Letter of understanding between The Canada Research Coordinating Committee and UK Research and Innovation of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning Cooperation for Research

From: Canada Research Coordinating Committee

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The Canada Research Coordinating Committee (CRCC), and UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, hereafter referred to as the “Participants”,

Seeking to promote their cooperation in research and innovation,

Building on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Department of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development of Canada and the Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland concerning Science, Technology and Innovation, signed at Ottawa on September 18, 2017,

Have come to the following understanding:

1. Objective

The objective of this Letter of Understanding (LOU) is to facilitate cooperation where sought between the Participants in all recognized branches of research, innovation or training activity they support.

2. Principles Guiding Cooperation in Research

The Participants will follow these principles when cooperating in research:

1. focus on the facilitation of excellent research, innovation and training activities;
2. avoid “double jeopardy” whereby separate peer review processes for joint projects may inhibit joint funding;
3. facilitate a cooperative approach to design and implementation of peer and merit reviews;
4. avoid additional burden on proposers, reviewers, and funders;
5. give equal opportunity to Canadian applicants regardless of official language (English or French); and
6. ensure transparent and equitable proposal and review processes.

3. Cooperative Activities

The Participants will work together to investigate opportunities for cooperative activities such as:

1. development and issuance of specific funding opportunities, where funds are allocated to a defined research or innovation activity and the peer review process is managed by a single lead agency;
2. development and issuance of specific funding opportunities, where funds are allocated to a defined research or innovation activity and the peer review process is managed in a coordinated fashion by participating agencies in order to avoid multiple peer review processes or “double jeopardy” for applicants;
3. reciprocal acceptance of peer review through unsolicited mechanisms that will allow for the support of international collaboration without the administrative burden associated with issuance of specific funding opportunities;
4. joint conferences and workshops;
5. staff exchanges to facilitate shared learning and knowledge exchange;
6. facilitation of links and the development of broader partnerships with agencies and departments in Canada and the United Kingdom; and
7. any other activity they may jointly decide upon.

4. Planning and Review of Activities

1. In support of cooperation in funding research, the Participants will:
   1. designate a principal point of contact for the conduct of cooperative activities;
   2. meet as needed to maintain administrative efficiency and joint consideration of current and proposed activities;
   3. in accordance with standard procedures and regulations governing their respective agencies, inform the research community in their respective country of opportunities for cooperation; and
   4. seek to share information to allow for the review of cooperative activities. 
2. The Participants will share information in accordance with their respective national law.

5. Limitations

1. The Participants will jointly address individual activities they support under this LOU and detail their scope and operating procedures in a separate arrangement and or management plan.
2. The Participants may establish a working group, with balanced representation, to determine the details of specific cooperative activities and confirm the level of support prior to their realization. 
3. The Participants will ensure that they carry out their cooperative activities in accordance with their respective national law.

6. Status

1. This LOU is not legally binding.
2. The Participants understand that this LOU does not preclude the signing of separate instruments between their agencies.

7. Final dispositions

1. This LOU will take effect on the date of its last signature by the Participants and will remain in effect for five years. The Participants may extend this LOU upon their mutual written consent.
2. The Participants may amend this LOU upon their mutual written consent.
3. Either Participant may terminate this LOU by giving a ninety days written notice to the other Participant.

Signed in duplicate at____________________ on the 12th of February, 2019 and at____________________, in the English and French languages, each version being equally valid.