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

2 The SEE-ERA.NET target region:

3 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.

4 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)

5 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)

6 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; etc Footnotes: *SEE-ERA.NET PLUS: plus approx 33% by EC; project in negotiation phase, to be implemented (project proposal, Era Net, FP7) ** SEE-ERA.NET on Innovation (project proposal, Era Net, FP7) The major SEE-ERA.NET interim results (3)

7 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)

8 SEE-ERA.NET contact details Marion Haberfellner SEE-ERA.NET Co-ordinator Centre for Social Innovation Linke Wienzeile Vienna, Austria