Southeast European ERA-Net the development of an instrument to integrate Western Balkan Countries into the ERA by linking research and technological development activities within existing national, bilateral and regional programmes Iulia MIHAIL, SEE-ERA.NET WP6 leader Romanian Ministry of Education and Research National Authority for Scientific Research

Coordination of national Programmes ERA-NET Nature shows us the way: Birds coordinating their efforts 71 % gain of efficiency

The Southeast European Era-Net consortium Albania, Austria, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Montenegro, Romania, Serbia, and Slovenia

1. The SEE-ERA.NET starting point: 14 countries 14 ministries & 3 funding agencies more than 70 inter-governmental agreements several thousands of institutional contacts 1.400 projects funded (2002-2004, bilateral programmes)

2. SEE-ERA.NET – Transparency, Interactivity, Synergy Objectives of SEE-ERA.NET: integrating Southeast Europe into the European Research Area adding value to existing bilateral S&T agreements improving interregional research cooperation contributing to the ‘EU-Balkan countries Action Plan in S&T’, adopted at EU Ministerial Conference in Thessaloniki in 2003. These objectives will be met through: exchange of information and best practice on bilateral RTD activities needs analyses in the target countries support of policy dialogue and awareness raising in the EU identification of complementary approaches Opening the existing nationally funded (bilateral) programmes:

4. Examples of Joint SEE-ERA.NET activities Opening the existing nationally funded (bilateral) programmes SEE-ERA.NET Pilote Joint Call – 2006/2007 modest financial contributions joint administration preparatory measures – today, May 11 2006, the first one! joint project application reviewing system joint funding strategy: including a joint „virtual“ and „real“ common pot funding mechanisms will be open to donations from other players in the West Balkan countries (Establishment of strategic partnerships with international organisations, i.e.: EC/DG Research, EC/DG JRC, EC/DG Enlargement, COST, ESF, OECD, UNESCO-ROSTE, EU-ESFRI, World Bank, NCP Training Projects as ERA WESTBALKAN+, etc…) specific thematic areas (scientific disciplines) Project proposals including regional cooperation among the West Balkan Countries and/or with participation of innovative SME’s will be given preference November 2006 – launch of Pilot phase: Joint Call for RTD Proposals (Steering Board meeting in Vienna , 06 /07 April 2006)

SEE-ERA.NET contact details Peter B. Mayr, Coordinator Centre for Social Innovation Linke Wienzeile 246 1150 Vienna, Austria pmayr@zsi.at phone: + 43 1 49 50 442 75 mobile: + 43 699 114 802 80 fax: + 43 1 49 50 442 40 www.see-era.net Iulia Mihail, Coordinator WP6 MEdC – ANCS 21 – 25, Mendeleev Street, 010362 Bucharest, Romania imihail@mct.ro phone: + 40 21 212 77 91 fax: + 40 21 318 30 53 www.see-era.net