The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) will provide assistance to the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), the U.S. Department of State (DOS), and other government and non-government organizations in managing cooperative activities under the Pakistan-U.S. S&T Cooperation Program. This program, which offers cooperative research grants of up to three years in duration, is designed to increase and strengthen cooperation between researchers in various fields that contribute to human and economic development in Pakistan.

By supporting collaboration in fields of practical relevance to Pakistan, the program helps to establish and strengthen professional and personal linkages between Pakistani participants, their American colleagues, and experts. U.S. participants in the projects supported under the program will also benefit by gaining access to unique scientific data and field sites and to new opportunities to make progress on problems of common interest to each country. NAS will provide technical and administrative support to implement, manage, and expand science, technology, and engineering (STE) activities of economic and developmental importance. NAS program oversight includes but is not limited to announcing calls for proposals, managing the scientific review of proposals received, selection of awards, and disbursement of funds to participating institutions as well as monitoring program participant progress and providing related technical and administrative assistance to sponsors. With recent interest and emphasis on STE innovation and commercialization, training events and seed grants that empower and advance researcher development in STE entrepreneurship will be incorporated into the program. All activities under this program will be undertaken in collaboration with partners in Pakistan.