1. Short overview of the SCORE project

2. SCORE @ a glance Full Title
Strengthening the Strategic Co-operation between the EU and Western Balkan Region in the field of ICT Research
Project Instrument
Specific Support Action (SSA)
Project start
01 February 2007
Duration
24 months (project end: 31 January 2009)
Funding
Project funded by the European Commission under the “Information Society Technologies” Thematic Priority of the 6th Framework Programme.
Partners
10 highly complementary partners:
8 – from Western Balkan countries
2 – from EU countries

3. (Project Co-ordinator)
SCORE partners
GREECE
AUSTRIA
(Project Co-ordinator)
ALBANIA
SERBIA
INFORMATION
SOCIETY SCG
BOSNIA - HERZEGOVINA
FYR MACEDONIA
ECCF

4. The motivation of SCORE
Current situation:
No formulated EU ICT research policy for the Western Balkan region for the period
No defined common future ICT research priorities / policies within the region (driven by national level)
Why SCORE?
Need for well-defined future research priorities that
will enhance RTD co-operation in the area of Information & Communication Technologies (ICT)
between the WB region and the EU
 SCORE aims to contribute to the shaping of EU ICT research policy in the region, in a way that meets the:
interests and needs of regional ICT stakeholders and
priorities of the European Commission

5. SCORE Objectives
1. Develop ICT Strategic Research Agendas that will define the WB countries’ ICT research priorities
Following a wide consultation with ICT stakeholder communities (e.g. national RTD policy makers, research actors, ICT companies)
2. Develop a Policy Paper with “Recommendations for shaping EU scientific co-operation with the Western Balkan Region in the field of ICT research: ”
3. Transfer EU research results and technologies in the identified ICT research priorities
4. Facilitate the development of networks
Within the Western Balkan region, and
Between the WB region and the EU

6. Key results of SCORE
4 country-specific ICT Strategic Research Agendas, defining future ICT research priorities:
Albania,
Bosnia-Herzegovina,
FYR Macedonia
Serbia
Policy Paper with recommendations for EU ICT research directions in the region
1 thematic workshop (per country) for the transfer of know-how on ICT research areas identified
Organisation of an EU-Western Balkan Regional Conference, in order to consolidate the Strategic Research Agendas and Policy Paper.

7. Objectives of the SCORE consultation
To obtain feedback from ICT stakeholders in order to determine the ICT research priorities in each country for the period
The ultimate aim is to identify research priorities that:
reflect the actual research capacities and potential,
meet the technological / industrial trends, and
and address real socio-economic needs
The research priorities are the main element for:
defining the country-specific ICT Strategic Research Agendas,
which in turn, will form the basis for developing the Policy Paper

8. Overview of the SCORE Consultation Process
2. Selection of ICT panel experts
4. Distribution of document & invitation to panel experts
5. Collection and Initial synthesis of contributions
1. Identification of ICT stakeholders
3. Preparation of Consultation Document
7. Development of initial
Strategic Research Agendas
(SRAs)
PHASE I – EXPERT CONSULTATION
6. Organisation of Consultation Workshops with panel experts
9. Distribution of initial SRAs and questions - invitation to stakeholders
12. Development of Policy Paper
8. Preparation of consultation questions to accompany initial SRAs
10. Collection of feedback
PHASE II – OPEN CONSULTATION
11. Development of Final Strategic Research Agendas
Note: Orange steps produce key results /
deliverables
The Policy Paper will map national ICT research
priorities to FP7 challenges

9. ICT Stakeholders Targeted
DIRECT ICT stakeholders:
National ICT research policy-makers (ministry representatives, specific ICT policy working groups, regulatory authorities etc.)
Research actors / organisations (academic, not-for-profit, private)
ICT companies (software companies, telecom operators, internet providers)
NGOs for ICT promotion
Related national / international projects
INDIRECT ICT stakeholders (ICT beneficiaries/ user communities)
Business community representatives e.g. chambers of commerce
Broad public administration (e.g. ministries, association of regional public administrations)
Civil society (e.g. online communities, links through websites of ministries etc.)

10. The ICT Strategic Research Agendas
The Strategic Research Agenda will define the future research priorities and research areas of each country
Structure of a typical SRA:
Overall objectives of the SRA
Research priorities for the country (5 to 10)
For each research priority:
research objectives are defined and
Specific areas of research are proposed

11. The Policy Paper
Based on the four country-specific SRAs, the Policy Paper will:
identify common research priorities and needs of the WB Countries, and
recommend areas of EU-Western Balkan research collaboration in the period
The Policy Paper will be entitled “Recommendations for shaping EU scientific co-operation with the Western Balkan Region in the field of ICT research:

12. The Final Regional Conference
A closing EU-Western Balkan Regional Conference will be organised in Belgrade in January 2009
The Conference will target RTD policy-makers and key ICT stakeholders coming from:
the European Union
Western Balkan region
and neighboring countries (Bulgaria, Romania, Croatia and Turkey)
The aim of the conference will be to consolidate the ICT Strategic Research Agendas and Policy Paper

13. SCORE Contact Information
For further information on the SCORE project please contact:
PLANET S.A. – Project Co-ordinator
Soumi Papadopoulou,