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Overview

Synergy and added value Experiences from the Nordic Council of Ministers by Tryggvi Felixson Head of Department The Secretariat of the Nordic Council of Ministers tfe@norden.org. Overview. The Nordic Council of Ministers The food sector of the Nordic Council of Ministers

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Overview

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  1. Synergy and added valueExperiences from the Nordic Council of Ministersby Tryggvi FelixsonHead of Department The Secretariat of the Nordic Council of Ministerstfe@norden.org Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  2. Overview • The Nordic Council of Ministers • The food sector of the Nordic Council of Ministers • Basic principles for Nordic Cooperation • Examples that illustrate how cooperation can yield added value: • The Forest Research Cooperation Committee • NordForsk • NICe • Nordic Chemicals Group • Preconditions for successful cooperation Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  3. Nordic Council of Ministers • Governments of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden • Together with Greenland, Faroe Islands and Åland Islands • Common values – small countries joining forces • 11 ministerial councils for different areas • Secretariat based in Copenhagen • Nordic Council – operated by the popularly elected assemblies of the Nordic Countries Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  4. Basis Legal basis • The Helsinki treaty is the legal basis • All decisions unanimous/ by consensus • Decisions are binding, unless national constitutions require parliamentary approval Other • Respect for each countries special needs/interests • Activities only initiated if it can be foreseen that they yield added value to carry them out jointly • Trust • Apply the best expertise available Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  5. Three perspectives Nordic - Baltic sea region /Northwest Russia Nordic Nordic - European Global Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  6. Food sector Food and Health The overall goal is a wide range of healthy and safe foods of high quality, making it possible to choose a healthy diet Goals (examples) Relations between food, eating habits and health. Nordic Plan of Action for a better life through Diet and Physical Activity. Develop Nordic co-operation on animal health, focusing on reducing the level of zoonoses and develop emergency plans for epizooties and zoonoses. Improve animal welfare Enforce and refine co-operation to evaluate and deal with chemical and microbiological food risks. Closer monitoring and more regular collection of relevant data for risk assessments. Developing of risk-evaluation models. Draw up holistic risk/use models for food. Research and development, education and training The overall goals are to reinforce and refine co-operation on research and education, to improve the quality of existing co-operation, and to help develop new areas of research and education Goals (examples) Strengthen Nordic cooperation in food safety, diet and health Strengthen cooperation with Nordforsk and NICe Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  7. Nordic Food R & D MR-U MR-NER MR-FJLS Council of Ministers for Trade, Energy and Regional Policies (MR-NER) Council of Ministers for Education and Research (MR-U) Council of Ministers for Fisheries and Aquaculture,Agriculture, Food and Forestry (MR-FJLS) Executive Committee Fisheries Agriculture Foodstuffs Forestry NordForsk NICe The Nordic Innovation Centre NAF NKJ Ad hoc cooperationwith Nordforsk, NICe& Safefoodera SNS Nordic Working Group on Fishery Research Nordic Joint Committee for Agricultural Research Nordic Forest Research Co-operation Committee Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  8. SNS Nordic Forest Research Co-operation Committee • Aim • Create Nordic synergy within forestry research by granting support to networks, research meetings, projects, joint utilisation of unique research facilities, etc. • Promote the development of new research areas through initiating networks and task forces • Promote research co-operation with the Adjacent areas • Strengthen the role of Nordic forestry research in European collaboration and encourage Nordic forest researchers to take part in international projects • Work to ensure that research results are communicated to the relevant parties within the Nordic cooperation framework Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  9. SNS organization The SNS executive committee has two members from each country, and one observer from the independent area of Åland Members represent research institutes, research funding bodies, forest administration agencies and forest owners and industrial interests There are 10 networks linked to SNS includning: • Group on Urban Forestry, Landscape and Recreation • Group on Forest Fertilization • Nordic Forestry Technology Council Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  10. SNS supports Research projects Preparatory studies for larger projects (pilot projects) Networking activities Preparation of applications to the EU framework programme Research collaboration should involving at least three Nordic countries. Countries in the so-called Adjacent Areas (mainly Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and northwestern Russia) may also be included, as long as at least three Nordic countries participate. Grants will be allocated in order to create "Nordic synergy". To gain support from SNS, the research collaboration should lead to an added value, compared to unilateral research. laboratories.) Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  11. SNS and CAR A center of advanced research (CAR) is a joint Nordic forest research program within a specified scope with duration of 4-5 yr. It is a network, approved by SNS, with a specified core in terms of scientific subject matter and leadership, in which research is carried out in a decentralised manner as agreed on in regular planning processes by the CAR partners themselves and as funded by the participants. The aim of a CAR is to obtain synergies and avoid overlapping, minimise administrative work and to use the total Nordic R&D resources in the most efficient /optimal way.  Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  12. NordForsk • Responsible for Nordic cooperation within research and research training • Institution established 1 January 2005 under the Nordic Council of Ministers for Research and Education • Central players: National research councils, other research-funding agencies and the universities • Nordforsk Board with 1 member per country (high level) Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  13. ”Food, nutrition and health” A collaborative programme“Nordic Centres of Excellence within the issue of Food, Nutrition and Health”. Main objective To create Nordic strength by promoting scientific excellence and enhancing intra-Nordic research collaboration, co-operation and mobility of researchers. Instruments Nordic centres of Excellence (NCoE). Virtual centres of joint objectives The co-Nordic support may be allocated to: • extra management and co-ordination costs • researcher and key staff training • full fellowships for visiting professors • full fellowship for post docs from Nordic or other countries• those running costs that will provide added Nordic strength to the NCoE results• support for Nordic doctoral courses arranged by the NCoE and coordinated with regular NordForsk courses Financing All Nordic countries participate paying 2/3 of the programme – common pot.The Nordic budget (Nordforsk) “top up” and pay 1/3 of the programme. • The budget is 2,3 M Euro per year in 5 years - in total 11.5 M Euro Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  14. The creation process • Theme initiated at political/administrative level (CSO-Food). Seminar on ”Food, nutrition and genes” with scientists and research councils defined the topic. Proposal to Nordforsk. • Nordforsk Board decision on ”NCoE for Food, Nutrition and Health” • Programme description and procedures developed by Steering Committee – 1 representative per country from national research councils + observers • Status: Applications just received. Selection will be in a 2 stage process. Decision by Nordforsk Board medio February 2007 • Major expectations of ”added value” Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  15. NICe • NICe, Nordic Innovation CentreInstitution under the Nordic Council of Minister for Industry/Trade • Operating instrument for promoting an innovative and knowledge-intensive Nordic business sector. Key words: Innovation and a borderless region • Several Nordic programmes on food safety. They have been a model for creation of SafeFoodEra Development in Foods Functional Food (2005-2008) NordFood II (1998 – 2002) Processing for food safety (2004-2006) NordFood I (1993 – 1997) Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  16. ”Functional Food” • NICe programmeNordic programme on ”Functional Foods” in 2006 • Main objectiveTo make Nordic functional food competitive and a healthy choice • InstrumentNordic cooperation projects.3 focus areas (in short: legislation, networking, innovation and lifestyle)Research institutions, authorities and industry from all Nordic countries participate in the projects.5 projects selected • FinancingFinanced by NICe with 50 % (on average). The rest of the financing comes from national sources, from the partners in a project. The NICe budget is 1 M EURO (Over 3 years) Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  17. Creation process Theme initiated by NICe Think TankMainly participants from or with strong relations to the industry. Consumer perspective also included. The Think thank should come up with proposal of a call for expression of interests. Reference group1 member from each Nordic country representing national research programmes and institutions. CSO-Food represented. Appointed by NICe. Discussed the industrial input and influenced the programme text. A project evaluation group evaluated and prioritized project applications and gave recommendations to NICe. NICe Board decided on grants to projects. Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  18. The Chemicals Group Working group under the Nordic Council of Ministers (environment) The aim To reduce use and exposure to dangerous chemicals To increase the know how about Chemical processes and chemicals in goods Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  19. The Chemicals Group National Instrument: Regulation of chemicals Information about use and risk Development of methods to evaluate risk International Instruments: EU (currently Reach) Global Convention on Chemicals Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  20. Criteria's for success • Common values (history, culture, social structure, democratic, language) • Flexible organisation and none-bureaucratic; adopt cooperative structure that is best for the task • The ability to reorganise/experiment • Solid experience over in over 40 years proves that cooperation yields added value/synergy • Nordic Budget Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  21. Criteria's for success • Consensus seeking process – but always searching the highest common denominator • No pressure on individual countries – voluntary participation • Personal ties • Mutual trust Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

  22. Thank you! Bonn, Food Safety Research Workshop, 30.10.2006

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