SERC-NSF MATERIALS WORLD NETWORK (MWN) PROGRAMME

SERC – NSF MWN CALL FOR PROPOSALS 2009

Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC)

Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

1 Fusionopolis Way

#18-10 Connexis

Singapore 138632

Tel: (65) 6826-6403/6826-6135

Fax: (65) 6779-8061

SERC-NSF Materials World Network (MWN) Programme

The Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC) and the US National Science Foundation (NSF) are cooperating in a materials research programme Materials World Network (MWN).

  1. Synopsis

“Continued progress in fundamental materials and condensed matter research is increasingly dependent upon collaborative efforts among different disciplines, as well as closer coordination among funding agencies and effective partnerships involving universities, industry, and national laboratories. In addition, because of the growing interdependence of the world's economies, partnerships are important not only at the national level but from an international point of view as well." (NSF09600)

Details of the MWN programme can be found in the following link:

  1. Eligibility

This solicitation calls for proposals in the research areas of condensed matter physics, solid state and materials chemistry, polymers, biomaterials, metallic materials and nanostructures, ceramics, electronic and photonic materials, and condensed matter and materials theory.

Of special interest to this solicitation are proposals including activities that build upon and expand current cyber infrastructure capabilities, such as remote use of instrumentation, database creation and use, visualization and virtual experimentation, virtual networking, etc, to enhance and advance the international collaboration.

All Singapore researchers must have a lead US collaborator who is required toconcurrently submit the joint proposal to NSF’s MWN programme.Please note that if the US collaborators’ proposals are not accepted by NSF, the Singapore researchers’ proposals wouldnot be accepted by SERC, and the Singapore researcher would be informed of the non-acceptance.

  1. Review and Funding

Proposals will be jointly reviewed by SERC and NSF. If a proposal is selected for funding by both SERC and NSF, SERC will fund the Singapore effort while NSF will fund the US effort.

  1. Proposal Preparation

The proposal should contain the following:

-The overall detailed joint project description that will be submitted to NSF

-Details on the involvement and contribution of the Singapore investigators

-Details on the interaction among investigators of both countries

-Details for the funding required for the Singapore effort.

Singapore researchers are to use the following forms for the preparation of the proposals.

(i)SERC-NSF MWN Proposal /
(ii)Budget Proposal /
(iii)Capability Indicators /
  1. Submission Instructions

All Singapore researchersare to submit their proposals to SERC while their US counterparts are to submit theirs accordingly to the NSF.

All three forms in Section 4 must be completed and sent to SERC by the deadline. Incomplete forms or proposals which are not made using the prescribed templates will not be considered.

  1. Deadlines

Softcopy submissions via email are due on 28 Oct 2009 by 5 pm. Please send the softcopy proposal and forms to Ms Chia Siao-Wei [Email:

All hardcopy submissions to SERC are due on 11Nov 2009by 5 pm. Theymust be submitted through their respective Office of Research/RI ED’s Office/Equivalent. SERC will not accept proposals from individuals without the appropriate endorsement from his/her employing organisations. This is to ensure that organisational support is clearly associated with the proposed research plan. Please send the hardcopy proposals and forms to the following address:

Science and Engineering Research Council (SERC)

Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)

1 Fusionopolis Way

#18-01 Connexis North

Singapore 138632

  1. Outcome

The funding outcome of the SERC-NSF-MWN programme is expected to be known by July 2010.

  1. Terms and Conditions

This programme is subjected to the SERC’s Public Sector Funding (PSF) terms and conditions.

  1. Further Information

For more information on the SERC-NSF-MWN programme, please contact Ms. Chia Siao-Wei[Email: .