EC/Argentina agreement: scientific and technological cooperation agreement

PURPOSE: the conclusion of an agreement for scientific and technological co-operation between the EC and Argentina. CONTENT: the draft Agreement, to be concluded for tacitly renewable five-year periods, was negotiated against the background of an upgraded and intensifying cooperation between Argentina and the EU, considering the importance of science and technology for economic and social development and the mutual wish to extend and strengthen the conduct of cooperative activities in areas of common interest. It is based on the principles of mutual benefit, reciprocal opportunities for access to each other's programmes and activities relevant to the purpose of the Agreement, non-discrimination, and the effective protection of intellectual property and equitable sharing of intellectual property rights. Cooperation whall be conducted subject ot applicable laws and regulations in force on each side. The draft agreement provides for: - the participation of persons and legal entities, including the Parties themselves, universities, research institutes, and other bodies or undertakings, in each other's research projects; - pooling of RTD projects already implemented according to the procedures applicable in the RTD programmes of each Party; - exchange and sharing of equipment and materials; - exchange and provision of information and data; - visits and exchanges of scientists, engineers or other appropriate personnel for the purposes of participating in meetings, seminars, symposia, workshops and other research activities relevant to cooperation under this Agreement; - exchange of information on practices, laws, regulations and programmes relevant to cooperation under the Agreement; - such other activities as may be mutually determined by the Steering Committee in accordance with the applicable policies and programmes of the Parties; - the endorsement by the Parties of technology Management Plans as a condition for research projects to proceed, as described in the Annex to the Agreement; - co-operation activities to be subject to the availability of funds and to applicable laws and regulations, policies and programmes of Argentina and the Community; no transfer of funds will take place. The Annex covers intellectual property rights: their application, ownership, allocation and exercise of rights, copyright works and scientific literary works, inventions, discoveries and other scientific and technological achievements, etc. The Steering Committee will facilitate the efficient and effective operation of the Agreement.�