Widening the European Research Area (ERA) to the neighbouring countries of the EU

1. 5th DRC Summer School on Regional Cooperation “Changing Dynamics of the Danubian Region – New Neighbourhood Policy of the European Union” 29 June – 6 July 2008, Krems, Austria Widening the European Research Area (ERA) to the neighbouring countries of the EU Prof. Manfred Horvat, Austria Vienna University of Technology and Senior Advisor, International R&D Cooperation, Federal Ministry of Science and Research (BMWF)

2. Outline • The European Research Area (ERA) • 2000: towards creating an internal EU market of research • 2007: The ERA Green Paper – a new impetus • The EU RTD Framework Programmes (FPs) • FP6: Creating the European Research Area • FP7: Lisbon: Knowledge and Growth • Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU • RTD cooperation as facilitator and ‘avant-garde’ of change • Complementarities of European Neighbourhood Policy and the EU RTD Framework Programme • Summary

3. The European Research Area (ERA) 1 • Main objectives • Improving overall conditions for research in Europe • Better integrating and structuring European research • Combination of different concepts: • Creating an ‘internal market’ of research: free movement of knowledge, researchers and technologies • Integrating research capacities ensuring critical mass • Restructuring the European research fabric: better coordination of national research policies and programmes • European research policy addressing the funding of research activities and also considering other policies

4. The European Research Area (ERA) 2 COM(2000) 6, 18 January 2000 • Creating an internal EU research market by e.g. • Increasing public and private investment in RTD • Researcher careers: mobility and career development • Developing EU strategies for large research infrastructures • Networking of centres of excellence => virtual centres • More coordinated national and EU research programmes • Closer relations between European programmes, initiatives and action (FP, EUREKA, COST, ESF, ESA, CERN,…) • Strengthening science-industry cooperation • …

5. The European Research Area (ERA) 3 ERA Green Paper (April 2007) and follow up: • A new momentum for ERA • Realising a single labour market for researchers • Developing world-class research infrastructures • Strengthening research institutions • Sharing knowledge • Optimising research programmes and priorities • Opening to the world: international S&T cooperation See: http://ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.html

6. The EU RTD Framework Programmes (FPs) 1 • EU financial instrument supporting RTD policies • It is all about transborder cooperation … • FP6 2002-2006: Creating ERA – an ‘internal market’ of research • Towards integration, structuring and excellence • FP7 2007-2013: An ERA of knowledge and growth • Strengthening RTD Cooperation, fostering basic research, nurturing human resources, underpinning RTD capacities

7. The EU RTD Framework Programmes (FPs) 2 • FP6 2002-2006: Creating ERA - 17,883 bn EUR • Focusing and integrating Community research • 7 themes • cross-cutting issues (NEST, SMEs, international cooperation) • Structuring the European Research Area • Innovation, human resources, infrastructures, science & society • Strengthening the foundations of the European Research Area • Coordination of national RTD activities (ERA-NET • Coherent development of policies • New ‘instruments’ • Integrated Projects and Networks of Excellence

8. The EU RTD Framework Programmes (FPs) 3 • FP7 2007-2013: An ERA of knowledge and growth – 50,521 bn EUR • Cooperation (10 Themes) • Collaborative research, ERA-NET, Joint Technology Initiatives, international RTD cooperation • Ideas • Frontier research of individual researchers (starting, advanced) • People • Mobility and training of researchers, also international dimension • Capacities • Infrastructures, RTD for and of SMEs, Research Potential and Regions of Knowledge, Support for International Cooperation

9. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 1 • Complementary role of different Community instruments • EU RTD Framework Programmes • ‘avant-garde’ role for integration and enlargement • COST, INTAS, IPA, PHARE, TACIS, TEMPUS … • “European Neighbourhood Policy” since 2004 • Strengthening prosperity, stability and security • Improve cooperation with countries along EU’s borders • European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) • Cross-border Cooperation Programmes (CBC) • Participation in certain Community programmes

10. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 2 • Experiences of New Member States • RTD cooperation acted as apolitical ‘avant-garde’ fordeveloping closer relations, association and integration • Capacity building through FP and PHARE funding • Participating in FPs had positive impact on development of national RTD systems – increasing role of Structural Funds • Experiences of Western Balkan Countries • FP5 accompanying measures for capacity building • Positive effects of participating in FP6 incl. ERA-NET • Deficits in improvement of research infrastructure – IPA? • Problems of researcher mobility

11. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 3 • International cooperation in FP6 • Thematic priorities open for international cooperation • Specific measures for international cooperation • FP6 participation of Danube region countries • Baden-Württemberg ~2.180- Croatia 154 • Bavaria ~2.300- Serbia & M. 135 • Austria 1.942 - Romania 605 • Slovakia 439 - Bulgaria 460 • Hungary 1.185 - Moldova 17 - Ukraine 107

12. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 3a Putting FP6 participation numbers in context: • Overall participation in FP6 • Total: 74.460 16,678 bn EUR • Member states 65.369 15,268 bn EUR • Associated countries 4.190 0,955 bn EUR • Third countries 3.948 0,324 bn EUR

13. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 4 • European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and RTD • Integration in ERA as contribution to wider political aspirations • COM(2003) 104 final: “… As set out in FP6, the EU should take forward the opening of the European Research Area (ERA) to integrate the scientific communities of the neighbouring countries, exploit scientific results, stimulate innovation and develop human resources and research capacities.” • 2004 ENP Strategy Paper: “In order to increase the participation of these countries in the Community’s RTD activities and to improve their national research systems’ contribution to economic growth and social welfare, structural and institutional capacity building activities need to be supported. These activities will be identified and implemented through the Actions Plans.

14. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 5 • Implementing and promoting the ENP (2005) • Research and innovation:“Develop an ambitious S&T cooperation aimed an sustainable and equitable economic development through participation of the partner countries research entities in the ERA as well as FP activities. Integrate former weapons of mass destruction scientists into the international science communities and support the civilian application of their scientific knowledge.” • Strengthening the ENP (2006) • “There is also a need to better integrate ENP partners in the European Research Area. The launch of FP6 (2007-2013) places a new emphasis on international research cooperation and should lead to an increase in ENP partner participation... “

15. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 6 • Council of the European Union, 18 June 2007 • Integrating Europe’s neighbours into the ERA • Memoranda of Understanding between EC and partner • Cooperation based on priorities relevant association prospects to FP, socio-economic and sustainable development, modernisation objectives, and political stability • ENP countries and Russia: potential of association to FP7 and integration into ERA

16. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 7 • Example: role of S&T in EU relations with Ukraine EU/Action plan (2004): based on political dialogue, also in the frame of the EU-UA Science and Technology Agreement • Prepare UA’s integration into ERA • Develop UA’s R&D capabilities in the service of the economy and the society • Promote UA’s integration in high-level scientific exchanges Progress report Ukraine (2008): • UA is revamping its research and innovation policy with more direct relevance for sustainable and equitable economic development objectives • Need for more investment in research and reform R&D sector • Difficulties to utilise new opportunities in FP7

17. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 7a • Ukraine Country Strategic Paper 2007-2013: • Support for S&T cooperation will also be important with a view to contributing to sustainable and equitable economic development of Ukraine including through fuller participation in research-related activities such as the 7th Framework Programme, joint research projects, the Marie Curie international mobility scheme for scientists and practical training at the seven institutes of the Joint Research Centre (JRC)

18. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 8 • FP7, international S&T cooperation and the EU’s neighbouring countries – towards a strategy … • International cooperation in FP7 as integrated activity under ‘Cooperation’: • General opening (3+1) • Targeted opening (3+1) - topics in Work Programmes identified as ‘particularly well suited for international cooperation’ with a specific country or groups of countries • SICA Specific International Cooperation Actions (2+2)aiming at reinforcing research capacities in neighbouring countries • Coordinated Calls – FP calls coordinated with calls of funding organisation in third country • International ERA-NETs: SEE.ERA-NET

19. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 8a • International cooperation in FP7 (continued): • ‘Ideas’: • attracting excellent researchers from third countries; grants forStarting independent researchers, Advanced researchers • ‘People’: • International fellowships – incoming and outgoing • International Research Staff Exchange Scheme (IRSES) for countries with S&T Agreement with EU (e.g. Ukraine, Russia) • ‘Capacities’: • INCO-NETs supporting bi-regional dialogues: e.g. Eastern Europe and Central Asian Countries IncoNet EECA • BI-LATs target countries with S&A Agreements with EU: e.g.BILAT-UKR for Ukraine

20. Widening ERA to the neighbours of the EU 9 • Perspective full partners in ERA: • 27 EU member states • 11 Associated countries • Bosnia-Herzegovina • EU-Ukraine negotiations on full association to FP7 • EU-Russia discussions on full association to FP7

21. Summary and outlook • Strengthening S&T dialogue, coordination and cooperation between EU and its neighbours • Research and technology cooperation will form the ‚avant-garde‘ for closer relations beyond RTD • International exchange of best practice and mutual learning will lead to a more efficient and effective European Research Area • Cooperation will create mutual benefits for all partner countries involved in an extended ERA • The instruments are there, they have to be used

22. Thank you for your attention! Prof. Manfred Horvat Vienna University of Technology, Austria Senior Advisor for International RTD Cooperation (BMWF) Tel +43 664 4543 165 eMail:manfred.horvat@gmx.net, manfred.horvat@tuwien.ac.at