The Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR) and the Austrian Science Fund (ASF) announce a continuous competition (without limitation of the time periods to submit applications, for the duration of the Joint Memorandum) for projects to organize bilateral scientific seminars held in Russia or in Austria (the ANF_g and ANF_z competition) in the following areas of knowledge:

(01) mathematics, mechanics, informatics;

(02) physics and astronomy;

(03) chemistry and studies of materials;

(04) biology and medical science;

(05) Earth sciences;

(07) information and telecommunication systems;

(08) fundamentals of engineering sciences.

In order to organize a seminar Russian and Austrian scientists participating in a project submitted to the ANF_g and ANF_z competitions will have to agree in advance on the subject-matter of their applications. Seminar names should be the same both for Russian and Austrian applications. Russian scientists are invited to submit their applications to RFBR (using the Grant-Express system and as printed-out copies) while Austrian scientists should simultaneously submit their applications to the ASF. The total number of participants in a seminar must not exceed 20 people, out of which at least half must represent the receiving party.

All applications accepted to participate in the competition will undergo an independent parallel merit review: applications by Austrian scientists will be reviewed by ASF; applications by Russian scientists, by RFBR. Applications will be merit-reviewed by each side independently in accordance with its applicable rules.

The results of the competition will be announced twice a year -- at the end of June and at the end of November. Projects supported in June of the current year will be funded in the current year. Projects supported in June of the current year will be funded in the current year. Russian scientists should submit applications to the ANF_g competition in good time as it takes 4-5 months for applications to be reviewed by the ASF.

The list of projects supported by both sides will be published on the RFBR website.

Funding of projects shall be effectuated on the following principle: the receiving partner will pay all expenses associated with the holding of a seminar, the sending partners will pay all associated travel expenses.

Reviewed will be only those applications that are drawn up using our interactive Grant-Express system (via the Internet) (see RFBR website, Grant-Express System). After a registration number is received, the project leader should print out and submit to RFBR 1 (one) printed-out copy of the application.

If a bilateral seminar is held in Russia, the Russian co-organizer of the seminar should submit an application using the Grant-Express system; and such application should be prepared in accordance with rules and regulations applicable to the main paragraph g competition of RFBR which are effective during the year when the application is submitted (competition type: ANF_g);

A required condition is that there should be attached a file containing a seminar application form filled out in the English language.

An application form and also the instructions on how to fill it out are posted on the Russian webpage of the RFBR website, in a set of information documentation in Microsoft Word format.

In addition to expenses provided for by the paragraph g competition titled Organization of Russian and International Scientific Events within the Territory of Russia, the Russian co-manager of the seminar will have to pay for the accommodation and board of the Austrian participants of the seminar.

Reports on projects under the ANF_g competition should be submitted in accordance with rules for submitting reports under the main paragraph g competition of RFBR (see the RFBR website for rules to submit reports for the relevant year of report submission).

If a bilateral seminar is held in Austria, the Russian co-organizer of the seminar should submit an application using the Grant-Express system; and such application should be prepared in accordance with rules and regulations applicable to the main paragraph z competition of RFBR which are effective during the year when the application is submitted (competition type: ANF_z);

In order to be able to receive RFBR funding, the Russian co-organizer of a seminar held within the territory of Austria and selected upon completion of the competition must -- within two months from the publication of a list of winning projects -- ensure that the other Russian participants of the seminar submit their individual applications using the Grant-Express system, and such applications should be drawn up in accordance with the rules and requirements applicable to the main paragraph z competition of RFBR that are effective during the year of the application (the ANF_z competition types).

Reports on projects under the ANF_z competition should be submitted in accordance with rules for submitting reports under the main paragraph- z competition of RFBR (see the RFBR website for rules to submit reports for the relevant year of report submission).

The full text of the announcement is posted on the Russian webpage of RFBR.