Figure 1 shows a schematic of this programme’s structure. Red arrows show how proposals are routed through the JIP; blue arrows show the decision-making pathway. Starting at the top, the JIP is overseen by an Executive Committee (ExCom) comprising one representative of each partner company, and a representative of the OGP secretariat which provides budgeting, contractual and other administrative support. The Executive Committee is advised by an External Advisory Panel (EAP) consisting of six world figures from the research, regulatory, and science-based environmental communities. With advice from this panel, the Executive Committee determines the programme’s broad, general directions, and sets annual research priorities from among the programme’s Research Topics of Interest.
A Programme Manager transmits the yearly research priorities to a Technical Management Committee (TMC) made up of technical specialists from JIP member companies. Together they release Requests for Proposals on subjects that fit these research priorities. All Requests for Proposals are released on this website and incoming proposals are received by the Programme Manager. The programme occasionally solicits proposals from contractors having unique, exclusive abilities, and occasionally accepts unsolicited proposals for consideration.
The TMC divides into small sub-committees called Project Support Groups (PSG) to write the programme’s Requests for Proposals, review and rank incoming proposals (see Proposal review procedures), and leads discussions within the TMC that result in proposal selection and recommendation for funding. All recommended proposals are then reviewed for their policies concerning Health, Safety and Environment Management, as well as animal care and use. The Programme Manager transmits the recommended and reviewed proposals to the Executive Committee for possible funding approval. Approved proposals are passed to OGP which executes contracts.
When contracting is finished, the PSG becomes the liaison between the contractor and the JIP. Its main function is to help researchers solve problems or obtain needed services for successful completion of their contracts, such as statistical advice, use of industry equipment, and others. Scientists from outside industry are sometimes brought in to help the PSG if the subject matter of a research project is outside the expertise of TMC members.
The TMC is advised by a Technical Advisory Panel (TAP) comprising six senior scientists from various disciplines. The advice from this panel helps the TMC seek new, promising research directions or exploit opportunities within certain scientific disciplines. The Programme Manager, supported by the TMC, advises the Executive Committee on technical matters that affect the selection of yearly research priorities.