Cooperation Between the Technology Administration of the United States Department of Commerce and the Industrial Research and Technology Unit of the Northern Ireland Department of Economic Development; Joint Board on Scientific and Technological Cooperation

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

Technology Administration

[Docket No. 9805-29139-8139-01]

Cooperation Between the Technology Administration of the United

States Department of Commerce and the Industrial Research and

Technology Unit of the Northern Ireland Department of Economic

Development; Joint Board on Scientific and Technological Cooperation

AGENCY: Technology Administration, Department of Commerce.

ACTION: Notice; request for nominations for joint board.

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SUMMARY: The Technology Administration invites nominations of

individuals to appointment to the Joint Board on scientific and

technological cooperation established under a Memorandum of

Understanding on technology cooperation between the Technology

Administration and the Northern Ireland Industrial Research and

Technology Unit. The Technology Administration will consider all

nominations received in response to this notice of appointment to the

Joint Board.

DATES: Please submit nominations on or before January 8, 1999.

ADDRESSES: Please submit nominations to Lucy H. Richards, Office of

Technology Policy, Technology Administration, Department of Commerce,

Room 4411, Washington, D.C. 20230. Nominations may also be submitted by

fax to 202-482-4826.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lucy H. Richards, telephone 202-482-

6804; fax 202-482-4826; e-mail Lucy__R[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Goals of the Memorandum of Understanding

On December 1, 1995, the Technology Administration of the United

States Department of Commerce and the Industrial Research and

Technology Unit of the Northern Ireland Department of Economic

Development (hereinafter known as the ``Participants'') entered into a

Memorandum of Understanding (hereinafter referred to as the ``MOU'')

concerning technology cooperation. A Joint Board on Scientific and

Technological Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as ``the Joint

Board'') was established under the MOU.

The Participants recognize that working together to foster enhanced

cooperation in technology development, encouraging technology diffusion

arrangements, and seeking opportunities for the collaborative and

mutually beneficial use of technology for industrial wealth creation

and increased economic competitiveness will provide substantial

benefits to Northern Ireland and the United States. The goals of the

Participants are to strengthen technological capabilities of the

Participants, to broaden and expand relations between their

technological communities and to promote technological cooperation in

areas of mutual benefit for peaceful purposes.

Cooperative Activities

Cooperative activities under this MOU may include coordinated and

joint research and technology projects, studies, and investigations;

joint technological courses, workshops, conferences, and symposia;

exchanges of science and technology information and documentation in

the context of cooperative activities; exchanges of scientists,

specialists, and researchers; exchanges or sharing of equipment or

materials; and other forms of scientific and technological cooperation

as may be approved by the Joint Board.

Information on the Joint Board

For the purposes of implementing this MOU, the Participants have

established a Joint Board on Scientific and Technological Cooperation,

to consist of six members, three to be designated by and serve at the

pleasure of the Industrial Research and Technology Unit, and three to

be designated by and serve at the pleasure of the Technology

Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. Each Participant may

also designate alternate members.

The members of the Joint Board will be expected to carry out the

following functions:

1. Recommend to the Participants overall policies under the MOU;

2. Identify fields and forms of cooperation in accordance with the

goals and objectives of the MOU;

3. Review, assess, and make specific recommendations concerning

cooperative activities;

4. Prepare periodic reports concerning the activities of the Joint

Board and cooperative activities undertaken under the MOU for

submission to the Secretary of Commerce of the United States and the

Minister of Economic Development of Northern Ireland; and

5. Undertake such further functions as may appropriately be

approved by the Participants.

Meetings of the Joint Board

The Joint Board may meet annually, or at other regular intervals as

deemed appropriate, alternately in the United States and Northern

Ireland, and additionally as may be determined by the Participants.

Length of Service

The Charter of the Joint Board establishes that members of the

Joint Board shall each serve for a three year term, unless removed by

the Secretary of Commerce or his/her designee (for the United States

members) or the Chief Executive of the Industrial Research and

Technology Unit or his/her designee (for the Northern Ireland members).

Upon the completion of a member's term, the Department will either

announce a request for nominations or extend the member's term as long

as the member proves to work effectively on the Joint Board and his/her

expertise is still needed.

Membership Criteria and Requirements

The U.S. members of the Joint Board shall be eminent leaders from

industry, academia, or government who have experience in technology

development, technology diffusion, or international technology

collaboration. They should be familiar with the business climate and

the status of technology and economic development in Northern Ireland,

and with Northern Ireland institutions. They should be U.S. citizens.

Members of the Joint Board shall serve without compensation.

The Department of Commerce is committed to equal opportunity in the

workplace, and seeks a broad-based and diverse Joint Board membership.

Conflict of Interest

Nominees will be evaluated for their ability to contribute to the

goals and objectives of the MOU. Nominees will be vetted in accordance

with processes established by the Department of Commerce in February

1997, as soon as possible following tentative selection. The vetting

has three components: (1) an internal review for possible appearance of

conflict problems; (2) an external review for possible appearance of

problems; and (3) a recusal/ethics agreement review.

Dated: November 4, 1998.

Kelly H. Carnes,

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy.

[FR Doc. 98-30185 Filed 11-10-98; 8:45 am]

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