Results from WBC-INCO.NET Hand-over and integration to regional research coordination

1. Results fromWBC-INCO.NETHand-over and integration to regional research coordination Elke Dall, Zentrum für Soziale Innovation

2. Experience gathered • Steering Platform on Research for the Western Balkan countries established in June 2006 (Austrian Presidency & EC DG Research) • SEE-science.EU, the Information Office of the Steering Platform and SEE-ERA.NET (development of a pilot joint call for research project proposals -> joint programme & action plan) and other projects were funded in FP6 • Further Coordination and Specific Support Actions, WBC-INCO.NET to coordinate research policies (started 2008), other projects, follow-up activities and extentions were funded in FP7 (and other programmes) • WBC-INCO.NETENHANCED: pro-longed till 2013, deepened and widened with a focus on innovation policy, amended to end 31 April 2014

3. Highlighted activities and results Available (selection): • Country reports on specific thematic fields, priorities • Analysis of needs and funding offers, database on open calls • Mapping of innovation infrastructures • Database on RTDI infrastructures • Analysis of cooperation patterns, barriers to cooperation, STI statistics, etc. • Dissemination tools: website and journal Regularly: • Dialogue activities (Steering Platform, Regional Dialogue, Innovation Dialogue, Round Tables, events for NCPs, promotion of the region in EU events, brokerage etc.) • Training, brokerage, information sessions, etc.

4. Sustainability and Hand-overstrategy • Project ends in 4 weeks! • Results achieved belong to all partners and will be used by them directly • Reports remain available (final publication, internet) • Established network in the region and beyond • Recommendations for further activities can be made (involving different stakeholders) • Sustainability of some key activities still to be secured

5. Steering Platform on Research • Regular (every 6 months) meetings co-chaired by • Western Balkan countries • European Commission • Council Presidency • Members: WBC (research/innovation ministries) + EU27 (esp. SI, AT, DE, GR, HU, BG, RO, FR, PL, CZ, ES) + AC (esp. CH, NO, TR) + EC (several DGs: R&I, JRC, ELARG, Regio; COST, EUREKA, ERA-NETs, etc.) + international stakeholders (RCC, UNESCO, OECD, World Bank, CEI, EUSDR etc.) • Guidelines: open ended, clearing house • Support: by WBC-INCO.NET (logistically, administrative, content-wise)

6. Steering Platform • Benefits: neutral dialogue forum, monitoring policies and developments covering national and regional level and broad European context (openness to stakeholders), propose actions and raise issues of mutual importance • Current plans: support by the EC, already offers by some EU MS to further support the activities (to be further explored and exploited), bringing the Steering Platform under the logistical and administrative coordination of the Regional Research Platform / WISE • Frequency: 6 months 2006-2013 -> 9/12 months in the future

7. Further proposed actions (1) • Coordinate strategy processes: regional R&I strategy / SEE 2020, Europe 2020, smart specialisation strategies (S3), EUSDR, Adriatic Ionian Strategy • Institution building and framework conditions: support NCP system / Programme Committees and ERA governance development, RTDI evaluation, statistics and indicators, science-industry networks, research services and administration, open access, responsible research and innovation, ethics in R&I, Charter and Code implementation (linking national and regional levels) • Infrastructure: national roadmaps, regional research infrastructure roadmap -> see H2020, cooperation within ESFRI, access to RIs, involvement in distributed RIs

8. Further proposed actions (2) • Human capital development: science management training, research/education-links, research/innovation links, knowledge/technology transfer, Innovation Union commitments / ERA, structured Diaspora involvement, mobility centers, info events and trainings, e.g. implementation of innovation measures (implementation e.g. soft landing platform, vouchers, innovation officers, etc.) • Networking: thematic – regional and on EU level (EUSDR also to play a role), putting consortia together (e.g.twinning and teaming), use of COST, use of NCP networks, joint lobbying addressing different policies, programmes, calls, etc. • Dissemination: website / portal, newsletter

9. Hand-over and sustainabilityactivities • Steering Platform (!) • Involve stakeholders • WISE / Regional Research Plattform, EU MS, EUSDR, UNESCO, EUROSTAT, CEI, OECD, WB, coordinating and monitoring institutions • Discussion, presentation and implementation of projects by the WBC-INCO.NET partners (variable geometry), e.g. Danube-INCO.NET coordinated by ZSI, involving several partners; evaluators platform; RI roadmaps; etc.

10. Thank you for your attention! Elke Dall Centre for Social Innovation Linke Wienzeile 246 A-1150 Wien dall@zsi.at +43-1-4950442-62 Towards a regional innovation system

11. SP Guidelines (Mission) The Platform facilitates the interaction between the Western Balkan Countries, the EU member states, the candidate and potential candidate countries and other states associated to the Framework Programmes for RTD and the European Commission. Its main objective is to support the enhanced integration of the WBCs in the European Research Area. It is a strategic body to deal with European, multilateral and regional issues of Science and Technology policies in and with the WBCs. It acts as an information exchange centre, clearing house for joint ideas and activities, and coordination forum for needs, suggestions and proposals of the WBCs to the European Commission, the EU27, Candidate and Potential Countries and the countries associated to FP7 (AC) and vice versa. In this spirit, the Platform continues and intensifies the progress achieved under the EU-Balkan Countries Action Plan on Science and Technology. full guidelines (current version): http://wbc-inco.net/object/document/7853

12. Partners in WBC-INCO.NET