1. COLLABORATION WITH JRC WITH SPECIAL EMPHASIZE ON RIS3
Ulm, Germany September 2013
State Secretary MŠVVaŠ SR
Ing. Štefan Chudoba PhD.

2. The Role Of Joint Research Centre (JRC)
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission is coordinating an initiative aiming to provide scientific support to the European Union Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR) focusing on four vertical priorities: environment protection, irrigation and agricultural development, navigability and energy production.
As a transversal priority, the initiative also aims to support the development of Smart Specialisation Strategies for innovation in the Danube region.

3. JRC Priorities in Danube Strategy I.
Environmental protection:
The Danube Region and the Danube River are very rich in ecological terms. However, they are suffering from climate change which was one of the causes of the major floods that the Region recently had to face. The degradation of biodiversity and deforestation are also key issues to tackle.

4. JRC Priorities in Danube Strategy II.
Irrigation and agriculture development:
Tackling pressures on water caused by agriculture represents important challenges in Europe and in the Danube Region. Actions should be developed to establish a water abstraction management concept with special attention to water demand management. In the agriculture sector, more efficient and sustainable water saving irrigation techniques will have to be developed.

5. JRC Priorities in Danube Strategy III.
Navigability:
Navigation is a safe and environmental friendly transportation mode, which should be promoted. Therefore, new and more sustainable waterway management policies should be developed.
Energy production:
Energy production is one of the key challenges faced by the Danube Region. The Region has huge natural potential to develop renewable energies, including bioenergy in the form of biomass or biogas.

6. JRC Priorities in Danube Strategy IV.
Smart Specialisation:
Through this transversal cluster, the JRC – via its Smart Specialisation Platform –supports the designing and implementation of Research and Innovation Strategies for Smart Specialisation in the Danube Region, taking into consideration the regional assets and opportunities but also the broader macro-regional dimension.

7. JRC Priorities in Danube Strategy V.
Danube Flagship Clusters
With the support of its scientific partners of the Danube Region, the JRC has identified flagship clusters aiming to provide policy makers with the appropriate scientific support to tackle interlinked policy issues. These clusters will address some of the main scientific challenges faced by the Danube Region from an integrated and cross-cutting perspective taking into account the interdependencies between various policy priorities and focusing on some of the key resources of the Danube Region, namely water, land and soils, air and bioenergy.
• The Danube Water Nexus
• The Danube Land and Soil Nexus
• The Danube Air Nexus
• The Danube Bioenergy Nexus

8. Example of Idea for Co-operation with JRC
Agriculture & Sustainable Resource Management -
Vision & Challenge
For The Danube Region

9. Agriculture in Slovak Smart Specialization Strategy
SLOVAK SMART SPECIALISATION STRATEGY 2020
(S4 )
With the support from JRC Experts! Agriculture identified
as one of the main Slovak priorities:
Agriculture and environment (efficient use and protection of natural resources (water, soil), healthy food, bio-energy, biotechnology)

10. Institutional & Geographical Potential
Strong regional potential – Nitra region – capital of agriculture in Slovakia, long history, concentration:
Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra,
Agrokomplex - agricultural
fair ground,
Agroinstitute - national training centre
agriculture related
R&D organisations

11. R&D Infrastructure Development
Research Centre AgroBioTech project – 25 MEUR
Strengthening of R&D infrastructure & regional partnership (Slovak University of Agriculture, Constantine the Philosopher University, Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Nitra)
Research topics fully in line with S3 and EUROPE 2020 priorities:
food safety
agrobiology
biotechnology
bio-energy
efficient use of natural resources

12. Technology Transfer Support
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER CENTRE ESTABLISHED - part of AgroBioTech R&D Centre
Co-operating with Danube Technology Transfer Centre - flagship project of the Danube Strategy (PA8) – project in implementation phase
to be included in the JRC initiative „Danube Innovation Partnership“ (network of technology transfer centres)
International cooperation project No GAP (7FP) – Germany, Slovakia, Romania, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia (project to start in October 2013)

13. Incoming Challenges
to establish Danube Centre for Sustainable Resource Management:
based on Slovak centres of excellence + Danube region partners
using European Innovation Partnership (Agricultural productivity and sustainability) incorporated under Rural Development Programme ,
networking with relevant organisations through ETC-INTERREG (including Danube Programme)

14. Enhancing Co-operation With JRC
Research for policy makers – JRC Scientific support to the Danube Strategy (water, land and soil, air, bio-energy nexus)
Preparation & implementation of joint research projects oriented on regional co-operation in Danube Region - ERA - HORIZON 2020, COSME, ...
Innovation and technology transfer – Danube Technology Transfer Centre, Danube Innovation Partnership, INCO, ...

15. Vision For The Future ...
... from research to innovation and technology transfer ....
... from local level to European Research Area ...
... through networking in Danube region ....

16. Thank you for your attention!
Let’s Work
Together &
Create Successful Partnerships!
Thank you for your attention!