Strengthening the Strategic Cooperation

between the EU and Western Balkan Region

in the field of ICT Research

Key Barriers & Challenges in ICT Research: Regional and EU context

Soumi Papadopoulou, PLANET & René Wintjes, MERIT

Conference “Towards an Information Society for the Western Balkans”, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

2Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Barriers and challenges to ICT research

● The Regional context

● The EU context

● The EU FP7 context

3Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

The Regional Context

● Research capabilities in the Western Balkan region have been severely affected by the rapid political changes and transformation from state run to market economies

● What are the barriers faced by Western Balkan research institutions in their R&D activities and their efforts to participate in EU Framework Programme projects?

4Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Institutional barriers to ICT research

● Lack of defined government policies for ICT research

● Weak communication channels between policy makers and researchers

● Insufficient encouragement policies for the collaboration between business and academic communities for ICT research

● Difficulties with researchers’ mobility exchange (i.e. visa, residence permits, work permits etc.)

● Political instability in the countries/region hinders cooperation within the region and with the EU

5Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Financial barriers to ICT research

● Low level of national funds for ICT research (significantly lower than EU average)

● Absence of defined financial support policy for participating in FP projects

● Lack of investments from the business sector in R&D

● Lack of financial incentives for collaboration between universities and businesses

6Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Education related barriers to ICT research

● Low motivation for students who could be involved in FP projects.

● Lack of willingness by academic leadership to engage in FP projects

● Lack of specialized ICT professors

● Education system not in line with needs of ICT industry

7Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Human resource barriers to ICT research

● Skilled ICT researchers leaving the country (brain drain).

● Weak local and regional organised ICT research networks

● Lack of professionals able to provide assistance on FP proposal writing and project management

8Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

ICT business sector related barriers

● Limited ICT research in the business community / private sector.

● Insufficient collaboration between the ICT industry and universities.

9Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Infrastructure barriers to ICT research

● Insufficient ICT research infrastructure, both o basic infrastructures: e.g. broadband coverage across

country

o More specialised infrastructures:● business incubators, innovation centres, centres of excellence

etc.

10Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Cultural & other barriers to ICT research

● Lack of familiarity with FP and other funding programs.

● ICT R&D projects, after being completed, disappear without producing a real impact.

● Low appreciation of international cooperation in R&D (resulting in low levels or EU-regional and intra-regional R&D collaboration).

● Low international reputation of the “scientific image” of countries.

11Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

The EU context: characteristics of ICT, trends

● Pervasive, general purpose technology (ICT research and innovations are important to all sectors);

● High degree of globalisation;

● Most innovative EU sector;

● Very short product life-cycles;

● shift from manufacturing towards ICT software and services;

● Importance of networking, clustering;

● Growing importance of innovative SMEs

12Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

EU context: National drivers of ICT innovation

R&D activities

Skills

Small Average firm size

Inter-national

orientation

Venture capital

Testing independency National ICT sector innovation performance

Innovation performance - Levels

*** *** ** ** ***

Innovation performance - Growth

** ** ***

ICT Innovation performance based on: export, patents, factor productivity

13Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

EU context: barriers to ICT research & innovation

● Lack of high-educated human resources;

● Regulatory incoherence, lack of European integration, fragmented ERA;

● Financing research and innovation

● Poor valorisation of research, insufficient commercialisation of results

14Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

EU context: drivers and barriers at firm level

Drivers for innovation Barriers to innovation

Internal

1- management /leadership 2- in-house R&D 3- special knowledge 4- capacity for building partnerships

1- resources for testing new ideas 2- organisational structures 3- IP management

External

1- customer involvement in R&D 2- international partnerships with firms 3- cooperation with research institutes

1- appropriate regulation at EU level 2- access to top-HR 3- Innovation culture for ICT in EU

15Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

EU context: 4 future ICT trajectories (EU ICT Task Force)

● 1) Networked, Mobile, and Scalable;

● 2) Embedded and Invisible;

● 3) Intelligent and Personalised;

● 4) Content-rich, Interactive and Experiential.

16Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

EU context: challenges for research policy

● To increase ICT research in Europe in view of the gap vis-à-vis other parts of the world.

● To reduce fragmentation of public funded research and to promote co-operation and coordination in order to increase focus and critical mass.

● To develop the ERA; promote mobility of researchers, more excellence in universities, grants for research co-operation, improvement of the linkages between Science and Industry

● To develop more effective systems for technology transfer, research exploitation and valorisation.

17Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

EU context: challenges in systemic policy making

● Systemic forms of governance are most relevant policy tools to promote ICT research & innovation.

● Good practice policy formats are: o cluster policies, technology platforms, thematic collaborative

research programmes, Lead Market Initiatives, Joint Technology Initiatives, etc.

● Such systemic tools facilitate: o demand-driven co-operation,

o open innovation;

o alignment of strategic research agendas;

o thematic focus to research;

o and interaction between ICT producers and users.

18Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

The FP7 context: Challenges to EU-WB collaboration

Key findings from SCORE project consultations with over 320 ICT stakeholders in Albania, BiH, FYR of Macedonia and Serbia:

● Although a number of support actions have been completed in the region, there is still a need for support to organizations with regards to understanding the FP programme and procedures.

● Need for stricter evaluation and review procedures with regards to the sustainability and impact of ICT R&D projects (both at the proposal and project implementation phases).

19Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

The FP7 context: Challenges to EU-WB collaboration (cont’d)

● Need for targeted FP calls in the Region: In previous FP6 calls, targeted objectives for the region enabled Western Balkan organisations to participate more successfully. The same approach should be retained in future FP calls.

● Need for research & development in ICT application areas such as eGovernment, eBusiness and eLearning which are key common priorities for the region.

20Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Discussion: your views

● What other barriers should be included?

● What are the 3 top barriers to EU-WB research collaboration?

21Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Thank you

● For further information:o René Wintjes (R.Wintjes@MERIT.unimaas.nl)

o Soumi Papadopoulou (soumi@planet.gr)