[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__R[email protected].

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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