1. NSF/NSFC PANEL

2. Q 1) Effective collaboration will require many specific activities. Visits, meetings at shared venues, student exchanges, and other group meetings on a regular basis are considered crucial for collaborations to succeed. How can your program/agency facilitate such activities?

3. Q. 2) Because of the strategic importance of cooperation on software, a critical mass of resources will be needed. Will the existing NSFC bilateral cooperation programs existing (e.g. China-France and China-Singapore, etc.) be the model of China-US cooperation on software? Or other form of program (e.g. key initiative program) is more appropriate?

4. Q3) How can we expedite review processes for such activities? Will it be desirable and logistically possible to create among NSF/NSFC a single-window proposals submission process where proposals can be reviewed jointly? While the basic review criteria for both agencies are well known – what additional goals – e.g. software development related, metrics for collaboration and wider dissemination/training -- should investigators think about as they develop proposals? If joint review is impractical, what will be the possible mechanisms of reviewing proposals?

5. Q 4) While special programs can provide an impetus to the collaborative efforts, stable long term resource allocation from existing frameworks will be needed to sustain the partnerships we seek to promote. How will the collaborative element fit into existing programs? Can they be added on as supplements to existing grants? Incentive programs like CI-Reuse, EPSCOR have a very successful track record at NSF. Is this a possible candidate for such an effort?

6. Q. 5) What central and distributed points of contact (e.g. OCI,OISE, … in NSF) within NSF/NSFC will be available over time? Will it be helpful if directorates/divisions establish points of contact who are familiar with the framework, issues and opportunities? Sustained funding will possibly need participation by more than designated international activity offices. What steps are possible to facilitate this?

7. Q. 6) How can we as a community help you help us?