1. 1 16/02/2014 Multi-angle perspective on EU environmental research Polish Academy of Sciences, Institute for Agricultural and Forest Environment Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research Zbigniew W. Kundzewicz

2. 2 16/02/2014 Multi-angle perspective… lKundzewiczs personal experience: perspective from many angles èproject proposer, èparticipant in project proposal, èparticipant in funded projects, èevaluator, èmember of project advisory panel / steering group, èmember of Advisory Group lKnowledge of conditions in old and new EU Member States (having spent 10+ years abroad)

3. 3 16/02/2014 Multi-angle perspective… lParticipation in projects èMICE (Modelling the Impact of Climate Extremes), èENSEMBLES (Ensemble-based Predictions of Climate Changes and their Impacts), èADAM (Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies), èWATCH (Water and Global Change), èERA-Net CRUE (Coordination de la recherche sur la gestion des inondations), èConcerted Action Harmoni-CA (Harmonised Modelling Tools for Integrated Basin Management)

4. 4 16/02/2014 Multi-angle perspective… Strenghts (1) lPooling resources. Opportunity to partake in a high- level, cutting-edge research lUtilitarian aspects of EU-funded research Role of stakeholders and end-users lLesson to CEE scientists, whose research tasks in the past were often ènarrow (playing with pet concepts), èabstract / exotic, ènot driven by society / policy needs, èand ultimately shelved

5. 5 16/02/2014 Multi-angle perspective… Strengths (2) lEnhancing inter-disciplinary and multi-disciplinary research in EU èBreaking disciplinary borders (less common at the national level) is indispensable to solve complex present-day problems lBalance in selection of proposals (at the national level: ad-hoc process) èOne country: flood-related projects multiply after a dramatic flood; willingness-to-fund decreases with time since the last flood. EU: reminder – floods do happen and are destructive.

6. 6 16/02/2014 Multi-angle perspective… Problems (1) lOversubscription – low success rate èTHE WINNER TAKES IT ALL, THE LOOSERs STANDING SMALL… – Joy of few, disappointment of many. Pre-proposal is a good idea èClub: inclusion / exclusion èPersonal impression: strong random component in the evaluation and decision process (example – range of values: 50, 40, 15) lTry harder: 30% (40%, 50%) of work time spent on proposal writing - unknown in the past in CEE countries. Hold place in competing consortia?

7. 7 16/02/2014 Multi-angle perspective… Problems (2) lPoland (EU Member State since 1 May 2004) and other New Member States are not successful in FPs è Political imperative – to be net beneficiary lEnhance participation èObligatory geographic balance èBroadening spectrum? Bi-national? Tri- national? Regional? Region-specific?