1. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Virtual Institutes First Experiences from Evaluations of Expressions of Interest and Proposals Søren Bøwadt Measurement & Testing, Infrastructure

2. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 What should a Virtual Institute achieve? Rapid transfer and exploitation of research results Yield support to industry (including SME’s) Link geographically scattered complementary research facilities and industrial elements to form a unity Create strong marked oriented networks between academia, industry, research centers and institutes (Disseminate RTD results to standardisation bodies)

3. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 What could a Virtual Institute do? Provide services on a commercial basis to industry, governmental and international bodies Connect industries to the most appropriate and efficient research facility (research broker) Establish the “state of the art” within the specific area of the VI Identify future research needs (e.g. long-term projections) Act as information center for research results Facilitate mobility among researchers between universities, research centers and industry (Note! Funding for mobility is not provided through the Thematic Network contract) Facilitate the connection of partners for future research activities/proposals (partner search facility)

4. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Re-iteration of the Key Elements of a Virtual Institute Strong knowledge and technology based network Sound business plan Strong management Sound legal structure Wide European coverage and accessibility (global reach)

5. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Results of Previous Evaluations for Virtual Institutes Support for Research INFRASTRUCTURES

6. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Expression of Interest - Time Table

7. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Steps of Evaluation Procedure for Expressions of Interest (EoI) Expert collects Supporting Document + Evaluation Form  Assessment Moderator collates these views  Discussion by the Experts + Moderator if necessary (Changes and merging of EoI’s are performed if recommended by the experts) Moderator prepares Consensus Report Consensus Report is agreed upon and signed by the Experts Verification by Head of Unit  Task completed

8. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Evaluation of EoI’s Within the scope of the Growth programme Priority of the need and relation to the workprogramme (very high/high/medium/low) Quality of the supporting documents: - Suitable as received/minor revisions - Suitable with improvements/clarifications - Not suitable

9. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Evaluation of EoI’s - Common Selection Criteria Evaluation by 3-4 independent experts: (Scientific & technical excellence, innovation) Community added value Answering to the needs of society Economic development and S&T perspectives (Resources, partnership, management)

10. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Evaluation of Expressions of Interest 1

11. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Evaluation of Expressions of Interest 2

12. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Steps of Evaluation Procedure for Thematic Network Proposal Expert collects Parts A & B + Evaluation Form (+ Supporting Document)  Assessment Moderator collates these views  Discussion by the Experts + Moderator if necessary Moderator prepares Consensus Report Consensus Report is agreed upon and signed by the Experts Verification by Head of Unit  Task completed

13. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Evaluation Procedure for Thematic Network Proposal - Allocating Marks Marks from 0 - 5 given for five main criteria (a threshold for each must be attained to qualify) Ensuring Scientific & Technical Excellence [  3] Quality of Approach,Partnership & Management [  3 for RTD,  4 for Networks,Virtual Inst.,Conc.Action] Stimulating Community Added Value [  4] Answering to Societal Needs [  3] Economic Development and S & T Perspectives [  3] Additionally, a total mark of at least 18 must be achieved to recommend proposal for funding

14. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Organisational Structure so far 1a) Mainly academic partners with only little input from industry 1b) Mainly consultants with few (if any) partners from academia or industry 2a) Democratic management with steering committee 2b) Centralised management with main workload on one partner

15. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Problem Areas Identified a) Concept of business plan b) Envisioned legal structure c) Management structure

16. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Future EoI’s and Proposals a) New ideas for the implementation of VI’s are encouraged b) New areas where VI’s can be implemented (e.g. European Research Area related) c) More emphasis on the use of new ICT tools (grid structure, real-time access)

17. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Virtual institutes 36 Expressions of interest evaluated 8 Dedicated calls published (+ 9 to be published in October Until now 7 proposals evaluated - 1 project funded ? proposals to be evaluated in October Summary – Quality of EoI’s and proposals is increasing! – New ideas needed!

18. COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000 Virtual institutes Brochure: ‘Support for Research Infrastructures & Expressions of Interest / Dedicated Call Mechanism’ Growth helpdesk: growth@cec.eu.int http://www.cordis.lu/growth (e.g. call text, supporting documents, partner search) http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/growth Contact point: Søren Bøwadt soren.bowadt@cec.eu.int Some information sources...