As part of a continuing effort to enhance international research collaboration, Joint Programme sollicitated international research proposals on sound management of hazardous chemicals from September through October 2005. Out of 20 competent proposals from 5 countries, eight (7 international and 1 domestic) proposals were selected to join 2006 research program, either as an independent project or under the umbrella of partnership research between the Joint Programme and individual research groups (see the table below). Outstanding features of the 2006 research programme include strengthening of collaboration with international organizatin like WHO, along with a continuing emphasis on research projects that employ advanced geochemical and biotechnological techniques to tackle pressing environmental pollution problems, in particular in East Asian countries.