EC/Jordan agreement: scientific and technological cooperation

This document sets out the contents of the Agreement between the European Community and Jordan on cooperation in science and technology. The draft agreement was initialled on 28 January 2009. 

Scope and principles: the agreements aims to encourage develop and facilitate cooperative activities between the Community and Jordan in fields of common interest where they are pursuing research and development activities in science and technology. The Agreement provides that cooperative activities shall be conducted on the basis of certain principles, including mutual benefit based on an overall balance of advantages, and reciprocal access to the activities of research programmes and projects undertaken by each Party. It also provides timely exchange of information which may facilitate cooperative activities, and appropriate exchange and protection of intellectual property rights.

Means of cooperation : the Agreement makes the following provisions:

• legal entities shall participate in cooperative activities; 
• cooperation may also take other form and means, such as regular discussions on the orientations and priorities for research policies and planning in Jordan and the Community; discussions on cooperation, developments and prospects; timely provision of information; joint meetings; visits and exchanges of research workers, engineers and technicians;  exchanges and sharing of equipment, materials and testing services; participation of experts in seminars, symposia and workshops; research and technological development training; reciprocal access to scientific and technological information within the scope of the cooperation.

The Annex sets out the terms and conditions for the participation of legal entities established in Jordan in indirect actions of the 7th Framework programme.

Intellectual property rights: scientific and technological information of a non-proprietary nature resulting from direct cooperative activities may be made available to the public by either Party through customary channels and in accordance with the normal procedures of the participating agencies. Intellectual property rights and undisclosed information resulting from, introduced in the course of, or obtained through the cooperative activities under this Agreement shall be treated in accordance with the provisions of Annex II of the Agreement.

Funding: the Community may grant funding to legal entities established in Jordan participating in indirect actions under the terms and conditions laid down by the Seventh Framework Programme. The Agreement provides that when one Party provides financial support to Participants of the other Party in connection with indirect cooperative activities, any grants and financial or other contributions from the funding Party to Participants of the other Party in support of those activities shall be granted tax and customs exemption.

Use of the results: the Agreement provides that the dissemination and the use of the achieved and/or exchanged results as well as those of information, management, attribution and exercise of intellectual property rights resulting from the research activities undertaken under this Agreement are subject to the conditions provided for in Annex II.

Management: the coordination and facilitation of activities will be performed on behalf of Jordan, by the Higher Council for Science and Technology and, on behalf of the Community, by the European Commission, acting as executive agents of the Parties. 

Annexes: the Agreement includes two Annexes:

• Annex I deals with the terms and conditions for the participation of legal entities established in Member States of the European Union and in Jordan;
• Annex II deals with principles on the allocation of intellectual property rights.