1. Strengthening the Strategic Cooperation between the EU and Western Balkan Region in the field of ICT Research Summary of Day 1 Ulrike Kunze, International Bureau of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research Conference Towards an Information Society for the Western Balkans, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

2. Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008 2 Summary of the main points (1): FP7 and ICT environment no specific measures foreseen for the WBC in FP 7 ICT (Work Programme 2009/2010) but there might be supporting actions in the WP 2011- 2013 suggestion to involve WBC researchers into ongoing EU projects as observers (capacity building, feasible within Networks of Excellence upon 2011) in the WBC there are differences in ICT capacities (ranking) issue of statistics

3. Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008 3 Summary of the main points (2): Priorities discussion of priorites is an ongoing process there are different reasons to set priorities and different ways to implement them (national strategies, specific calls, SEE-ERA.NET PLUS, EC FP7 WP) horizontal cooperation between different Ministries in one country and between sectors is crucial for the development of Inf. Society

4. Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008 4 Summary of the main points (3): important issues raised support for young researchers is important networking and mobility can be improved lack of incentives for funding ICT research: demand driven ICT research has to be created not every research activity is market driven, but every research activity should be demand driven improvement of ICT education lack of ICT students (students follow marketing and ICT management), not appropriate ICT programmes profitable research is needed in universities

5. Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008 5 some positive cases (USAID) could be used as model for regional cooperation Conference on calls 5 and 6 of FP7 ICT Work Programme on May 28 and 29, 2009 in Belgrade you have to be good at home if you want to be good out of home: capacity building (Ministries, NCP systems, researchers) as main factor for development of Inf. Society eSEE agenda PLUS: objective to build data base on researchers and companies Summary of the main points (4): important issues raised

6. Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008 6 Summary of the main points (5): important issues raised EU funding: increase awareness, adapt to what is needed, training programmes needed, support in writing proposals, demonstrate added value to SMEs (business decision on investment), knowledge on evaluation criteria National funding for proposals that are not funded but above threshold (REGPOT, building capacities and infrastructure) give incentives such as travel grants for brokerage events, preparatory meetings for proposal writing

7. Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008 7 regional cooperation between Ministries in SEE- ERA.NET repSEE Programme (4 pillars: young researchers, mobility, innovation, PLUS) Ministerial Conference planned in 2009 and possibly funded by IPA; development of regional research strategy (awareness raising for EU projects) there should discussion forums like this Conference should go on Summary of the main points (6): ongoing and future activities