1. 1 Steering Platform on Research of WBC LJUBLJANA 13 June A summery of progress issues

2. 2 Albania under FP7 in 2007: participated as third country/ICPC MoU signed in Brussels on 17 December 2007 associated as from 1 January 2008 Participation: – 71 submissions – 5 projects main listed – success rate 7,4% Successful projects: – Cooperation: Health, SSH, Transport – No participation under Peoples programme – No participation in SME programme

3. 3 Activities for the promotion of FP7 in Albania Meetings and seminars in the universities in Albania and abroad European Event promoting ERA (FP7, JRC, COST) 6 May 2008 Official visit of Commissioner Potocnik 5-6 May 2008 Nominations of PC Members

4. 4 New developments on Research policy(1) Participation and implementation of FP7 as a driving force for new a stronger policy on Research A strategy for research (Unesco, WB, and possibely EU funds) The project of S&I in R&D FONDEX and Brain Gain (2 milion USD/year) - 400 new jobs for lecturers in universities are approved this year. PhD candidates favorits New labs in universities (2 milion usd)

5. 5 New developments on Research policy(2) A Midterm budgetary plan of Scientific Research National Program for the period 2009-11 is approved with 25% of the budget of the National Program increased every year. An increase of the fund for bilateral programs has been also foreseen. - The budget for science and research for this year (2008) is almost doubled compared to the last one.

6. 6 Needs Low capacities to implement FP7 and the other research programs Research infrastructure not adekuate Not yet an integrated policy paper on Research

7. 7 Challenges Buiding capacities inside and outside MoE&S A Center(or Agency) for promotion and implementation of European RTD Programs must be established The center mission is to assist universities, the business community, and all researchers to apply successfully in the European RTD programs, likeFP7, COST, Eureka, etc Using of IPA money

8. 8 THANK YOU