Tania Friederichs DG Research European Commission The importance of cross border cooperation in the Western Balkan Countries Conference by Research Council of Norway 11 March 2010 Sarajevo

Importance of Research Need to increase research capacity: in support of economic development; quality of life and well being of citizens Research and innovation at core of “Europe 2020” strategy Research necessary to address common challenges/find common solutions Strategy also valid for wider Europe WBC - EU perspective: research facilitates integration into EU

Importance of Cross border cooperation Research no longer done in isolation: need to cooperate at all levels: national; regional; EU; international Cross border cooperation: increase transfer of knowledge and improve scientific basis Allows for best practices and comparison Necessary to join forces: share experience and scientists and equipment Science has no borders: need to rely on best scientists wherever in the world Regional dimension: relevant (same language/problems)

Research at EU level Research and Innovation on political agenda (scientific counsellor attached to Commission President Barroso) How: policy measures and funding Policy mix: involve all stakeholders (public and private/business) Cross-cutting policy: education, fiscal, digital agenda; industry; IPR

How European research Area (ERA) Instrument/funding: FP7 Joint Programming: by MS on specific research themes ERA open to world → strategy for cooperation

Avoid fragmentation Create critical mass: compete with other major partners (US, China, Brazil, Japan); Fifth Freedom: free flow of knowledge and researchers Ljubljana process: governance 5 building blocks: Single labour market for resarchers (Steering Group on Human Resources and Mobility) World-class research infrastructures (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructure) Coordination and joint programming (GPC) Effective knowledge sharing (CREST w/g) Opening of the ERA to the world (SFIC) ERA

Framework for budget: 50 billion euro 4 Specific Programmes: –Cooperation (collaborative research/ 10 themes) –IDEAS (European Research Council) –People (Marie Curie Actions) –Capacities (Support for research capacity) Based on calls for proposals/evaluations/selection Always cross border element; always added value for EU FP7

1.Health 2.Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Biotechnology 3.Information & communication technologies 4.Nanosciences, nanotechnologies, materials & new production technologies 5.Energy 6.Environment (including Climate Change) 7.Transport (including aeronautics) 8.Socio-economic Sciences and the Humanities 9.Space 10.Security Cooperation

Member States (27) Third countries associated to FP7 (13): EEA: Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein Enlargement countries: all WBCs and Turkey S&T agreements: Switzerland, Israel, Faroe Islands Other third countries: Industrial countries: US; Japan, NZ, Gulf States ICPC partners: Mediterranean, Africa, South America, Kosovo, etc. FP7 participants

Same research opportunities as MS: - eligible for all calls and instruments - fulfil minimum requirement (3 participants MS/AC) - no dedicated calls - eligible for research potential Participate as observer in Programme Committee: - well informed about Work Programmes - possibility to network with MS and other AC Invited to participate in ERA governance bodies: - becoming familiar with EU research policy - share best practices Associated countries

European Partnership for International S&T cooperation Objective: common problems and common solutions Make Europe attractive research partner Attract best researchers from world Implementation: Strategic Forum for International S&T cooperation (SFIC) (all associated countries invited as observer) Open ERA

12 WBC Strategy “Doors ERA wide open to WBC” (Potočnik, Vienna, June 26, 2006) 3 pillars: (1)Engage together in research cooperation: association to FP7; observer CREST and ERA bodies; (2)How improve research capacity: a)human capital b)infrastructure (3)Create synergies with other instruments & stakeholders: IPA, RCC,COST, EUREKA, UNESCO

(1)Research cooperation Since 1 January 2009: all WBCs associated to FP7 Kosovo UN 1244: ICPC partner (eligible for funding) Before FP7: –participate as third country –dedicated calls on themes (environment & health) –support for capacity building –SEE.ERA.NET Also consider other options (bilateral/regional/multilateral)

(2) Research capacity Human capital and Infrastructure Post war situation: very weak; IMF recommendations; financial crisis But support for capacity building at EU level: limited Ownership: put research on national research agenda Prepare for EU accession

15 (3) Synergy With other stakeholders and programmes Bilateral: Norway; neighbors; Turkey COST; Eureka; NATO UNESCO, RCC, OECD Programmes: IPA, CIP

16 WBC Steering Platform Launched in June 2006 in Vienna Supported by FP7 WBC.Inco.Net project Bringing EC, MS and WBCs together Open to AC: Turkey; Norway... (Kamsvag Nils Ragner, NO Ministry of Foreign Affairs) Ad hoc members: Cost; Eureka, RCC Share information and join efforts Create synergies

17 Regional dimension Regional: same problems; background; need for common solutions Small Region: need to cooperate Role of RCC: Sarajevo Ministerial declaration April 2009

Regional Projects SEE.ERA.NET Plus Food Cluster: Focus Balkans; LEFSER Health: BECAN Others?

Thank you for attention!!