The SEE-ERA.NET project- a brief overview on the interim project results

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The SEE-ERA.NET target region:

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Project objective and approach to coordination

Coordination on equal footing: 17 partners from 14 countries within and outside the European Union,

including all countries in the West Balkan. Each country is represented in the SEE-ERA.NET Steering Board Regional approach: South-East Europe

Coordination period: September 2004 – August 2009

Overall project objective:

SEE-ERA.NET aims to structure and expand the European Research Area

to the West Balkan by coordinating and supporting RTD activities

conducted at a uni- and bilateral level. Mainly - but not exclusively –

bilateral inter-governmental programmes are addressed.

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Sept 04 – Dec 05: Information exchange on Existing uni- and bilateral funding programmes and agreements incl the evaluation of

their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT analysis) The research capacity of the West Balkan region and the SEE collaboration needs

between all the participating SEE-ERA.NET partners

Jan - Oct 06: Preparations for the first call for proposals (SEE-ERA.NET Pilot Joint Call) Joint Implementation Agreement (IA) on the Pilot Joint Call (PJC) for RTD proposals incl a

joint funding and (peer) reviewing strategy dedicated to scientific excellence All 14 participating countries sign the IA and agree to participate in the PJC with national

contributions (the original plan was that only a few countries join in with moderate financial

contributions) International call for tender –> technical assistance for the Pilot Joint Call (PJC) - Central

Administrative Body (CAB): Programming of an online Project Application Management Tool Development of a new evaluators’ database for further use, but restricted access

to the SEE-ERA.NET project partners‘ peer review activities External administrative support for transparent and fair assessment procedures (peer

review: project proposals)

The major SEE-ERA.NET interim results (1)

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The major SEE-ERA.NET interim results (2)

Nov 06 – Aug 08: The SEE-ERA.NET Pilot Joint Call PJC launch in Nov; the call was open until end of March The SEE-ERA.NET National Contact Point system: NCP training with representatives of the

Central Administrative Body Thematic conferences as networking opportunities for researchers from 14 European

countries before the deadline, organised in three West Balkan countries Evaluators’ database (peer review of the PJC applications):

registration of 1262 evaluators, of whom 580 match the keywords of the PJC June 07: Decision on the evaluated proposals: Meeting of the Steering Board in Brussels 321 eligible proposals after first check from 1437 research teams (oversubscription)

Funding of 26 research and networking projects, and 5 summer schools

Contract negotiations with projects, start of projects in Sept/ Oct 07 Evaluation of the funding process (external expert) Monitoring of project results by Aug 08 (external expert)

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March 07 – Sep/Oct 08: The SEE-ERA.NET White Paper and the Joint Action Plan BALKAN MISSION: lobbying missions in the 6 Western Balkan countries and in the EC for

the White Paper, Joint Action Plan & and the Reigonal programme ReP-SEE

As part of the Joint Action plan: Regional Programme for Cooperation with Southeast

Europa (ReP-SEE):

PILLAR I: Joint RTD projects: next call with approx €2.625 Mio national

contributions*

PILLAR II: Accompanying Measures: to be developed in 2008/09

PILLAR III: Young Scientist Programme: to be developed in 2008/09

PILLAR IV: Innovation Programme**

Other Joint Action Plan activities (already implemented): e.g. ZSI/ASO Ljubljana & UNESCO

ROSTE & MHEST conference ‘Why Invest in Science in South Eastern Europe?’ Sept 06. The GSRT

South East European Conference on Innovation in Nov 07; PT-DLR Management training for science

administrators from the Western Balkan countries; SEE-ERA.NET’s International Conference on

Evaluation and Benchmarking in FYROM, Oct 08; Slovenian MHEST “Herman Potočnik – Noordung

Award” for Research Infrastructure Donations within the Framework of RTDI Collaboration with West

Balkan Countries; etcFootnotes:

*SEE-ERA.NET PLUS: plus approx 33% by EC; project in negotiation phase, to be implemented 2008-2011 (project proposal, Era Net,

FP7)

** SEE-ERA.NET on Innovation (project proposal, Era Net, FP7)

The major SEE-ERA.NET interim results (3)

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Summary

 

SEE-ERA.NET is the main European Commission networking project for the integration of countries in the West Balkan into the European Research Area

SEE-ERA.NET is a network of 14 ministries and 3 agencies in 14 European countries that includes all Western Balkan countries

SEE-ERA.NET provides new opportunities for scientists and already existing networks in Southeast Europe by opening up a European-wide perspective for scientific cooperation and funding

SEE-ERA.NET partner countries provide funding for multinational research teams through Joint Calls for Proposals

SEE-ERA.NET puts forward a reviewing system for research projects where the assessment procedures are transparent, fair and dedicated to scientific excellence

SEE-ERA.NET is a long term project of 5 years duration which develops scenarios for sustainable cooperation beyond 2009:

Regional Programme for Cooperation with South-East Europa (ReP-SEE)

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SEE-ERA.NET contact details

Marion Haberfellner

SEE-ERA.NET Co-ordinatorCentre for Social InnovationLinke Wienzeile 2461150 Vienna, Austriamhaberfellner@zsi.at

www.see-era.net