ec the importance of research cooperation with western balkan countries
DESCRIPTION
Presented during the Ministerial Round Table on Science and Higher Education. From Bilateral to pan-European Cooperation held over 21-22 May 2010 in Tirana, AlbaniaTRANSCRIPT
Tania FriederichsDG Research
European [email protected]
Round TableStrengthening scientific research and higher
Education
The importance of Research Cooperation with WBCs.
Tirana, 21 May 2010
Importance of Research General
•
Need to increase research capacity: in support of economic development; quality of life and well being of citizens
•
Research and Innovation at core of “Europe 2020”strategy•
Research
necessary
to address
common
challenges/find
common
solutions•
Strategy also valid for wider Europe
•
WBC -
EU perspective: research
facilitates
integration
into EU
Importance of Cross border cooperation
•
Research no longer done in isolation: need to cooperate at all levels: national; regional; EU; international
•
Cross border cooperation: increase transfer of knowledge and improve scientific basis
•
Allows for best practices and comparison
•
Necessary to join forces: share experience and scientists and equipment
•
Science has no borders: need to rely on best scientists wherever
in the world
•
Regional
dimension: relevant (same
language/problems)
Research at EU level
•
Research and Innovation on political agenda: 2020 strategy
•
How: policy measures and funding•
Policy mix: involve all stakeholders (public and private/business)
•
Cross-cutting policy: education, fiscal, digital agenda; industry; IPR; Innovation; SMEs…
How
•
European research Area (ERA)
•
Instrument/funding: FP7
•
Joint Programming: by MS on specific research themes
•
ERA open to world → strategy for cooperation
• Avoid fragmentation•
Create critical mass: compete with other major partners (US, China, Brazil, Japan);
• Fifth Freedom: free flow of knowledge and researchers • Ljubljana process: governance (administrative capacity)• 5 building blocks:
•
Single labour market
for resarchers
(Steering
Group on Human
Resources
and Mobility)
•
World-class research
infrastructures (European Strategy
Forum on Research
Infrastructure)
•
Coordination and joint programming
(GPC)•
Effective knowledge
sharing (CREST w/g)
•
Opening
of the ERA to the world (SFIC)
ERA
• Framework for 2007-2013• budget: 50 billion euro• 4 Specific Programmes:
–
Cooperation
(collaborative research/ 10 themes)–
IDEAS (European Research
Council)
–
People (Marie Curie Actions)–
Capacities
(Support for research
capacity)
• Based
on calls for proposals/evaluations/selection•
Always
cross border element; always
added
value
for EU
FP7
• Member States (27)• Third countries associated to FP7 (13):
•
EEA: Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein•
Enlargement countries: all WBCs
and Turkey
•
S&T agreements: Switzerland, Israel, Faroe Islands
• Other third countries:•
Industrial countries: US; Japan, NZ, Gulf States
•
ICPC partners: Mediterranean, Africa, South America, Kosovo (UN 1244), etc.
FP7 participants
• Same research opportunities as MS:-
eligible for all calls and instruments
-
fulfil minimum requirement (3 participants MS/AC)-
no dedicated
calls
-
eligible
for research
potential
(convergence regions)• Participate as observer in Programme Committee:
-
well informed about Work Programmes-
possibility to network with MS and other AC
• Invited to participate in ERA governance bodies:-
becoming familiar with EU research policy
-
share best practices
Associated countries
10
WBC Strategy
•
“Doors ERA wide open to WBC” (Potočnik, Vienna, June 26, 2006)
•
3 pillars:(1)
Engage together in research cooperation: association to FP7; observer CREST and ERA bodies;
(2)
How improve research capacity: a) human capital and infrastructureb) design S&T strategy
(3)
Create synergies with other instruments & stakeholders: IPA, RCC,COST, EUREKA, UNESCO
(1) Research cooperation
•
Since 1 January 2009: all WBCs associated to FP7
•
Kosovo UN 1244: ICPC partner (eligible for funding)
•
Increased
research
opportunities
since association
•
Also consider other options (bilateral/regional/multilateral)
(2) Research capacity
•
Human capital and Infrastructure: important •
But post war situation: very weak; IMF recommendations; financial crisis
•
Support for capacity building at EU level: limited → ownership
•
Put research on national research agenda: design S&T strategy
•
Prepare for EU accession
13
(3) Synergy
•
With other stakeholders and programmes•
Bilateral: Norway; neighbours; Turkey
•
COST; Eureka; NATO•
UNESCO, OECD, World Bank
•
RCC•
Programmes: IPA, CIP
14
WBC Steering Platform
•
Launched in June 2006 in Vienna•
Supported by FP7 WBC.Inco.Net
project
•
Bringing EU MS and WBCs
together•
Open to AC: Turkey; Norway, Switzerland
•
Ad hoc members: Cost; Eureka, RCC•
Share information and join efforts
•
Create synergies
15
Regional dimension
•
Regional: same problems; background; need for common solutions
•
Small Region: need to cooperate•
Role of RCC: Sarajevo Ministerial declaration April 2009
•
Regional
initiatives: Technology
Fund; Centre of excellence?
16
Some remarks
•
Important to focus on research fields/areas
•
Engage more in research collaboration
•
Implement/follow-up National S&T strategies
•
Use more IPA for research
Thank you for attention!!