Does USRF wish to have applicants identify proposed university partners or to recommend a mechanism for selection of university partners under the grant?
USRF will evaluate applicant’s approach to selecting university partners and its assessment of what constitutes a successful partnership.
Who will ultimately decide which Russian/U.S. universities to participate? USRF or the NCO grantee?
The final decision rests with USRF
How does USRF define "sustainable" as stated in the RFP?
USRF is looking to NCO partner to suggest ways of measuring the sustainability of partnerships
Does USRF wish for the applicant to fully develop and recommend a design and implementation plan for the pilot project?
USRF is looking to the applicant for a successful design and implementation plan.
What is intended role of US universities in this program?
The role of the US university is to provide experience and expertise for Russian research universities in setting up tech transfer institutional capacity, like offices and centers of innovation and entrepreneurship. Long-term relationships would be determined at a later stage, together with the NCO partner.
Does USRF see as such a technology licensing office’s main objective? Is it economic development/achieving broader social goals, or strict profitability?
USRF is looking to applicants to provide their vision of how elements of tech transfer infrastructure can be successfully developed in Russian research universities.
How active does USRF intend to be in the resulting program? (i.e., does USRF envision having membership on the program governing body or other formal roles?).
USRF Board, program director and staff will be closely monitoring this project.
The RFP does not state grant size. Can USRF indicate a rough, ballpark estimate of the funds expected to be awarded for this program?
We intend to develop an appropriate budget with the successful applicant, based on its proposal.
Will finalist applicants have an opportunity to revise budgets as part of the application review process?
Yes.
Does USRF have any requirements or guidelines for how the budget should be divided between NCO and U.S./Russian University? (This is important in terms of planning purposes with potential partners.)
No specific requirements. This can be worked out with successful NCO. We would welcome notional budgets that could serve as a framework
Does USRF anticipate that the Russian university's expenses will be covered out of the Russian state budget?
Yes, we expect direct contribution from Russian universities
Are there USRF guidelines for the division of budget between Russian and U.S. entities of an NCO?
No guidelines at this point
What type of contractual vehicle will be used?
Grant for US NCOs and Donation for Russian NCOs
The eligibility section of the RFP states that “Russian and US NGOs which are registered in both countries are eligible to apply”. Does it mean that Russian NGOs have to be legally registered in Russia and in the United States to satisfy this formal eligibility requirement of the EURECA RFP? Does it also mean that all members of a consortium must be registered in both countries as well?
At the very least one co-operator must be a registered NGO in Russia and the other in the US. In case NGO submits an application without a partner, it should be registered and operate in both Russia and US.
