About

The scientific co-operation of Republic of Lithuania and the Republic of Latvia with Taiwan, R.O.C. is based on and implemented according to the Guidelines for the Programme on Mutual funds signed in August 2000 by Prof. Cheng-I Weng, Chairman, National Science Council [2014–2022 – Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), now – National Science and Technologie Council (NSTC)] of Taiwan, Mr Kornelijus Platelis, Minister of Education and Science [now Ministry of Education, Science and Sport], Republic of Lithuania and Mr Karlis Greiskalns, Minister of Education and Science, Republic of Latvia.

Programme Goals

The Programme provide primarily scientific co-operation between the three countries. Understanding between the three countries should be promoted and tightened by this programme. The programme goals run as follows:

  • Initiation and promotion of joint research projects with the participation of the scholars of all three countries. Associated with the joint research projects a mobility programme is being integrated. Young researchers shall in particular gain from this mobility programme. They should be able to work within the framework of the joint research project at the institutes of partner countries. Moreover, the joint research projects should provide the opportunity to establish industrial contacts in the three countries.
  • Promotion of joint symposiums. They will serve the exchange of the research situation in certain special areas. Joint symposiums should serve the scientists to find future co-operation partners for joint research projects. Participants from industry are welcome to join joint symposiums. The costs, however, are to be covered by themselves.
  • Support of guest lectures with the aim to give access to mutual understanding of regional science. For example, offering lectures in Riga and Vilnius in culture, economics, politics, social sciences focusing on Taiwan and East Asia. On the other hand, offering lectures in Taiwan in the culture, economics, politics, social sciences focusing on Baltic countries.

Implementation and Co-ordination

  • The proposal of the joint research project should be prepared using the common aplication form “Mutual Funds Taiwan – Latvia – Lithuania Cooperation Project Application” and signed by all the participating institutions. The same project proposal should be submitted in all three Partner Countries: Latvia, Lithuania and Taiwan. In Latvia the project proposal should be submitted to the State Education Development Agency, in Lithuania - to the Research Council of Lithuania, and in Taiwan - to the National Science and Technologie Council (NSTC).
  • The National Contact Points of all three Partner Countries will share information about received project proposals in each  Partner Country.The project proposals submitted in all three Partner Countries will first undergo the eligibility check. The peer review of project proposals will be  performed by scientific experts in each Partner Country.
  • The peer review results will be discussed in annual meeting of the Mutual Funds Steering Committee. The Steering Committee is the administrative body for the cooperation in frame of the Mutual Funds. It consists of nine members, each Participating Country represented by three members. The Steering Committee will make the decision for projects recommended for funding on the basis of peer review results in all Partner Countries, the ranking of joint research projects in each of four research field and taking into account the Call budget.
  • 30th of April 2024 is the deadline for submission of project proposals. In October the committee will hold its annual meeting and take decisions on joint research projects approved for funding. The implementation of the joint research projects will start on January 1st 2025.

Funding

Joint funds will cover the costs for the joint projects that have been approved, cover as well material costs, costs for assistance staff and mobility programmes. Travel and living costs of guest lecturers will also be covered.

The administrative costs as well as the travel and living costs for joint symposiums will also be covered by the funds.

Last updated: 07-03-2024