Comparative benchmarking exercise for the NCP systemin the West Balkan countiresVienna 22-23 January 2009

NCP System in Montenegro

Branka Zizic, NCP CoordinatorMinistry of Education and ScienceMontenegro

NCP network in Montenegro

• Third country contacts from FP6 (2 persons) at the Ministry of Education and Science and Agency for International Cooperation in Science, Education and Culture

• Network of National contact points by thematic priorities: end of 2006 – beginning of 2007

• Coordination of NCPs at the Ministry of Education and Science

• Associated to FP7 in January 2008

NCP Montenegro

• Presently 8 people form the network – inter-institutional non-formal organisation– 4 at the Ministry– 2 at the University– 1 Agency for International Scientific,

Educational and Cultural Cooperation – 1 National Agency for SME Development– 2-3 FTE

NCPNetwork ofMontenegro

Ministry of Educationand Science –

Dept. for HE and Science

ZAMTES

National agency for SMEdevelopment

University of Montenegro

European information andInnovation centre Montenegro –

Part of Enterprise Europe Network

Tempus office

Ceepus, fellowships

Office for Internationalcooperation

Bilateral scientific

cooperation

Fellowships,short courses

Centre of Information Systems –

Info platform

IPApart of pr.imp.unit Secretariat for EU

Integrations – IPA, cross-boarder

NCP Network and Montenegrin Stakeholders in

Community Programmes and international scientific cooperation

NCP organigram

Minister for Education and Science

Deputy Minister for Science

FP7 NCP Coordinator (senior advisor for int. cooperation)

NCP 1 NCP 2 NCP 3

ZAMTESDirector

NCP 4

Directorate for SME DevelopmentDirector

NCP 5

University of MontenegroDeans

NCP 6 NCP 7

NCP activities

• Awareness raising• Informing• Advising• Partner search• Training• Delegates at the Programme Commitees• Reporting to the Minister, Science Council and

Government on FP7 activities

Defined according to the EC Guidelines for setting up the system of NCPsPriorities internally defined and discussed at the level of Deputy Minister

Review of NCP activities2007

• 1 major Fp7 Info day• Thematic info days (ICT, 2 KBBE, Health,

People)• 3 workshops on project planning and proposal

writing (general and thematic for REGPOT)• Round table on Mobility• Mini-fair on European education and research

programmes• Establishment of NCP web site:

www.mneresearch.ac.me • Regular direct and on-line consultations

Review of NCP activities2008

• Preparation for signing of the MoU• Press conference on association to FP7• REGPOT campaign: meetings, workshops, consultations, assistance

in proposal preparation• Thematic info days (Health, People, 2 SMEs)• Workshops within coordination projects (EU Balkan FABNET, WBC

Inco Net)• Visit of the Commissioner Potocnik (meeting with researchers)• Nomination of Programme Commitees / SCAR / CREST / JRC

members, meetings• Direct and on-line consultations• Informing, Partner search• Web-site updating• Contacts with media, Promotional materials• Participation in FP projects

Financing of NCP activities

• Ministry of Education and Science, Zamtes, Directorate for SMEs – budget

• FP projects’ budget

• Cooperation with local / international organisations or EU partners (GTZ Montenegro, Slovene Ministry HEST)

FP7 participation1

(NB. 75% rebate)

NCP Activities

+ ECCommittees

1/5

Main categories ofcosts:Travel

Expert honorariaPromotional materials

Workshop organisation

Priorities and differentiation of activities

• No defined NCP policy• Ad hoc activities planned on 6-month basis, so to cover all the FP7

segments and respond to requests• Guidance by the priorities set in the Strategy for research activities• Differentiation of activities

– General information about FP7, first contacts with institution, proposal preparation: NCP coordinator

– Specific information about priority themes, partner search: thematic NCPs

• New initiatives – open to all NCPs BUT not part of business culture in public service

• FP project activities – complementary to NCP daily activities, but sometimes divergent.

• Non-flexible employment policy of the Ministry + lack of space are obstacles for developing the network

Evaluation of NCP work

• Feedback from the researchers, clients – in e-mail and direct communication

• Surveys about the quality and adequacy of workshops offered and subsequent improvement

• Still more focused on awareness raising, little body of project cases to analyse

• Reporting to the Deputy Minister and Minister – their feedback

• No formal evaluation about the effectiveness of NCP work

Strengths / weaknesses

• Motivated, flexible group• Good internal communication• Non-formalistic approach,

readiness to bridge the gaps• Physical closeness with

technical and natural faculties in Podgorica

• Closeness with other Community programmes in the Ministry

• Small research community = ability to deal with individual requests

• Dispersed system within one town

• No regional coverage• Some people working on

a voluntary basis• Low technical knowledge

(proposal writing)• Lack of quality system

(services offered, information flow, evaluation)

• Decision makers too distant from NCPs

Thank you for your attention!

Branka ZizicMinistry of Education and ScienceCetinjski put bb81000 PodgoricaMontenegrozizic@ac.me +382 20 265-014