1. EU SDR PRIORITY AREA 7 Steering Group Meeting Dr. Štefan Chudoba, PA 7 Coordinator, State Secretary and Ľubica Pitlová, Sandra Salamonová Ministry of Education, Science, Technology and Sport, Slovak Republic Budapest 20 May 2014

2. ROADMAP FOR PRIORITY AREA 7 ACTIONS OBJECTIVE - a feasible and realistic document DEADLINE – the present version is an update since the last SG Meeting /Ulm 2013 TO BE DONE: adopt today a revised version and keep the deadlines, increase responsibility of national representatives in SG, e.g. national coordinators and ministries, higher involvement of JRC and Inco.Net OUTPUT: concrete results RESPONSIBILITY: head of the concrete working group

3. Milestone Nº1: Identify the centres of excellence and potentials for smart specialization in the Danube Region OBJECTIVE: An independent study to identify regional smart specialization potentials. TO BE DONE: Each country will list its center's of excellence, including existing and potential ones. OUTPUT: Analyses oft the centers of excellence in the Danube Region RESPONSIBILITY: Working group for “Research and Innovation”, Deadline: 30 November 2014

4. Milestone Nº2: Establish a peer-review mechanism for regional smart specialization strategies tailored to Danube countries TO BE DONE: JRC S3 Platform Deadline: to be adjusted – probably end of 2014/ needs confirmation with JRC OUTPUT:: Analysis of countries' and regional Smart Specialization Strategies This part should be elaborated in cooperation with PA 8, PA9 and JRC – IPTS RESPONSIBILITY: Working group Communication with JRC with special emphasize on the RIS 3, Deadline: 30 September 2014

5. Milestone Nº3: Identify national, regional and EU funds for research and innovation OBJECTIVE: Information on the national, regional and EU funds for research and innovation in the Danube region. TO BE DONE: Information on EU, national and regional funds for R&I will be compiled. Additionally cooperation with Danube Inco.Net is inevitable, the role of DG region and InterAct should be highlighted as well Deadline: 30 June 2014 OUTPUT: Collection of links to sources of information on the national, regional and EU funds for research and innovation. RESPONSIBILITY: Working Group DRRIF (based on the DRRIF study output) in cooperation with Danube Inco.Net, DG Regio and Interact Deadline: new deadline according to the DRRIF study timetable should be set up in 2014

6. Milestone Nº4: Call for tender – feasibility study for the establishment of the Danube Region Research and Innovation Fund (DRRIF) – PA7 Flagship Project OBJECTIVE: PACs should open call for a feasibility study on the establishment of DRRIF and select the best application TO BE DONE and OUTPUT: feasibility study on the establishment of DRRIF, contracting of feasibility study for the establishment of DRRIF, Deadlines: Contract was signed on 15 April 2014 RESPONSIBILITY: Slovak Republic, Dr. Chudoba in cooperation with DRRIF working group – Mag. Buchbauer, Prof. Veskovič

7. Milestone Nº5: Feasibility study for establishment of the Danube Region Research and Innovation Fund (DRIFF) – PA7 Flagship Project OBJECTIVE: Feasibility study for the establishment of DRRIF to be adopted by SG members, in cooperation with Danube Inco.Net WP6 TO BE DONE and OUTPUT: Feasibility study for the establishment of DRRIF RESPONSIBILITY: PAC Slovak Republic, WG DRRIF Deadline: 15 April 2015

8. Milestone Nº6: Implementation of piloting coordinating activities OBJECTIVE: Better coordination of existing activities and programs; opening of bilateral programs towards multilateral activities TO BE DONE: identification of suitable agreements and programs on national/regional level; coordination of timing, content, procedures and levels of funding OUTPUT: Joint activities (following an open method of coordination) mainly in the areas of mobility/ networking/project preparation/capacity building RESPONSIBILITY: WG DRRIF ( in cooperation with the Ulm,-Follow up group and Danube Inco.Net) Deadline: 28 February 2015

9. Milestone Nº7: Implementation of piloting joint research funding activities OBJECTIVE: To support cross-border cooperation in R&I projects in the Danube region for certain thematic priorities relevant for the region TO BE DONE: Identification of relevant programs and funding schemes (Danube Inco.Net provides funding for support meetings) OUTPUT: Joint activities (following an open method of coordination) mainly in the areas of R&I project funding RESPONSIBILITY: Initiating process by the WG DRRIF (in cooperation with the Ulm-Follow up group and the Danube Inco.Net), implementation via national/regional research and innovation funds Deadline: Fall 2016

10. Milestone Nº8: Launching joint activities on EU level (e.g. ERA-Net Co-Found, Marie Curie Sklodowska, etc...) OBJECTIVE: To strengthen the competitive basis of applications and projects from the Danube Region TO BE DONE: Lobbying for a EU Horizon call for a Danube.ERA-NET CoFund initiative (or a specific topic relevant for the Danube Region); stimulate in an open method of coordination the preparation of joint applications for EU funding programs that are relevant for the Danube region OUTPUT: Joint applications for projects in Horizon 2020 or other relevant EU funding opportunities RESPONSIBILITY: Stimulation of cooperation potential via WG DRRIF (in cooperation with the Danube-Inco.Net and the Ulm-Follow up group) Deadline: beginning of 2016 or 2017, depending on available relevant EU calls/ the labelling could also play a role in this respect (supporting specific ERA-NETs)

11. Milestone Nº9: DRRIF Set-up as an organizational structure OBJECTIVE: Depending on a promising outcome of the DRRIF Feasibility study as well as the first piloting activities and based on a sound political and financial commitment of a critical mass of Danube countries/regions steps towards the set- up of a DRRIF organizational structure is envisaged. This includes the potential set- up of an Article 185 initiative. TO BE DONE: Decision on and set-up of a legal, financial and management structure of the DRRIF OUTPUT: DRRIF organization RESPONSIBILITY: Monitoring and coordination of the process with the EC via WG DRRIF/ Danube-Inco.Net task 6.2 „Scaling up joint funding mechanisms“ shall explore possibilities towards Art. 185 Deadline: earliest 2017/2018 (remark-related to EU presidencies SK, BG and AT)

12. Milestone Nº10: Identify competitive research infrastructure in the Danube region TO BE DONE: Each country will list its competitive research infrastructure and capacities to support the Danube region innovation system with special emphasize on ESFRI, including existing EU and national programs and initiatives which will be used as a basis (will be done in coordination with other PAs) OUTPUT: Comprehensive list of competitive research infrastructure and capacities for regional innovation system of scientific infrastructure/for the Western Balkans a call to support roadmaps for r&I is published. RESPONSIBILITY: Working group on R&I Deadline: 28 February 2014 Proposal : This milestone may be redefined ( possible cooperation with Remark: Milestone needs revision. WBC-Inco.Net has some data on R&I. Also EU wide mapping initiatives has to be taken into account. It should include all scientific fields (also SSH)

13. Milestone Nº11: Develop an effective system for linking competitive research infrastructure in the Danube region on the basis of projects and programs OBJECTIVE: PACs, SG members, EC DG Regio, EC DG Research&Innovation and DRRIF will organize a workshop on Innovation systems, while countries will discuss and agree on the competitive research infrastructure they plan to integrate in Joint International Research centers to attract world class scientists and provide research infrastructures in areas where this is still missing ( a selection of those identified in Milestone N.1) TO BE DONE and OUTPUT: Study on research infrastructures in the Danube region and their possible cooperation RESPONSIBILITY: Working group DRRIF and JRC and Higher Education and Mobility Remark : Milestone needs revision. We should map national roadmaps and support the development of regional roadmaps (regional ESFRI).Cooperation with MERIL https://portal.meril.eu/converis-esf/publicweb/startpage?lang=1 is recommendedhttps://portal.meril.eu/converis-esf/publicweb/startpage?lang=1 30 September 2014

14. Milestone Nº12 : Agree on regional innovation system and target scientific areas with the most potential in the regions OBJECTIVE: Based on the outputs from Milestones N.9 and 10, the SG with participation of DG Regio, DG Research&Innovation, DRRIF and JRC, countries should discuss and agree on the list of the most relevant scientific areas in the Danube region to focus on the development of regional innovation system and establishment of JIR center's in the Danube region TO BE DONE: the overview of the R&I EU funding possibilities (with the special emphasize on budget framework for 2014-2020) OUTPUT: Regional Innovation System Strategy / regional strategies are not easy to be prepared. World Bank developed one for the WBC. There is also the „smart growth“ pillar of SEE 2020. need of an additional strategy should be discussed. RESPONSIBILITY: Working Group on HE&Mobility Deadline: 30 September 2014/ Remark: Milestone needs revision within the fulfilment of this task it is also possible to utilize the cooperation with the author of the DRRIF feasibility study, whose role would be to prepare such an analyses

15. Milestone Nº13 : Analyze potentials to strengthen cooperation among education and research institutions in the Danube region OBJECTIVE: Enlist existing funding schemes and programs, such as the EU programs, e.g. Erasmus for all, and Central European Exchange Program for University Studies (CEPUS)to support strengthening cooperation among education and research institutions TO BE DONE : Each country will map the situation regarding existing and potential cooperation in various fields, such as analyzing existing education and research programs related to the Danube region and developing joint programs of common interest, mobility schemes, etc. Deadline: 31 December 2013 OUTPUT: Comprehensive overview on the state of play and funding possibilities for strengthening cooperation among education and research institutions RESPONSIBILITY: Working Group on HE&Mobility, Deadline: 28 February2014

16. Milestone Nº14 : Establish a system to support strengthening cooperation among education and research institutions in the Region OBJECTIVE: To prepare the unique system for providing support to initiatives on strengthening cooperation between education and research institutions in the Danube region TO BE DONE: Countries will monitor actions supporting the processes for strengthening cooperation among education and research institutions in the region including those on EC level and propose a possible new ones Deadline: 31 December 2013 OUTPUT: Proposal of possibilities to enhance cooperation between education and research institutions in the Danube region Deadline: 28 February 2014 RESPONSIBILITY: WG on He&Mobility, WG on R&I, in cooperation Interact and DG Regio

17. Milestone Nº15: Define feasible mechanisms to support projects that improve computer literacy in the Danube region OBJECTIVE: Analyze the current status of the of the computer literacy in the Danube region, provision and uptake of ICT and define mechanisms to support projects that will improve the current conditions TO BE DONE: Countries will deliver information on current situation in computer literacy and a list of relevant projects Deadline: 31 December 2013 OUTPUT: Analysis of the situation in computer literacy and projects, which will contribute to the solution of the present situation Deadline: 28 February 2014 RESPONSIBILITY: WG on ICT

18. Milestone Nº16 Identify the availability of infrastructure for e-contents and e-services and best practices in the Danube region OBJECTIVE: Analyze the current status of the infrastructure for e-contents and e- services TO BE DONE: Countries will deliver information on the infrastructure for e- contents and e-services in their countries Deadline: 31 December 2013 OUTPUT: Analysis of infrastructure for e-contents and e-services in the Danube region Deadline: 28 February 2014 RESPONSIBILITY: WG on ICT

19. Milestone Nº17: Analyze conditions for development of e-commerce and identity best practices in Web Services TO BE DONE: Each country will enlist legal requirements, rights and responsibilities of companies and entrepreneurs who want to trade goods through the internet the internet. Available e-commerce services of banks, postal operators and credit card companies, and their costs will be explored and compared as well. Other potential obstacles that inhibit widespread in e-commerce, or could be interested in e-commerce. Deadline: 31 December 2013 OUTPUT: Current workforce for development of web services and e- commerce in DRCs will be examined in terms of the number of companies developing web services, their numbers of employees and productivity, the number of web sites, their quality and security RESPONSIBILITY: Working Group on ICT Deadline: 28 February 2014

20. Milestone Nº18: Stimulate the emergence of innovative ideas for products and services using the concept of Living Labs TO BE DONE: Each country will submit a list of „Living Labs“ Deadline: 30 November 2013 OUTPUT: List of Living Labs in the Region RESPONSIBILITY: Working Group on ICT Deadline: 31 December 2013

21. PA 7 SG MEETING BUDAPEST MAY 2014 THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!