1. Moldova's R&D programs competition system, state of the art and future developments 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Vasile GRAMA, Director of the Center for Fundamental and Applied Research Funding of Moldova (CFCFA) http://cfcfa.asm.md

2. Historic Background Today nationals funding programs, Competition system – accessibility and transparency, Problems, Needs, Online submission, Future agenda. 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine CONTENT

3. Republic of Moldova – Research & Development 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Total area – 33,7 thousand km² Capital – Chisinau Population: 3,4 million Research Institutes: 31 Universities (acred for R&D): 13 Science and Technology Parks: 3 Innovation Incubators 7 Investment in R&D: 0,4 of GDP (2012)

4. Historic Background 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine - Declaration of Independence of the Rep. of Moldova1991 - Declaration of Independence of the Rep. of Moldova; Moldova inherited advanced Research Infrastructure, with more than 100 research institutions; State Policies implemented immediately after 1991 din not encourage development of the R&D sector in Moldova: 1991 - establishment of the Ministry of Science and Education of Moldova During 1994 – 1998 the role of science has significantly diminished In 1998 Ministry of Education and Research was reestablished In the 2001-2004 timeframe, the Government of Moldova din not have a specialized structure dealing with R&D policy

5. Historic Background comparative analysis 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine 19912004 Researchers- 33000 Followed - Brain Drain phenomenon Researchers – about 5000 Doctor titleholders – 2200 Habilitate Doctor titleholders – 600 Doctor titleholders – 1400 Habilitate Doctor titleholders – 400 101 - R&D institutions, which conducted independent research, no coordination to national needs 68 - R&D institutions, activity based on national research priorities (strategic directions), adopted by Moldova Parliament

6. Historic Background 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine 1.Science Reform in Moldova - Adoption of the Code on Science and Innovation by the Parliament of the Republic of Moldova (July 15, 2004); 2.Agreement between the Academy of Sciences and the Government of the RM; 3.New principle - financing of science on competitive basis. 4.R&D scientific priorities adopted by the Parliament.

7. The association of RM to FP7 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine

8. R&D support infrastructures (auxiliary institutions) 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Advisory Expertise Council (2004); Agency for Innovation and Technology Transfer (2007); Center for International Projects (2009); Center for Fundamental and Applied Research Funding of Moldova (2012).

9. Distinct delimitation between policy making bodies and between the executive bodies (with responsibility for policy implementation) To support and stimulate the national scientific community by applying a competitive system, in strict compliance with the legal frame of the RM The main aim/mission 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine

10. The Advisory Expertise Council Creating in 2004 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Major goal – promotion of excellence research. 1. Evaluation of project proposals received within the competitions launched by ASM with funding from the State Budget, such as: State Programs; National research infrastructure support program; Young scientists support program; Scientific events support program; Bilateral and multilateral projects; Technology transfer projects. 2. Evaluation activity via local peer review – most projects. Limited involvement of international experts.

11. The Advisory Expertise Council 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Selection of evaluators 1.On the recommendation of the relevant Advisory Board members (research field related), the AEC staff selects two evaluators for each national project. AEC expert database represents an input for this step. The decision is taken basing on the narrow specialization data of evaluators. 2. The expert is contacted by AEC staff and project summary is submitted. The selected expert decides either to evaluate or not the submitted project. On his approval, the integral project is submitted. 3. AEC concludes a written contract with each evaluator. He is paid for his services. 4. Evaluators are being evaluated by AEC according to a special procedure. AEC staff AEC Advisory Board 7 20 500 Expert database

12. AITT 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine MISSION: Coordinate, stimulate and implement mechanisms in the field of the technology transfer in RM. RESPONSIBILITY: to administrate the Project Management Cycle (PMC) concerning technology transfer ACADEMIA AITT INNOVATION BUISSNE SS AITT Added Value Economic Competitiveness

13. Center for International Projects (CIP) (created in 2008) 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Main duties Promotes and manages bilateral and multilateral programs in science and innovation; Provides managerial, technical, informational to Moldovan scientific community Serves as a Host Institution of the Moldovan FP7 National Contact Points Network; Supports and coordinates the activity of: Moldovan Office for Science and Technology, Brussels; Official Representatives and National Experts in the FP7 Program Committees. Manages the activity of EURAXESS service in Moldova etc.

14. Bilateral cooperation framework In responsibility of (CIP) 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine Belarusian Republican Foundation for Fundamental Research National Authority for Scientific Research from Romania Russian Foundation for Basic Research Russian Humanitarian Science Foundation Federal Ministry of Education and Research of Germany (BMBF) National Research Council of Italy National Centre for Scientific Research of France Science and Technology Center in Ukraine

15. Cooperation on the multilateral level In responsibility of (CIP) 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine 15

16. Established in June 2012 CFCFA is the responsible institution to assure all steps of project life cycle for the national programs funded from the State Budget 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Center for Fundamental and Applied Research Funding of Moldova (CFCFA)

17. Type of programs (calls) 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Fundamental and applied projects for R&D organizations (Institutional support program); State programs; Young scientists support program; National research infrastructure support program; Scientific events support program; Scientific publications support program.

18. Main duties 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Call announcement; Preparation of information package, information campaigns; Call milestones; Online submission system – management and back-office; Proposal validation; Grant agreement, Contract drafting and signing; Performance monitoring; Project results assessment; Results dissemination Reports etc.

19. Project management cycle (AITT, CIP, CFCFA) 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Definition of strategic priorities/policies Launching project calls Proposals evaluation Running the projects Projects monitoring SCSTD/ASM Center for B&ARF(CFCFA) Center for Int. Projects Agency for I &TT AEC Research units Responsable units Step Responsible organization Macro monitoring SCSTD Decision making body

20. Project life cycle Proposal application Call announcement Proposals reception Proposals Evaluation Projects approval ReportingFinal report CSŞDT AEC Project Coordinator Project Manager Program coordinator AEC Manager Experts Project Manager Contracting Finance Manager CSŞDT Program manager Project Coordinator Project Coordinator Project Coordinator Project Manager Decides about Call announcement Application form Execution, Management Results evaluation AEC Manager Financing contract Intermediate report Evalualuation fiche Experts Results Evaluation fiche Final report Results dissemination Results dissemination Activity indicators Publications Projects Cordinator Approved projects Project Coordinator CFCFA CONTEST /Disproof CIP AITT

21. Problems 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Still high phenomenon - Brain Drain; Quite difficult and sophisticated procedures for applying project proposals (ex. estimations of expenditure); Quite low level of IT use (Online submission system – management and back-office - bad working); Low level of working experiences for staff (particularly for CFCFA); Low level of connections between research institutes, universities and private companies; In today Government Program, R&D is not in list of National priorities (politicians are unsatisfied for R&D outcomes);

22. Problems (cont.) 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Low transparency in PMC (conflict of interest in the distribution of money); National R&D has conservative character (connection between R&D units and public authorities - low levels); Still quite low level of participations of the national R&D units in developing of the international projects proposal (co- funding - is not guaranteed) Enough money (public) for quality support of R&D etc.

23. Needs 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Develop new funding programs: Cooperation (mandatory to have consortium at least between one unit from research institute, university and private company – 40 % of R&D budget); Capacity support programs: R&D infrastructures; Ensuring of the co-financing for the approved international projects; Young scientists support; Scientific events support; Mobility support (from brain drain to brain mobility) etc. program for the fundamental research (applications in English – external evaluations); Increasing the building capacity of the staff for executive institutions (joint projects …)

24. Future tasks 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Clarity and simplification of procedures for project submission (information package - similar forms for submission of international projects); Fostering the international standards for implementing of evaluation system for R&D activities; Opening and international relations development with similar institutions; Improvement of national legal aspects of calls and projects management; Development of a sustainable e-platform for calls and projects management etc.

25. 17-18 April, 2013, Kyiv, Ukraine Thank you for your attention ! http://cfcfa.asm.md cfcfa@asm.md