The SEE-ERA.NET project - a brief overview on the interim project results

1. The SEE-ERA.NET project- a brief overview on the interim project results

2. The SEE-ERA.NET target region:

3. Project objective and approach to coordination Overall project objective: SEE-ERA.NET aims to structure and expand the European Research Area to the West Balkan by coordinating and supporting RTD activities conducted at a uni- and bilateral level. Mainly - but not exclusively – bilateral inter-governmental programmes are addressed. Coordination on equal footing: • 17 partners from 14 countries within and outside the European Union, including all countries in the West Balkan. • Each country is represented in the SEE-ERA.NET Steering Board • Regional approach: South-East Europe • Coordination period: September 2004 – August 2009

4. The major SEE-ERA.NET interim results (1) Sept 04 – Dec 05: Information exchange on • Existing uni- and bilateral funding programmes and agreements incl the evaluation of their Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT analysis) • The research capacity of the West Balkan region and the SEE collaboration needs between all the participating SEE-ERA.NET partners Jan - Oct 06: Preparations for the first call for proposals (SEE-ERA.NET Pilot Joint Call) • Joint Implementation Agreement (IA) on the Pilot Joint Call (PJC) for RTD proposals incl a joint funding and (peer) reviewing strategy dedicated to scientific excellence • All 14 participating countries sign the IA and agree to participate in the PJC with national contributions (the original plan was that only a few countries join in with moderate financial contributions) • International call for tender –> technical assistance for the Pilot Joint Call (PJC) - Central Administrative Body (CAB): • Programming of an online Project Application Management Tool • Development of a new evaluators’ database for further use, but restricted access to the SEE-ERA.NET project partners‘ peer review activities • External administrative support for transparent and fair assessment procedures (peer review: project proposals)

5. The major SEE-ERA.NET interim results (2) Nov 06 – Aug 08: The SEE-ERA.NET Pilot Joint Call • PJC launch in Nov; the call was open until end of March • The SEE-ERA.NET National Contact Point system: NCP training with representatives of the Central Administrative Body • Thematic conferences as networking opportunities for researchers from 14 European countries before the deadline, organised in three West Balkan countries • Evaluators’ database (peer review of the PJC applications): • registration of 1262 evaluators, of whom 580 match the keywords of the PJC • June 07: Decision on the evaluated proposals: Meeting of the Steering Board in Brussels • 321 eligible proposals after first check from 1437 research teams (oversubscription)  Funding of 26 research and networking projects, and 5 summer schools • Contract negotiations with projects, start of projects in Sept/ Oct 07 • Evaluation of the funding process (external expert) • Monitoring of project results by Aug 08 (external expert)

6. The major SEE-ERA.NET interim results (3) March 07 – Sep/Oct 08: The SEE-ERA.NET White Paper and the Joint Action Plan • BALKAN MISSION: lobbying missions in the 6 Western Balkan countries and in the EC for the White Paper, Joint Action Plan & and the Reigonal programme ReP-SEE  As part of the Joint Action plan:Regional Programme for Cooperation with Southeast Europa (ReP-SEE): PILLAR I: Joint RTD projects: next call with approx €2.625 Mio national contributions* PILLAR II: Accompanying Measures: to be developed in 2008/09 PILLAR III: Young Scientist Programme: to be developed in 2008/09 PILLAR IV: Innovation Programme**  Other Joint Action Plan activities (already implemented): e.g. ZSI/ASO Ljubljana & UNESCO ROSTE & MHEST conference ‘Why Invest in Science in South Eastern Europe?’ Sept 06. The GSRT South East European Conference on Innovation in Nov 07; PT-DLR Management training for science administratorsfrom the Western Balkan countries; SEE-ERA.NET’s International Conference on Evaluation and Benchmarking in FYROM, Oct 08; Slovenian MHEST “Herman Potočnik – Noordung Award” for Research Infrastructure Donations within the Framework of RTDI Collaboration with West Balkan Countries; etc Footnotes: *SEE-ERA.NET PLUS: plus approx 33% by EC; project in negotiation phase, to be implemented 2008-2011 (project proposal, Era Net, FP7) ** SEE-ERA.NET on Innovation (project proposal, Era Net, FP7)

7. Summary SEE-ERA.NET is the main European Commission networking project for the integration of countries in the West Balkan into the European Research Area SEE-ERA.NET is a network of 14 ministries and 3 agencies in 14 European countries that includes all Western Balkan countries SEE-ERA.NET provides new opportunities for scientists and already existing networks in Southeast Europe by opening up a European-wide perspective for scientific cooperation and funding SEE-ERA.NET partner countries provide funding for multinational research teams through Joint Calls for Proposals SEE-ERA.NET puts forward a reviewing system for research projects where the assessment procedures are transparent, fair and dedicated to scientific excellence SEE-ERA.NET is a long term project of 5 years duration which develops scenarios for sustainable cooperation beyond 2009: Regional Programme for Cooperation with South-East Europa (ReP-SEE)

8. SEE-ERA.NET contact details Marion Haberfellner SEE-ERA.NET Co-ordinator Centre for Social Innovation Linke Wienzeile 246 1150 Vienna, Austria mhaberfellner@zsi.at www.see-era.net