and Q).ADDENDUM
TO THE MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
ON SCIENTIFIC COLLABORATION
BETWEEN
THE CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
AND
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION, UNIVERSITY, RESEARCH OF ITALY
With reference to the introduction of this Memorandum, the Parties suggest a first list of proposals of projects which will have to be evaluated by the bilateral committee indicated in Article 4, and which in the future will be integrated by other proposals. This list does not imply a commitment for MIUR and CAS to the funding.
I. Field of New Materials
Introduction
The proposed technological programme covers four strategic areas in which research for innovation is critical since it is affecting and conditioning the competitiveness of numerous industrial sectors. Macro areas for research priorities are identified: design and simulation of new materials, coatings and interfaces for novel design concepts to achieve the future performance in term of wear, high temperature resistance, etc and optimize current systems to offer the better performance, managing cost and environmental impact; development of advanced ceramic bulk and coatings materials for high temperature applications; development of new technologies in the field of microsystems based on the nano-on-micro approach. All the mentioned topics are also linkable to nanotechnologies and nanomaterials issues and for all the mentioned aspects a key role is covered by characterization techniques (structural, morphological, mechanical and compositional), since they are expected to give reliable data to verify obtained results and to elaborate predictive or simulative models for the achievement of the research goals.
Project 1: Design and simulation of new materials
Simulation methodologies based on multiscale modeling.
Molecular modeling of functional materials.
Project 2: Advanced ceramics for high temperature application
Damage-tolerant and mechanically and/or electrical discharge machinable ceramics.
New ceramics for ultrahigh temperature applications.
Project 3: Nanocrystalline materials and coatings
1) Bulk nanostructured materials.
2) Materials Engineered by Surface Processing: thermal deposition technologies and vacuum treatment technologies.
3) Materials Engineered by Interface Processing: polymeric based composites.
Project 4: Nanotechnologies for innovative microsystems
Innovative nanoscale assembly methods.
High density integration technologies for microsystems.
Partners
China: Shenyang National Laboratory for Materials Science,
Institute of Metal Research, CAS
Italy: Institute of Science and Technology of Faenza, CNR and other Italian Institutions.
II. Field of the Earth Observation
Part I – Seismological and Volcanological Observations.
Introduction
There are frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occurring in China and Italy, they are located in the western Pacific fire ring as well as in the Mediterranean seismic and volcanic zones. This program is to concentrate on monitoring of seismic and volcanic activity and on researching and exploring the physical and chemical aspects of earthquakes and volcanisms in the active continental margins of the eastern Asia and the Mediterranean region. Supporting scientific research as well as improving the real time monitoring and data collection are extremely important tasks to advance our understanding on the physics of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, which are fundamental to assess seismic and volcanic risk and to mitigate the effects of these natural disasters.
During the cooperation both sides should strengthen scientific exchange and communication. Italian scientists will be invited to visit China and go in for fieldwork on interesting areas; Chinese scientists will be invited to visit Italy and to work in Italian laboratory. Bilateral meetings or international workshops should be encouraged to hold in proper time. Both sides authoritatively shared all joint results. The promoters of both sides are responsible for organizing publications and participants are encouraged to contribute their papers to international journals and conferences.
Project 1: Real time monitoring of active volcanoes
Seismological, geodetic and geochemical monitoring of active volcanoes in real time, like Changbai, Wudalianchi in China and Vesuvius, Etna volcanoes in Italy.
Imaging the magma chamber and the deep fine structure of crust and upper mantle by DSS (Deep Seismic Sounding).
Investigating the earthquake occurrence: frequency of earthquakes and spatio-temporal seismicity patterns.
Analyzing catalogues of fault plane solutions of earthquake foci.
Imaging
the process of growing, breaking and fading away of volcanoes by
seismic tomography (Vp , Vs ,
and Q).
Temporal variations of geophysical parameters (geomagnetic, gravity, temperature and seismic wave velocity and anelastic attenuation)
Deep internal processes and tectonic setting of active volcanoes
Project 2: Physical links of the Changbai Volcano
Subduction of the western Pacific Plate.
Lithospheric thinning.
Rifting of the eastern Asian continental rift system.
Mantle upwelling by gravity data and crustal uplifting.
Project 3: Chemical geodynamics of volcanoes
Heterogeneity of the mantle wedge by comparing the geochemical characteristics of the mafic rocks from different volcanoes based on chemical and isotopic analyses;
Chemical evolution of the felsic rocks of the Holocene eruptions by SEM and E-probe data.
P-T conditions of magma chamber by the series of Fe-Ti oxides and feldspar.
Project 4: Volcanic degassing
Estimation of the volume of the volcanic degassing by melts inclusions in volcanic rocks.
Chemical variations of the volcanic degassing.
Climatic effects of the volcanic degassing and the fine volcanic particles.
Partners
China: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS
Italy: National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Italy, INGV
Project 5: Real time monitoring of seismic regions.
Seismic and Geodetic Monitoring of active tectonic areas in Italy and in China collecting real-time data and geological observations that will be analyzed to study the physics of the earthquake source and to image the patterns of seismicity.
To promote collaborative research and exchanging ideas and strategies for real time monitoring and analysis of seismic data. Implications for emergencies created by earthquakes.
To implement and develop statistical analyses of seismicity distribution and earthquake occurrence to assess the probability of impending large-magnitude earthquakes.
To model seismic waveforms to image the Earth structure and the earthquake source.
Promote research activity in earthquake engineering to mitigate seismic hazard.
Partners
China: Institute of Geology and Geophysics, CAS
China Earthquake Administration (China Seismological Bureau)
Italy: National Institute of Geophysics and Volcanology, Italy, INGV
Part II – Earth Observations through Satellite Technology.
Introduction
The world community could better mitigate the human and economic losses caused by natural and technological disasters if data from current and planned Earth Observation (EO) satellites were used more effectively in disaster management support.
Correct forecasts and predictions of natural phenomena are vitally important to allow for proper evacuation and damage mitigation strategies. From this point of view, Earth Observations data could make a difference in planning for and responding to disasters.
Italy and China are developing earth observation satellite constellations in order to answer to local, regional and international needs. In particular, the Italian Space Agency and the China National Space Administration are in contact to jointly cooperate in developing earth observation applications relevant to disaster management.
In addition, following the relations between the Italian Space Agency and the Institute of Remote Sensing Applications of CAS, the Parties agreed to:
Project 1 – Land slides application for Italian and Chinese needs-
Jointly study landslides applications by fostering improved utilisation of existing and planned Earth observation satellite data, including the contribution to the international research through publications, workshops and exchange of information;
Project 2 – Sino-Italian cooperation on BISSAT satellite –
Explore the feasibility to jointly develop the Italian BISSAT project for inteferometric and bistatic radar observation applications.
Partners
China: Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, CAS
Italy: Italian Space Agency (ASI)
III. Field of Cultural Heritages
Introduction
It is necessary to perform research on the field of cultural heritages by sharing ideas and experiences of China and Italy because both have developed a school of its own style. There are three suggested cooperation projects in the first stage. Furthermore suggestion topics will be added depending upon the demand.
Project 1: To establish a website about cultural heritages of China and Italy
The website will be based on the success of one of that developed by CNR and owned and shared by China and Italy. The website should contain all technical research and development involved in cultural heritages in the two countries. Three languages (Chinese, Italian and English) should be used as output and thirty-three languages as information source of input. The distribution of the website will cover all areas of China and Europe.
Partners
China: Central of Scientific Studies on Cultural Heritages, CAS
Center for Information of Cultural Heritages, NACH
Nanjing Museum
Italy: Progetto Finalizzato “Beni Culturali”, CNR
Istituto di Cimica Inorganica e delle Superdici, CNR
I. Net 2 (Internet provider)
II. ES Progetti e Sistemi (Software house)
Project 2: High-altitude survey of ancient building
To identify and detect bilateral archaeological projects and ancient buildings, the satellite techniques should be introduced and developed. This technique could be popularized to countries that use Chinese or Italian satellites. Through the bilateral cooperation in new information systematic techniques, abundant ancient history documentations are to be dealt with.
Partners
China: Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, CAS
Central of Scientific Studies and Cultural Heritages, CAS
Institute of Archaeologe, CASS
Italy: Istituto per le Tecnologie Applicate ai Beni Culturali, CNR
Istituto di Fisica Applicata “N. Carrara”, CNR
Progetto Finalizzato “Beni Culturali”, CNR
Project 3: Frescos preserve
The fresco is composed of porous material containing solvable salt. It will be very difficult to preserve frescos without temperature control because the substance of the frescos is very sensible to humidity and climate conditions. A lot of methods for treatment of these substances have been developed in libraries and announced on web sites，and successfully applied on treatment of Italian and European frescos. In China earth and mud is used to preserve frescos，and many international organizations carried out research on it.
Partners
China: National Institute for Cultural Properties of China, NACH
Central of Scientific Studies on Cultural Heritages, CAS
Graduate School of CAS
Italy: Istituto per le Conservazione e Valorizzazione dei “Beni Culturali”, CNR
Istituto di Chimica Inorganica e delle Superfici, CNR
High Technology Service
Project 4: Cultural Heritage Investigation and Environmental Impact along the Silk Road
1) Cultural heritage in Northwestern China from the Neolithic age through the formation of the Silk Road especially in regard human and ethnic groups, environment, agriculture, manufacture and trade.
2) The environmental impact on civilization migration along the silk road
Using remote sensing and GIS, analyze the spatial distribution of ancient civilization site, such as cities, river channels, abundant river channels and dried lakes, to trace their evolution in time domain, build up a temporal, spatial distribution database of ancient civilization site along the silk road, to understand the recent environment change in that region which represent the environment change of north Asia.
Partners
China: Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, CAS
Central of Scientific Studies on Cultural Heritages, CAS
Xinjiang Cultural Relics Bureau, Xinjiang
Italy: Progetto Finalizzato “Beni Culturali”, CNR
Istituto per le Tecnologie Applicate ai Beni Culturali, CNR
Project 5: The Manufacture of Bronze and Ceramics in Ancient China
Study of ancient Chinese bronze and ceramic objects, including art history, technology, provenance, conservation from the Shang to Qing dynasty (17th Century BC to 19th Century).
Partners
China: Institute of Remote Sensing Applications, CAS
Central of Scientific Studies on Cultural Heritages, CAS
Xinjiang Cultural Relics Bureau, Xinjiang
Italy: Progetto Finalizzato “Beni Culturali”, CNR
Istituto per le Tecnologie Applicate ai Beni Culturali, CNR
IV. Field of the Sustainable Development
Introduction
The rapid development of industry resulted in the shortage of fossil energy and pollution of environment. Thus new form of clear and efficient energy is needed to support the continuous growth of economy. This project focuses on the development of fuel cells, high energy density batteries and new materials for energy conversion.
Project 1: Fuel cell technologies
Solid oxide fuel cell.
Direct methanol fuel cell.
Proton exchange membrane fuel cell.
Project 2: Lithium-ion batteries
New materials for energy conversion.
Oxide ion electrolytes.
Proton conductors.
Hydrogen storage materials.
Eletrocatalysts.
Project 3: New materials for energy conversion.
In order to investigate in new materials for energy application like fuel cells the following topics will be jointly developed and tested in real configuration:
Oxide ion electrolytes.
Proton conductors.
Hydrogen storage materials.
Eletrocatalysts.
Partners
China: Institute of Metal Research, CAS
Shanghai Institute of Ceramics, CAS
Institute Physical Chemistry, CAS
Italy: National Agency for New Technology, Energy and the Environment
V. Field of Physics
Introduction
The collaboration proposes to enhance the bilateral relationship and scientific exchanges between CAS and INFN, to implement considerable technical improvements in projects and to stimulate scientific researches in the particle physics and nuclear physics field. Particle physics and nuclear physics aims at the understanding of the fundamental structure, interaction and properties of nuclei and particles, as well as universe and cosmology. Furthermore, nuclear science has applications that benefit society in many areas and has strong impact on other fields of science. In China several large-scale accelerator facilities are under construction and new larger facilities are proposed. The institutions of INFN have experiences for the construction of the large- scale facilities and related researches. From this point, China and Italy can have a long term and fruitful scientific collaboration.
Research Plan
We have chosen some of the items and projects listed by INFN. Some new research items are proposed. We propose to send 30 to 40 researchers for three months and about 10 young researchers for one year to INFN every year. Similar number of scientists form INFN will be invited to CAS for several weeks every year. The related items for collaboration are listed as follows
Project 1: Accelerator related items
Accelerator physics; Electron-Positron Collider, High power proton accelerator, Superconducting ECR source, magnets and Linacs; Ultra high vacuum and RF techniques; Atomic internal target; High intensity beam facility, Hydrotherapy with protons and light ions.
Partners
China: Institute of high energy physics, CAS
Institute of modern physics, CAS
Italy: INFN
Project 2: Experimental particle and nuclear physics
ARGO-YBJ experiment and development; AMS, ATLAS, ALICE, CMS, DAMA, KLOE and VIRGO facilities related physics, electronics and detector construction; Using GASP spectrometer to study band structure of neutron deficient Au nuclei.; Accelerator-driven sub-critical system. Astrophysics experiments.
China: Institute of high energy physics, CAS
Institute of modern physics, CAS
Italy: INFN
Project 3: Theoretical particle and nuclear physics, cosmology
Theory of medium/high energy nucleus-nucleus interactions, with particular focus on properties of nuclear matter under extreme conditions of density, temperature and isospin. Theory of particle physics, particle astrophysics and cosmology
Partners
China: Institute of theoretical physics, CAS
Institute of high energy physics, CAS
Institute of modern physics, CAS
Italy: INFN
Project 4: IT and GRID based technologies
This item is mainly centered on a large European Project (EU-CHINAGrid) which has recently been recommended for approval within the FP6 program. Negotiations for the contract are starting now. This project has a very large potential also outside the specific fields of fundamental research.
Other important points of interest are network technology and operation, whose improvement will play a key role in allowing the growth of collaboration (not only scientific) with China.
China: Institute of high energy physics, CAS
Computer Network Information Center, CAS
Institute of modern physics, CAS
Italy: INFN
Project 5: High End Computing
A strong interest in the use of APE technologies for supercomputing is growing, involving also industrial partners
China: Institute of high energy physics, CAS
Computer Network Information Center, CAS
Institute of modern physics, CAS
Italy: INFN
EUROTECH Group, Italy
Project 6: Research with space borne experiments using small satellites and miniaturized detectors
The idea is to perform space-borne experiments using very small payloads, which will allow the use of small satellites.
A proposal is currently being submitted, describing an Italy - China scheme of collaboration to research for precursor seismic phenomena, by detecting variation of the ULF waves in the Van Allen Belts caused by the crust strains before the earthquake occurrence.
The documents of this proposal are in the hands of the CAS delegation.
Partners
China: Center for Space Science and Applied Research, CAS
Institute of high energy physics, CAS
Chinese Aero Space Corporation (CASC)
Italy: INFN
Project 7: Cutting-edge research on ultrahigh-speed optical fiber communications
The planned research collaboration is to be carried out between the Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics (XIOPM) in China and the I Integrated Research Center for Photonic Networks and Technologies (IRCPhoNET) in Italy, aiming at the cutting-edge research on ultrahigh-speed optical fiber communications. Through this bilateral collaboration, the following goals will be achieved:
Exchange research staff between two research centers to take a part in the agreed projects.
Promote joint research activities between two sides in the areas of optical components, ultrafast optical processing, ultrahigh-speed optical transmission systems and all-optical communication networks.
Pursue the cutting-edge research on optical short-pulse generation, optical multiplexing techniques, applications of nonlinear optics to ultrahigh-speed optical communications, all-optical clock recovery and signal regeneration schemes, optical packet switching networks, etc.
Seek the research supports from national funding agencies in both China and Italy to conduct the joint research work by identifying new and promising research projects, establishing two “Joint Research Laboratories” to be located at both XIOPM (China) and IRCPhoNET (Italy) respectively, and writing new research proposals based on joint team work.
Pave the way for future research collaboration between the ministry-level organizations of CAS and MIUR. This in turn will open up an opportunity for other institutions of CAS and MIUR to join the extended collaboration program as new partners, and therefore, to form a more powerful research network between China and Italy.
Partners
China: Xi’an Institute of Optics and Precision Mechanics, CAS
The Academy of Optics and Electronics, CAS
Italy: Integrated Research Center for Photonic Networks and Technologies (IRCPhoNET)
The present Addendum will enter into force upon signature of the two Parties and will remain valid until July 1, 2010. Signed in Beijing on July 4, 2005 in duplicate in English, both being equally authoritative.
For the For the
CHINESE ACADEMY MINISTRY OF EDUCATION,
OF SCIENCES UNIVERSITY AND RESEARCH OF
ITALY
President: Lu Yongxiang Minister: Letizia Moratti