“fp6 networks of excellence”
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“FP6 Networks of excellence”. Colette Renier Research DG. NoE Objectives. Strengthen Europe’s excellence on a particular research topic by integrating the critical mass of expertise needed to provide European leadership and be a world force - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
10 February 20031
“FP6Networks
ofexcellence”
Colette RenierResearch DG
10 February 20032
NoE Objectives
Strengthen Europe’s excellence on a particular research topicby integrating the critical mass of expertise needed to provide European leadership and be a world forcearound a joint programme of activities
Tackling the fragmentation of European researchwhere the main deliverable is a durable structuring and shaping of how research is carried out in Europe
Spreading excellence beyond its partners
10 February 20033
NoE The joint programme of activities (1)
A range of new or re-oriented activities:
Integrating activities
•coordinated programming of the partners’ activities•sharing of research platforms/tools/facilities•joint management of the knowledge portfolio•staff mobility and exchanges•relocation of staff, teams, equipment•reinforced electronic communication systems
10 February 20034
NoE The joint programme of activities (2)
Joint research activities: a programme of joint research to support the network’s goals
•development of new research tools and platforms for common use
•generating new knowledge to fill gaps in or to extend the collective knowledge portfolio
10 February 20035
NoE The joint programme of activities (3)
Activities to spread excellence
•training researchers and other key staff•dissemination and communication activities•networking activities to help transfer knowledge to teams external to the network•where appropriate, promoting the exploitation of the results generated within the network•where appropriate, innovation-related activities
10 February 20036
NoE The joint programme of activities (4)
Network management
•overall coordination of the joint activities•communication with the Commission, reporting•activities linked to consortium-level financing and accounting management and legal issues•coordination of the knowledge management activities, if appropriate, other innovation-related activities•promotion of gender equality•science and society issues •supporting the governing board and other network bodies
ALL ACTIVITIES WITHIN A COHERENT MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK
10 February 20037
NoE Measuring integration(1)
In their proposal, participants will include possible qualitative and quantitative indicators for measuring progress towards integration
10 February 20038
NoE Measuring integration(2)
Main factors to be examined
•extent of mutual specialisation and mutual complementarity•sharing /development for common use of research infrastructure, equipment, tools and platforms•regular joint execution of research projects
10 February 20039
NoE Measuring integration(3)
Main factors to be examined
•interactive working through electronic communication systems•joint management of the knowledge portfolio•joint training programme (researchers and other key staff)•coherent management framework
10 February 200310
NoE Critical mass (1)
Expertise: assembling of the critical mass needed to achieve the ambitious goals of the network
variable from topic to topiclarger networks may involve several hundreds of researchersmay be smaller provided that the necessary ambition and critical mass are achieved
10 February 200311
NoE Critical mass (2)
Partnership: in general at least six (legal minimum: 3 from 3 different countries)
Duration of Community support:typically 5 yearsmore if necessary BUT no more than 7 years
10 February 200312
NoE Financial regime (1)
Community support targeted at overcoming the barriers to a durable integration•these barriers are mainly organisational, cultural, human cannot be quantified in normal accounting terms
Has led to the concept of an incentive, taking the form of a global “fixed grant for integration”
10 February 200313
NoE Financial regime(2)
A fixed grant for integration, acting as an incentive, calculated on basis:
•of the degree of integration•of the total number of researchers•of the characteristics of the field of research•of the joint programme of activities•with a bonus for registered doctoral students
10 February 200314
NoE Financial regime(3)
The average annual grant to a network could vary with the number of researchers as follows:
50 researchers € 1 million/year 100 researchers € 2 million/year 150 researchers € 3 million/year 250 researchers € 4 million/year 500 researchers € 5 million/year 1000 researchers and above € 6 million/year
(for intermediate numbers, the grant would be calculated by linear interpolation)
A network of 200 researchers supported over 5 yearswould therefore receive a fixed grant of € 17,5 million(plus bonus for registered doctoral students)
10 February 200315
NoE Payments regime
Annual payments of the grant will be paid on the basis of results
•depending on a progressive advance towards a durable integration
•with an additional check that costs of at least the value of the grant were incurred in implementing the joint programme of activities
10 February 200316
NoE Proposal submission
Through calls for proposals, which may be preceded by expressions of interest
Simplified proposal-making, reflecting the evolutionary nature of the network:•outline of the activities for the whole period•detailed JPA for the first 18 months only
10 February 200317
NoE Reporting and payments schedule
The consortium will submit to the Commission for its approval an annual report:•outline of previous 12 months’ activities•financial documents on the costs incurred for implementing the JPA (+audit certificates)
Upon acceptance of the above, the outstanding advance will be supplemented up to 85 % of the anticipated Community contribution for following 18 months
10 February 200318
NoEGovernance and monitoring (1)
A network’s governance must ensure institutional engagement by the partner organisations
through e.g. a “governing board” of senior representatives from the partners•to oversee integration of the partners’ activities
10 February 200319
NoE Governance and monitoring (2)
Robust output monitoring by the Commission, involving external experts at all stages
•annual reviews: basis for annual payments, yellow flag/red flag system•end-of-term review: assessment of the network’s impact on strengthening and spreading excellence
Audits carried out by the Commission: financial (at least one per NoE), technological, technical, ethical
10 February 200320
Reminder Main NoE features(1)
Demonstrated need for structuring
•description of fragmentation on the topic•existence of excellent capacities in Europe in the topic
Is there a real need for a structuring intervention?
10 February 200321
Reminder Main NoE features(2)
Characteristics of the network planned:
•composition of the partnership: presence of key excellent actors•potential synergies, complementarities, specialisation among the members•quality/degree of integration planned
Is the network planned likely to tackle the fragmentation problem identified?
10 February 200322
Reminder Main NoE features(3)
Viability of the network during and beyond the period
•awareness of high decision level representatives of the participating organisations: strong commitment•security regarding network’s funding, particularly beyond the period
Will the network constitute a durable answer to the problem identified?