[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 218 (Thursday, November 12, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Page 63296]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-30185]
[[Page 63296]]
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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__Richards@ta.doc.gov.
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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