockholm 14 July 1967).

It is recognized that the allocation of intellectual property rights will occur on the basis of a research and technology management plan developed for each project by the project proponents.

6. Other

The information exchange and dissemination activities outlined in this Memorandum of Understanding will complement exchanges of researchers resulting from individual to individual or university to university agreements.

This Memorandum of Understanding shall take effect from the date of signing. It shall remain in force until terminated by either party giving six (6) months notice in writing. It may be amended at any time by mutual written consent of the Parties.

In witness whereof, the undersigned being duly authorized thereto, have signed this Memorandum of Understanding in the English language.

Signed in duplicate in the English language at Sanctuary Cove on this Tenth day of September, Two Thousand.

For the Australian Commerce and Industry Office -- Sam Gerovich, Representative

For the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, Australia -- Timothy C.T. Yang, Representative