1. SA-EU Science and Technology Collaboration Pontsho Maruping Department of Science and Technology Science and Technology

2. Overview of Presentation ► SA-EU S&T Cooperation Agreement ► Support for SA S&T from EU development cooperation instruments ► SA-EU S&T cooperation in other multilateral forums ► Opportunities for South Africa to participate in the FP6  Strategy / Advice  Support ► Initiatives to promote SA-EU S&T Cooperation ► Conclusion: Benefits & Challenges

3. SA-EU S&T Cooperation Agreement ► Signed in 1996 – SA’s first agreement concluded with EU ► Permits SA’s participation in the EU’s Framework Programmes for Research and Technology Development ► (NB – no automatic funding – only ability to compete)  Provides for annual meeting of SA-EU Joint S&T Cooperation Committee  EU had similar agreements at time only with: ► Australia and Canada  Now also with: ► Argentina, Brazil, China, Chile, Egypt, India, Mexico, Morocco, Russian Federation, Tunisia, Ukraine, United States

4. What are the Framework Programmes? ► EU’s main instrument for research funding in Europe NOT a dedicated instrument for cooperation with third countries ► Objective to promote scientific excellence, competitiveness and innovation in Europe as well as closer intra-European collaboration ► First Framework Programme in 1984 ► FP6 will run from 2002-2006 total budget of € 17.5 billion – target to allocate at least € 285 million to third countries (incl. South Africa)

5. Operation of Framework Programmes ► Funds allocated following competitive “calls for proposals” published by European Commission’s DG Research ► Priorities and scope of proposals must reflect priorities outlined in “calls” – every call focus on specific theme and instrument ► Proposals must be submitted by a consortium of partners from required number of European states (which may include SA partners)  Public research organisations, universities, industry, civil society, etc. encouraged to participate ► Funds, for which SA partners are eligible, not subsidies but must be used for carefully described work

6. Operation of Framework Programmes (2) ► Quality and technological relevance assessed by external, independent experts (on average five experts per proposal) ► Approved projects – “contract negotiations” between DG Research and consortia ► Since publication of call for proposals up to a year before actual work starts ► Regular monitoring by and reporting to DG Research

7. Overview of FP6 Instruments ► Networks of excellence ► Integrated projects ► Specific targeted research or innovation projects ► Specific research projects for SMEs ► Actions to promote and develop human resources and mobility ► Coordination actions ► Specific support actions

8. FP6 Thematic Priority Research Areas ► Life sciences, genomics and biotechnology for health ► Information society technologies ► Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multi-functional materials and new production processes and devices ► Aeronautics and space ► Food quality and safety ► Sustainable development, global change and ecosystems (including energy and transport research) ► Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society

9. FP6 Focused Activities on International Cooperation (INCO) ► € 315 million for special horizontal international cooperation (INCO) programme addressing regional priorities focused on three groups:  Mediterranean  Russia and NIS, Balkans  Developing countries (including ACP, SADC) – known as INCO-DEV

10. FP6 INCO activities ► Priorities for developing countries  Health and public health  Food security  Rational exploitation of resources ► Instruments:  Specific Targeted Research & Demonstration  Coordination Actions  Specific Support Actions ► Underlying objective will be strengthening, stabilising, development or adaptation of developing country research systems ► Apart from required number of EU partners, also required number of developing country partners

11. SA in the FP4 ► 1996-1998 ► SA participated in 38 projects ► 34 INCO-DC (developing country) projects ► 4 specific (thematic) participations – NB at own cost ► Participation dominated by science councils and universities

12. SA in the FP5 ► 1999 – 2002 ► SA participated in 53 projects ► 42 INCO-DEV projects ► 11 thematic projects – NB at own cost, including funds provided by DST ► First Technikon / SME participation

13. SA in the FP6 ► Results thus far: (2002 call)  14 thematic projects  8 INCO projects ► SA ranked only behind Russian Federation in terms of “INCO” participation ► Financial support SA participants receive range from approximately R8 million to R200 000

14. SA-EU S&T cooperation related to FP participation ► S&T policy dialogue – e.g. addressing gender imbalances in research ► EDCTP – European Development Countries Clinical Trials Partnership ► COST – programme for fundamental research ► IRC – Innovation Relay Centre ► Geant – SA connection to high-speed research network

15. SA-EU Development Cooperation: Role of S&T ► Emerging global consensus on role of S&T as instrument for sustainable development ► First S&T focused EPRD project – “GODISA” – technology support to South African enterprise, especially SMEs (with DTI): R160 million from EPRD over four years ► Currently discussions on focused Sector-Wide Programme for S&T – similar to SWEEEP – to be funded under future EPRD cycles

16. SA-EU S&T Cooperation in Multilateral Forums ► WSSD – Joint organisation of WSSD Science Forum – one of major parallel events ► OECD – preparation of Ministerial Declaration on S&T for Sustainable Development ► GEO – Group on Earth Observations – both Co- Chairs ► NEPAD – EU key international partner for S&T Plan of Action ► SADC – emerging SADC-EU S&T process (SA leading role)

17. A new era for S&T in the ACP? ► ACP-EU Forum on Research for Sustainable Development (Cape Town, July 2002) provided greater focus on S&T for development in Cotonou Partnership - commitment by participating Ministers in Cape Town Declaration ► First ACP S&T Capacity-building Programme ( € 50 million) to be launched in 2004 from unspent ACP European Development Fund instruments ► Allocation of EDF national and regional funds for S&T spending will be encouraged ► Leadership role by SA although not direct beneficiary, role for institutions as service providers

18. Strategy for promoting SA-EU S&T collaboration ► Goal is not FP6 participation per se but how EU partnership can support set regional and national priorities ► In FP6 different approach: thematic research priority areas / INCO-DEV  INCO-DEV: ► Focused on R&D priorities of developing world ► SA partners to take lead  Thematic areas: ► Focused approach: Where do SA/EU priorities coincide? ► Realistic approach: will be able to participate where value can be added to EU participants ► Critical to find good EU partners

19. Advice for prospective SA participants ► Find good partners! – existing collaborative links ► Consult database of “Expressions of Interest”  http://eoi.cordis.lu/search_form.cfm http://eoi.cordis.lu/search_form.cfm ► Look at existing projects being funded: http://www.cordis.lu and catalogues http://www.cordis.lu ► Use partner-search databases: Cordis and http://www.euratin.net http://www.euratin.net ► Important to “market” expertise in Europe – use conferences and networking events

20. Advice (2) ► Do not be put off by perceived complicated procedures - experienced partners will guide ► Utilise formal and informal mechanisms for pre-proposal screening ► Become an evaluator ► Modest involvement – strategic investment long-term benefits to be leveraged

21. DST Support ► “Seed money” for fostering collaboration – preparing proposals ► Strategic co-investment – matching funding – to support SA participants in FP6 projects ► Network of National Contact Points (NCPs)  Facilitating activities in consultation with DST  Raising awareness, training and advice, signposting concerns  Networking with European counterparts – partnership fostering  Specific mission: historically disadvantaged institutions ► Office of Senior Science and Technology Representative in Brussels

22. NCPs  Health NCP: Prof Iqbal Parker (UCT)  Infotech NCP: Mr Johan Eksteen (CSIR)  Nanotech NCP: Mr Molefi Motuku (Mintek)  Aeronautics NCP: Mr Imraan Saloojee (Space), Ms Pontsho Maruping (Aeronautics) (both) DST  Food NCP: Dr Geoff Meese (CSIR)  Ecotech NCP: Ms Renee le Roux (NRF)

23. Conclusion: Benefits and Challenges ► SA performs approximately 0.75% of global research – vital to collaborate with world’s leading knowledge economies  Instruments such as FP6 connect SA to global research ► Benefits not only in financial resources leveraged, but also in knowledge generation experience gained  Long-term strategic networks built – economic spin-off benefits ► Collaboration with EU must, however, be aligned with and in support of national, regional and continental priorities ► Continue strong policy dialogue

24. Thank you ► Contact details:  International Resources Manager ► Daan du Tiot ► daan.dutoit@dst.gov.za daan.dutoit@dst.gov.za ► Tel: (012) 841-4331 / 082 387 9016  http://www.dst.gov.za http://www.dst.gov.za