For Researchers from Current Member Countries

If you are from one of our twelve current member countries (Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, or USA):​

Process:

1. Contact your country’s Executive Committee (ExCo) delegate who represents your country in the Combustion TCP
2. Your representative brings your interest to theExCo for discussion
3. Once agreed, participation begins through your country’s membership

Alternative for Independent Entities:

• Organizations from member countries can also join independently as Sponsor or Limited Sponsor if desired​ (see below)

For Participants from Non-Member Countries

If your country is not currently a member, you have three options:

Best Starting Point:

Contact the TCP Chair and/or Secretary/Program Manager first. They will facilitate informal discussions with the ExCo to explore which participation option suits you best.​

Option 1: Contracting Party (Full Country Membership)

Requirements:

• Government commitment and designation​
• IEA approval required for non-IEA countries​
• Long-term participation commitment

Benefits:

• Full voting rights in Executive Committee​
• Can participate in multiple tasks
• Can propose new tasks and studies

Option 2: Sponsor

Requirements:

• IEA approval required​
• Can be any non-governmental entity (university, company, NGO)​
• Longer-term commitment

Benefits:

• Can participate in multiple tasks​
• Voting rights in tasks they participate in​
• Can attend ExCo meetings as observers (no voting rights)​

Option 3: Limited Sponsor

Requirements:

• No IEA approval required. (Only Combustion TCP Executive Committee approval is required.​)
• Only available to entities from IEA member, association, or accession countries​
• Limited to one task only​
• Maximum 3 years participation (can reapply for another 3 years)​

Benefits:

• Fastest entry path (no IEA approval needed)​
• Lower barriers to participation
• Good option to “test” TCP participation before full commitment

The Official Joining Process

Once you and the TCP agree on participation, the formal steps are:​

1. Initial Contact – Discuss benefits and participation with TCP Chair/Secretary​
2. Agree Terms – Finalize terms and conditions of participation with the TCP​
3. ExCo Invitation – Receive formal letter of invitation from Executive Committee​
4. Letters of Acceptance – Send required letters to IEA Legal Office​
5. Sign Legal Text – Sign the Implementing Agreement​
6. Participation Begins – Your membership is active​

Costs

All Participants:

• Annual meeting expenses (travel, accommodation, meals) – self-funded
• ​Task Participation: The TCP follows a “task-shared” model; that is, rather than funding the work directly as in a “cost-shared” model, the TCP’s role is to provide the structure needed to coordinate research funded by others to avoid duplication of effort and leverage the strengths of the various partner countries.

By Membership Category costs for supporting TCP administrative expenses:

• Contracting Parties: Annual fee of $5,000 USD per year (Covers all participants from the Contracting Party country)
• Sponsors: Annual fee is negotiated but the minimum is $2,500 USD per year.
• Limited-Sponsor: Annual fee is negotiated.

Key Contacts and Resources

Getting Started:

• Contact TCP Chair/Secretary/ Task Leaders

Official Documentation:

• TCP Membership Guide

Important Note: The steps listed in the official IEA guide describe what happens after an interested participant and the TCP agree to work together. Initial contact and informal discussions come first.​