FP7 – Marie Curie ActionsInternational Research Staff Exchange Scheme

MultiWaveSPROJECT

Prof Vesna Crnojević-BenginUniversity of Novi Sad, Serbia

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MultiWaveSMultiband Electronically Reconfigurable Microwave Devices and

Antennas for a New Generation of Wireless Systems

Call: FP7-PEOPLE-2009-IRSESDuration: April 1 2010 – April 1 2013

• Bottom-up approach• Third countries• Only contribution to mobility

and networking costs• early stage researchers,

experienced researchers

Envisaged Impacts

• Transfer of specific knowledge into Europe• Quality of researchSCIENTIFIC

• Development of lasting collaborationsSTRATEGIC

• Diversity of environment• Experience of excellence• Reward for complementarity• Inter-cultural exchange

SOFT

Project Timeline

Success

Hard work

Get seriousDrama

ApathyThrill

The road hasn’t been covered with roses

Obstacles & Solutions

Personnel

• Key person from one institution left at the very beginning of the project• Partners not ready to actually commit to the project

Financial

• Pre-financing delayed for 9 months (!)

Institution

al

• PO changed several times• No local experience with IRSES

Consequence

• 49% or placements executed by mid-term• Mid-term payment suspended• 3rd year performed from own funds

Solutions

• Good management: Coherent and detailed plan of mobilities• Mid-term funding received after year 3• Last (and first) PO extremely supportive

Scientific Results in a Nutshell

100 papers published:• 30 in leading journals

with the impact factor,

• 71 on international conferences.

One book chapter (invited)

in Wiley Encyclopedia of

Electrical Engineering

A book for Cambridge

University Press ‘’Advances in Multi-Band Microstrip

Filters’’

Workshop held at EuMW

Industrial contracts

Success

F P 7 P r o j e c t M u l ti W a v e S

Scie

ntific

Res

ults

Special Award by the European Commission

“Marie Curie Actions for an Innovative Europe: Excellence, mobility and skills for researchers”, December 2010, Brussels

Beyond Serbia

• USA, Great Britain, Russia, South Africa – four very different systems (wrt. work environments, procedures, costs)

• High level of understanding from all institutions (willingness to learn and adapt, practical help - accommodation & visas, no overheads)

• Highly positive experience for all

• Strong willingness to commit to joint work again

Before & After• Mature research topic• Difficult to obtain funding• Fragmented research

• Rare lasting scientific collaboration

• Limited experience, especially of ESRs (‘90s)

• One of first FP7 projects• First IRSES in Serbia

• Excellent scientific results• Improved teaching

• Established lasting global collaborations

• New industry contracts

• New working environments• Inter-cultural exchange• Prevention of brain-drain

• Built internal capacity• Many FP7s that followed

Institutional Challenges• Excellent science, development of lasting

collaborations, soft skills… That was the easy part!

• Underdeveloped administrative capacity of Serbian institutions

• Lack of coherent regulatory framework– Poor understanding of benefits of int. coop., esp. MCA – National legislation does not recognize placements – Money transfers and the National Bank of Serbia

• Across all EU projects: – Mobility allowance (e.g. in ITN)– Personnel cost rates– Type of contract– Public procurements– Employment of new staff– Difficult participation of the public sector

Current Support and Beyond

Very significant support exists from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development

Interactions are still needed with the Ministry of Finance, Minister of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs, with all stakeholders:

• To establish an institutional mind set which encourages international scientific cooperation and fully recognizes its benefits and actors

• To recommend procedures and provide an efficient regulatory framework for all stakeholders

– Employment, procurements, placements, payments…– Personnel & mobility costs, co-financing, overheads…

Conclusion

• On our institution(s) and individuals• On our research• On the courses we teach

Multiple positive effects of MultiWaveS:

• Creation of high-impact scientific results• Good project management• Mutual trust• Long-lasting collaborations created

Long-lasting links established due to:

• Strong willingness to work together• Industry contacts• New projects

Life after death:

• Developr policies and strategies to Serbian institutions to foster their full inclusion into ERA

Future work:

FP7 – Marie Curie ActionsInternational Research Staff Exchange Scheme

Thank you

Prof Vesna Crnojević-BenginUniversity of Novi Sad, Serbia

bengin@uns.ac.rs

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