Announcement June 3, 2021

The U.S. National Science Foundation and the Czech Science Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing an international research collaboration partnership. Under this first formal partnership, the two agencies will collaborate on artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and plasma science. The joint effort will also serve to benefit the international science community and enhance scientific diplomacy, research, security and integrity.

This innovative partnership opens doors for researchers from both countries to collaborate in fields that bring U.S. and Czech expertise together and has the potential to yield advances in innovative and promising research. Potential practical applications from this joint endeavor range from novel materials to space weather prediction. The collaboration will also foster a shared commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within the research enterprise.

"NSF values partnerships with our global counterparts. Together, we can access a broader network of ideas, innovations and experiences to address and solve real-world problems," said Kendra Sharp, head of the Office of International Science and Engineering at NSF. "This agreement with the Czech Science Foundation is based on shared values and goals to advance critical and emerging areas of scientific research."

Under this agreement, both institutions stated their intention to allow U.S. and Czech researchers to submit collaborative proposals that will go through one review process at NSF. Selected teams will then be funded by their respective national agency. Both agencies support significant results in the fields of artificial intelligence, nanotechnology and plasma sciences across disciplines including computer information systems, engineering, mathematics and physical sciences, and social and behavioral sciences.

More information about international science research partnerships can be found at nsf.gov.

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Media Contacts
Media Affairs, NSF, (703) 292-7090, media@nsf.gov