WBC-INCO.NET project: Barriers in research cooperation of WBC countries – mobility aspects

1. WBC-INCO.NET project:Barriers in research cooperation of WBC countries – mobility aspects Jadranka Švarc Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar, Zagreb EURAXESS – Istraživači u pokretuPrezentacija hrvatske mreže mobilnosti istraživača 29 June, 2009, Zagreb

2. General information WBC-INCO. Net project – Co-ordination of research policies with the WBC to enhancetheirintegrationinto ERA (http://www.wbc-inco.net/object/news/54063.html) - launched in February 2008 – FP7 - Capacities (4 years) Consortiumof 26 partners: WBC+ Austria (coordinator), Germany, TheNetherlands, Turkey, Greece, Slovenia, Bulgaria, BelgiumandItaly WP 3.3. Analysis of barriers to cooperation – “side effect” analysis–mobilityaspects Task lead: InstituteofSocialSciencesIvo Pilar, Zagreb Overall aim: to identify barriers which inhibit researchers from the Western Balkan countries and Turkey (WBC&T) from international R&D cooperation and to provide an analytical background for policy measures This is the first study focused on identification of the factors which hamper the cooperation of WBC&T in the: /1/ EU Framework Programmes (FPs); (up to now: only bilateral cooperation and mobility were analysed ); /2/ bilateralprojects /3/ differenceinperceptionofbarrieresbetween WBC&T and MS

3. Selected literature on mobility and bilateral cooperation • EC (2001), High level Expert group on improving mobility of researchers, Final report, EC, 4 April, 2001; • Ivo Pilar (2006), SWOT analysis: Systematic Information Exchange on Bilateral RTD Programmes Targeting Southeast Europe, Report on 14 countries, WP1 within SEE-ERA.NET project, Institute Ivo Pilar, Zagreb, 2006; • FFG-ARPA (2007), Thematic Report: Barriers to international Mobility and the Integration of Researchers from Western Balkan Countries (WBC) in the European Research Area (ERA), FFG-Austrian Research Promotion Agency, September 2007 • Solitander, V., Tzatzanis-Stepanovic, E. (2008), Mobility study on the Western Balkan countries, Information Office of the Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan Countries, Vienna. • Santa, E., Windischbaur, B. (2008), Needs/offers matrix and analysis, Information Office of the Steering Platform on Research, Vienna • SEE-ERA.NET (s.a.), Report on analysis of systematic information exchange on bilateral activities at the project level in 11 countries, WP3 within SEE-ERA.NET project, Bulgarian research team • SCORE (2009), Shaping EU-Western Balkan co-operation in the field of ICT Research & Development in the period 2008-2011: Priorities and Recommendations, Project funded by the EC under the “Information Society Technologies”

4. The process of integration of WBC into ERA • Zagreb Summit in 2000 when the status of ‘potential candidate’ is offered to the all WBC on the basis of the Copenhagen criteria and the progress in implementing the Stabilization and Association Agreements (SAA); • The process has culminated with the adoption of the “EU – Balkan countries Action Plan in Science and Technology” at a Ministerial Conference in Greece on June 26-27, 2003; S&T are seen to be an essential tool for future economic stabilisation; • 5th, 6th and the current 7th Framework Programmes (from 2007 to 2013) are open to WBC – status of the “third country”; • Croatia – MuO – January 1, 2006 full member of FP • According to the FP7 Third Country Agreements (MuO)all WBC&T (except Kosovo/UNMIK) are eligible for funding on the same footing as MS: this is an opportunity but also a threat: ftp://ftp.cordis.europa.eu/pub/fp7/docs/third_country_agreements_en.pdf

5. Design of research

6. Data collection and sample – no. ofrespondents web-based questionnaire (809 responses: 10.49% response rate) WBC&T and MS were equally represented: 46.8% WBC&T and 53.2 % MS

7. Socio-demographic characteristic Respondents by gender Respondents by reserarch area Respondents by type of institution

8. Types of cooperative projects The dominant type of cooperation in both groups of countries are EU FP projects, 64% of all projects within WBC&T, and 76% of all projects within MS (71% of total projects). WBC&T projects: 64%EU FP 27% bilateral with MS 8%bilateralwith WBC&T Inter-regional cooperation is more intensive than intra-regional cooperation

9. Bilateral projects’ cooperation The most intensive inter-regional bilateral cooperation between WBC&T and MS is with Slovenia followed by Austria, France and Italy (other countries are selected sporadically The most intensive intra-regional bilateral cooperation among WBC&T is with Croatia, Serbia and Turkey

10. Intensity of cooperation Measured as a composite index: • Component . Participation in international research projects in the last ten years (question 8); • Component . At least one visit or stay abroad for scientific purposes • Component . Participation in conferences • Component . Participation in research fellowship • Component . Participation in scholarship • Component . Participation in visiting professors • Component . Participation in temporary employment No positive answers to any of the 7 components 14% of respondents from MS and 31% from WBC&T have not participated in the international collaborative research projects in the last 10 years The intensity of project cooperation of WBC&T is much smaller than MSespeciallyin FP

11. Mobility of researchers …is measured by the visits to foreign countries or staying abroad for research conferences, fellowships, and visiting professors’ positions SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF RESPONDENTS HAVE NOT BEEN ABROAD IN THE LAST TEN YEARS!!! • 35% of total • 43% from WBC&T • 27% from MS

12. Mobility by duration

13. DESTINATION COUNTRIES ON THE INTER-REGIONAL LEVEL Where (all) researchers are going? … is measured by the longest stay/visit of respondents in selected countries. Researchersregardlessthe country oforigingravitatetowards the three “old” and scientifically leading European countries No. of selections

14. WBC&T REGION:COUNTRIES OF DESTINATION

15. Obstacles to mobility 809 respondents : problems related to mobility have been noticed 189 times (possibility: one respondent – severaltimes) • WBC&T: 74% • MS: 26% • WBC&T: 74% • MS: 26%

16. Obstacles by countries

17. Conclusions A. Croatia is a regional leader in R&D cooperation and mobility • Croatia is a leading country in bilateral projects’ cooperation with both MS and WBC&T; • Croatia is a leading destination country of inward mobility of researchers for both MS and WBC&T; B. Croatia has a relatively privileged position for R&D mobility and cooperation(competition by other countries!) • There is a need to use take the advantage of this leading position and to create favourable environment to attract researchers (high-qualified labour force) with a view of developing scientific excellence and human capital synergy; 2. The Agency for Mobility and EU Programmes has a deceive role but the assistance of all the stakeholders are necessary from different ministries (efficient system of regulations and legal aspects), over universities and research organisations to accommodation agencies. Mobility is the essence of research development, EU integration and recognition of Croatia on the international scientific maps!

18. Thank you for your attention! Name: Jadranka Švarc Organisation: Institute of Social Sciences Ivo Pilar Address: Marulićev trg 19, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia E-mai: jadranka.svarc@pilar.hr Telephone: + 385 1 4886 825