Workshop on Knowledge Transfer Experiences (PROJECT KNOWTS) Niš, EURAXESS in Serbia Researchers’ mobility and career development Milan Zdravković Coordinator of national EURAXESS network for portal and promotion

European Research Area Lisbon Summit, 2000 One of the ERA pillars is increase of the number of researchers in Europe –Admission of researchers from so-called third countries –Return of EU researchers Strategy for mobility in ERA, 2001 –First official expression of significance of human resources and mobility for ERA development

Strategy for mobility in ERA Main identified problems –Low proportion of researchers in total work force –Decrease in interest for basic research –Negative rate of staff renewal –Competitiveness of the employers at the labor market –Structural fragmentation of the EU labor market Measures –Legislation improvement (admission, employment, social security, taxation) –Better availability of relevant information –Practical assistance to mobile researchers –Qualitative improvements –Financial support

ERA-MORE -> EURAXESS EURAXESS –Pan-European initiative for the realization of Lisbon agenda objectives related to researchers mobility and career development –Implements Strategy for mobility and other initiatives, coordinated by Steering Group for Human Resources and mobility –38 countries Structural dimensions –EURAXESS Services More than 200 Service centers –EURAXESS Jobs portal (former European Researchers’ Mobility Portal) More than 35 national portals –EURAXESS Rights –EURAXESS Links with Japan, USA, China Formal initiatives –Scientific visa package (2004) –The European Charter for Researchers and The Code of Conduct for the Recruitment of Researchers (2005) –Better careers and more mobility: a European Partnership for researchers (2008)

Examples of good practices (or impacts) Switzerland (2005) – 33% of all professors and 48% of PhD and PostDoc positions are foreigners. More than 50% of national funding goes to foreigners. Norway (2007) – 25% PhD diplomas goes to foreigners. Spain (2005) – R&D organizations are eligible for state funding only if they express the commitment to the Charter and Code. Estonia (2004) – All job vacancies are international. Return of researchers is one of the criteria for national projects evaluation. France (2007) – Test programme of funding “Phd – Counselors” – combined work of PhD holders in public and private organizations

SER-MORE Project Objectives –develop operational national infrastructure (National EURAXESS network) for providing support to incoming, outgoing and inter- sectoral mobility of researchers develop sustainable organizational structure of the network design and collect information and services for assistance to researchers enable provision of proximity assistance to researchers publish an open, accessible and interactive web platform achieve full visibility of information and services Partners –Universities of Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Niš, FIT, Ministry of Science and Technological Development

National EURAXESS Network BHO SC BG SC KG SC NI SC NS SC FIT LCPs ServicesCoordinationStrategy Steering group SGHRM Working groups

Main results of the project Network development –Declaration of Commitment, Trainings, Workshops Data collection –Foreign researchers, researchers’ inquiries, testimonials, job vacancies, R&D organizations, news & announcements, practical information Promotion –Info days, conferences, newsletter, online advertising, Facebook page Service package –Practical information on the national EURAXESS portal, Guides for incoming and outgoing researchers

Some of the main obstacles Lack of scientific visa system implementation Lack of PhD programmes in english language, Extremely complicated, long and expensive process of diploma recognition Lack of funding – employment opportunities Disintegration of universities –Lack of integrated effort in promotion of PhD programmes and international cooperation –Lack of integrated information system

Intersectoral mobility Very important for transfer of knowledge –Although, apparently - not self-sustainable Problems: –Possible loss of privileges and professional status, differences in work ethics and culture, different criteria for evaluation of the R&D results

12 practical recommendations Drafted by the Working Group of Steering group for human resources and mobility (2006) Four main groups of actions identified –Key knowledge and skills definition –Definition of joint criteria for research career evaluation –Identification of the obstacles for intersectoral mobility –Analysis of potential impact of the structuring initiatives

Examples of good practices Estonia (2003) – First programmes of support in creation of start- ups and spin-offs from the universities. Since then, universities actively train researchers in IPR, entrepreneurship and project management. France (2003) – Universities can employ the professionals from the private sector as professors, under special conditions. Ireland (2006) – Joint funding of the PhD and post-doc studies by the state and an industry. Development of strategic research clusters. Romania (2007) – Income from the sale of the patented innovative product is not taxed in first five years after patent approval. Slovenia (2005) – Salaries of PhD holders employed in private sector are subsidized by the state Slovenia (2006) - Salaries of PhD holders employed in private sector are exempted from tax in first two years after employment

ISEEMob Project - Objectives Enhancing inter-sectoral mobility of researchers in South-Eastern Europe –examining the existing legal and research policy gaps hampering the intersectoral mobility of R&D personnel –provide recommendations and guidelines to the respective governments so as to raise the remaining obstacles and promote intersectoral mobility and the career development of researchers.

ISEEMob Project - Activities WP2 - Mapping exercise on the current state of affairs regarding industrial R&D representation in SEE WP3 - Legislation gap analysis WP4 - Policy guidelines for the promotion of intersectoral mobility policy issues in South- eastern European countries WP7 - Exploration of synergies with other networks or initiatives in SEE and EU

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