International Division (Research Areas - International Office)

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To enhance AFOSR's research portfolio with the latest scientific and engineering advancements around the world, the International Office (AFOSR/IO) consists of four geographically strategic divisions:  

• The European Office of Aerospace Research and Development (EOARD, AFOSR/IOE), in London, United Kingdom, provides coverage of Europe, the Eurasia, the Middle East, and Africa 
• The Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD, AFOSR/IOA), in Tokyo, Japan, has an area of responsibility that includes Asia, India, and Pacific Rim countries, including Australia and New Zealand 
• The Southern Office of Aerospace Research and Development (SOARD, AFOSR/IOS), in Santiago, Chile, provides coverage throughout the Latin American region 
• The International Office North (AFOSR/ION), as part of AFOSR in Arlington, VA, serves as the Washington DC liaison for AFOSR's international activities. 

The mission of the International Office is to discover world-class fundamental research of interest to the US Air Force, and to bridge and build mutually beneficial relationships between scientists overseas and scientists in the United States that will result in the acceleration of S&T achievement.  The three overseas divisions accomplish this mission by way of three main programs: 

• The Research (R&D) Grants program directly funds research overseas.  International Program Officers (IPOs) at AFOSR international field offices work closely with Program Officers (POs) at AFOSR Arlington, to fund basic research in of interest to the AFRL mission, across a wide spectrum of technical areas.  Proposals in response to the AFOSR Broad Agency Announcement (BAA) are accepted year-round and evaluated by AFOSR Program Officers and Air Force researchers.  Grants may be single or multi-year, and grants may be for stand-alone research, or may supplement existing research efforts. 

• The Conference Support Program (CSP) is designed to provide financial support for overseas workshops and conferences that are in scientific areas of interest to the Air Force.  These meetings are attended by AFRL personnel, and offer the opportunity for international discovery and interchange. 

• The Window-On-Science (WOS) program is an invitational program for prominent international scientists to visit and meet with scientists in the Air Force Research Laboratory.  Visitors provide a seminar on their research activity, and have the opportunity to engage in technical discussions with their Air Force counterparts. 

The International Office also administers the Engineer and Scientist Exchange Program (ESEP) for the Deputy Under Secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs.  This program allows Air Force scientists and engineers to spend up to two-years as researchers in defense laboratories overseas, and allows scientists and engineers from overseas defense laboratories to do research in Air Force facilities in the US.  In addition, the International Office administers the Window-on-the-World (WOW) program, allowing AF scientists and engineers to do research in overseas universities and other non-government institutes for up to six months. 

Finally, the International Office combines these tools with site visits and data mining to develop comprehensive strategies, programs, and initiatives to maximize the return on AFOSR's overseas investments.