National Science Foundation

International Science and Engineering (ISE)

DeAndra Beck

dbeck@nsf.gov

International Research Collaboration:

Opportunities and Resources at NSF

January 2013

NSF and International Engagement

“The nation's commitment to research will … take on a more globally connected context as the major issues and problems we face know no boundaries.”

Subra SureshDirector NSF

U.S. R&D Spending is ~$500 Billion

• Global R&D increase

projected (government,

industry, academic), up 1.8%

to $1.496 trillion

• Asia is driving growth

• Internationalization of R&D

will continue

• Growing worldwide

emphasis on basic research

(2012)

Dynamic Scientific Landscape

Worldwide R&D Investment Growing

U.S. STEM Graduate Degrees are Flat

North American Student Mobility is Flat

NSF Core Values for International Engagement…

•Intellectual partnerships and mutual benefit are the norm

•U.S. students and junior researchers engaged internationally

•Global networks linking expertise and resources are common

Resources

• Access to unique facilities and equipment

• Share costs and risks

• Exchange techniques and insights

Capacity

• Strengthen / Expand knowledge base

• Attract talent

• Enhance S&T-led economic performance

Objectives

• Address national, transnational or global

problems

• Foster science diplomacy

• Access foreign markets

• Pursue personal / professional goals

Drivers for International Research Collaboration

November, 2012

NSF Programmatic Organization

NSF Office of the Director

• Office of Integrative and International Activities (OIIA)

NSF Directorates

Biological Sciences (BIO)

Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) (OCI)

Education and Human Resources (EHR)

Engineering (ENG)

Geosciences (GEO) (OPP)

Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)

Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE)

Most international research and education activities are funded by NSF disciplinary programs:

• As part of regular awards

• As supplements to regular awards

ENGCISEBIO EHR

GEO SBEMPS

OISEOCI OIAOPP

NSF Funding for International Activities

These recently announced NSF programs include an explicit international dimension…

BIO Metabolomics; Dimensions Of Biodiversity

CISE Collaborative Research in Comp Neuroscience; GENI

GEO Integrated Ocean Drilling Project; Belmont Forum

EHR GRF Nordic Supplement; IGERT Traineeship

ENG Earthquake Research; Synthetic Biology; Nanotech.

MPS ICC; MWN; Astronomical Observatories

SBE S&T Statistics; Science of Science and Innovation Pol.

GEO/OPP Antarctica and Arctic Research and Education

CISE/OCI International Research Network Connections

OIIA INSPIRE

These NSF programs have one or more external partners…

• Basic Research to Enable Agricultural Development (BREAD)

• International Collaboration in Chemistry

• Materials World Network

• Dimensions of Biodiversity

• Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE)

• G8 HORCS/Belmont Forum

NSF programs for an internationally engaged workforce

• (International) Research Experiences for Undergraduates* (IRES)

• Graduate Research Fellowship Program – GRFP/GROW

• Integrative Graduate Education and Research Traineeship (IGERT) Program

• East Asia Pacific Summer Institutes (EAPSI)

• Pan-American Advanced Studies Institutes (PASI)

• (International) Postdoctoral Research Fellowship Program *

*Alignment of ISE programs with NSF-wide programs

Advancing NSF’s International Interests

Supporting NSF

Directorates/

Offices

Leveraging

Resources and

Expertise

Testing New ModelsData

U.S. Government

Agency

Strengthening

Partnerships

With Foreign

Counterparts

Engaging

U.S. Research

Community

Oversight

ISE

Internal External

• Catalyzing New International Collaborations (CNIC)

• Global Venture Fund (GVF) – NSF internal!

• Science Across Virtual Institutes (SAVI)

• Partnerships for Enhanced Engagement in Research (PEER-Science)

More Tools for International Engagement

Supports initial phases of new international collaboration

• Planning visits

• Initial data gathering activities

• Proof-of-concept

• Single or multiple research visits

• Not workshops

• supplements are possible

Maximum 1 year, $10k-$100k max

Expected to lead to a follow-on full Directorate proposal

(Prior to a CNIC submission, PIs must establish communication with the cognizant NSF Directorate PD)

Catalyzing New International Collaborations (CNIC)

Internal OISE co-funding available for NSF awards with an international dimension

• Contact your disciplinary Program Officer about your proposed international activity

• If your Program Director agrees, you proceed…typically by applying for a supplement to an existing award or by incorporating an international dimension into a new proposal

GVF can also co-fund workshops

• Contact the appropriate disciplinary Program Officer for your research area of interest

Global Venture Fund

Global Venture Fund in 2012

$2.5 million Co-funding for Awards Supported by NSF

Directorates

Engineering28%

Geosciences25%Biological

Sciences14%

SBE12%

CISE11%

MPS6%

EHR3%

OCI1%

Distribution of 126 GVF Awards by Region

Europe and Eurasia

37%

East Asia Pacific28%

Africa, Near East, South

Asia21%

Americas12%

Multi Region2%

SAVI catalyzes the development of virtual institutes to facilitate research collaboration; networking; and technical exchanges between U.S. students, post docs, and junior faculty and their international partners.

NSF Overseas Offices

• Paris •

• TokyoBeijing

Europe OfficeEmail: nsfeurope@nsf.govCarmen Huber, Office Head

Tokyo OfficeEmail: nsftokyo@nsf.govEd Murdy, Office Head

Beijing OfficeEmail: nsfbeijing@nsf.govEmily Ashworth, Office Head

For Further Informationhttp://www.nsf.gov/div/index.jsp?org=OISE

dbeck@nsf.gov