EU – U.S. Cooperation from the Systems Sciences and Cybernetics Point of View Prof. Stuart Umpleby & Dr. Sabine Herlitschka 8 Febr. 2011

for this Seminar  Objectives of the Seminar and Background  What and how  Potential results and next steps

A transatlantic EU – U.S. Alliance in Science and Technology working jointly on the “Grand Challenges”: Vision or a Chance for Realization? Objective: Qualitative Study based on input from key stakeholders on their views, reflections, expectations on opportunities for transatlantic S&T cooperation under the current conditions. Host organizations:  George Washington University – Elliot School: Center for International Science and Technology Policy  Johns Hopkins University – SAIS: Center for Transatlantic Relations My Fulbright-Schuman Project

Methodology applied:  Overview of relevant actors and stakeholders  Modified Delphi Method: 2 stages of Questionnaires, concluding reflection  Dissemination  Report incl. policy recommendations with input to the further development and implementation of the strategic EU – U.S. project Contact to and Meetings with Key Stakeholders: The “usual suspects”: Agencies, official representatives, etc., plus added-value through contact with: Universities, think tank, etc. Advantage: non-official role of my Fulbright project, thus being able to challenge typical opinions, ask out-of-the-box questions, involve broader range of people/organisations Fulbright Project: so far...

What and How... Department of State („coordination“) NSF, DoE, etc. Congress Delegation of the EC EP Delegation in the U.S. EU MS Science Councellors European Commission EU Member States European Parliament European Council U.S. Science Coucellors EU – U.S. S&T Cooperation: bottom-up: Scientist to Scientist, top-down: governments, agencies, experts Objectives, Instruments, Activities: Major Issues of mutual interest Joint Committee Meeting (JCM) Bilateral Agreements Specific Activities Why: Grand Challenges: energy, climate change, innovation economy, etc EU – U.S.: biggest players in absolut economic terms

From a systems sciences point of view:  what is your interpretation of the current status of EU - U.S. S&T cooperation in terms of actors, institutions, their relations, their objectives and achievements?  what are dimensions that are missing, what are obvious limitations  how could EU-U.S. S&T cooperation look like if understood/perceived as a system?  what could/should be done to improve it? Dimensions to be considered: observation, causality, reflexivity, self-organization, determinism, environment, relationships, holism, others?? Other major elements: market fundamentalism, “complex equality” concept (as foundation of innovation society in which the different actors are able to coordinate despite having different goals and values), etc. for Discussion...

incl. up-to-date info on EU-U.S. Cooperation, quaterly Newsletter, key documents produced eg funding overview, etc Dr. Sabine Herlitschka Division European and International Programmes FFG – Austrian Research Promotion Agency BILAT-USA has been funded under FP7/Capacities Programme Grant Nr for further information...