International Collaboration: Benefits, Challenges, and Best Practices

International International Collaboration:Collaboration:

Benefits, Challenges, and Benefits, Challenges, and Best PracticesBest Practices

Metropolitan St. Louis Grants Metropolitan St. Louis Grants ConferenceConference

January 10, 2007January 10, 2007

Kevin D. WolfKevin D. WolfDevelopment Officer, Government & Development Officer, Government &

Foundations Grants, Webster UniversityFoundations Grants, Webster University

OverviewOverview

• Benefits of International CollaborationBenefits of International Collaboration

• Challenges of International Challenges of International CollaborationCollaboration

• Best Practices and OrganizationBest Practices and Organization

• Collaborative Proposal-writing TipsCollaborative Proposal-writing Tips

• Funding Agencies and ResourcesFunding Agencies and Resources

• Finding and Approaching PartnersFinding and Approaching Partners

22

Benefits of International Benefits of International CollaborationCollaboration

• Collaborators provide new perspectives Collaborators provide new perspectives and expertiseand expertise

• Many benefits are not monetaryMany benefits are not monetary

– Exposure to international communityExposure to international community

– Joint publicationsJoint publications

– Exchange of information/dataExchange of information/data

– Exposure to new insightsExposure to new insights

– Access to new facilitiesAccess to new facilities

– New research methodsNew research methods

– Educational effect on junior Educational effect on junior researchers and studentsresearchers and students

33

Benefits of International Benefits of International Collaboration (cont.)Collaboration (cont.)

• Some funding agencies have tax Some funding agencies have tax exempt status with foreign exempt status with foreign governmentsgovernments

– Allows the full grant amount to be Allows the full grant amount to be used abroadused abroad

• Research dollars can be stretched Research dollars can be stretched abroadabroad

– Lowers the cost of performing Lowers the cost of performing important project tasksimportant project tasks

• Complementary expertiseComplementary expertise

– Draws on the resources of manyDraws on the resources of many44

Benefits of International Benefits of International Collaboration (cont.)Collaboration (cont.)

• Achieves several objectives beyond Achieves several objectives beyond project goalsproject goals

– Institutional AdvancementInstitutional Advancement

– PoliticalPolitical

– Economic & DevelopmentalEconomic & Developmental• Initial partnerships may lead to Initial partnerships may lead to

opportunities for future fundingopportunities for future funding

– Demonstrated record of successDemonstrated record of success

– Institutional partnershipsInstitutional partnerships

55

Challenges of International Challenges of International CollaborationCollaboration

• Project management practicesProject management practices

– How do the teams’ practices differ?How do the teams’ practices differ?

• Export control issuesExport control issues

– When in doubt, always check with When in doubt, always check with the U.S. Department of Commercethe U.S. Department of Commerce

• National security concernsNational security concerns

– U.S. and foreign governmentU.S. and foreign government

• Taxes and customs regulationsTaxes and customs regulations

66

Challenges of International Challenges of International Collaboration (cont.)Collaboration (cont.)

• Funding agreement with agencyFunding agreement with agency

– What are the indirect cost rates provided What are the indirect cost rates provided by funding agencies to each team?by funding agencies to each team?

– What is the mechanism of funds What is the mechanism of funds disbursement to each team?disbursement to each team?

• Is your institution required to disburse Is your institution required to disburse funds to your partner?funds to your partner?

• Reporting requirementsReporting requirements

• Proposal developmentProposal development

– Requires at least 50% more lead time with Requires at least 50% more lead time with a collaboratora collaborator

• Institutional approvals and requirementsInstitutional approvals and requirements77

Challenges of International Challenges of International Collaboration (cont.)Collaboration (cont.)

• Award negotiations with funding Award negotiations with funding agencyagency

– What proportion of funding is going What proportion of funding is going to each team?to each team?

• Travel and accessibility restrictionsTravel and accessibility restrictions

– Post-Sept. 11, 2001 Visa challengesPost-Sept. 11, 2001 Visa challenges

• Restrictions on including collaborators Restrictions on including collaborators

• Hierarchy of collaborating institutionHierarchy of collaborating institution

• Resources and infrastructure available Resources and infrastructure available to partnersto partners

88

International Collaboration International Collaboration Best PracticesBest Practices

• Must be intent and sincere on playing a Must be intent and sincere on playing a proportionately appropriate role in the proportionately appropriate role in the projectproject

• Establish a written list of expectations Establish a written list of expectations and deliverablesand deliverables

– Especially as they pertain to potential Especially as they pertain to potential challengeschallenges

• Find out if the funder has special Find out if the funder has special consideration for under-served groupsconsideration for under-served groups

– Female investigatorsFemale investigators

– Young investigatorsYoung investigators

99

International Collaboration International Collaboration Best Practices (cont.)Best Practices (cont.)

• Anticipate reviewers’ objections and Anticipate reviewers’ objections and answer them upfrontanswer them upfront

• Outline important proposal elements:Outline important proposal elements:

– Team member rolesTeam member roles

– Schedule of expected resultsSchedule of expected results

– Budget requirementsBudget requirements

– Cost-sharingCost-sharing• Address the obstacles you expect to Address the obstacles you expect to

face and how you plan to overcome face and how you plan to overcome themthem

– Discuss alternate plans of actionDiscuss alternate plans of action1010

International Collaboration International Collaboration Best Practices (cont.)Best Practices (cont.)

• Understand that funding renewal Understand that funding renewal requests are subject to a review of requests are subject to a review of previous collaborative performancesprevious collaborative performances

• Address how the funding agency’s Address how the funding agency’s mission and interests will be mission and interests will be advanced in supporting collaboratorsadvanced in supporting collaborators

– PhilosophicalPhilosophical

– EconomicalEconomical

– PoliticalPolitical

1111

International Collaborative International Collaborative Proposal-writing TipsProposal-writing Tips

• Proposals should address all of the Proposals should address all of the “best practices” elements above:“best practices” elements above:

– Explain why collaborating teams Explain why collaborating teams are right for each otherare right for each other

– Illustrate how collaborator’s Illustrate how collaborator’s participation helps meet funder’s participation helps meet funder’s mission and interestmission and interest

– Demonstrate record of success Demonstrate record of success each team has established; history each team has established; history of collaborationof collaboration

– Discuss contingency plansDiscuss contingency plans 1212

International Collaborative International Collaborative Proposal-writing Tips (cont.)Proposal-writing Tips (cont.)

• Indicate mutually beneficial outcomes Indicate mutually beneficial outcomes for collaboratorsfor collaborators– Including institutional linkagesIncluding institutional linkages

• Focus on the complementary nature of Focus on the complementary nature of the teamsthe teams

• Include only the number of team Include only the number of team members needed to complete the workmembers needed to complete the work

– Reviewers can determine if Reviewers can determine if personnel requirements are truly personnel requirements are truly metmet

1313

International Collaborative International Collaborative Proposal-writing Tips (cont.)Proposal-writing Tips (cont.)

• Define clearly the roles, Define clearly the roles, responsibilities, and expectations responsibilities, and expectations of each team memberof each team member

– Budget accordinglyBudget accordingly• Discuss cost-sharing and pooling of Discuss cost-sharing and pooling of

resourcesresources• Conduct internal proposal review Conduct internal proposal review

before final submissionbefore final submission– Standardize the language used in Standardize the language used in

the proposalthe proposal1414

International Funding International Funding Opportunities & ResourcesOpportunities & Resources

• Government agenciesGovernment agencies– U.S. Department of State (DOS)U.S. Department of State (DOS)– U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)– U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)– U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)– National Science Foundation (NSF)National Science Foundation (NSF)– National Institutes of Health (NIH)National Institutes of Health (NIH)– National Institute of Standards and Technology National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST)(NIST)– Defense Advanced Research Project Agency Defense Advanced Research Project Agency

(DARPA)(DARPA)– Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA)– Homeland Security Advanced Research Project Homeland Security Advanced Research Project

Agency (HSARPA)Agency (HSARPA)– National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH)National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) 1515

International Funding International Funding Opportunities & ResourcesOpportunities & Resources

• Private Foundations and InstitutionsPrivate Foundations and Institutions– Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationBill & Melinda Gates Foundation– The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur The John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur

FoundationFoundation– Carnegie Corporation of New YorkCarnegie Corporation of New York– Open Society Institute and Soros Foundation Open Society Institute and Soros Foundation

NetworkNetwork– Howard Hughes Medical InstituteHoward Hughes Medical Institute– U.S. Civilian Research & Development U.S. Civilian Research & Development

FoundationFoundation

• Professional Associations and ConsortiaProfessional Associations and Consortia– American Geophysical Union (AGU)American Geophysical Union (AGU)– American Physical Society (APS)American Physical Society (APS)– National AcademiesNational Academies

• International AgenciesInternational Agencies– NATO (http://www.nato.int/science)NATO (http://www.nato.int/science)– INTAS (http://www.intas.be/mainfs.htm)INTAS (http://www.intas.be/mainfs.htm)

1616

Finding International Finding International CollaboratorsCollaborators

• Many Internet-based ResourcesMany Internet-based Resources– Major US and International Grants-Major US and International Grants-

listing Databaseslisting Databases– For-profit and Industry RegistriesFor-profit and Industry Registries– University and Laboratory WebsitesUniversity and Laboratory Websites– Scientific/Professional AssociationsScientific/Professional Associations– INTAS Partner Search BoardINTAS Partner Search Board– Consult Like-minded InstitutionsConsult Like-minded Institutions

1717

Successfully Approaching Successfully Approaching International International Collaborators Collaborators

• Provide concrete information about Provide concrete information about grant opportunitiesgrant opportunities

• List potential successful outcomes List potential successful outcomes of proposed projectsof proposed projects

• Indicate complementary expertise Indicate complementary expertise you may offer your partneryou may offer your partner

• Mention personal contacts and Mention personal contacts and referencesreferences

1818

SummarySummary• CollaboratorsCollaborators

– Understand the benefitsUnderstand the benefits– Consider the challengesConsider the challenges– Share experience and contactsShare experience and contacts– Know where to lookKnow where to look– Know how to approachKnow how to approach

• Opportunities and Funding AgenciesOpportunities and Funding Agencies– Diversify and continue to seekDiversify and continue to seek– Contact a program officer to discuss Contact a program officer to discuss

your eligibilityyour eligibility– Refine application processRefine application process– Write for successWrite for success– Plan for next stepsPlan for next steps

1919

Collaboration - A Key to Collaboration - A Key to OpportunityOpportunity

• Funding organizations and Funding organizations and programs are built on collaboration programs are built on collaboration and meeting the needs of and meeting the needs of numerous stake holdersnumerous stake holders

• Initial partnerships lead to Initial partnerships lead to opportunities for future fundingopportunities for future funding

• Begin Today - Make a contact at the Begin Today - Make a contact at the conference and share experiences!conference and share experiences!

2020

Contact InformationContact Information

Kevin D. WolfKevin D. WolfDevelopment Officer, Government & Foundation Development Officer, Government & Foundation

Grants Grants

Office of Development and Alumni ProgramsOffice of Development and Alumni Programs

Webster UniversityWebster University

470 E. Lockwood Ave.470 E. Lockwood Ave.

St. Louis, MO 63119St. Louis, MO 63119

Direct Telephone: 314-968-5987Direct Telephone: 314-968-5987

General Telephone: 314-968-7148General Telephone: 314-968-7148

Fax: 314-968-7108Fax: 314-968-7108

E-mail: E-mail: [email protected]@webster.edu2121