1. Dr. George Bonas Managing Director CeRISS, Greece
Comprehensive Policy Paper: Recommendations for an enhanced EU-ME STI cooperation
Dr. George Bonas
Managing Director
CeRISS, Greece
MERID is a project funded by the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation ‘Horizon 2020’

2. G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017
CONTENT
Background of the paper
Methodology used
Recommendations with short-term impact
Recommendations with mid and long-term impact
Recommendations for the EU-Iran and EU-Iraq STI policy dialogue
G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017

3. BACKGROUND OF THE PAPER
In the context of the MERID project (Del. 2.5)
Main aim to provide recommendations capitalizing on previous activities implemented by the project
Brief overview of the state of affairs of the EU-ME STI cooperation (participation in H2020, PRIMA Initiative, bilateral coop., NCPs, etc.)
Recommendations for an enhanced EU-ME STI cooperation focusing on:  Short-term impact  Long-term Impact
 EU-Iran & EU-Iraq STI policy dialogue
Addressed to both policy-makers and the research community in EU and ME countries
G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017

4. G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017
METHODOLOGY USED
Reviewing of previous reports and conclusions of events
Interviews with stakeholders in the ME region
Latest developments in the international STI cooperation
Brainstorming meeting involving the MERID Advisory Board (Piran, Slovenia, 5 April 2017).
G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017

5. G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017
METHODOLOGY USED
Obstacle: inherent heterogeneity among the six Middle East
countries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Palestine ≠ Iran and Iraq)
Recommendations valid for all the targeted countries (particular
attention and emphasis to Iran and Iraq wherever necessary)
G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017

6. RECOMMENDATIONS WITH SHORT-TERM IMPACT
To influence participation in H2020 (last Work Programme 2018 – 2020; fall 2017; approx. 30 billion Euros)
Role of NCPs: A service provider towards the research community
Necessity to setup a robust NCP structure in every ME country adapted to the country’s potential and expectations
Better to setup a smaller structure of well trained persons able to travel in EU than trying to ‘mirror’ large EU NCP structures
Complemented by a series of targeted & proactive measures at national level
To overcome the major barrier: participation in a consortium
G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017

7. RECOMMENDATIONS WITH SHORT-TERM IMPACT
Targeted & proactive measures: they can include:
Identification of scientific excellence in ME as a target group for proactive support
Identification and exploitation of the Scientific Diasporas in EU
Development of a national system of incentives for H2020 participation (travel grants for proposal preparation; bonuses and awards for H2020 applications; etc.)
Participation in networking activities and especially in COST Actions
Participation of ME countries in ERA-NET Cofund schemes
G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017

8. RECOMMENDATIONS WITH MID AND LONG-TERM IMPACT
To reduce the observed gaps between EU and ME/Iran/Iraq (knowledge production, knowledge utilization; etc.) through capacity building activities in the targetet countries
Under H2020 or other more appropriate instruments
Proposed activities:
Implementation of Peer Reviews of the STI systems
Trainings for STI policy makers
Improvement of the innovation capabilities (ETPs, EEN, etc.)
Improvement of the IPR framework
EU-ME cooperation in the field of large Research Infrastructures (RIs)
G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017

9. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE EU-IRAN AND EU-IRAQ STI POLICY DIALOGUE
EU-Iran Working Group on Science, Research and Innovation has been recently setup (9/2016), 2nd meeting Tehran 2 July 2017
STI policy dialogue with Iraq not yet initiated
Recommendations could include the following:
To maintain sustainable policy dialogue fora in STI: organize regular annual or preferably bi-annual meetings
To provide visibility to the renewal of the EU-Iran STI cooperation
To support with adequate tools jointly agreed priorities (emphasis on Work Programme )
To use intermediate organizations in Iran for promoting and implementing the EU-Iran STI cooperation
G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017

10. G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017
Many thanks for your attention…
…and let’s initiate a discussion to listen and to learn from your views about the EU-Iran STI cooperation and about your expectations and difficulties with H2020
Mr. George BONAS
Managing Director, CeRISS,
Athens, Greece
MERID is a project funded by the EU’s Framework Programme for Research and Innovation ‘Horizon 2020’
G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017

11. G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017
Guiding questions for the discussion 
Is awareness about H2020 sufficient among the scientific community?
Is it widely known that EU and Iran are reactivating their scientific cooperation? Are the ongoing policy dialogue activities known? Any comments on the priorities that should be put forward?
Is the system of National Contact Points developed and functional? Are awareness activities in progress? Do the researchers feel they can get the information they need?
Are applications envisaged? In which Programme (Societal Challenges, MSCA, ERC, other)?
What kind of barriers may exist for such applications?
Are any travel grants for H2020 proposal preparation (or other incentives) in place or envisaged?
How the role of the Scientific Diaspora is assessed?
Is there knowledge about the COST Programme and of the possibilities/benefits from the participation in COST Actions?
What are the capabilities and interest of the private sector in Iran towards H2020?
Are the European Technological Platforms (ETPs) and Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) known?
Any other issues
G. Bonas, Workshop C, Tehran July2017