Scientific Cooperation Exchange Program
The Scientific
Cooperation Exchange Program with the People's
Republic of China (SCEP) supports international
exchanges to promote agricultural development
and economic growth, and mitigate animal and
plant health issues that impede trade. The program offers opportunities
for U.S. teams, of up to 5 members to initiate
linkages with potential long-term collaborators
at Chinese institutions throughout the People's
Republic of China (PRC).
Under a special USDA
Scientific Technological Exchange Agreement with
the PRC, the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture
offers two-week visits to China designed to
meet the scientific objectives of each team.
U.S. teams are responsible only for their
international airfare to and from China.
The program started in
1978 when USDA signed a
cooperative agreement with the Ministry of
Agriculture of the People's Republic of China.
The goal was to exchange scientific teams and technical
information. Since that agreement, which was
incorporated into the umbrella of the U.S.-China
Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement in
1979, more than 2,000 American and Chinese
scientists have participated in exchanges under
the SCEP.
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