The participating countries are Cambodia and Lao.  Vietnam will continue to receive research funds through the existing bilateral agreement, which will continue through 2002.  Inter-country and multi-disciplinary projects will be encouraged in which Vietnamese and Thailand researchers will be able to participate. 

The lead scientists in each research application must be members of the network but scientists from non-member institutions / departments may be members of the team.

The research to be done by participants in the MSc training programme will be financed from the Research Fund. The average size of grant will be USD 6,000 and indicative numbers (including an estimated 16 grants for MSc students in 2002) are:

• 2001 (8 grants = $48,000)
• 2002 (28 grants = $168,000)
• 2003 (16 grants = $96,000)

The steering committee will have the responsibility of reviewing and approving requests for grants from the research fund.  Recipients of research grants must present the results of their work at the annual workshops