South Africa – European Union Science and Technology Cooperation Brussels 30 January 2006

Overview of Presentation Strategic significance of the SA-EU S&T partnership Overview of SA-EU S&T cooperation landscape Introducing ESASTAP ESASTAP priorities and instruments Lessons learnt and strategies to improve cooperation

SA-EU S&T cooperation: A partnership which matters Supported by and reinforces strong political, economic and development cooperation Building on foundation of historical S&T relations, which continue to expand Enables SA’s integration with global research community and a European Research Area open to the world

Policy coordination and convergence Strengthening the global consensus on the role of S&T as instrument for sustainable development Cooperation in partnerships and forums, e.g. Group on Earth Observations (GEO)

Impact on other relations Harnessing ACP-EU development cooperation for science and technology Supporting inter- regional SADC-EU cooperation Opening partnerships with the “new” EU member states

The SA-EU S&T Landscape SA-EU S&T Cooperation Agreement of 1996 –Framework Programme participation (FP4- FP7) –COST, EDCTP, GEANT, EUREKA, CIP, COST, EURATOM, Marie Curie –Bilateral relations –Multinational investments

ESASTAP Specific Support Action implemented by DST under the FP6 and jointly funded by European Commission Creates a dedicated platform for promotion of SA-EU S&T cooperation, including: –DST and EC –National Contact Points –SA Senior S&T Representative in Brussels

ESASTAP Priorities Create dedicated platform and branding for SA-EU S&T cooperation Supporting SA’s FP6 participation and FP7 preparation / participation Marketing SA’s S&T excellence in Europe –“South Africa a preferred FP partner” Exploit synergies with other international cooperation activities, especially bilateral links with European countries

ESASTAP Interventions National Contact Points Information Hub Online Partnership Database Targeting private sector and SME’s Networking opportunities

Key ESASTAP interventions Events: –High-level FP7 Seminar with Director-General Achilleas Mitsos in South Africa; –SA S&T Promotion in Europe: e.g. Global Change and Ecosystems, Energy and Biosciences Seminars in Brussels; North of England Workshop in Newcastle; –FP6/FP7 workshops in South Africa, e.g. ICT, Space, Life Sciences, Latvia; –Launch events in all nine SA provinces Publications: –SA in FP6 projects: Life Sciences, ICT, Food, etc; –Energy, ICT research in South Africa; –ESASTAP Document Library Strategic identification of opportunities and advice to FP6 / FP7 participants

South Africa’s FP Participation Successful SA participation in FP FP4: SA participated in more than 40 projects FP5: SA participated in more than 60 projects FP6: SA approval given for more than 50 projects

The past decade More than 170 South African participations in FP projects With evolution of Framework Programme, broader and deeper participation in main “thematic priorities” as opposed to INCO (developing countries) activity Range of SA participants expanded

ESASTAP and FP7 Preparing South African S&T community for FP7 content: Expressions of Interest exercise based on specific programmes Improving networking and partnerships with Europe: –Deployment of Seed Funding to attend events –Pro-active contact with leading FP6 coordinators –Using bilateral relations with Member States Learning from South African FP6 experience

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