1. Actions under FP7 and ERA
International Conference
Fostering and Building Human Capital
for Sustainable Knowledge Societies
in South Eastern Europe
Actions under FP7 and ERA
6 - 7 March 2009
Bucharest
Tania Friederichs
DG Research
European Commission

2. Political Context S.E.E = Western Balkan Countries (WBCs)
All WBCs have European Integration perspective
Strategy for international cooperation: increase scientific knowledge
Enlargement countries: research tool to facilitate integration into EU
Instrument: WBC Steering Platform

3. Research at EU level Not only funding but policy
Lisbon Council: research on political agenda
Become most competitive nation 2010 (!): knowledge society  create European Research Area
Fifth Freedom: free flow of knowledge and researchers (European Council March 2008)
Research policy in synergy with other policies: state aid, education, IPR, etc.

4. European Research Area
• Stimulate research cooperation; critical mass, avoid fragmentation (FP7)
Invest more in research: 3% of GDP
Create research capacity: human resources and Infrastructure
Mobility of Researchers and career development
Science In Society
What is valid for EU (27) also for Wider Europe: open ERA

5. WBC Platform
Launched in Vienna in June 2006 by Austrian Presidency & Commissioner Potočnik
Ensure continuation from Thessaloniki Agenda
Confirmation of overall political commitment: future of WBCs in Europe
Bringing together all stakeholders
Role: stimulating, monitoring, coordinating research cooperation
Overall aim: increase research capacity
More details: Elke Dall, Project officer of WBC Inco.Net 5 5

6. WBC Strategy
3 pillars:
(1) Engage together in research cooperation: association to FP7; observer CREST
(2) How improve research capacity: human capital & infrastructure
(3) Create synergies with other instruments & stakeholders: IPA, RCC,COST, EUREKA, UNESCO 6 6

7. (1) Research Cooperation FP7
Association FP7 made attractive: since 1/09 all WBCs associated
WBCs same opportunities as Member States
Kosovo under UN1244: participation as an ICPC
Increase regional research opportunities
All WBC observer in Programme Committees; CREST; SGHRM 7 7

8. (2) Research Capacity/ Human Capital
Post-war situation; IMF recommendations, research not yet on political agenda: capacity in WBCs very weak
Support for research capacity under FP7: limited
Expect WBCs to develop national research policy: ownership
Seek synergy with others: bilateral support; IPA; EIB 8 8

9. Human Capital FP7/People
9 different Marie-Curie Actions
Specific support actions: mobility and career enhancement; researcher's night
Overall objectives: development of R&D human resource in Europe; training of researchers
Very low success rate in People
FP7 very competitive; Marie Curie very popular and most actions for experienced/post doc researchers  not so much for WBCs 9 9

10. Human Capital FP7/SiS
Actions to improve quality of science education in schools
Promote equality of opportunity of women researchers 10 10

11. Human Capital Universities
Universities/education: mainly DG EAC!
But: realisation of Fifth Freedom closely linked to higher education reforms
Support for university activities linked to research:
assessing research performance at university
stimulating partnership with industry
data on research universities
Crest working group/OMC: mutual learning/improve excellence
Swedish Presidency Conference on "Universities and the Knowledge Triangle" 11 11

12. Human Capital ERA If we engage more in research: not enough scientists
Policy measures: quantitative & qualitative measures
- Encourage young people to sciences
- Researchers' night
- Code of Conduct for Recruitment
- Charter for Researchers
- ERA-Link
- Scientific Visa package
Network of Scientific diaspora
Euraxess 12 12

13. EURAXESS
(1) JOBS: Includes all information on job opportunities, funding opportunities, grants, employment, etc. (replacing the European Researcher’s Mobility Portal)
(2) NETWORK: Includes all information for relocation assistance (replacing the ERA-MORE Network)
(3) RIGHTS: Includes all information regarding the European Charter and Code
(4) LINKS: Includes all info on ERA-link (the link of European researchers abroad, i.e. in the US and Japan)

14. FP7 EURAXESS Action not subject to calls for proposal
Commission contracted with all WBCs:
Croatia, Serbia, FYROM
Montenegro, Albania, B&H: launched/2010 14 14

15. Recruitment & Career development
European Charter for Researchers and Code of Conduct for Recruitment: adopted by the Commission on 11 March 2005
Objective Charter: a reference point for career management, role & responsibility of researchers and employers on minimum rights and obligations
Objective of Code of Conduct: reference point for transparency and merit based recruitment; fair recognition of qualifications and mobility experience
Voluntary implementation: 900 research organisations/24 countries
None in WBCs!! 15 15

16. Charter & Code New approach
Developing a HR strategy for researchers: speed up implementation C&C
How increase awareness/communication
Analysis: research institute/ C&C principles
External evaluation: every 4 years 16 16

17. HR Strategy for Researchers
Internal analysis Example
HR Strategy for Researchers
Below, an example of a possible standard template for the internal analysis and implementation of the HR Strategy (other templates may be used) 17

18. Awareness Not well known: who knows/applies it?!
Charter and Code Promoters' Network – 2008
Ad Hoc training activity on use 18 18

19. Renewed Lisbon strategy 2008
Spring European Council 2008: investing in people; modernising labour market, investing knowledge and innovation = renewed Lisbon agenda
Research: new perspectives for ERA: more attractive; more competition (5 initiatives)
HR: better careers and more mobility: a European Partnership for researchers (Com(2008) 317 of ) 19 19

20. Partnership
Systematically open recruitment to all MS (associated countries)
Social security & suppl. pension for mobile researchers
Provide attractive employment & conditions
Enhance training, skills & training
Endorsed at Competitive Council of 26/9/08
SGHRM: forum to implement partnership policy 20 20

21. SGHRM
Members: Member States and FP7 Associated Countries and Commission
Task: exchange of information; best practices, guidelines
First meeting: 25 March 2009
Also: reporting on Mobility section of National Reform Programmes (renewed Lisbon strategy) 21 21

22. Some remarks Important to strengthen human capital
Actions at all level: burden sharing & ownership
European level: a lot
But: need a rescue action to capture potential ?! 22 22

23. Thank you for your attention!