The Visiting Science Program (VSP) is essentially a travel grant program which we use to bring a scientist to the US for 1 - 2 weeks so that he/she can present their research ideas to their American colleagues, often university-based scientists who are receiving some US Navy funding. Oftentimes, a foreign scientist will have a contact at one of the larger Naval labs, such as the Naval Research Laboratory located in Washington, DC, so they visit them. In addition to meeting with scientists, foreign researchers often attend a relevant conference while they're in the US. A VSP grant is typically in the $5000 range.

The Collaborative Science Program (CSP) program is used to co-fund international conferences (located outside the US) in topics of interest to ONRG.ONR's contributions are normally between $5000 and $15,000.

The Naval International Cooperative Opportunities in Science and Technology Program (NICOP) is a joint research project often lasting 1 - 3 years, with total funding around $100,000 to $150,000. In this case, ONRG is providing seed money to see if the proposed project will be successful to the point that the larger NRE is willing to further pursue it. Quite commonly, program managers at ONR and at the labs have committed their money for several years in advance, so that if they find a new idea, they need new, outside money to fund it. As a result, ONRG provides the bulk of the NICOP funding the first year, while our contribution falls in subsequent years and that from ONR or, for example, a university increases.

Details related to this programs are availabe at: ONR - Office of Research

Contact:
John C. Zimmerman, Ph.D.
Associate Director Office of Naval Research Global
U.S. Embassy Prague, Trziste 15, 118 01 Prague 1, Czech Republic
Tel: 420-257-022-031
E-mail: John.C.Zimmerman35.civ@mail.mil or ZimmermanJC@state.gov