Progress developing in the Frame of Regional cooperation Dr. Albena Vutsova Ministry of Education and Science

What does ‘Regional cooperation’ mean? Stable economy Stable social milieu Stable mobility and circulation of HR Common access to LSF Joint access to the main innovative achievements

New challenges Changing structure of the global market Crucial and fast technological progress Necessity of form of integration Catching up fast economies - BRIC, Asian tigers by adequate economic development Aging population and new scale of social life

Regional development in international scale? Global market requires Strong competitiveness Tackling with fragmented and finite resources New labor conditions Effective multinational entities Multi dimension movements Flexible and friendly milieu for various actions

…as well as Substantial variability in funding mechanisms for R&D Portfolio of support schemes Confined or open partnerships Efficient networking

Regional development in international scale – prospective Key element of the progress development Creates favorable conditions for multi- disciplinarity and cross border cooperation Networking all kinds of resources Improving overall quality of performance and raising competitiveness

How to achieve it? Ways for realization Joining international programs - supra regional, European and Trans-European Active position in international organizations Building up or modernizing supra regional facilities and infrastructures as a possible element of larger ones Joining LSF

International programs and initiatives European programs 7FP CIP LLL COST EURECA Euro stars SF’s IPA etc Supra- and trans-regional programs Stability Pact INTERREG TNBC CEEI NATO Targeted programs of regional structures and/or Foundations Bilateral agreements

New and pre-accession instruments EU neighborhood and partnership instrument ENPI Fostering neighborhood in the area of research and innovation - twining structures Fostering neighborhood in the area of training and adoption of new skills Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance, IPA Participation in various infrastructural projects or preparatory ones as a partner (similar to PHARE scheme) Instrument for Stability Preparation of projects towards participation in HR initiatives - including research carrier development

Example 1: What can we get from 7 FP-INCO? Better use of resources and facilities Offering carrier structures for young researchers Cross-disciplinary interaction Influence on current trends and future direction for research Strengthening the links between regional researchers and institutions

Example 2: What can we get from ЕRА NЕТ and ERA NET+? Concentration of resources Mutual national commitments Supporting pure interest of targeted and important areas Guaranteed transfer of knowledge and skills Broader dissemination of results

Example 3: What can we get from bilateral schemes? Commitments to thematic areas Commitment to high competence Commitment to mutual interest Commitment to shared funding Commitment to monitoring of project progress Commitment to implementation of similar evaluation procedures with adequate criteria

Some Recommendations – lessons learnt Targeted calls for “top-up” existing projects Targeted calls on areas and topics of particular mutual interest Targeted funds to research partnerships in the areas where the Region has a leading role to play at international level Capacity building via targeted instruments for reinforcement of existing schemes, for example visiting scientists (PhDs, POST DOC) from INCO target countries

Advantages of International cooperation Natural milieu for Multi national activities Circulation of HR Cooperation wit the best regardless geographical location Exchange of experience, knowledge and practices Fastest way towards global economic and research world

What do we need? National commitments Additionality Complementarity Concentration of all resources Synergy effect Effective cooperation

What we could expect? Providing sufficient resources Enhancing the creation and accumulation of new kind of development Bringing expertise and know how created elsewhere to the use by regional domestic actors

What should be the aim? Clear outlined results Vision for future long term cooperation Better dialog between partners Need for more ambitious goals Set up additional useful activities except mobility Enriching the existing schemes

Any questions? Many thanks for Your attention!