The ICES Secretariat will be responsive to requests
from member countries institutions to support the specific tasks of joint
project proposals, working with any successful research project from within the
ICES community should the consortium so wish. ICES is not actively seeking to
directly or indirectly become a project partner of consortia applying for
research tenders.
The Secretariat will be transparent about its
association with a particular applicant so that other applicants have an equal
opportunity to associate ICES with their applications. The Bureau will be
informed of ICES participation in such projects at an early stage according
to the project decision tree.
The Secretariat is in the position to develop projects
on its own or to react on calls for proposals or tenders if ICES is in an
outstanding position to fulfil the scientific tasks. The Secretariat then
approaches the task as a potential coordinator of a project. ICES Secretariat
approaches all member countries through their delegates, informs on the aims
and process, and gives all member countries an equal opportunity to join.
More commonly, ICES is approached by member countries'
institutions to support specific tasks in as project partner in a joint
proposal. In principle ICES will work with any successful research project from
within the community, should the consortium so wish and the work fits well with
ICES structures and workplan. However if it intends to become a project partner
of consortia, members should be asked if they have any objections.
A difficulty arises because as project partner ICES
should respect the confidentiality expected from partners in the development of
research proposals. In most cases the request will come from member country organizations
that should not be prejudiced by ICES desire for transparency. In this case it
is proposed that Bureau be asked to evaluate whether the request is consistent
with the objectives of this guideline, and if ICES participation has an unfair
influence in the funding process. If no agreement is achieved, ICES will
refrain from taking part in the project.
In general, the Secretariat will be as transparent as
possible in its association with a particular applicant while taking care of
the confidentiality issues raised above.
ICES Secretariat, March, 2011