The Division of Environmental Biology (DEB) is excited to announce a new co-funding opportunity between NSF-BIO and the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF). As per a newly issued Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), U.S. and South African researchers can submit collaborative International Research Coordination Network (IRCN) proposals to DEB and NRF at any time. Proposals submitted to NSF must follow guidelines within the Research Coordination Network (RCN) solicitation (NSF 17-594).

It’s important to remember that IRCNs provide a formal co-funding mechanism where both agencies contribute funds to support the coordination of research activities and not the research itself. For example, travel and lodging for meetings, workshops, and lab exchanges all fall under the umbrella of coordination activities. Investigators should already have other funding sources lined up to support the research itself.

With regards to funding, the DCL states, “NSF/DEB will support the participation of U.S. researchers and will contribute up to $500,000 (USD 100,000 per year) per award, and NRF will support the participation of South African researchers and contribute up to 2,500,000 Rands (R 500,000/year). A maximum of two environmental biology IRCN awards per year is anticipated to be available.”

If you have any additional questions after reading the DCL and the RCN solicitation, please contact Simon Malcomber at smalcomb@nsf.gov.