To Exchange Information on Bilateral Programmes Targeting SEE in a Systematic Manner

Objective

To Exchange Information on Bilateral Programmes Targeting SEE in a Systematic Manner

Description of work

The tasks of WP1 are to exchange information openly and systematically

1.1. about the political motivation, driving forces and strategic orientation of existing bilateral RTD programmes targeting Southeast Europe,

1.2. about the research priorities of the bilateral RTD programmes, their contents and specific orientations,

1.3. about programme management issues (from the design stage to the final evaluation of the projects),

1.4. about existing evaluation practices, and

1.5. about budgetary aspects and legal implications (including barriers) of the existing bilateral programmes.

1.6. Each country will perform a co-ordinated and supervised SWOT analysis about her targeted bilateral RTD co-operation programmes (with external support) which will be exchanged between all partners.

1.7. Organisation of a major Information Exchange Conference to conclude all work packages that deal with the exchange of information (WP1 to WP3).

The overall co-ordination will be performed by partner 8 (Hungary) as work package leader.

Tasks 1.1 to 1.5. will be supervised and co-ordinated by partner 8 (Hungary) as task leader. Tasks 1.6. and 1.7. will be led by Croatia. All partners will be involved under WP1.

Methodologically WP1 is primarily based upon

1. document analysis (of existing national reports) (for tasks 1.1., 1.2., 1.3., 1.4. and 1.5).
2. working group meetings of research programme makers and managers in order to be able to identify motivations, priorities and management and administration processes (a Steering Board Workshop in Austria to discuss WP1, two working group meetings in Hungary covering tasks 1.1. – 1.5.)
3. Techniques to perform a SWOT analysis will be implemented in national workshops by support of an external consultant (task 1.6.)
4. organisation of event (Info Exchange Conference in Croatia) (task 1.7)

Questionnaire about the bilateral

RTD programmes

I: Bilateral RTD programmes targeting Southeast Europe (i.e. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Republic of Macedonia, Serbia + Bulgaria, Romania)

Political motivation, driving forces and strategic orientation of the existing programmes

Do you plan to set up new programmes in the region? What are the driving forces?

II. Research priorities

• Research priorities in general (not only in the SEE region)
• The main fields of co-operation (especially if there are not any official priorities):
• If there are regional differences, please specify (SEE!):
• Are there some research fields that are excluded?

III. Programme management issues

• What is supported?
• Which and what kind of an organisation deals with the programme management?
• What are the tasks of the ministry and of the agency?
• Who may apply?
• What has to be submitted?
• What should the proposal itself consist of?
• Procedure of selection of the project-proposals
• Administrative conditions

IV. Evaluation practices

• Who manages the evaluation?
• Who evaluates the proposals?
• How do they evaluate?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of your evaluation system?
• Do you have some optional evaluation criteria that can positively influence the decision?
• Evaluation criteria

V. Budgetary aspects

Total budget for bilateral S&T programs/year in €

• 2001:
• 2002:
• 2003:
• 2004:
• 2005[*]:

• Budget for bilateral S&T co-operation in €
• What is financed, what can be accounted for?
• How is the financial support calculated?

VI. Legal implications

• Who – which ministry – has the right to sign a new intergovernmental S&T agreement?
• Which ministry, which department is responsible for the implementation?
• Intellectual property rights

Question no 1

I. Bilateral RTD programmes targeting Southeast Europe (i.e. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Republic of Macedonia, Serbia + Bulgaria, Romania)

Political motivation, driving forces and strategic orientation of the existing programmes

Do you plan to set up new programmes in the region? What are the driving forces?

Conclusions

Main driving forces are:

• Elaborating common strategies in the field of innovation, synergies
• Forming the means and tools for the R&D and innovation policy at regional level (regionalism),

Strengthen bilateral, stimulate multilateral co-operation

Technology transfer

• Representing the country'sinterests
• Raising the understanding and awareness of the society of the importance of the international co-operation in research and innovation, mutual understanding
• The European reintegration of the western Balkan scientific society, widening the international scope of co-operation
• Exchange of information, knowledge-based economy and society
• Networking (regional networks of excellence)
• Capacity-building

10 countries plan to establish new programmes in the region.

France already has a bilateral intergovernmental cooperation with all West Balkan countries – except BiH.

Germany has launched a new programme in 2004, the International Cooperation in Education and Research - Central, Eastern and South Eastern European Region. The South Eastern European Region covers all the participating countries.

Country / Bilateral RTD programmes targeting Southeast Europe (SEE) / Political motivation, driving forces and strategic orientation of the existing programmes / Do you plan to set up new programmes in the region? What are the driving forces? / New agreements?
Other comments
Austria
Ministry for Education, Science and Culture (BMBWK) / There are three Scientific and Technological Agreements (STA) with Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania. The STAs with Bulgaria (since 1972) and Romania (since 1976) however were not active during the past years.
Besides, there are Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices (ASO) in target SEE countries. / Agreements are used as instruments for foreign science policy to support mobility in the framework of bilateral scientific projects in order to strengthen bilateral co-operation and stimulate multilateral co-operation. / Yes. In line with specific support activities for the “Western Balkan Countries” as a priority of the forthcoming Austrian Presidency in the first half of 2006 and in accordance with the “EU-Balkan Countries Action Plan in S&T” adopted at the Ministerial Conference in Thessalonica in 2003, Austria is willing to strengthen its S&T co-operations with the countries here mentioned. / Yes.
Bulgaria Romania not active
Austria
Zentrum für Soziale Innovation (ZSI) on behalf of the Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices in Ljbuljana and Sofia / Austria operates two ‘Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices’ (ASOs), one in Ljubljana (Slovenia) and one in Sofia (Bulgaria). The ASOs have been established by the Austrian Ministry for Education, Science and Culture. The establishment of ASOs is an unilateral Austrian initiative, but the ASOs are confirmed and adopted in the intergovernmental ‘Cultural Agreements’ concluded between Austria and Bulgaria resp. Between Austria and Slovenia.
Both ASOs have small project funds available to support bilateral RTD co-operation between researchers from Austria and the two host countries. Until 31.12.2003 both ASOs have been co-ordinated by the Austrian Institute of East and Southeast European Studies (Österreichisches Ost- und Südosteuropa Institut). Since 1.3.2004 the two ASOs are co-ordinated by the ZSI. With the new co-ordination, the scope of the small projects fund has considerably changed / The small project funds have been established to strengthen bilateral co-operation between Austria and Bulgaria resp. between Austria and Slovenia and to stimulate multilateral co-operation in view of joint applications under the European Framework Programmes for RTD. Approximately half of the available budget has been reserved for the host institutions of the two ASOs in Bulgaria resp. Slovenia. / Yes. In line with specific support activities for the “Western Balkan Countries” as a priority of the forthcoming Austrian Presidency in the first half of 2006 and in accordance with the “EU-Balkan Countries Action Plan in S&T” adopted at the Ministerial Conference in Thessalonica in 2003, the ZSI has been contracted by the Austrian Ministry for Education, Science and Culture to run - as a new ASO-initiative - a call for proposal with a multilateral focus targeting both the ASO host countries Bulgaria and Slovenia AND all other so called West Balkan countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, FYROM and Serbia and Montenegro). Whereas the small project funds of the ASOs have been open to any scientific discipline, the newly established call for proposals to be launched in December 2004 has a thematic orientation. This year’s thematic focus is on social sciences. / Yes.
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MVP) / Enabling mobility of our researchers who due to the recent war in the country were isolated from the European Research Area;
Reintegration of our region into European Research Area / Programs of cooperation in science and technology with other countries of ex-Yugoslavia are plannedin the next future in order to re-establish the former links and cooperation in RTD area that existed in ex-Yugoslavia before war. / Yes. Planned.
Bulgaria
Ministry for Education and Science (MON) / The National research programmes are relevant to the European initiatives and reflect to the specific interests of our country.
The National research programmes are oriented towards:
Capacity building of the Bulgarian science potential
Development of traditions and experience in significant scientific areas
Improvement of the knowledge-based competitiveness / A significant part of the work of the Ministry of Education and Science, particularly of the Department for ‘Scientific research and Projects” is taken up by bilateral scientific and technical cooperation, which provides favourable conditions for the exchange of scientists and specialists, scientific and technical information, as well as documentation exchange, including electronic one, participation in joint conferences, workshops, seminars, etc., sharing of scientific and research tools and equipment, and development of joint research programmes and projects, access to the DB’s, training and retraining activities, etc.
Baring in mind the above-mentioned Ministry of Education and Science considers regional cooperation as of primary importance and our goal is establishment of bilateral research cooperation programmes with all Western Balkan countries. / Yes. Planned.
Croatia
Ministry of Science, Education and Sports (MZOS) / Examples of new programmes in the region:
The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia signed the new Programme of Cooperation in the Field of Science, Technology and Education with the Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Macedoniaon July 16, 2004. The first call for project proposals pursuant to this Program will be opened by the end of the year.
The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia is currently elaborating a Memorandum of Cooperation on the Croatian-SerbianScience and Technology Programme with the Ministry of Science and Environmental Protection of the Republic of Serbia. This Memorandum will provide legal basis for joint research projects. / Political motivation of the existing bilateral programmes is the policy of creating an efficient and stimulating system of science and technology based on the EU model. The strategic orientation is to facilitate cooperation with Southeast Europe by enabling more efficient use of the capital research equipment thus creating regional networks of excellence. This would be the basis for joint application to EU research programmes and initiatives thus facilitating the overall integration into the European Research Area. Moreover the strategic orientation includes:
Elaborating common strategies in the field of research and development
Stimulating regionalization of scientific development
Representing Croatian interests and maximal use of Croatian research potential. / The Ministry of Science, Education and Sports plans to enhance bilateral RTD cooperation with countries in the region. Moreover, additional efforts will be made to increase joint participation in multilateral projects with regional partners within the framework of programmes such as the Sixth Framework Research Programmes, COST and EUREKA. / Yes. Planed.
France
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (MAE) / There now exists Integrated Action Programmes with Bulgaria (created in 2002), Romania (created in 2002), Croatia (created in 2002), Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (created in 2004), Montenegro (created in 2004), Serbia (created in 2004). There exists no IAP yet with Bosnia-Herzegovina. However, Bosnia-Herzegovina is integrated in another of our research cooperation program, ECO-NET. / Facilitate the development of scientific relations between French scientific organisms, ex-candidate countries and future candidate countries to enable countries of the region to be better integrated in the EU scientific environment. This aim is pushed forward through 4 main axes:
Developing bilateral scientific exchanges
facilitating know-how transfer and capacity building
Supporting the setting up of new research network
Providing assistance for the development of European research project proposals
Push forward the setting up of the European research area
Anticipate the adhesion of new candidate countries / We now aim at developing and reinforcing cooperation with those countries we have signed agreements with in order to reinforce cooperation with them. Most of these programs are recent and therefore need to be sustained. Moreover, once the bilateral relations are reinforced and confirmed it is possible to envisage research cooperation projects involving more than 2 countries (eg. France, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina). / No.
France has bilateral intergovernmental cooperation with all West Balkan countries – except BiH.
France
CNRS / CNRS concluded 2 bilateral exchange agreements with Bulgaria and Romaniaand 2 co-operation agreements with Croatiaand Serbia in a mid term perspective / The driving force consists of deepening and broadening our mutual understanding and co-operation so as to work together and exchange accurate information about our innovations / The question of new programmes was not answered.
Germany
Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) / Synergies of co-operation in education and research with the Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries and the South Eastern European (SEE) countries in strategic R&D-fields shall be explored and new co-operation activities shall be stimulated.
Bilateral cooperation contributes to the enlargement of the European Union and the creation of the European Education and Research Area. Concerning the South Eastern European Countries their integration in the growing ERA is one of the main goals. / In March 2004 a call in a new format was published: International Cooperation in Education and Research - Central, Eastern and South Eastern European Region;
New forms of bilateral cooperation are intended to strengthen the international and European focus of German institutions in the field of education and research, improve their competitiveness generally, and support the continuing integration of the CEE and SEE states in Europe. By giving funding programmes of Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) an international profile, linking them to similar funding programmes in the partner countries, and focussing on key areas which are of mutual interest, it is intended to generate an added value at both a bilateral as well as a European level with regard to the EU's Lisbon target.
Three levels of projects are targeted by this programme:
preparation projects in the frame of the complementary funding for international cooperation of BMBF
research projects in the strategic national R&D programmes of BMBF (project funding) which are opened for the participation of partners from CEEC and SEEC
joint participation in European programs
Germany
International Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research at the German Aerospace Center (IB-PT-DLR),
Greece
GSRT
Ministry of Development – General Secretariat for Research and Technology / Political motivation
the contribution of S&T for the establishment of peace in the region
the peaceful development of S&T into an equilibrated region
Driving forces
need of networking
need of exchanging knowledge, skills, know-how, innovative ideas on S&T
Strategic orientation
development of S&T in international level,
the globalisation of S&T
integration of Western Balkan countries into the European and international S&T mechanisms / Greece has not yet bilateral relations with Croatia, Montenegro, F.Y. Republic of Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. With all four we are available to further promote our bilateral cooperation. / Yes. Planned.
Hungary
National Office for Research and Technology, (NKTH) / Intergovernmental S&T agreements with Croatia (2002) and Serbia-Montenegro (2004) / Elaborating common strategies in the field of innovation
Forming the means and tools for the R&D and innovation policy at regional level,
Technology transfer
Representing the Hungarian interests
Raising the understanding and awareness of the society of the importance of the international co-operation in research and innovation
The European reintegration of the Western Balkan scientific society / Yes. Hungary is ready to conclude other agreements in the region. The driving forces are similar to the ones, we have mentioned before. / Yes. Planned.
Republic of Macedonia (FYROM)
Ministry of Education and Science (MON-MK) / One of the main priorities in the strategy for overall development of the Republic Macedonia is to establish, enhance and enlarge the bilateral and regional R&D cooperation with the main objective to strength its efforts to be accessed with the EU courtiers. / Through existing bilateral programs we have committed to encourage joint actions in the international RTD programmes and projects in priority areas of the European Commission to which the respective States have an access, as well as to the regional projects within EU Programmes such as: COST, CARDS, FP-s, UNESCO development programmes, the Central European Initiative, etc.
The Ministry has undertaken the necessary activities and have initiated appropriate negotiation to establish and sign the bi-lateral R&T programmes with the rest of the countries in the region, as well with the other EU countries and wider, depends on the mutual benefit.
These activities are of the special importance in this period when our Government, in all the levels, undertakes intensive activities and appropriate preparatory measures to be fully accessed in EU in the near future.
Montenegro
Ministry of Education and Science (MPIN) / Bilateral RTD cooperation will give the possibility to Montenegro to create the link with the internal RTD market, also much stronger participation in European research endeavours, thus enhancing research perspectives in bilateral and multilateral activities. RTD strategy in Montenegro is oriented toward the improving the research capacities in the thematic priorities domains of FP, by reinforcing their S&T potential, by supporting and mobilising the human and material resources, by disseminating scientific information as well as the results of research, by facilitating the communication and by improving the responses to socio-economic needs of the country. / The RTD strategy of Montenegro includes the creation of new programmes because of the strong political will to enhance participation of the country in Framework Programme. The objective problems in S&T in Montenegro deals with the relatively bad infrastructure which induce decreased job opportunities for young scientists, work conditions, carrier opportunities. Increased networking through bilateral and multilateral cooperation would enable exchange of personnel and of results, carrying out of joint experiments, hosting scientists from abroad for teaching, training and other research activities, the possibilities to diffuse and to exploit research results, hiring of new young researches to reinforce human potential. / Yes. Planned.
Romania
Ministry of Education and Research (MEC) / A coherent R&D&I policy at regional level;
Adapting the existing programs to the regional needs;
Correlation between international cooperation and national R&D programs;
Promoting Romanian interests within the region;
Searching for added value to the national R&D landscape;
Raising awareness about the importance of S&T in the whole society (all levels);
Technology transfer;
Borders should not hinder research and researchers;
Mobility of researchers seen from the perspective of a smooth transfer of knowledge. / The answer is yes, we do. Romania is prepared to start bilateral cooperation programs with Serbia, Montenegro and Croatia, based on existing legal framework and envisage the possibility of concluding specific bilateral agreements with Macedonia and Bosnia-Herzegovina. The driving forces are strongly connected to the idea that things should always be approached from the regional perspective. / Yes. Planned.
Slovenia
Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Technology, (MSZS) / Elaborating common strategies in the field of science and technology
Forming the means and tools for the R&D and innovation policy at regional level,
Technology transfer
Representing the Slovenian interests
Raising the understanding and awareness of the society of the importance of the international co-operation in the fields of research and innovation
The integration of the Western Balkan scientific society into European research area.
Creation of potentials and capabilities for full participation in ERA, FP6 and other European programmes. / Yes, Slovenia is about to sign a new intergovernmental S&T agreement with Albania.
Driving forces are similar to the ones, we have mentioned above. / Yes. Planned.