Concept paper on WISE-RTD development
SCG meeting of 26-27 October 2005
Agenda item: 9.4 Status: draft
Author: Ph. Quevauviller
Developing WISE-RTD
1. Needs for improved science-policy interface
The issue for a better science-policy integration linked to the WFD implementation is in discussion since the midst of 2004 in close connection with the HarmoniCA project funded by the 5th Framework Programme. This has resulted in a first working paper (“HarmoniCA scope paper”) presented to the Strategic Coordination Group on 27-28 May 2004, which was followed by a workshop held in Ghent on 4-5 October 2004 on “Research & Technology Integration in support of the EU Water Framework Directive”. This workshop gathered representatives from Member States (PRB participants in particular), the Commission (DG Environment, DG Research; LIFE programme and JRC) as well as coordinators of RTD, LIFE and INTERREG III projects. The sharing and exchanges of views have clearly underlined the needs for a better coordination among the different funding mechanisms and projects.
A salient feature of the discussions highlighted that, at the present stage, knowledge generated by several research and demonstration projects is not reaching policy-makers in an efficient way. On the other hand, the consideration of research results by the policy-making community is not straightforward, mainly for political reasons and difficulties to integrate the latest research developments in legislation. The difficulty is enhanced by the fact that the policy-making community is probably not defining its role as “client” sufficiently well. In other words, the dialogue and communication are far from being what one would hope to ensure an efficient flow of information. In this respect, improvements could be achieved through the development of a “science-policy interface” so that R&D results are synthesised in a way that can efficiently feed the implementation and further reviews of the policies and that short, medium and long term research needs may be identified. This interface should include:
ü A screening phase evaluating which type of research is needed (background information or tailor-made research and demonstration) in accordance with the policy step of concern (e.g. development of the daughter directives covered by the WFD, implementation issues, reviewing);
ü A mechanism to ensure that the most promising research projects in support of the policies are “validated” through demonstration activities, disseminated efficiently and applied at the appropriate level (regional, national or EU);
ü A management scheme involving both scientists and policy makers to discuss the corresponding research and policy agendas from the very beginning in order to ensure a more structured communication at all appropriate levels of policy formulation, development, implementation and review.
More than dissemination and application, the interface should establish strong links among the different funding mechanisms existing at the EU level and the thematic policies (in the field of water). This should enable to promote pilot projects combining the implementation of results of successfully completed EC-funded RTD or demonstration projects with the implementation of related (water) policies. This would allow forming new and innovative partnerships by combining various EC (RTD, LIFE, Structural and cohesion funds, agricultural funds, etc.) and regional/national funding mechanisms, and the establishment of a collaborative partnership involving scientists, policy makers, managers and other stakeholders, for the effective integration of science outputs into policy and management decisions.
2. Building-up on a practical experience - HarmoniCA initiative
The above concept takes its origin in discussions around the HarmoniCA initiative which has been presented to the SCG in May 2005. This FP5 project is indeed promoting a forum for dialogue and exchange of information between policy-makers, water managers and researchers and is developing an exchange platform through an interactive webportal. The portal provides intelligent search of information related to specific issues (e.g. WFD milestones) serving multiple user-groups (policy-makers, water managers, stakeholders, modellers etc.). The system “ports” websites containing a wide range of information such as CIS guidance documents, PRB-reports, reviews and selections of ICT tools, or results of national and EC-funded projects (e.g. the CatchMod cluster).
Policy-makers being considered as a primary user-group of the system, DG ENV has shown its interest in this initiative in the light of the above considerations, i.e. using this practical experience as exchange forum for developing an interface specifically focussing on science-policy issues.
3. Reaching common understanding on WISE-RTD
In the light of the above, a meeting has been held on 29th September 2005 (see agenda, minutes and participant list in the annex) to discuss a concept to be proposed under the CIS framework (collaboration among DG ENV, DG RTD and LIFE, consultation with relevant CIS working group (namely WG B and WG C) and close links with HarmoniCA). This activity would aim to establish an efficient and sustainable science-policy platform linked to WISE (Water Information System for Europe), which has been named WISE-RTD.
As a reminder, WISE “Water Information System for Europe” is a joint initiative among DG ENV, JRC-IES, EEA and Eurostat, which aims to efficiently manage all water-related information, at EU level, ensuring coherence between various reporting mechanisms and needs, and providing access to information (including RTD) / data for various purposes. This system is developed in close cooperation with the Member States, including GIS components, and is linked to the INSPIRE implementation plan. The justification for linking WISE-RTD to the WISE reporting/visualisation system is that policy implementers, water managers and other stakeholders will need to get an efficient and user’s friendly access to scientific and technical knowledge and solutions linked to implementation milestones of the Water Framework and other Directives. In addition, having too many “portals” might confuse the eventual end-users or even discourage effective use and acceptance. Reversely, acceptance of WISE-RDT as a sub-feature of the WISE access to information almost surely will contribute to a wide acceptance of WISE-RTD.
The minutes of the meeting (Annex) illustrate that the concept described in section 1 found a general support, which justified that a concrete proposal be made to the CIS framework.
4. Core elements of WISE-RTD
The sketch below illustrates how WISE-RTD could operate in the future (at the 2007-2008 horizon): the water policy process (centre of the figure) is closely linked to a larger circle concerning research and technological developments (FP7 for EU research, ERA-NET for national research), demonstration (LIFE programme, link with Pilot River Basin of the CIS, possible link to INTERREG projects), interface through a “single web portal” (WISE-RTD, integrating the Platform of Information Exchange (PIE) of the PRB network) and research policy development (reviews, integration, research needs).
This diagram however shows an ideal situation which is far from being operational to date. To make it workable, a strengthened coordination should be developed among the responsible services. This could lead to a WISE-RTD interface as depicted in the diagram below:
In this configuration, WISE-RTD would act as a “information database” for RDT and demonstration (LIFE in particular) projects, analysing their relevance to water and marine policies and identifying successful results, tools, methods etc. Communication of results would be undertaken in the form of technical guides translated in the EU languages (addressed to policy managers) linked to a Data Infrastructure providing dissemination and access to results of various RTD and demonstration projects (the modus operandi needs to be further discussed).
5. Forthcoming development steps
5.1. Feeding the system
To date, the user interface for policy makers in the webportal of HarmoniCA is in full development. The technical and logical foundation of the system is robust and working. The responses of the system are being tested on the basis of information on about 15 RTD projects (including 2 on tool selection), 11 CIS guidance documents, 5 PRB reports and information on tools and technologies serving IRBWM. It is expected that the webportal prototype will be made operational by the end of 2006, including more than 60 RTD and LIFE projects. In this respect, it is envisaged to ask selected RTD (FP5 and FP6) and LIFE project coordinators to fill in an agreed template for describing the outputs of their projects. This should be closely coordinated with DG RTD and inventories of FP6 projects for synthesis reports (e.g. NeWater) and the LIFE programme within the forthcoming months (October 2005-February 2006).
The presentation of project information should be formatted along an agreed template, along the example shown in Annex 2.
5.2. Testing/validation phase
The expectations and plans are to make the HarmoniCA prototype tested and validated by practitioners. In this respect, a stronger link with the PRB network is envisaged in 2006-2007 so that WFD implementers may contribute to the design and operation of the webportal. Though foreseen in the HarmoniCA project on a small case basis at the end of 2005, this validation phase is expected to take place in the framework of a project to be funded under the Scientific Support to Policies Priority (SSP) for which a call for proposal is expected to be published in November 2005.
5.3. Merging with PIE
In the light of the discussions held on 29 September (see minutes attached), it was considered of interest to plan the merging of the PIE (PRB platform information exchange) with WISE-RTD, which could be foreseen after the validation phase. The merging would be justified by the need to disseminate technical experiences gathered by the PRB network. It was, however, considered important to keep a CIRCA site opened to PRB participants for regular information exchanges within the network.
6. Linking with WISE
The final goal is to formally link the validated WISE-RTD webportal to WISE, which could be envisaged before the end of 2008, i.e. timely with the opening of the public consultation on the first river basin management plan. This would represent a significant scientific/technical support for Member States in the establishment of the RBMP draft and the final draft to be published in 2009, e.g. programmes of measures might be adapted in accordance with available technical solutions that should be made available through WISE-RTD.
7. SCG approval
The SCG is invited to comment on this concept and to possibly approve this initiative. Based on approval, WISE-RTD will be presented to the Water Directors in London on 28-29 November 2005.
ANNEX 1:
Minutes of the meeting “Developing WISE-RTD”
Brussels, 29 September 2005
Chair: Philippe Quevauviller, DG ENV
Agenda
The agenda for this meeting is attached (Annex 1)
Participants
A list of participants is attached (Annex 2).
The meeting aimed to discuss the concept for developing a science-policy interface which should be linked to WISE (Water Information System for Europe). This is referred to as “WISE-RTD” and is built-up on previous exchanges among DG ENV, DG RTD, DG JRC and the HarmoniCA consortium (project funded by FP5).
The introduction was made by Ph. Quevauviller who recalled the outcome of the discussions held at the workshop in Ghent on 4-5 October 2004, which established the needs and principle for the development of a science-policy interface. This resulted in the identification of needs for a strengthened cooperation among Commission services, and of operation steps which were discussed during the first half of 2005.
The link of this initiative with the development of the HarmoniCA webportal was presented by W. de Lange. The prototype was well received by the participants. The demonstration focused on only one of the multiple user entries of the system: the water managers / WFD implementers considered that this kind of access is too technical for policy-makers and that another guidance and access to information is necessary for this user-group. This should be based on the presentation of relevant projects through a common template which is yet to be agreed.
Action: RIZA to send a draft template for comments
It was commented that a presentation of the prototype to the Water Directors would be premature at this stage. A test/validation would be needed beforehand, before a formal presentation to the WD (to be scheduled end of 2006).
The Platform for Information Exchange (PIE) of the PRB network has then been presented by P. Haastrup who highlighted its function of internal tool for PRB participants. At this stage PIE contains mainly information related to the implementation of the PRBs exercise. A major part of this information (e.g. Article 5 reports) is already available or could be also disseminated with WISE-RTD. There might be a clear interest then to merge the PIE with WISE-RTD on the short to medium term. It was however recognised that there might still be a need for a proactive site for PRB networks and this should not be overlooked when deciding about the merging.
Discussions hence focused on how to feed and maintain the system. On the short-term (2005-2006), examples from the CatchMod cluster will be used. This should be completed by examples of finished LIFE and FP5-RTD projects. Focus will be on monitoring in 2006 since it corresponds to the main MS interest with regard to WFD milestones (design of monitoring programme).
Action: Further to agreement on common template, letters to be prepared for LIFE and FP5 project coordinators, asking them to submit information on their project.
On the long term (2007-2009), there will be needs to discuss how WISE-RTD could be developed and maintained. This could be envisaged through different routes/hosts, e.g. JRC, EEA or network of MS organisations.
P. Haastrup clarified the aims of the WISE framework with regard to reporting and visualisation of data. In this context, WISE-RTD is not directly linked to compliance requirements but would rather be a supporting tool for Member States. The interface could hence either be linked to WISE via a weblinks or integrated as one of the functions of WISE. This will require further discussions, in particular with the WISE Steering Committee, in the context of the WISE implementation plan.
Elements to draft a concept paper for submission to the CIS Strategic Coordination Group were then discussed and agreed by the participants:
- Introduction on science-policy interfacing needs (referring to the Ghent workshop)
- Building-up of practical experience through HarmoniCA
- Sharing experiences/discussions leading to common agreement at the meeting of 29/9
- Few words of WISE and reasons for linking WISE-RTD to this portal
- Feeding WISE-RTD with CatchMod and other LIFE/FP5 projects in 2006
- Testing/validation phase with water managers in 2007; merging with PIE
- Links to WISE in 2008
Action: Ph. Quevauviller to draft a concept paper