1. Regional priorities in an international context: the European experience Howard Moore Director UNESCO Office in Venice Regional Bureau for Science in Europe

2. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Europe: Culturally and ethnically rich Culturally and ethnically rich Multi-layered, organizationally complex Multi-layered, organizationally complex Comparatively strong industrial sector Comparatively strong industrial sector Diversity of scientific research and training systems, at national and regional levels Diversity of scientific research and training systems, at national and regional levels Wealth of centres of excellence Wealth of centres of excellence

3. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Europe: Expansion of European Union Expansion of European Union Creation of European Research Area Creation of European Research Area - 2010 R&D target: 3% of GDP - 2010 R&D target: 3% of GDP - 66% to be private sector - 66% to be private sector Adherence to the Bologna Process Adherence to the Bologna Process

4. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006) 16.3 billion € 16.3 billion € Focussing and integrating Community research 13.35 billion € Focussing and integrating Community research 13.35 billion € Structuring the ERA 2.6 billion € Structuring the ERA 2.6 billion € Strengthening the foundations of the ERA 0.32 billion € Strengthening the foundations of the ERA 0.32 billion €

5. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006) Priority thematic areas Life Sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health Life Sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health Information society technologies Information society technologies Nanotechnologies and nanosciences... Nanotechnologies and nanosciences... Aeronautics and space Aeronautics and space Food quality and safety Food quality and safety Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society

6. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Sixth Framework Programme (2002-2006) Opening of “Focusing and Integrating Community Research” to third country organizations (funding: 285 million Euro) Opening of “Focusing and Integrating Community Research” to third country organizations (funding: 285 million Euro ) Specific measures in support of international cooperation (INCO) Specific measures in support of international cooperation (INCO) Structuring the ERA Structuring the ERA International mobility of researchers; Marie Curie action International mobility of researchers; Marie Curie action + ESF, COST...

7. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Seventh Framework Programme (2007-2011) Doubling of budget? Doubling of budget? Inclusion of European Research Council? Inclusion of European Research Council?

8. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) ROSTE’s main mission: To foster cooperation, contribute to capacity building and provide specialized expertise in the natural sciences within the Central and Eastern European region… To foster cooperation, contribute to capacity building and provide specialized expertise in the natural sciences within the Central and Eastern European region… and especially in South East Europe

9. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) SE Europe: the context Transition to market economy Transition to market economy Former centralized science governance Former centralized science governance Low national investment Low national investment

10. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Western Balkans: added problems Military conflict Military conflict Ethnic cleansing and mass migrations Ethnic cleansing and mass migrations Destruction of facilities Destruction of facilities Fragmentation of former national system Fragmentation of former national system Political and economic sanctions/embargos Political and economic sanctions/embargos

11. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Western Balkans: the economic situation Fall in industrial production Fall in industrial production De-industrialization De-industrialization Economic structures evolving backwards Economic structures evolving backwards Low technological capacity of private sector Low technological capacity of private sector Chronic brain drain and brain waste Chronic brain drain and brain waste Low investment in R&D (e.g. O.3% of GDP for S&M) Low investment in R&D (e.g. O.3% of GDP for S&M)

12. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) UNESCO-ROSTE initiative: rebuilding scientific cooperation in South East Europe INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF EXPERTS Venice, March 2001 ROUND TABLE OF MINISTERS OF SCIENCE Paris, October 2001

13. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Priority action identified as: Increased connectivity of scientific institutions Increased connectivity of scientific institutions Thematic regional networks of research centres and laboratories Thematic regional networks of research centres and laboratories Upgrading of medium/large facilities to serve region as a whole Upgrading of medium/large facilities to serve region as a whole Human capacity building Human capacity building

14. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Basic and engineering sciences: human capacity-building Mathematics Physics Chemistry Biology and biotechnology Engineering and energy Research training Regional Workshops and Conferences Summer Schools Short-term fellowships UNESCO Chairs

15. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) The Environment Basic premise: the management of natural (and cultural) resources is becoming more and more a geo-politically relevant stake in the dynamics of the South-East European countries and their mutual relationships.

16. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) The Environment Fresh water (International Hydrological Programme) Ecohydrology Conflicts and transboundary water resources People and nature (Man and the Biosphere Programme) Use of (transboundary) biosphere reserves to promote sustainable development, esp. in biodiversity and ecotourism Coastal and small island management Development of Master Plan tool based on GIS (Croatian module)

17. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) The Environment New Natural and cultural assets for the development of sustainable tourism in SEE (using as demonstration sites Biosphere Reserves and World Heritage sites) Environmental educational for sustainable development

18. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Science policy / Science and society S & T policies S & T policies Mobility of young scientists Mobility of young scientists Statistics and indicators Statistics and indicators Women in science Women in science Access to scientific information Access to scientific information

19. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Spreading the word on science Establishment of Euroscience Open Forum Establishment of Euroscience Open Forum Stockholm 2004 Stockholm 2004 Munich 2006 Munich 2006

20. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Success stories: 1. Support to Astronomical Research in SE Europe and Ukraine Networking of observatories Networking of observatories Upgrading of facilities and opening up as a regional resource Upgrading of facilities and opening up as a regional resource Preparation of joint research projects Preparation of joint research projects

21. UNESCO OFFICE IN VENICE Regional Bureau for Science in Europe (ROSTE) Success stories: 2. UNESCO-Hewlett-Packard ‘Brain drain’ to ‘brain gain’ project Provision of grid computing equipment to selected universities in SE Europe Provision of grid computing equipment to selected universities in SE Europe Development of research groups and research projects with expatriates Development of research groups and research projects with expatriates