D Programme Level Cooperation analysis and evaluation report (DLR) Outline & main findings

Aim of the mapping Analysing the features of existing cooperation programmes on R&I in MPCs in order to define a frame for enhancement of institutional and financial synergies at the regional level Identifying the existing complementary research programmes to avoid overlap and facilitate synergy between existing programmes and new initiatives Identifying the types of activities with a potential for a joint approach.

Methodology Survey on S&T national, unilateral, bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes of 7 MPCs: Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine and Tunisia (Period: May-December 2013) Two main components of the survey: part A (general information on the cooperation programmes), part B (SWOT analysis of the programmes) Some questions were of a qualitative nature: the answers were useful in complementing summaries and interpretations of data drawn from quantitative answers.

Results: general features of the Programmes 13 Programmes analyzed in 7 countries: - Palestine and Morocco: 3 programmes each - Egypt: 4 programmes - Algeria, Jordan, Lebanon, Tunisia: 1 programme each Most programmes are quite recent (from 2011 onwards) – exception: 1 programme in Egypt (1981) and 1 programme in Lebanon (1962). Geographic scope of the programmes: generally bilateral or national (but in this second case also open to international cooperation).

Results: Type of activities Respondents could choose from the following categories, allowing for multiple answers: Capacity building, Mobility, Basic research, Applied research, Technological development.

Results: Thematic focus of the Programmes The topical area supported by most programmes is agriculture. Next are “energy, energy technologies” and “environmental research”, followed by “economics, social sciences and humanities” and “healthcare and medicine” as well as “biology and biotechnology”.

Results: Funding Type of beneficiaries: universities & research centers (in most cases), researchers without affiliation, SMEs, Larger companies. Only 2 programmes mention the civil society. Funding volume: Funding volumes show a strong heterogeneity. The average funding volumes range from grants of 2,000€ in Tunisia to large grants of up to 1.5 million € in Egypt.

Results: Openness for international participation The degree of openness for international participation varies a lot between the different projects. Four programs from Tunisia, Jordan and Palestine are reported not to be open for participation from “third countries”. Eight programmes are open to international partners or international experts. Further internationalisation was quoted as on of the goals for future activities, as internationalisation is seen as a way to strengthen national research potentials.

Results: Strategic orientations The rationales of S&T Programmes do not differ too much between MPCs. The strongest emphasis is put on issues like improving national research infrastructure, developing human resources, exchanging and importing knowledge and representing the respective country’s interests.

SWOT Analysis of the Programmes Strenghts: - National research and innovation system: Strong participation of target groups from research institutes and universities - Programme management and related activities: The constant monitoring of developments in EU science policy, especially the Framework Programs, for opportunities for local researchers - Internationalisation: Programme owners have established wide international networks, and many researchers have a long experience of cross-border collaboration Weaknesses: - National research and innovation system: availability of resources in universities and research institutes, e.g. infrastructure for research in future technologies. - Programme management: Loss of time and resources caused by complex administrative procedures - Innovation: Industry-science relationships could be intensified

SWOT Analysis of the Programmes Opportunities: - European Networking - Alingnment with international standards - Reducing fragmentation thourgh joint activities -Intensified partnership between academia and industry Threaths: - Fragmentation and lack of cooperation among institutions at national level - Bureaucracy hindering participation - Lack of funds - Brain-drain - Unused potential of valorization of research results - Unstable political framework conditions

Conclusions All seven MPCs have programs dedicated to international research cooperation. Common interests exist: all the programs address topics that are of high interest to their respective countries and are also in line with the societal challenges addressed by Medspring. There is good potential for further cooperation in the Mediterranean Region on common objectives. Common programme management schemes: all programmes reported to apply more or less the same instruments for calls, from the announcement of calls, the submission of proposals and the evaluation thereof. Room for improvement: fragmentation of activities, weak connections between academia and business, need for a stronger valorization of research results Potential benefits of a stronger cooperation through multilateral activities: they could address some of the identified weaknesses of uni- or bilateral activities, e.g. fragmentation and the necessity to build up a critical mass of funding.