1. Introduction Science is increasingly global. Many research questions and “grand challenges” cannot be resolved without cross-border collaboration between scientists. Vietnam and Flanders wish to invest in joint research projects, creating a leverage for scientific excellence. This intention will be realized through the implementation of a call for proposals, to be launched jointly in Vietnam and Flanders. Each proposal should contain a Vietnamese and a Flemish part. The Vietnamese part will be peer reviewed and funded by NAFOSTED according to its own rules and procedures; the Flemish part will be peer reviewed and funded by FWO according to its rules and procedures. The decision on jointly funded projects will be taken in consultation with NAFOSTED, during the joint scientific committee to be held in Hanoi in the Autumn of 2013. Applicants are expected to propose a coherent research project, in which the added value of both the Vietnamese and the Flemish partner, and the complementariness of both teams, is clearly shown. The research should be carried out both in Vietnam and in Flanders. 2. Aim Proposals for bilateral research projects with researchers from Vietnam are invited in any of the following disciplines: Mathematics, computer sciences and informatics Physics Chemistry Biological sciences Medical sciences Engineering Materials research Agricultural sciences Environmental science, ecology and earth sciences Social and economic sciences The projects have a duration of two years, and are subject to the general regulations on FWO research projects, except for certain specific modalities as determined in the framework agreement with NAFOSTED. No overhead costs may be charged by the host institutions on these projects. 3. Guidelines for applicants 3.1. How to apply In order to be eligible, a proposal must meet the following criteria: it must be submitted by a Flemish and a Vietnamese promoter; in Flanders it can only be submitted according to the regulations of the ResearchFoundation – Flanders (FWO); in Vietnam it can only be submitted according to the regulations of NAFOSTED (link); it must be submitted by the deadline jointly determined by FWO and NAFOSTED; it must be submitted in English, using the appropriate application forms, which are available through the website of FWO for Flanders and through the website of NAFOSTED for Vietnam. Proposals should be submitted to FWO using the online application tool, and to NAFOSTED using the dedicated application forms available on the NAFOSTED website. Proposals should always involve both a Vietnamese and a Flemish Principal Investigator (PI). After the deadline, the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO) and the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development (NAFOSTED) will check whether the proposals have been submitted simultaneously in Flanders and Vietnam. They will inform each other of the results. If a proposal is submitted only in one country and/or received after the deadline, it is ipso factoineligible. The proposal should be clearly integrated and contain one central issue to be investigated, as well as a methodology and an implementation plan; the project description in the proposal submitted by the Vietnamese and the Flemish research team should be identical; the work packages and budget should be specified clearly and separately for the Vietnamese respectively the Flemish part of the project. In the FWO application, the budget of the Vietnamese part of the project should be included as a separate attachment to the online application  form. 3.2. What can be applied for? The Flemish part of the project budget can only be used for one or more of the following cost categories: scientific staff equipment travel costs of Flemish researchers going to Vietnam; to cover accommodation and local travel costs of Vietnamese researchers staying in Flanders; to cover costs of an accident and health insurance for Flemish researchers staying inVietnam; to cover production costs of joint publications; to cover expenses for material and consumables. The Vietnamese budget should primarily be used for one or more of the following cost categories: scientific staff equipment to cover travel costs of Vietnamese researchers going to Flanders; to cover accommodation and local travel costs of Flemish researchers staying in Vietnam; to cover costs of an accident and health insurance for Vietnamese researchers staying in Flanders; to cover production costs of joint publications; to cover expenses for material and consumables. 3.3. Application timeline The call for 2013 will be published in April 2013; the timeline is as follows: April 2, 2013               opening of the call June 14, 2013             deadline for proposals June-Sept. 2013          eligibility check and peer review November 2013           joint scientific committee appointed by NAFOSTED and FWO January 1, 2014          start of the projects 4. Evaluation The applicants shall respect the respective peer evaluation procedure of NAFOSTED and FWO. The evaluation criteria are identical to the criteria used for evaluating FWO research projects: international scientific level of the research groups methodology originality and innovative nature of the project importance of the project purposefulness of the project feasibility of the project collaboration and coordination between research departments necessity for the budgeted resources In addition, great importance is attached to the added value of the international collaboration and the complementarity of the partners involved.

Associate Professor, PhD. Nguyen Hai Ke – Dean of Faculty of History at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi has passed away after more than 10 days of hospitalization, leaving his grieving family, friends, colleagues and students. Faculty of History and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities has lost a wise scientist, a devoted manager; his students have lost a teacher with dignity who can give unique and interesting lectures about the history and culture of Vietnam; his colleagues has lost a condescending and devoted friend; the society has lost a dedicated, enthusiastic and full of love man to the end of this life. Nguyen Hai Ke was born in 1954 in Hai Phong. He has worked at the Faculty of History (VNU) from 1975 to the present. He completed his Ph.D. in 1992,  Doctor of Science in 1996 and was awarded the title of Associate Professor in 2002. Nguyen Hai Ke is Dean of History Faculty (University of Humanities and Social Sciences – VNU) for the mandate from 2009 to 2014. He is the author of many books and famous publications in history science. The fields of research and teaching of PhD. Nguyen Hai Ke is: Red River Delta village and commune (economic, cultural, social structure); Exposure and Cultural Exchange in Vietnam; History of education and training in Vietnam; Against foreign aggression during the cultural history of Vietnam. He is also known to many generations of students of his role as advisor to the television program “Follow the history” of the Vietnam Television and other programs to propagate common knowledge about history. Nguyen Hai Ke is a member of the interdisciplinar Scientific Committee of  NAFOSTED in Culture, Arts, Journalism-Media and Communications from 2010 to the present. During his time being a member, he always proved responsibility and enthusiasm in his consulting works, evaluation and selection of basic research projects of the Foundation.

Within the framework of the Grant Program of Basic Research in Natural Science, the National Foundation for Science and Technology Development announces the funding plan for 2013. 1. Objectives: Build a durable, innovative and conducive environment to natural science research activities at universities and institutes Improve the research capacity of young scientists and establish research centers that meet international standards and develop high-quality human resources in natural science Enhance the quality of scientific research and increase the number of Vietnamese research published in ISI-covered journals. Promote international cooperation and integration in basic research and scientific research in general. 2. Scope of funding: Basic research in Mathematics; Physical sciences and astronomy; Chemistry; Computer sciences; Mechanics; Life sciences; Earth sciences and interdisciplinary sciences. 3. Eligibility of applicants: a, Science and technology organizations doing basic research, Vietnamese citizen scientists doing basic research within the funded scientific fields b, Foreign science and technology organizations, scientists doing collaborative research with Vietnamese organizations and scientists mentioned above Requirements for Principal Investigator and team members: a. Principal Investigator: – has appropriate expertise, is doing research at an organization of science and technology. In the case that the project leader is not affiliated to any organization, he must be sponsored and approved by a reputable organization in appropriate field; – has research capability that meets the demands of the project: he must have Ph.D degree or be associate professor or professor, have appropriate research results published in ISI-covered journals in the period of 5 years prior to the application submission date The publications on ISI-covered journals can be looked up by year, at the time of publication of the work. Reference of publications can be found at: SCI  journals http://science.thomsonreuters.com/cgi-bin/jrnlst/jlsearch.cgi?PC=K list SCIE  journals http://science.thomsonreuters.com/cgi-bin/jrnlst/jlsearch.cgi?PC=D list -must not violate the criteria to register as princiapl investigator: Principal investigator of funded project that is evaluated as not-passed or ceased research contract cannot register to lead a research project in 24 months from the date of result announcement. b. Members of research team: have expertise and ability appropriate to the project content; participating research students must have thesis suitable to the project content 4. Funding Procedure: Receive applications: 5/2013 Review and classify application: 5/2013 Evaluate and select application: 6/2013 – 9/2013 Announce selected proposals: 9/2013 Complete the application and sign contract: 11/2013 Award grant: 12/2013 5. Grant application Online applications (through OMS at http://www.nafosted.gov.vn/oms_ns/account/index.php) consists of: Application form (in Vietnamese and English) Research proposal (in Vietnamese and English) Curriculum vitae of Principal Investigator and team members (in Vietnamese and English) Proof of research results (at least 01 ISI publication of PI within the last 5 years). For the research students participating in the project, the PI must submit the Attestation of the research students. Application on paper: Application form printed from OMS attested by the host/sponsor organization Research proposal (in Vietnamese and English) printed from OMS attested by the host/sponsor organization Curriculum vitae of Principal Investigator and team members (in Vietnamese and English) printed from OMS attested by the host/sponsor organization Proof of research results and the Attestation of the research students (01 copy). 6. Application deadline: from 8h30 on Aprin 8 2013 to 17h00 on May 8 2013 7. Application should be sent to: Administrative Department National Foundation for Science and Technology Development 4th floor, 39 Tran Hung Dao, Hoan Kiem, Hanoi 8. Remarks: Application must be completed in accordance with the provisions of the NAFOSTED  and the forms attached. Incomplete application will not be taken into consideration. Application sent after the deadline will be considered for the next round of selection according to the call for proposals of the Foundation. Online application will be used in the evaluation and selection process. Applications not in OMS will not be accepted. Please read the OMS User Guide at: http://www.nafosted.gov.vn/en/about/ In 2013, it is expected to have foreign experts evaluate the proposals based on the applications in English Scientists currently being PIs of funded projects that ends before January 2014 can apply new proposals to this call. The contract signing with new projects can only be made ​​when previous projects have been finalized and marked as “passed” before January 2014. The valid host/sponsor organization must be a scientific and technological organization with independent legal status, have its own seal and account at the State’s treasury. Vietnamese participant working abroad for over 6 months is credited for maximum 3 working months of that same year.

In order to complete the management and administration system ò the Foundation, recently, the NAFOSTED’s Board of Trustees has appointed the Board of Internal Auditors with following members: – Mrs.Nguyen Thi Mai Phuong, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs, Ministry of Science and Technology – Head of Board – Mr. Nguyen Huu Quan, Chief Inspector 2, Ministry of Science and Technology – Member – Ms. Dao Thi Minh Nguyet – Financial Planning Officer, Ministry of Science and Technology – Member The Board of Internal Auditors operates independently according to the program adopted by the Foundation’s Board of Trustees. It has the responsibility to examine, and report to the Foundation’s Board of Trustees on, the implementation of the Foundation’s Charter and decisions of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees; to consider and submit to competent authorities for settlement complaints of organizations and individuals, which are related to the Foundation’s operation. The Foundation’s Internal Auditors work on a part-time basis for every five-year term.

On December 24 2012, the Chairman of the NAFOSTED’s Board of Trustees has approved the list of basic research projects in the Social Science and Humanities funded by NAFOSTED in 2013, attached to the Decision 44/QD-HDQLQ. List of funded projects in Vietnamese only.