The programme awards grants to joint research projects with well-defined objectives to be undertaken jointly by two to three research institutions from developing countries. At least one cooperating institution should be located in one of the LDCs. Only joint projects involving institutions with well-established expertise and adequate basic equipment will be considered for those grants. The selection of projects for the grants will be based on scientific merit and on the benefits of the project to the industrial and socio-economic development of the countries concerned.

A Research Grant will amount to a maximum of US$ 30,000 and will be provided for up to 2 years. Requests for an additional grant to allow for an extension of a successful project will be considered.

The Research Grant can be utilized for purchasing scientific apparatus, consumable materials, specialized literature and any other items needed for the joint project by any of the cooperating institutions, especially those from the LDCs. Part of the grant can be allocated for exchange visits of personnel and for organizing small research and training workshops at any of the institutes involved. Local expenses, such as staff salaries and routine expenses, will not be covered by the grant.

The programme will provide support for research projects in both basic and applied fields. These include: Biotechnology New Materials Microelectronics Information Technology Space Technology New and Renewable Energies Soil Erosion and Desertification Floods and Earthquakes Biodiversity Atmospheric Pollution Toxic and Chemical Waste Fresh Water Resources Procedure Joint research proposals submitted to TWNSO by two or three institutions in the South will be sent for peer review to international experts.

A panel of advisors will then meet to examine the peer reviews and decide on the awards. Selection of joint research proposals shall be made on the basis of their innovative value and their potential to stimulate permanent cooperative linkages between the institutions involved. Cooperating institutions must all give their approval to the joint project and must undertake to administer the grant awarded in accordance with the terms of a formal agreement between them and TWNSO.

Upon completion of the joint project any equipment, expendables or literature will remain the property of the institution for which these are purchased. These can then be used by the scientists of the institution in further research carried out locally.

Completed forms should reach the TWNSO Secretariat by 1 December of each year:

Ms. Helen Martin Third World Network of Scientific Organizations (TWNSO) c/o The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Enrico Fermi Building, Room 112 Via Beirut 6 34014 Trieste ITALY Phone: +39 040 2240386 Fax: +39 040 224559 E-Mail: twnso@ictp.trieste.it

For more information, please visit http://phyvirtual.nju.edu.cn/mirror/www.ictp.trieste.it/~twas/TWNSO_RG_form.html