ASBIMED and MED7 Projects Rafael Rodríguez-Clemente Juan Miguel González-Aranda SPANISH COUNCIL FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH (CSIC) Delegation in Andalusia Vienna, June 28-30, 2006 “Insights on the Euro-Med S&T cooperation”

Activities: Implementing Cairo’s MoCo Conclusions Building the NCP in the MPCs: Euro-Medanet 1&2 Assessment of the Bilateral S&T co-operation between the EU-AC and the MPC: ASBIMED Indicators & design of Mediterranean Research & Innovation landscape: ESTIME INCO-MED Thematic Workshops for the definition of the Science and Technology Euro-Mediterranean Policy within FP7: MED 7 Foresight for the Mediterranean: INNFORMED Support to the S&T Cooperation Agreements: FEAST-Tunisia € invested in structural activities reinforcing the Euro- Med S&T cooperation

The EU-MPC Bilateral Co-operation and the general interest of the Euromediterranean MEDA agenda. Convergence or divergence between the multilateral co- operation, expressed by the FP, including theresults of FP6, and the bilateral co-operation? Are there specific bilateral interests in the identifies bilateral RTD co-operation, or they fit to non-specific general interest of the MPC? Do the identified priorities developed through FP and bilateral co-operation fit the MoCo priorities? ASBIMED Project:General Analysis and questions to be addressed

ASBIMED GENERAL RESULTS GLOBAL ANALYSIS (up to June 22nd 2006)

Geographical distribution and intensity of the RTD Cooperation Distribution of the Thematic Areas based on the classification criteria provided by the Syllabus EU codes and OST definitions Managing Institutions Types of actions covered Factors of intensity: Budget (Funding) and its distribution, nº of topics addressed, balance between scientific results, technical results and educational results Main Objectives of the RTD Cooperation Users involved Innovation and employment generation data obtained Fitting with the MoCo priorities, FP6 and FP7 priorities Main Areas covered by this Bilateral RTD Cooperation Analysis

There are 124 BILATERAL Programmes between the MPC and the EU-AC (up to June 22nd 2006)

Personalized data access (login and password) provided to all the relevant ASBIMED Project stakeholders: (Commission Officer, Coordinator, Consortium's partners, MoCo members, Invited Members). MoCo members are only allowed to go inside their corresponding countries Knowledge Bases, as well MISCELLANEOUS Area. Access to the rest of resources is allowed for the rest of stakeholders, although these rules can be always changed/adjusted, if advisable. A detailed set of use instructions are available as well the permanent support of the Webmaster …the rest of Areas covered by this Bilateral RTD Cooperation Analysis are gathered by the ASBIMED KNOWLEDGEBASE:

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (I) The difficulties encountered by the Consortium, makes it clear that a project aimed at characterizing the global bilateral cooperation EU-MPC should incorporate members from both sides. It is also clear that the information is scattered in several institutions in each country. A centralized coordination of the international cooperation in S&T does not exist in any country of the EU or the MPC. The bilateral cooperation, being more traditional in the international relations in S&T could be used as seeds for the multilateral cooperation. The implement of the EU-MPC bilateral political agreements on RTD, should use the networks already established by the bilateral cooperation programs and the MPC-MPC programs, which reflect regional interests.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (II) The ASBIMED Knowledge Base can be used by the MoCo and the European Commission as instrument to define the specific content of the multilateral strategic initiatives, and to establish synergies in the design of future policies covered by the Euro- Mediterranean partnership. On the other hand, it can provide a foresight for the Euro Mediterranean pulse on RTD activities. The ASBIMED Knowledge Base should be further developed to integrate the content and results of all the international cooperation programs of the MPC, bilateral or multilateral, financed by all kind of institutions, but all supporting the activity of their national RTD systems and their networking. Therefore, it should be continued under a shared responsibility with the MoCo.

CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS (III) It will be most recommended to use the existing networks between universities or research institutions to create a gateway for the incorporation of MPC partners within the FP projects. The system building projects, such as ASBIMED and others should include members of the MPC institutions in their consortium, perhaps in view of an enlargement of the data base created through ASBIMED and to develop other relevant instruments to improve the Euro-Mediterranean partnership. The MoCo should create a technical secretary to support the execution of its recommendations to improve the Euro-Mediterranean partnership in the fields of Science and technology

Six workshops dealt with topics identified by the MoCo ad hoc Committee Meeting in Carmona-Spain June as cooperation priorities. One assessment Workshop (Napoli Assessment) discussed the results of the five previous ones. One additional (EXTENSION) Workshop was approved in Tunisia MoCo meeting, June covering the remaining priorities of FP7 (Transport, ICT, Socio-Economics and Humanities). By means of the results of MED7, the EC and the MoCo will have elements to identify and select in a concerted manner, the most relevant topics and instruments to be tackled within the Euro-Mediterranean S&T co- operation perspectives of the next Framework Programme, as well as the best defined approaches to address these issues. MED 7: “INCO-Med Thematic Workshops for the definition of the S&T Euro-Mediterranean Policy within FP7”

MED 7 Strategic Objectives and Priorities The MED 7 project, coordinated by the Spanish Council for Scientific Research - CSIC, addresses 2 strategic objectives: − to strengthen the co-ordination and the complementarity with activities carried out by means of Community foreign policy instruments, specifically MEDA; − to support particular joint efforts by the Community and the Member States to the opening up of the European Research Area to the rest of the world. Moreover, MED7 has the following main priority : Identification of areas with potential for enhanced co-ordination between and with the Member States, the Accession Countries, the Associated States and the Mediterranean Partner Countries in order to promote, organise and structure the participation of INCO target Countries in the activities of the Framework Programme, specially in the thematic priorities.

Innovative Production Systems and Processes May – Casablanca, Morocco Organised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Morocco Water Risk Management and Renewable Energies May – Athens, Greece Coordinated by Mr. George Bonas, from the National Hellenic Research Foundation. Public Health May – Tel Aviv, Israel Coordinated by Mr. Marcel Shaton, General Director of the Israel R&D Directorate for the EU 6th FP, ISERD. Workshops held (I): Agro-Food and Industrial Agriculture June – Montpellier, France Coordinated by Mr. Michel Trebel, from the “Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement” CIRAD

Napoli Assessment Workshop June – Napoli, Italy Coordinated by Mr.Ezio Martuscelli, of CNR-Department of International Activities Third Division – Mediterranean and Middle East. Cultural Heritage June – St. George’s Bay, Malta Organized by the Malta Council for Science and Technology, under the joint coordination of Mr. Wilfred Kenely, Chief Executive and Dr. Jennifer Cassingena Harper, Director of Policy. EXTENSION Workshop September 2005 – Brussels, Belgium Coordinated by Mr.Rafael Rodríguez-Clemente, of CSIC-Spanish Council for Scientific Research. Workshops held (II):

The EU-MPC RTD cooperation could be instrumented through actions to: 1)Building a Support System for RTD 2) Identification and selection of the more appropriate priorities for MPCs taking into consideration aspects such as: complementary, synergy and contiguity with EU priorities (MEDA and Framework Programmes) and with bilateral projects on national scale; regional specificity and diversity. 3) Instruments and measures able to: increase funds available for MPCs and reduce parcelling out of funding; increase the number of partners from MPCs taking part to FP7 projects; valuate and exploit the results and the research developed; 4) Implementation of measures allowing an easier access and the participation of MPCs. to the nine thematic areas of Cooperation Programme of the 7th FP; assuming that funds allocated will be additive to those reserved for INCO-MED PRIORITIES. RECOMMENDATIONS :

The setting of a strong RTD system in the MPC was identified as a prerequisite to guarantee their fair participation in the FP. Actions are being taken to reach this objective, but at the present moment, and for a few years more, the EU-MPC cooperation in RTD needs to focus on the topics of common interest, where the MPC are making efforts to develop scientific groups, to create infrastructures and to push innovation in the industrial tissues. The participation of the MPC in the 7FP should be structured according to the provisions established for International Cooperation in the nine Specific Programmes and the specific demands for RTD cooperation in topics of common interest identified by the MoCo, which should be included in the specific Work Programmes and developed through specific calls for proposals where the consortium composition must include a number of MPC partners. Moreover, in order to facilitate the opening of the 9 priorities of the Cooperation Programme to MPC partners, specific tracks and procedures should be envisaged to encourage the incorporation of MPC teams or individuals in the consortia formed to develop the research projects. An intensive use of the facilities created by EUROMEDANET is recommended.

The setting up of a Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Space (EMIS) is crucial growth and development of both EU and Mediterranean Partner Countries; -The Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Space (EMIS) will be part of the larger policy of the EU in developing an Innovation Policy for Europe and of the 7th Framework Programme; - EMIS is related also to the efforts deployed by the European Union in enhancing its Neighbourhood policy with Mediterranean Partner Countries, following the recommendations of the Lisbon process.

The proposed methodology for an action plan to foster Innovation and Competitiveness in Mediterranean Countries consists of four ensembles: 1- Actions for the building of national innovation systems, through research and technological development in view of the establishment of a Euro-Mediterranean Innovation Space 2- Key industrial and economic sectors identification 3- Financial and cooperation instruments 4- Technological and innovation awareness and dissemination of information

All the Reports containing the conclusions and recommendations, as well other contents, are available in CD and in the MED7 Website: