National Council for Scientific Research - CNRS

1. National Council for Scientific Research - CNRS Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP): New Programs New Prospects Mouïn Hamzé Secretary General - CNRS AUB Beirut, 03 May, 2006

2. CNRS: Integrated programs The New Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP) officially launched by the CNRS on April 27, 2006 recommends the creation and/or empowerment of the following programs: • Grant Research Program (GRP) (empowered) • Internal and External Scholarships Program (empowered) • Associated Research Units (new) • Science and Technology Cultural Program (new) • Publications (Lebanese Science Journal & Bulletin) (empowered) • Bilateral and European Cooperation Programs to Support Research and Development (empowered)

3. Grant Research Program, GRP The CNRS manages, finances and sponsors research projects carried by active research teams throughout Lebanon Most research projects financed by the CNRS are implemented in universities

4. % Projects Accepted in 2005

5. GRP Distribution of Funds by Discipline(2000-2005)

6. Distribution of Funds by Discipline 2005

7. GRP Distribution of Funds by Institution (2000-2005)

8. Distribution of Funds by Institution 2005

9. GRP Outputs (2002-2005)

10. Fellowships by country (1999-2005)

11. Scholarships for the Co-advisory Ph. D. program (1999-2005) • 25 PhD Students • CNRS centers & French universities

12. CNRS Research Centers Operational Budget 2002-2004* * In 2005, the integrated budget of the four research centers represented 41% of the total budget of the CNRS

13. CNRS – 2005 Budget In 2005, Government financing represented 60% of the CNRS budget. The remaining funds accrued from remunerated services, activities and bilateral & multilateral programs

14. CNRS Strategic objectives Research, Capacity Building & Development • Guide all national public research and act as an: • Operator & Resource Agency • Fill the role of a«Labels Agency » • Implement Interdisciplinary Programs • Reinforce partnership and cooperation with universities and enterprises • Create poles of excellence and encourage the emergence of new research teams • Achieve a sustainable policy of Human Resources.

15. Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (STIP)

16. STIP • In 2000, the CNRS launched an initiative to establish a plan for a new Science, Technology and Innovation Policy. • The CNRS received financial support from UNESCO, ALECSO and a scientific contribution from ESCWA. • A comprehensive participatory approach was adopted in elaborating this policy. • The objective of the plan is the reinforcement of knowledge and innovation production and the development of a national culture for innovative research.

17. STIP Launching Ceremony

18. STIP Launching Ceremony • A launching Ceremony took place on Thursday April 27, 2006 at the Grand Serail, under the auspices of Prime Minister Fuad Siniora, UNESCO Director-General, Mr. Koïchiro Matsuura and in the presence of ministers, high ranking officials and scientific and academic personalities • Prime Minister Siniora reiterated the commitment of the Government to the implementation of STIP.

19. Concepts Adopted in the Implementation of STIP • Insist on the production of local knowledge and innovation • Link research results to educational curricula, and the productive and service sectors • Develop a spirit of commitment to applied scientific research and innovation answering the needs of the society in universities and professional training institutions • Outline practical mechanisms for the transfer of locally generated as well as imported knowledge to the productive, service and public sectors • Adopt a series of financial and intellectual incentives aiming at encouraging researchers and innovators to answer societal needs.

20. Call for partnership • Everyone is a partner in building the economy and supporting development projects: globalization is indeed a reality that we have to face. • Science, technology and innovation are basics and not luxury • Creation of local knowledge and its dissemination in educational curricula and the society and identification of a new science and innovation culture in Lebanon • Reviewing the concept of higher education and training • Commitment to applied research • Linking educational curricula with locally generated research • Linking education with economic and societal priorities

21. Research priorities versus societal challenges (1) • Sustainable management of coastal areas and marine resources. • Integrated management of energy, water and other natural resources and of biodiversity, using technological innovations. • Research and development towards the exploitation of new agricultural opportunities with clear economic benefits, including animal stocks, health and nutrition. • Research in biotechnologies: quality and specifications of Lebanese ethnic diet and of locally produced food. • Research on nutritional systems and their impact on public health in Lebanon.

22. Research priorities versus societal challenges (2) • Information & communication technology as tools and products, and its diffusion in the business and industry sectors; including web technology and Arabization of Software. • Research to enhance the competitive advantages of Lebanese products (reduce cost, use of suitable new technologies, increased use of local input, smart materials and technologies). • Research on access of Lebanese products to new markets and on the provision of suitable information on these markets. • Economic and social research, including science ethics, addressing Lebanese human resources and societal development. • Mathematical modeling, including financial and economic applications.

23. Research priorities versus societal challenges (3) • Research on archaeological technologies and cultural heritage and their impact on the development of tourism and cultural awareness in Lebanon. • Research in basic and experimental sciences with promising societal benefits and applications. • Research in molecular and cellular biology and related genomic applications • Research on chronic diseases prevalent in Lebanon and the region, and development of suitable treatments. • Research on new genetic diseases and epidemics in Lebanon and the region. • Research on the forecasting of natural disasters in Lebanon and the region, and mitigation approaches of economic, social and environmental impacts.

24. Grant Research Program (GRP) 2006 Pre-qualification Criteria

25. Qualification of projects • Research and innovation-related projects characterized by originality and authenticity and especially those relating to practical applications for sustainable development are eligible for funding. • Projects based on well-defined and clearly focused research objectives leading to concrete results in terms of applicable knowledge that will either improve upon or develop new products.

26. Pre-qualification, Why? • The purpose of pre-qualification is to assist researchers in the preparation of the final project documents in conformity with the CNRS priorities and the GRP mechanism • Researchers should abide by the instructions provided by the CNRS. This will facilitate acceptance of the project for financing when submitted in its final form.

27. Pre-qualification Mechanism (1) • The CNRS accepts pre-qualification documents between the beginning of March and the end of April 2006 (85 applications have been submitted). • TheCNRS does not guarantee consideration of documents after this date for its 2006 program. • The pre-qualification document (Researcher’s publications, projects of the researcher already financed by the CNRS, projects financed in similar topics,…) is handed over for preliminary appraisal of the project • As soon as a sufficient number of applications are received, a specialized committee convenes to examine them and give its observations (for acceptance or referral to arbitration or modification…).

28. Pre-qualification Mechanism (2) • The researcher is then given a period of two months to modify the project according to the observations of the specialized committee, and return the project documents together with the endorsement of the institution which he/she belongs to. • The specialized committee reexamines the project to check whether the researcher made the necessary modifications according to its instructions, and forwards it to the Board of Directors of the CNRS with a recommendation for support.

29. Pre-qualification Application Electronic form: • The pre-qualification application can be obtained online from the CNRS website: http://www.cnrs.edu.lb. • The application is a ready to use Microsoft Excel document. It is available in Arabic and English • The application can be filled and sent back to the following email address: grp@cnrs.edu.lb pre-qualification_En.xls

30. Pre-qualification Application The application consists: • Personal data: name(s), specialization, telephone no., institution… (half a page for the principal & fellow investigators). • Scientific data: description of the different phases of the project, related previously implemented research, budget and support received from other sources.

31. GRP General principles • Which projects? • Projects with an applied nature: applied sciences, environmental sciences, economics, etc… • Basic and experimental sciences, Social and Behavioral sciences • To whom? • Principal researchers contracted by a university: YES • Part-time lecturers: NO • Ph. D. Students: NO • Physicians working in a medical school: YES • Contracted researchers: YES • CNRS projects are given priority in funding: • In case projects are presented by a research team(the CNRS encourages formation of teams composed of researchers working in similar fields)

32. Funding limits: In order to encourage the creation of interdisciplinary research teams along CNRS research priorities, the CNRS could double this amount for a given project.

33. To whom is the CNRS financial contribution disbursed? • The CNRS financial contribution is paid directly to the concerned university or institution. • Items falling under administrative and/or overhead expenses cannot be included in the budget. • Project supported by other funding sources • If the project is already supported by other funding sources, the researcher has to justify his additional need for GRP support • Projects supported by the Lebanese-Syrian Scientific Research Cooperation Program are not entitled to GRP funding • Projects supported by the CNRS Lebanon-CNRS France cooperation program are entitled to GRP funding

34. Some Selection Criteria Project proposals will be assessed according to the following criteria: • Relevance to the priority areas defined by the CNRS • Cooperative research • Scientific and technological excellence • Potential impact • Mobilisation of resources (sustainability)

35. Disbursement Modalities • One-year projects: 2 disbursements • 75% of the total allocated amount is paid upon signature of the contract • The remaining 25% are disbursed following acceptance of the final scientific report and approval of the financial report. • Two-year projects: 3 disbursements • 75% of Year I budget is paid upon signature of the contract • 25% of the remaining amount Year I budget and 50% of funding of the Year II budget is paid upon acceptance of the annual report including expenditures. • The 3rd disbursement amounting to 50% of Year II budget is paid upon acceptance of the final scientific report and approval of the financial report.

36. Project Renewal 9. Project funding can be renewed for a 2nd year if the report submitted by the researcher shows encouraging and promising results. Funding renewal is automatic in case the researcher reached the results anticipated in the project proposal and/or published an article in a peer-reviewed journal. 10. If the researcher did not reach the anticipated results or did not publish an article in a peer-reviewed journal, by the end of the contract: • The CNRS refrains from disbursing the second amount for one-year contracts or the third disbursement for 2-year contracts • The CNRS will no longer support projects presented by the principal researcher • The CNRS may review this position if the principal researcher later publishes a peer-reviewed article.

37. 11. The researcher loses his right for renewal in case he fails to submit an annual report within two months from the end of the contractual period. Likewise, no new project can be considered for funding in case the researcher fails to administratively and/or scientifically conclude a former project. 12. The researcher must either submit a final report or an article published in a peer-reviewed journal together with an explanatory note about application possibilities of the research project’s findings. 13. In case the researcher is not able to conclude the project within the period originally assigned to him, an extension equal to half the period already elapsed is granted provided his justifications are accepted.

38. New Forms of Assistance • Equipment acquisition: • The CNRS can consider contribution for the acquisition of equipment together with the implementing institution or university • Contribution for participation in a conference: • The researcher can solicit a lump sum to participate in an international conference in order to present the results of his research financed by the CNRS according to the following scale: • 600 000 LBP for a conference held in Syria • 1 000 000 LBP Jordan, Egypt, Turkey or Cyprus • 1 500 000 LBP Gulf States, Maghreb Region • 2 000 000 LBP Europe or USA

39. GRP 2006 Main Orientation • Conformity of research projects with STIP priorities will determine a crucial condition for funding. • Co-funding by a productive or service sector: the objective is to boost partnership between scientific research teams and these sectors and to ensure that research results are indeed used for applications in these sectors. • Projects with an element of innovation, even though not in line with STIP priorities, will be considered for limited funding by the CNRS.

40. CNRS ASSOCIATED RESEARCH UNITS

41. Objectives • The objective of the CNRS Associated Research Units (ARU) program is to enhance collaboration between the CNRS and competent research teams working in scientific institutions and universities by means of a well defined cooperation mechanism. These associated research units will be co-financed by the CNRS and candidate institutions.

42. ARU: Requirements & Specifications • Organization and structure: • The ARU is composed of at least three principal researchers/investigators working on a coherent theme • The ARU should also include: • Associate researchers • Assistant researchers • Master students • Ph. D. students • Post doctoral fellows • Technicians

43. Scientific Requirements • Conformity of the science research theme of the ARU with the CNRS priority areas. • Scientific achievements of the researchers: • Peer-reviewed publications • Principal researchers should have a track record of projects financed by the CNRS • Ability and readiness to accept Master and Ph.D. students as well as Post-doctoral researchers • Availability of basic equipment at the hosting institution. • Availability of qualified technicians. • The ARU should be capable to carry out expertise and training activities.

44. Administrative requirements: • Acceptance by the hosting institutions of the CNRS conditions including an outspoken announcement of association with the CNRS. • The Research Associated Unit can not be considered as a moral persona or a legal entity.

45. CNRS Input The CNRS will: • Finance partial or total cost of the equipment (in case of completely new scientific areas). In the case of total financing, the equipment remains the propriety of the CNRS. • Subsidize the regular maintenance cost of the main equipment. • Contribute to premiums for insurance against work accidents and occupational diseases of the ARU staff. • Disburse a lump sum as salary compensation for a part-time or full-time researcher or a post-doctoral fellow for a limited period. • Subsidize running costs.

46. ARU benefits from the following advantages: • The CNRS considers the ARU as a suitable institution for CNRS fellows, to carry out their Ph.D. research. • The CNRS considers that the ARU has a priority right in using the scientific capabilities of the CNRS centers or in benefiting from national or international projects implemented by the CNRS.

47. Application documents (1) • Designation of the Research Unit (subtitle hosting laboratory or institution) • Director of the Research Unit (the Director of the Research unit is appointed following the consent of the CNRS) • Objectives of the ARU and reason for association with the CNRS • Brief description of the Unit’s establishment comprising: • Starting date and estimated duration (maximum 3 years for well established scientific units and 4 years for completely new areas of research) • Research topic and objectives • Staff: Principal researchers, assistant researchers • Number of Master, Ph. D. students and Post-Doc. fellows • Scientific achievements • Available equipment • Additional equipment required

48. Application documents (2) • List of projects previously implemented by the researchers and subsidized by the CNRS. • List of articles published in peer-reviewed journals during the past three years. • Grants, contracts and funding received by the principal researchers during the past three years (Agreements with third parties). • Detailed description of the research program • First year’s annual budget and expected other financing sources (a special attention will be given to those units capable of attracting external funding).

49. Proposal Assessment Broadly speaking, proposals will be assessed according to the following criteria: • Relevance to the objectives of co-operative research • Distinctive past and prospective scientific achievements having a positive impact on development programs and the economy as a whole. • Scientific and technological excellence • Socio-economic potential impact • Quality of the management • Mobilisation of resources

50. Practical Steps • Application files containing all requested documents are submitted between the beginning of March and the end of May 2006. • Applications are evaluated by specialized committees. • The CNRS prepares an association agreement with the concerned institution for the program’s duration with a possibility for renewal. • The CNRS undertakes an annual evaluation of the ARU’s performance and the degree of its commitment to the already approved program.