First Call for Proposals of the Bio-Asia Programme
Important dates
Call for proposals publication: 1 July 2007
Deadline for the submission of proposals: 16 October 2007
Evaluation/selection procedure: November/December 2007
Results announcement: January 2008
Context
The development of therapeutic, cosmetic or alimentary use of natural substances is an important issue for life sciences. To support joint research and innovation between France and Asia in this field, the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, together with the Ministry of Higher Education and Research, has decided to implement a specific regional programme to support scientific and technological cooperation. Entitled 'BIO-Asia', this programme was launched in May 2007.
The regional programme BIO-Asia
The regional programme ICT-Asia is an initiative of the French cooperation aiming to create and reinforce collaborations and networks with and in the Asian region involved in research and development in the field of natural substances.
This programme is implemented by the French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (MAEE, General Directorate for cooperation and development DGCID) and the French Ministry of Higher Education and Research (MESR, Directorate for European and international relations DREIC) in liaison with: the scientific services of the Embassies of France in Asia; the French higher education and research organizations relevant to the field; the French Ministries of Health, Youth and Sports, Ecology and Sustainable Planning and Development, Agriculture and Fisheries, and Economy Finance and Employment.
In partnership with France, the programme involves the ten member countries of ASEAN (Burma, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) as well as China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, India and Pakistan.
Objective
This programme seeks to reinforce, on a mutual benefit basis, high level collaborations with Asian scientific communities in the field of natural substances, from the study of biodiversity to the development by sustainable uses of natural substances in health, nutrition, agronomy or cosmetics.
Implementation strategy
The programme aims to:
- promote partnership opportunities with France in the field of natural substance and develop information and exchange mechanisms;
- select and fund integrated basic and applied research projects fostering technological innovation and technological transfer with a regional focus between France and at least two Asian countries involved in the programme;
- foster synergies with other regional and multilateral programmes in the field and in this region (EU/ASEM, ADB, AUF, ...)
Please visit this website for more information and to download application forms http://www.bio-asia-france.org/calls-for-proposals
Or contact Jean-Philippe Thouard at thouard@ait.ac.th for more details.