1. Tania Friederichs DG Research European Commission tania.friederichs@ec.europa.eu The importance of cross border cooperation in the Western Balkan Countries Conference by Research Council of Norway 11 March 2010 Sarajevo

2. Importance of Research Need to increase research capacity: in support of economic development; quality of life and well being of citizens Research and innovation at core of “Europe 2020” strategy Research necessary to address common challenges/find common solutions Strategy also valid for wider Europe WBC - EU perspective: research facilitates integration into EU

3. Importance of Cross border cooperation Research no longer done in isolation: need to cooperate at all levels: national; regional; EU; international Cross border cooperation: increase transfer of knowledge and improve scientific basis Allows for best practices and comparison Necessary to join forces: share experience and scientists and equipment Science has no borders: need to rely on best scientists wherever in the world Regional dimension: relevant (same language/problems)

4. Research at EU level Research and Innovation on political agenda (scientific counsellor attached to Commission President Barroso) How: policy measures and funding Policy mix: involve all stakeholders (public and private/business) Cross-cutting policy: education, fiscal, digital agenda; industry; IPR

5. How European research Area (ERA) Instrument/funding: FP7 Joint Programming: by MS on specific research themes ERA open to world → strategy for cooperation

6. Avoid fragmentation Create critical mass: compete with other major partners (US, China, Brazil, Japan); Fifth Freedom: free flow of knowledge and researchers Ljubljana process: governance 5 building blocks: Single labour market for resarchers (Steering Group on Human Resources and Mobility) World-class research infrastructures (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructure) Coordination and joint programming (GPC) Effective knowledge sharing (CREST w/g) Opening of the ERA to the world (SFIC) ERA

7. Framework for 2007-2013 budget: 50 billion euro 4 Specific Programmes: –Cooperation (collaborative research/ 10 themes) –IDEAS (European Research Council) –People (Marie Curie Actions) –Capacities (Support for research capacity) Based on calls for proposals/evaluations/selection Always cross border element; always added value for EU FP7

8. 1.Health 2.Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology 3.Information & communication technologies 4.Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials & new production technologies 5.Energy 6.Environment (including Climate Change) 7.Transport (including aeronautics) 8.Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities 9.Space 10.Security Cooperation

9. Member States (27) Third countries associated to FP7 (13): EEA: Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein Enlargement countries: all WBCs and Turkey S&T agreements: Switzerland, Israel, Faroe Islands Other third countries: Industrial countries: US; Japan, NZ, Gulf States ICPC partners: Mediterranean, Africa, South America, Kosovo, etc. FP7 participants

10. Same research opportunities as MS: - eligible for all calls and instruments - fulfil minimum requirement (3 participants MS/AC) - no dedicated calls - eligible for research potential Participate as observer in Programme Committee: - well informed about Work Programmes - possibility to network with MS and other AC Invited to participate in ERA governance bodies: - becoming familiar with EU research policy - share best practices Associated countries

11. European Partnership for International S&T cooperation Objective: common problems and common solutions Make Europe attractive research partner Attract best researchers from world Implementation: Strategic Forum for International S&T cooperation (SFIC) (all associated countries invited as observer) Open ERA

12. 12 WBC Strategy “Doors ERA wide open to WBC” (Potočnik, Vienna, June 26, 2006) 3 pillars: (1)Engage together in research cooperation: association to FP7; observer CREST and ERA bodies; (2)How improve research capacity: a)human capital b)infrastructure (3)Create synergies with other instruments & stakeholders: IPA, RCC,COST, EUREKA, UNESCO

13. (1)Research cooperation Since 1 January 2009: all WBCs associated to FP7 Kosovo UN 1244: ICPC partner (eligible for funding) Before FP7: –participate as third country –dedicated calls on themes (environment & health) –support for capacity building –SEE.ERA.NET Also consider other options (bilateral/regional/multilateral)

14. (2) Research capacity Human capital and Infrastructure Post war situation: very weak; IMF recommendations; financial crisis But support for capacity building at EU level: limited Ownership: put research on national research agenda Prepare for EU accession

15. 15 (3) Synergy With other stakeholders and programmes Bilateral: Norway; neighbors; Turkey COST; Eureka; NATO UNESCO, RCC, OECD Programmes: IPA, CIP

16. 16 WBC Steering Platform Launched in June 2006 in Vienna Supported by FP7 WBC.Inco.Net project Bringing EC, MS and WBCs together Open to AC: Turkey; Norway... (Kamsvag Nils Ragner, NO Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Ad hoc members: Cost; Eureka, RCC Share information and join efforts Create synergies

17. 17 Regional dimension Regional: same problems; background; need for common solutions Small Region: need to cooperate Role of RCC: Sarajevo Ministerial declaration April 2009

18. Regional Projects SEE.ERA.NET Plus Food Cluster: Focus Balkans; LEFSER Health: BECAN Others?

19. Thank you for attention!!