EU intrenational research cooperation initiatives - SFIC

Toivo RäimEstonian Ministry of Education and Research E-mail: toivo.raim@hm.ee

Tbilisi2015

European Union Institutions

European Parliament

Industry, Research & Energy Committee –

ITRE, ….

……………………..

European Commission

DG Research & Innovation,

DG Connect

….

European Council

Competitiveness Council

COREPER Research Working Party

EU Research Policy (1)

The Union shall share competence with the Member States …Article 2 C point 3. In the areas of research, technological development and space, the Union shall have competence to carry out activities, in particular to define and implement programmes; however, the exercise of that competence shall not result in Member States being prevented from exercising theirs.

ARTICLE 1791. The Union shall have the objective of strengthening its scientific and technological bases by achieving a European research area in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely, and encouraging it to become more competitive, including in its industry, while promoting all the research activities deemed necessary by virtue of other Chapters of the Treaties.…….

EU Research Policy (2)

ARTICLE 180In pursuing these objectives, the Union shall carry out the following activities, complementing theactivities carried out in the Member States:(a) implementation of research, technological development and demonstration programmes, bypromoting cooperation with and between undertakings, research centres and universities;(b) promotion of cooperation in the field of Union research, technological development and demonstrationwith third countries and international organisations;(c) dissemination and optimisation of the results of activities in Union research, technological developmentand demonstration;(d) stimulation of the training and mobility of researchers in the Union.

EU Research Policy (3)

ARTICLE 1821. A multiannual framework programme, setting out all the activities of the Union, shall be adopted by the European Parliament and the Council, acting in accordance with the ordinary legislative procedure after consulting the Economic and Social Committee.……..

European Research Area (1)

In 2000 the creation of a European Research Area (ERA) was proposed by the European Commission in its communication „Towards a European Research Area“.

In 2008 the Member States and the Commission launched a new political partnership, called the "Ljubljana Process", to overcome fragmentation and build a strong ERA.

Five initiatives:- Researchers - BETTER CAREERS AND MORE MOBILITY - Joint Programming - WORKING TOGETHER TO TACKLE COMMON CHALLENGES MORE EFFECTIVELY - Research Infrastructures (ERIC REGULATION, CC)- Knowledge Sharing (Cion REC, IP Charter)- International Cooperation- A STRATEGIC EUROPEAN FRAMEWORK FOR INTERNATIONAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY COOPERATION (COM, CC)

European Research Area (2)

The European Research Areas (ERA) is a unified research area open to the world based on the Internal Market, in which researchers, scientific knowledge and technology circulate freely Five priority areas:More effective national research systemsOptimal transnational cooperation and competitionAn open labour market for researchersGender equality and gender mainstreaming in researchOptimal circulation, access to and transfer of scientific knowledge (including digital ERA)

FP HORIZON 2020

Programme CommitteesBi –annual Work

Programs

European Research Area

European Research Area Groups

European Research Area groups

European Research and Innovation Area Committee (ERAC)

High Level Group for Joint Programming (GPC)

Strategic Forum for International S&T Cooperation (SFIC)

European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI)

Steering Group on Human Resources and Mobility

ERAC Knowledge Transfer WG

Helsinki Group

SFIC organisation

Members of ERAC and its configurations include: all the member states and the Commission

A number of other non-EU countries, which are associated to EU research and innovation programmes participate as observers in its activities: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Faroe Islands, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Iceland, Israel, Moldova, Montenegro, Norway, Serbia, Switzerland, Turkey

ERAC and its configurations operate on the basis of respective long term work programmes, which get updated regularly.

SFIC main activities

- systematically sharing and structuring information on the S&T cooperation activities and objectives (whether ongoing or planned) of the various partners,

- pooling relevant knowledge concerning third countries, in particular analyses of their S&T resources and capabilities,

- ensuring regular consultation between the partners in order to identify their respective objectives and common priorities in terms of S&T cooperation with third countries (‘what and with whom?’),

- where appropriate, coordinating activities of a similar nature implemented by Member States and the Community (with variable geometry),

- if necessary, proposing initiatives to be implemented with appropriate ways and means, networking of Member States' and the Commission's scientific advisors in key third countries.

SFIC objective

To facilitate the further development, implementation and monitoring of the international dimension of ERA by the sharing of information and consultation between the partners (Member States and the Commission) with a view to identifying common priorities which could lead to coordinated or joint initiatives, and coordinating activities and positions vis-à-vis third countries and within international fora.

SFIC first activities

- SFIC agreed on a step-by-step approach, starting with pilot projects, that may be implemented in form of variable geometry (India, US, China);

- Experiences gained with pilot projects will be bases for development EU International cooperation strategy. First three project were started with countries from different country groups: industrial countries, developing and BRIC countries;

- In addition SFIC is involved in strategic discussions on multilateral and bi-regional relations (EU-Africa, EU-Latin America).

India pilot initiative

Water related research was main topic of India pilot. It was chosen after consultation with Indian colleagues. Topic was formulated very widely to give the possibility to involve different research fields;

Pilot action was implemented with the help of EU and Member State research Counsellors in India;

Pilot action take advantage of the previous work of CREST-OMC international cooperation working group results;

SFIC analysed European Commission and Member State bi-lateral cooperation with India;

India pilot initiative was implemented through different actions. For coordination was formed India technical working Group.

In result of pilot initiative strategic research agenda was set up. Today FP INNO-indigo project is using this strategic research agenda as bases for its calls. General coordination of cooperation is given to EU–Indian senior officials group.

Council Conclusions May 2013new direction

• Stressed the advisory role

• Multi-Annual road maps – third countries/regions (incl. joint R&I agendas)

• Common principles (IPR, Peer review, gender,,,)

• Continue ‘sharing of information’/’mutual learning’

• Continue advisory works with country initiatives

Development of the external dimension of the ERA• SFIC opinion on the Multi-Annual Roadmaps;

• Contributed to the analysis of common principles

• SFIC opinion on the second ERA Progress Report;

• SFIC opinion on the ERA Roadmap;

• Provided strategic advice to ERAC, Council and Commission on the integration of the international dimension into the ERA Monitoring Mechanism;

• Developed interactions and engagements with relevant stakeholders

• Contributed to increase the visibility of the external dimension of ERA, with its contribution to workshops and conferences and its presence in major events.

Development of joint EU/MS (AC) - SFIC initiatives• Brazil: SFIC endorsed a Roadmap for Brazil

• China: SFIC worked on the different options for future collaboration

• USA: SFIC developed priorities for action in line with the “Approaching USA” as well as the“Destination Europe” initiative.

• Russia: SFIC launched a new initiative with Russia

Suggestions for improvements

1. Involvement of more SFIC Members and Observers in SFIC activities

2. Networking and interaction with ohter stakeholders

3. Analytical capability

4. Horizontal issues vs country specific

5. Impact of activities

Planned activities 2015/16 (most activities contribute to the ERA Roadmap)

• Interaction with other ERA-related groups (GPC)

• Country WGs – according to mandates

• Coordination of EU/MS activities with country x, including future JCTCC meetings and support topolicy dialogues – multi-annual roadmaps

• Input from SFIC on activities in support of policy dialogues (support facility)

• Indicators – monitoring of ERA

• SFIC Toolbox

Report on the implementation of the EU Strategy for International cooperation in RI

Strategic priority setting and the roadmaps:

11 Roadmaps: 9 countries (Brazil, Canada, China, Japan, India, Russia, south Africa, south Korea and the United States); 2 regions (Southern Mediterranean and Eastern Partnership)

Other partners: Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, Africa region, Gulf region, Latin America, South East Asia

Countries Associated to H2020: participation into H2020 on the same level as EU Member States

Thank you!