Collaboration Planning Guidance Document from NITRD-SEW Collaboration Team

Within the White House Office of National Science and Technology Policy, the Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Program-Social, Economic and Workforce Collaboration Team has developed a focus on Team Science. On June 20, 2013, this team hosted a workshop at the National Cancer Institute in Rockville, MD, entitled "Coordinating the Science of Team Science". Panelists included: Dr. Kara Hall, Dr. Ernest McDuffie, and Dr. Keith Marzullo. This workshop focused on the development of collaboration plans. Many NITRD agencies fund large collaborative research projects that are challenging for investigators and program officers to manage effectively. The workshop focused on collaboratively outlining: 1) Key components for investigators to consider when developing collaboration plans, 2) Recommended language for program officers to use when soliciting collaboration plans from investigators, and 3) Evaluation criteria for reviewers of collaboration plans of submitted by investigators as part of a funding proposal. The workshop’s goal was to share and integrate best practices and insights around developing and reviewing these collaboration plans. The workshop will result in an outline for key components, recommendations, and criteria that agencies can consider when developing future solicitations or reviewer guides. A document will be produced later in 2013, capturing the results of this work. This work has implications for the design of funding announcements, grant application guidelines, and review criteria for reviewers.

Kara Hall, PhD, Director, Science of Team Science Team, National Cancer Institute
hallka@mail.nih.gov