Shaping Future ICT Research Policies: SCORE Project Overview

1. Short overview of the SCORE project

2. SCORE @ a glance

3. SCORE partners GREECE AUSTRIA (Project Co-ordinator) ALBANIA SERBIA INFORMATION SOCIETY SCG BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA FYR MACEDONIA ECCF

4. The motivation of SCORE • Current situation: • No formulated EU ICT research policy for the Western Balkan region for the period 2007-2013 • No defined common future ICT research priorities / policies within the region (driven by national level) • Why SCORE? • Need for well-defined future research priorities that • will enhance RTD co-operation in the area of Information & Communication Technologies (ICT) • between the WB region and the EU •  SCORE aims to contribute to the shaping of EU ICT research policyin the region, in a way that meets the: • interests and needs of regional ICT stakeholdersand • priorities of the European Commission

5. SCORE Objectives • 1. Develop ICT Strategic Research Agendas that will define the WB countries’ ICT research priorities • Following a wide consultation with ICT stakeholder communities (e.g. national RTD policy makers, research actors, ICT companies) • 2. Develop a Policy Paper with “Recommendations for shaping EU scientific co-operation with the Western Balkan Region in the field of ICT research: 2007-2013” • 3.Transfer EU research results and technologies in the identified ICT research priorities • 4. Facilitate the development of networks • Within the Western Balkan region, and • Between the WB region and the EU

6. Key results of SCORE • 4 country-specific ICT Strategic Research Agendas, defining future ICT research priorities: • Albania, • Bosnia-Herzegovina, • FYR Macedonia • Serbia • Policy Paper withrecommendations for EU ICT research directions in the region • 1 thematic workshop (per country) for the transfer of know-how on ICT research areas identified • Organisation of an EU-Western Balkan Regional Conference, in order to consolidate the Strategic Research Agendas and Policy Paper.

7. Objectives of the SCORE consultation • To obtain feedback from ICT stakeholders in order to determine the ICT research priorities in each country for the period 2007-2013. • The ultimate aim is to identify research priorities that: • reflect the actual research capacities and potential, • meet the technological / industrial trends, and • and address real socio-economic needs • The research priorities are the main element for: • defining the country-specific ICT Strategic Research Agendas, • which in turn, will form the basis for developing the Policy Paper

8. PHASE I – EXPERT CONSULTATION 1. Identification of ICT stakeholders 2. Selection of ICT panel experts 3. Preparation of Consultation Document 5. Collection and Initial synthesis of contributions 4. Distribution of document & invitation to panel experts 7. Development of initial Strategic Research Agendas (SRAs) 6. Organisation of Consultation Workshops with panel experts PHASE II – OPEN CONSULTATION 8. Preparation of consultation questions to accompany initial SRAs 9. Distribution of initial SRAs and questions - invitation to stakeholders 10. Collection of feedback 12. Development of Policy Paper 11. Development of Final Strategic Research Agendas Note: Orange steps produce key results / deliverables Overview of the SCORE Consultation Process The Policy Paper will map national ICT research priorities to FP7 challenges

9. ICT Stakeholders Targeted • DIRECT ICT stakeholders: • National ICT research policy-makers (ministry representatives, specific ICT policy working groups, regulatory authorities etc.) • Research actors / organisations (academic, not-for-profit, private) • ICT companies (software companies, telecom operators, internet providers) • NGOs for ICT promotion • Related national / international projects • INDIRECT ICT stakeholders (ICT beneficiaries/ user communities) • Business community representatives e.g. chambers of commerce • Broad public administration (e.g. ministries, association of regional public administrations) • Civil society (e.g. online communities, links through websites of ministries etc.)

10. The ICT Strategic Research Agendas • The Strategic Research Agenda will define the future research priorities and research areas of each country • Structure of a typical SRA: • Overall objectives of the SRA • Research priorities for the country (5 to 10) • For each research priority: • research objectives are defined and • Specific areas of research are proposed

11. The Policy Paper • Based on the four country-specific SRAs, the Policy Paper will: • identify common research priorities and needs of the WB Countries, and • recommend areas of EU-Western Balkan research collaboration in the period 2007-2013 • The Policy Paper will be entitled “Recommendations for shaping EU scientific co-operation with the Western Balkan Region in the field of ICT research: 2007-2013

12. The Final Regional Conference • A closing EU-Western Balkan Regional Conference will be organised in Belgrade in January 2009 • The Conference will target 80-100 RTD policy-makers and key ICT stakeholders coming from: • the European Union • Western Balkan region • and neighboring countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey) • The aim of the conference will be to consolidate the ICT Strategic Research Agendas and Policy Paper

13. SCORE Contact Information • For further information on the SCORE project please contact: • PLANET S.A. – Project Co-ordinator • Soumi Papadopoulou, info@score-project.eu s.papadopoulou@planet.gr