Michael Schlicht Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF)

1. Cooperation with Georgia in science, technology and education:the bilateral and the European perspective Michael Schlicht Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Head of Division 217: Co-operation with Russia; CIS

2. Strengthening Germany's role in the global knowledge society Aims Main priorities Measures (examples) • Internationalizing the training of young researchers • Supporting the mobility of researchers • Enhancing international research collaborations Strengthening research cooperation with global leaders • Strategic orientation of innovation programmes • Improving the conditions for in-ward R&D investments • Making optimum use of synergies with EU measures International exploitation of innovation potentials Intensifying cooperation with developing countries on a long-term basis • Enhancing the coordination of the instruments of development cooperation and S&T cooperation • Training for executive and specialized staff • Establishing an International Dialogue Assuming international responsibility and mastering global challenges • Comprehensive approach towards global challenges • Long-term international research dialogue • Scientific analysis of the globalization process Background: Strategy for the Internationalization of Science and Research (I)

3. Strengthening Germany's role in the global knowledge society Generic Measures Presence abroad • Coordination of the activities of German research centres, funding and intermediary organizations, universities and industrial research efforts abroad • Establishment of “German science centres” • International monitoring • Analysis of international trends, political strategies and measures in R&D • Science counsellors at German embassies • Collection of R&D data for international benchmarking Promoting Germany as attractive location for higher education, research and innovation Background: Strategy for the Internationalization of Science and Research (II)

4. Drivers for the cooperation of the BMBF with Eastern European and Central Asian Countries • Long tradition of close relationship of the scientific communities • Economic dynamics of the „East“ • Global challenges for all • Umbrella of the Eastern partnership as well as the opening of the European Research Area to the world: Interaction between bilateral and European cooperation schemes

5. Objectives • To promote cooperation between research centers, universities and research groups and to strengthen the scientific exchange • To strengthen in particular the cooperation of young researchers • To foster the integration of the scientific communities of EECA countries into the European Research Area through sharing best-practices and experiences on a bilateral basis

6. Thematic priorities of S&T cooperation • Environment and sustainable technologies • Geotechnologies • Health research and biosciences • Chemical technologies • And other fields of mutual interest

7. Instruments: • Measures for the preparation and initiation of project-related or institutional collaborations • Measures for the initiation and planning of projects and collaborations whose funding is to be applied for under a BMBF thematic programme or an EU programme http://www.internationales-buero.de/de/3547.php

8. Examples : • Sustainable environmental friendly decentral technical infrastructure for remote tourist areas in East european emerging countries at the example of the Borjomi National park in Georgia (Knoten Weimar/ Georgian State Agricultural University) • Geodynamic impact on groundwater reservoirs in Georgia (Technical University Clausthal/ Seismic Monitoring Centre Georgia) • Building a mycobacteria database for the interdisciplinary analysis of multi-resistant tuberculosis straints in Georgia and Armenia (Koch-Metschnikow-Forum / National Tuberculosis Programme of Georgia)

9. Perspectives of S&T cooperation • Tapping the full S&T capabilities and potential of EECA countries (e.g. traditional strengths, human potential, natural conditions) to a mutual benefit • Fostering the establishment of bilateral S&T networks of young researchers • Fostering bi-regional S&T cooperation by making optimal use of coordination activities such as INCO-NET EECA • (Strengthening regional S&T networking (in particular within South Caucasus and Central Asia) to become more attractive for German institutions

10. Activities of other German funding and science organisations www.research-in-germany.de • Web portal with direct access to the German research landscape • Newsletter subscription • Meta search of German R&D sites and institutes

11. German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) • Instruments for international Cooperation • DAAD is the German funding organisation for academic mobility with a white range of funding programmes for scholarships for foreign students, graduate students and scientists • www.daad.de

12. German Science Foundation (DFG) • Instruments for international Cooperation • Funding of the Initiation and Enhancement of Bilateral Cooperation • Postdoctoral Fellowships • Joint Calls with Partner Organisations • International Research Training Groups • International Scientific Events • Mercator Programme for Visiting Professorships • www.dfg.de

13. Humboldt Foundation (AvH) • Instruments for international Cooperation • Programmes for postdoctoral researchers • Programmes for junior research group leaders • Programmes for experienced researchers • Programmes for internationally recognised cutting-edge researchers • www.humboldt-foundation.de • Example: Former Georgian Minister of Justice and President of the Georgian Supreme Court was a Humboldt Fellow at the Hamburg MPI for Foreign and International Private Law

14. Humboldt Foundation • Alumni programmes “Once an Humboldtian, always an Humboldtian” • Sponsorship for alumni abroad • Sponsorship for reintegration at home • Sponsorship for further research stays in Germany • Become a host for academics from Germany • Short stays for German specialist colleagues at Humboldtians’ institutes abroad • Research fellowships for academics from Germany • Sponsorship of long-term research collaborations with specialist colleagues in Germany • Research group linkage programme • Sponsorship for events and other networking initiatives abroad • Humboldt Kollegs • Humboldt Alumni Award

15. Max-Planck-Society • Instruments for international Cooperation • International Max Planck Institutes • „Classical“ MPI: Rom, Florence, Nijmegen • Member Institute: Max Planck Florida Institute • International Max Planck Centers • Independent Max Planck Junior Research Groups • Associated Research Labs • International Partner Groups • International Max Planck Research Schools (IMPRS) • Example: Cooperation of the MPI for Foreign and International Criminal Law with Tbilisi State University

16. Helmholtz Society • Instruments which are basically open for international cooperation • Helmholtz Young Investigators Groups • Graduate Schools and Helmholtz Research Schools • Example: Cooperation agreement renewed in 2007 betwenn Research Center Juelich(Institute of Nuclear Physics) with High Energy Physics Institute of Tbilisi State University (TSU)

17. The European perspective: coordination projects for S/T cooperation INCO-NETS Project title: S&TInternational Cooperation Networkfor Eastern European andCentralAsian CountriesCoordinator: International Centre for Black Sea Studies (ICBSS), GreeceDuration: Four years (January 2008 – December 2011)Budget: 3,5 Mio. € (funded within FP7)

18. General objective of all IncoNETs • Opening the European Research Area (ERA) via enhanced participation of third countries in FP7 Main objectives of IncoNet EECA • Enhancing the bi-regional Policy Dialogue between the EU and Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) to provide a solide ground for fruitful cooperation • Providing momentum to the dialogue of interested EU and EECA stakeholders who are related to the knowledge triangle covering education, S&T and innovation.

19. The European perspective: coordination projects for S/T cooperation ERA-NETS Project title: Networking on science and technology in the Black Sea regionCoordinator: National Centre for Programme Management RomaniaDuration: Three years (January 2009 – December 2011)Budget: 2.2 Mio. € (funded within FP7)

20. General Objectives of all ERA-NET-projects • step up the cooperation and coordination of research programmes carried out at national or regional level in EU MS/ AC  through the networking of research programmes  towards their mutual opening and the development and implementation of joint activities

21. Main objectives of the Black Sea ERA-NET • to develop and strengthen the coordination of public research programmes conducted at national and regional level, which target a group of countries from the extended Black Sea region • to sustain communication in order to develop better reciprocal knowledge and promote trust-building among programme owners and/or managers through a mutual learning process and a systemic exchange of information and good practices • to enhance the complementarities and synergy between the Framework Programme and activities carried out in the framework of governmental structures such as COST,EUREKA, NEP, UNESCO-BRESCE, EIROforum, and others • creation of a common Black Sea Research Programme (BSRP) as well as through the development and implementation of joint programmes and activities in the region.

22. Thank you very much for your attention ! MinR Michael Schlicht Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) Head of Division 217: Co-operation with Russia; CIS 53170 Bonn Tel.: +49 1888 - 57 - 3142, Fax: +49 1888 - 57 - 8 3142e-mail: michael.schlicht@bmbf.bund.deHomepage: www.bmbf.de