| Description | Memorandum of Understanding
1. Delegations representing the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge (The Royal Society) and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) met in London on 2 November 2004 to discuss scientific cooperation between their two organisations with the view of signing this Memorandum of Understanding in Tokyo on 9 November 2004. The discussions were held in a friendly and cooperative atmosphere.
Purpose
2. The Representatives of the Royal Society and the JSPS recognised the impoetance on enhancing the scientific excellence of their respective countries by stimulating the international exchange of outstanding individuals and by linking international centres of excellenve
History
3. The Royal Society and the JSPS have cooperated since 1971 through a number of agreements listed below;
a) Scientific Exchanges between the United Kingdom and Japan signed in 1971
b) Memorandum of Understanding for Scientific Cooperation between the Royal Society of London and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science signed in 1986
c) Aide Memoire between British Council/Royal Society and Japan Society for the Promotion of Science signed in 1993.
All of the Agreements are being replaced by the current memorandum and its annexes.
Principles
4. The representatives of the Royal Society and the JSPS recognized the mutual benefits to science which may be derived from increased mobility, collaboration and productive exchange between scientists of their respective countries; affirmed the desire to promote and develop scientific interchange and cooperation; and acknowledged the cooperation established between them.
5. The representatives of the Royal Society and the JSPS undertook to remain in close contact and to keep each other informed of scientific developments, areas of scientific excellence and science policy initiatives in their respective countries.
Funding Collaboration
6. The representatives of the Royal Society and the JSPS undertook to facilitate particular programmes of scientific collaboration between scientists of their two countries. These programmes will be detailed in an Annex to this Memorandum to be negotiated at a future date. This Annex will be subject ot regular review.
7. The representatives of the Royal Society and the JSPS decided that while they would cooperate to fund particular programmes of scientific collaboration between scientists of their two countries as detailed in the Annex to be negotiated at a future date, nothing in these funding arrangements would be applicable to administrative or official visits made by representatives either of the Royal Society or of the JSPS to either country.
8. The representatives of the Royal Society and the JSPS decided that nothing in this Memorandum should be construed as restricting either party from providing awards to visiting scientists, including nationals of either side, under other arrangements.
Validity and Termination
9. The representatives of the Royal Society and the JSPS decided that this Memorandum will come into effect from the date below as signed by both parties, and will be reviewed as necessary, continuing to be valid until either side notifies the other of its intention to amend or terminate the Memorandum, in which case any existing commitments will be brought to an orderly conclusion.
Signed in Tokyo by Lord May of Oxford OM AC Kt For the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge and by Professor Motoyuki Ono For the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science |