Coordinated Research Activities
I. General Information
I.1. Statutory provisions
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is authorized under its Statute to encourage and assist research on atomic energy for peaceful uses throughout the world and its development and practical applications. The IAEA's programme and budget for 2009 accordingly provides for the placing of research, technical and doctoral contracts and research agreements with universities, colleges, research centres, and laboratories, and other institutions in Member States on subjects directly related to the IAEA's work.
I.2. Financial support
The IAEA’s financial support of a project is normally in the form of a lump-sum cost-sharing contract. The Contractor is usually expected to bear part of the cost of the project and, in any case, to continue to make normal contributions covering overheads and other expenses and the IAEA contributes an appropriate percentage of the total estimated costs. Owing to the limited resources available, the amounts awarded are rarely large — the present average being approximately €5000 per annum per contract. Larger awards may, however, be considered. In addition to the contract award, Contractors participating in IAEA coordinated research projects (CRPs) are invited to attend periodic research coordination meetings at the IAEA's expense.
Agreements may be awarded to institutes, normally in developed countries, for participation in an IAEA CRP. Under such agreements, no financial award is made to the agreement holder other than the provision to attend research coordination meetings at the IAEA's expense.
I.3. Selection of Institute
The IAEA selects the institutions to which research contracts and agreements will be awarded. When a specific proposal for research is made by an institution in a Member State, the decision to award a research contract or agreement is made after careful consideration of the technical merits of the proposal, the compatibility of the project with the IAEA's own functions and approved programmes, the availability of appropriate facilities and personnel in the institution and previous research work related to the project.
Additionally, where it is recognized that the award of a particular research or technical contract or research agreement would materially assist one of the IAEA's programmes, an invitation is sent to those institutes believed to have the necessary facilities and personnel, and the Government of the Member States concerned is kept informed.
In providing research support from the limited funds available to the programme, priority is normally given to proposals received from institutions in developing Member States and to qualified young and female researchers.
I.4. Formal submission of proposals
Based either on a proposal made by the IAEA, or a proposal developed at a research institute, a formal submission of a project proposal should be made by the institute concerned to the IAEA's Research Contracts Administration Section.
If the proposed project is approved a contract or agreement will be sent to the head of the institution for approval and signature, and the Government of the Member State will be duly notified through the appropriate channels of the conclusion of the contract or agreement. For all research contract proposals, the Proposal for "Research Contract form N-17/Rev.12 (Feb 08)", must be used. Proposals for research agreements should be made on the Proposal for "Research Agreement form N-20/Rev.12 (Feb 08)". These forms may also be obtained by writing to the IAEA at the following address:
For the attention of:
Ms Teresa Benson
Head, Research Contracts Administration Section
International Atomic Energy Agency
Vienna International Centre
Wagramer Strasse 5
P.O. Box 100
1400 Vienna, Austria
