NSF/CISE International Science and Engineering

1. NSF/CISE International Science and Engineering Suzi Iacono, Ph.D., Senior Science Advisor Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE) Cyber Trust PI Meeting Yale University March 17, 2008

2. Outline • Background on NSF • How we derive our authority to collaborate internationally • Opportunities • Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE) programs • CISE  Cyber Trust • Conclusions

5. The President of the United States Office of Science Advisor Other Boards, Management Councils, Etc. Office of and Budget Science & Technology Policy Agriculture Health & Interior State Defense Energy Commerce Human Services National National Environmental Smithsonian Nuclear Other Science Aeronautic Protection Institution Regulatory Agencies Foundation & Space Agency Commission Administration NSF-9

8. NSF Mission To promote the progress of science; To advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; And to secure the national defense.

9. NSF Investment Priorities • Discovery:Foster research that will advance the frontiers of knowledge and establish the US as a global leader in fundamental and transformational science and engineering • Learning: Cultivate a world-class, broadly inclusive science and engineering workforce • Prepare adiverse, globally- engaged STEM workforce • Research Infrastructure: Build the nation’s research capacity through investments in instrumentation, facilities, cyberinfrastructure, and experimental tools • Stewardship: Support excellence in science and engineering research and education through a capable and responsive organization

10. Office of the Director Directorate for Biological Sciences Directorate for Geosciences Directorate for Computer and Information Sciences and Engineering Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences Directorate for Education and Human Resources Directorate for Social, Behavioral And Economic Sciences Directorate for Engineering NSF Organization OPP OISE NSB NB OCI

12. Authorities for International Collaboration • Department of State • 2004 US – EU S&T Agreement allows for • US citizens to participate in EU projects; • allows for joint projects whereby US researchers send proposals to the NSF and European researchers send proposals to the EC; • no particular funds set aside for these activities; • no particular calls; • authorization to encourage, enable joint research; but there is no demand that we do so. • 37 other US- country S&T Agreements • They are similar in that they are for 5 years, but they are not exact replicas. • Funding agency to funding agency on specific topics, e.g., cybersecurity • At different levels (MOUs or lesser agreements) • Head of agency to head of agency • At lower levels, counterpart to counterpart • Shorter duration • Do not need State Dept. authorizing agreements to collaborate, but one is limited without them, e.g., we cannot share reviews with our counterparts.

13. Rules of the Road • First Principle: • Each country pays for its own researchers, students, and tool development. • Except …. • Second Principle: • If there is some special justification or unique capabilities. • If the work is in service to the US. • Usually done through a subaward and with no indirect costs. • Exception: • Direct funds to an international entity must receive Dept. of State approval.

14. NSB Reports on International Science and Engineering • The Science and Engineering Workforce: America’s Potential (NSB 03-69) • Toward a More Effective NSF Role in International Science and Engineering (NSB 00-217) • International science and engineering should be a high priority for NSF, with a much stronger focus and higher level of visibility in the future.

15. My remarks today emphasize a single theme: international cooperation in research and education is not a luxury; it is a necessity—and the foundation for all of our futures. The issue for research funding agencies is no longer whether we should work together, but how we can work together more effectively--smarter, faster, cheaper, and with greater impact on the generation of new knowledge and the development of innovative technologies. • Arden L. Bement, Jr., NSF Director • Seoul, Korea • June 2007

16. Current OISE Areas of Focus • Partnerships of teams of researchers • Global engagement of future scientists and engineers • Planning Grants/Workshops • Increasing engagement with developing countries • A bigger role for SBE in international activities

17. Partnerships for International Research and Education (PIRE) • The program is intended to • Catalyze a cultural change in U.S. institutions by establishing innovative new models for international collaborative research and education; • Facilitate greater variety in student participation and preparation, and contribute to the development of a diverse, globally-engaged science and engineering workforce  • 12 awards in the first competition FY 05 • 19 awards in the second competition FY07 • Currently preparing for the next solicitation • PIRE: Investigation of Meaning Representations in Language Understanding for Machine Translation Systems (0530118) – US, Czech Republic and Germany on computational linguistics • PIRE: Humanoids – Universally Accessible Infrastructures to Advance Capabilities (0730206) – US and Korean universities

18. Planning Visits and Workshops • NSF 03-559 • Planning Visits • To assess foreign facilities, have discussions with prospective foreign partners, finalize plans for cooperative research (7 to 14 days a visit for up to 2 years and up to $20K) • Workshops • Joint workshops designed to identify common research priorities • Up to 2 years and up to $60K

19. Global Engagement of Future Scientists and Engineers • Pan-American Advanced Studies Institutes – short courses for scientists and students from the Americas • East Asia and Pacific Summer Institutes for US Graduate Students – includes Japan, Korea, Taiwan, China, Australia • International Research Fellowship Program – within 3 years of receiving PhD, will support research abroad for 9-24 months • IGERT – allows for supplements for graduate students to conduct research abroad • REU – allows for undergraduates to conduct research abroad, includes overseas REU sites

21. CISE’s Approach • CISE has a leadership role to play in CS&E. • Develop principles and procedures. • Think strategically. • We are open to more international collaboration -- within constraints. • In particular, we encourage more international collaboration where it benefits US science and engineering.

22. Types of Proposals • Workshops, conferences • International travel • SGERs • Supplements to existing awards • New research project: joint proposals, or single proposal with sub-award

23. But if it is a new research project… • And the project PIs are waiting for funding from two or more countries • Matched timing of decisions would be helpful; this is very difficult to achieve. • Double jeopardy is not helpful; frustrating to the PIs. • But unmatched timing and decisions require tricky proposal writing. • Rare solution: Joint solicitations and joint review.

24. The Supplement Solution • Must already have an award. • International supplements are possible. (Consult your PD). • EC-NSF ITR supplement program over 2 years. • 20 supplements – most very successful, learned a lot, but • Many IP issues • Many coordination issues • Many procedural issues • Japan – NSF Cyber Trust supplement program over 3 years. • 8 supplements • Difficulty rousing interest on both sides

25. Cyber Trust Solicitation Language • International Collaborations • Proposals are welcome that request supplemental funding to support collaboration with principal investigators affiliated with foreign research universities or research institutions and funded by foreign government research organizations.  Such proposals should request only funds to support travel of U.S. affiliated personnel to work with their foreign collaborators. 

26. Explanation • Supplements to existing awards to carry out international collaborations are encouraged. • Supplement budgets should be relatively small; one should ask for what one needs to ensure a successful collaboration, however. • If a PI wants to develop a full-scale international project (with joint proposals submitted to relevant international funding sources), please contact the Program Director in advance for guidance.

27. Conclusion • CISE’s role is fundamental in enabling global science,engineering, and education. • Talk to CISE Program Directors!!!! • Talk to the OISE Program Director for the country/region in which you are interested. • Don’t hesitate to ask questions.

28. Thank you Suzi Iacono National Science Foundation siacono@nsf.gov (703) 292-8900 visit the CISE web site at http://www.nsf.gov/cise