1. FP7 ERANET – 2008 RTD – 235460 – ICT-AGRI “Coordination of European Research within ICT and Robotics in Agriculture and related Environmental issues” Action plan for maintenance of common research agenda and networks Deliverable 5.3

2. ICT-AGRI Lesson learnt and possible scenarios 1.Networking with FACCE JPI; 2.EIP European Innovation Partnership “Agricultural productivity and sustainability”; 3.Horizon 2020 ERA-Net co-fund scheme; 4.Self sustained network.

3. Food Security, Agriculture and Climate Change - FACCE JPI Horizon 2020 has now begun and will have an increased focus on grand societal challenges. Furthermore the EC envisages making greater use of all kind of partnering instruments to pool efforts and resources to coordinate and align European and national programmes.

4. EIP European Innovation Partnership “Agricultural productivity and sustainability” ICT-AGRI as a Thematic network under the umbrella of EIP? The thematic networks should involve a range of actors from science and practice, with the aim to: –collect existing scientific knowledge and best practices on the chosen theme: what do we have/what do we need to facilitate the use of the results. –develop end-user material, such as info sheets in a common format and audio-visual material. The material should be available long-term and easily understandable and accessible to end-users. It may serve as input for education and for a research database. Four networks will be built around specific themes from bottom-up approach. These thematic networks should have a focus on best practices and research results that are close to being put into practice, but not yet sufficiently tested and adapted to practice needs. The themes for the four networks are not pre-defined and could be linked to sectors or products, or to a broad range of cross-cutting subjects

5. Horizon 2020 ERA-Net Cofund scheme ERA-NET Cofund – main features ERA-NET Cofund: implementation of a co-funded joint call for proposals (compulsory, one co-funded call per Grant Agreement) EU contribution: mainly a proportional contribution to the total public funding of the joint call. A fixed reimbursement rate of 33% applies (ERA-NET Plus in FP7 ) The EU contribution can partially be used (20%) to support coordination costs of additional initiatives, including additional calls without top-up funding, strategic research agenda implementation etc., on the basis of a unit of costs. (max euro 11.962,50/year/partner) Co-funded calls: proposal evaluation and selection according to Horizon 2020 standards ERA -NETs based on a Coordination and Support Action (CSA) are no longer possible. Only in exceptional cases it might be considered to support the preparation and structuring of specific emerging P2Ps that demonstrate clear European added value.

6. Self sustained network As shown there are different opportunities at our disposal to maintain the network and the activities beyond the lifespan of the current ERA-Net project offered by the Commission in the next future. If, on the contrary, the Consortium should try to develop in a self sustained network, some basic issues have to be taken into account: The network requires certain administrative activities to achieve its aims, e.g. meetings, coordination of trans-national projects, communication on relevant topics, update the Strategic Research Agenda, etc Return to the structure of a CWG: flexible, swift, but low level of commitment; Join a European Organisation (Registration fees) maybe a unique experience but effective (EUPHRESCO/EPPO); Join another kind of network (Registration fees) difficult to foresee how to realize it (GÉANT);

7. Conclusions To maintain a common research agenda and networks, we have several opportunities with possible funding, under the umbrella of the EU Networking with FACCE JPI; EIP European Innovation Partnership “Agricultural productivity and sustainability”; Horizon 2020 ERA-Net co-fund scheme. On the other hand we have the possibility to develop a self sustained network. In this case some activities must be carried on even without the support of EU funds, such as: Maintain, develop and update a common Strategic Research Agenda. The network must maintain the website (internal and external web-pages). Within the website the MKB has to be maintained and should be updated as it supplies important information on conducted, and planned, research. Launch joint transnational calls. The network, its tasks and activities should be evaluated at the end of a cycle of activities. Try to establish linkages to other networks, ERA-Nets or different Organisations.