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    Speak with manyvoicesCharacters and landscapes of international cooperation

    in research and innovation

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    Speak with many voices

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    copyright 2013 APREResponsibility for the information and views set out in this publication lies entirely with the authors.

    Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged.

    AuthorsLi Daoliang

    Director of China-EU Center for ICT in Agriculture

    (CICTA) Beijing China

    Nina GenoveseMaster candidate of Laws,

    Catholic University Leuven Belgium

    Copyright imagesMonique BossiEpaminondas Christofilopoulos (Guatemala)

    This publication was realised thanks to INCONTACT the Network of National ContactPoints for International Cooperation Activities funded in the 7th FrameworkProgramme of the EU. GA 243834.

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    Speak with manyvoicesCharacters and landscapes of international cooperation

    in research and innovation

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    Contents

    Introduction

    A continent in search of integration

    The challenges of scientific and technological progress

    Strategic tools

    International RTD cooperation policiesCoordination and support actionsThe association in mobility programsOpening of research programsSharing scientific research initiatives and large installations

    New strategies for international cooperation in research and Innovation

    Case studies

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    Dear Friends,

    Today, the world is getting richer, healthier, better educated, more peaceful, and better connectedand people are living longer, yet still half of the world is potentially unstable. Food prices are rising,water tables are falling, corruption and organized crime are increasing, environmental viability for ourlife support is diminishing, debt and economic insecurity are increasing, climate change continues, andthe gap between the rich and poor continues to widen dangerously.

    If current trends in population growth, resource depletion, climate change, terrorism, organized crime,and disease continue over the next 50 years, it is easy to imagine an unstable world with catastrophicresults. Research and Innovation alone are not enough to solve the global problems as we need

    serious global policies, however Research and Innovation are playing a key role. Innovations arerequested in food production, in disease management, energy production, and in the mitigation ofenvironmental effects.Now we shall concentrate our efforts in building human capabilities to confront and overcome poverty,illiteracy, climate change, diseases, discrimination, restrictions on political freedom, and the threat ofviolent conflict. Our ultimate goal shall be the improvement of human security and human dignity.

    Many of these critical problems are addressed by Horizon 2020. Horizon 2020 is the biggest EUResearch and Innovation programme which puts emphasis on excellent science, industrial leadershipand tackling societal challenges. At the same time H2020 is a magnificent international programmegiving the opportunity to researchers around the world to join forces for addressing the problemsfacing humanity.

    This publication is produced by INCONTACT, an EU supported project, and aims exactly to highlight thisinternational dimension of H2020.

    Epaminondas ChristofilopoulosINCONTACT Coordinator

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    Japan, 2013

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    The image I like to use to see our project is a Mosaic in which all of us are

    tessellas of it. Its beauty depends on the intensity of it colours and therefore onour level of effort. And I believe that Research & Innovation are the best way togo over all kind of barriers: economic, social and linguistic ones. And the resultscoming from the activities of the project carried out until now just respond tothe necessity to underline this consideration.

    Diassina Di Maggio, Agency for the Promotion of European Research, Italy

    Research and Technology are the means to handle and hinder the world

    problems such as climate changes, hunger and mortal diseases. Innovationdrives to growth, makes the difference between the size of the GDP ofdeveloped and developing economies.

    Iain Gillespie, Head of Science and Technology Policy Division, OECO.

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    1. A continent in search of integration

    The adjective "international " is used with special implications within the terminology of the European

    Union (E.U.) activities and programs. All Community activities, in fact, are international in the sensethat occur in the context of relationships and exchanges between sovereign states: this is still thecondition of the E.U. member States after more than half a century of efforts towards theirintegration. Even the so-called common policies, in essence, turn up in the constant effort tocoordinate and, if possible, to harmonize regulations and behaviours that are strictly national.Moreover, in spite of undeniable achievements and progress, national governments and theiradministration, along with lobbies and interest groups, continue tosafeguard any possible degree of autonomy, sometimes evenwith disconcerting recourse to protectionist measures. And yet thelargest part of humanity lives and thrives outside the citadel of theE.U., with different graduations of economic and socialdevelopment, reaching sometimes-unexpected levels of growththanks to the performances of their potential.In the last few decades, in fact, several countries that used tobelong to the underdeveloped world, rapidly emancipated fromthe restraints of poverty and are now firmly engaged on the pathof industrial development, innovation and social progress for vast

    masses of their population. Many of these new actors show hugedemographic characteristics, not limited to quantity, but extendedto culture, education, and health care with the support ofimpressive infrastructure.Meanwhile, the European Community widened its bordersexpanding the number of its members, failing however to deepenthe roots of its action through the creation of a federal model oreven a credible evolution of its decision-making process.Therefore we need to have recourse to a broader concept ofinternational cooperation, to identify the E.U. member Statescommon policies and action towards third Countries politically andgeographically outside the borders of the E.U. that however havetheir own influence on the dynamics of global relations, each onewith its characteristics.

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    .

    Tanzania, 2012

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    FP71is an instrument that makes possible to establish links of cooperationbetween many other regions, one of this is Central America. ENLACE is anetwork that is working to build relationships in the field of science andtechnology between EU countries and Central America. [] The results couldimpact also relationships between governments, Academia and industrialsectors and indeed the characteristic of ENLACE is to promote and try toimprove the relations among these different sectors.Scientific cooperation is one of the main dimensions of the internationalCooperation between Central America and European Union to be enhanced.

    Henning Jensen, INCO NCP Costa Rica

    The FP7 is useful for International Cooperation to enhance science

    technology for the future

    Jumpen Meka-Apiruk, INCO NCP Thailand

    The FP7 instrument is useful not only for the scientific field but also for

    small and medium enterprises.

    Samir Hamrouni, Senior Advisor Dubai Institute of Technology (UAE)

    The FP7 instrument is useful for addressing social issues, to generate

    economic value and to help private sector through public-privatepartnerships.

    Liliana Proskuryaova, INCO NCP Russia

    1The Seventh Framework programmes' (FP7) has been the main financial tools through which the European Union supports

    research and development activities covering almost all scientific disciplines. Running from January 2007 to December 2013 itwas designed to build on the achievements of its predecessor towards the creation of theEuropean Research Area,and carry

    it further towards the development of the knowledge economy and society in Europe.

    http://cordis.europa.eu/era/http://cordis.europa.eu/era/
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    China, 2012

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    2. The challenges of scientific and technological progress

    International cooperation in the fields of science and technological development is undoubtedly a case

    of particular interest on world scenarios. Over the last few centuries some of the countries thatcurrently make up the E.U. have asserted undeniable intellectual supremacy on a global level, attainingindisputable prestige and paving the way for the industrial revolution, the conquest of world markets,an amazing raise of wealth and further social, intellectual and financial achievements. These trendsdramatically accelerated after the Second World War and the creation of the E.U. Institutions.It was therefore logic for the E.U. to quickly design and implement, among others, a common policy onResearch and Technological Development (RTD) later extended also to Innovation, which co-exists withnational policies with understandable ambitions towards coordination and harmonization. This needgenerated the adoption of Framework Programmes (FP), the main tool for the implementation of theE.U. RTD policy. We should also add to this scheme a specific peculiarity of the F.P.: the so-calledassociated Countries which are not EU member States (in some cases candidates to the full

    integration), and nevertheless took the decision to participate in the FP contributing to its budget.Equally obvious that in the presence of the growing phenomenon of globalization, the E.U. should seekagreements beyond its borders: even if several of its member States have reached first class positionsin scientific and technological development and in the consequent industrial applications, worldwidecooperation is still necessary to get external contributions and to achieve the critical mass to assureplanetary expansion.

    After a pioneering experience on the ground of cooperation with developing countries, mostly formercolonies of some member States, therefore privileging humanitarian aid and emphasizing medicalresearch, agriculture and environmental issues, the EU international RTD policy adopted vigorousguidelines towards common initiatives with industrialized countries and, later, with emergingeconomies which were rapidly growing, often as a result of investment and relocations from Europeitself.Therefore the successive F.P. included a specific chapter dedicated to issues of common interest with"third countries" grouped by geographic proximity (i.e. Sub-Saharan African Countries or Countries ofCentral America), by economic conditions (developing Countries, industrialized Countries, emergingEconomies) or for political and historical background (N.I.S. of the former Soviet Union). The aim wasto gradually open the access to F.P. calls for proposals to scientists and researchers from all over theworld, often providing financial support to their participation, responding to various purposes.First, to address the need to open the access to new areas of knowledge produced outside the bordersof Europe, including the aim of reaching industrial production agreements through peaceful andfriendly co-operation networks. Then, to confirm Europe as an attractive destination for researchers,scientists and potential partners with the ability to set up and carry out original and innovativeinitiatives. Finally, to meet the need to join forces, more and more necessary in a context of

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    globalization, to cope with the pressing challenges of global competition. Significant evolution,variously appreciated by international observers, political representatives and potential recipients,certainly worthy of attention and analysis.

    It should be borne in mind, however, that some E.U. member States and also of some E.U. Institutionshave not always been, in this respect, unquestionably in favour. Just to give an example, the programScience and Technology for Development was not accepted in the first PQ and consequently could notrely , for some years, on a multi-annual certain and specific budget which had to be proposed andvoted in year by year in the course of the budgetary procedure.

    Cyprus, 2011

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    The first opening programs to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have been carried out at therequest of the beneficiary countries which had to put heavy diplomatic pressure in their negotiationsconcerning the destination of the technical and financial support of the PHARE program, to be allowed

    to use part of the funds to support their participation in FP projects and to get mobility grants.Eventually, the first action of concrete opening of the F.P. has been launched thanks to the initiative ofthe European Parliament which spent its political and legal influence within the 1992 budgetaryprocedure to set up the Copernicus program which in the following years led to the association to theF.P. of central European Countries and contributed then to their full integration within the E.U. Asimilar, parallel program aiming at the countries of the former Soviet Union was progressively erasedfrom the F.P. and entrusted to a non-profit organization under Belgian law, which funded a largenumber of small projects with little ambition. In the meantime a significant number of scientists fromEastern Europe and the New Independent States largely participated in other international calls forproposals and tenders, while many of them migrated to the United States, where they were quicklyintegrated within the local scientific community.The appointment of several scientific attachs within the EU Delegations with prestigious partners ofthe major industrialized countries, emerging economies and developing countries does not seem tohave fully contributed to increase the number and quality of scientific projects launched in common inthe context of the EU FP. Conversely, the creation by the Commission of a solid network of NationalContact Points appointed by the recipient countries from all over the world, does not affect the E.U.budget and has provided an unique network of political and technical dialogue. Finally, the stipulation

    of specific bilateral scientific and technological cooperation (BILAT) with a number of third countrieshas shown some political importance but rather poor impact, due to the lack of specific financialresources.

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    ERA.Net RUS is strengthening the international dimension of the European

    Research Area (ERA). It will help to widen the ERA`s trans-national approach on

    S&T cooperation, with benefits for European and Russian S&T communities,policy-makers, economies and societies alike. ERA-NET Plus will enable nationalprogrammes, together with the Community programmes, to address researchtopics that, due to the nature of the field, are better addressed jointly or whichcould not have been addressed independently.

    2Jrn Sonnenburg, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

    ANIMA is a EU funded project set up as a part of the Barcelona Process. Its keyobjective is networking between Investment Authorities in order to promoteinvestments in this part of the world. The idea of establishing this network istruly wonderful because it succeeded in bringing together all the InvestmentAuthorities in the region. The Mediterranean region is very attractive forEuropean Union investors who are important partner for both trade andinvestment.

    3Waff Sobhi Ibrahim, GAFI, Egypt

    MEDIBTIKAR is an important project to link technology transfer in Egypt and

    the Mediterranean countries with the network in the European Union. The EUhas a strong record of technology transfer between research centers andindustry. MEDIBTIKAR is an important project to benefit the Mediterraneancountries.

    4Hani Barakat,, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Egypt

    2

    ERA.Net RUS provides support for the transnational networking and co-ordination of bilateral research programmes that willimprove both the efficiency and the effectiveness of Europes research efforts. It will also contribute to mutual learning, j ointstrategy development and joint funding activities in EU Member States (MS), Associated Countries (AC) and Russia. Particularemphasis is placed on actively involving Russian programme owners in the planning, implementation and assessment of apilot joint call and the organisation of a sustainable Science and Technology (S&T) programme.

    3The ANIMA project has worked to create an environment for investments, aiming at developing enterprises, exchanging

    technologies and improving competitiveness and innovation.

    4MEDLBTIKAR (EUROMED Innovation and Technology Programme) is the EuroMed Innovation and Technology Programme, it

    was making waves across the MEDA region. This is a Three year project, with a budget of 7,24 million Euros. In this project the

    European Union and the Mediterranean countries work together to increase investments in innovation.

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    Madagascar, 2011

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    3. Strategic tools

    The European Research Area (ERA)

    Although the budget in support of the E.U. Science and Innovation policy has been growing steadilyduring the last decades, more than 90% of the global expenditure in this field all over the territory ofthe E.U. stays firmly in the hands of the Member States. It seems reasonable that each Country keepsthe control of the guidelines of this crucial policy, to adapt them to the different needs and potentialsof the respective social, economic and industrial structure: it is clear to everybody that hugeimbalances continue to exist in Europe concerning the need and the potential of the member States.On the other side, it is obvious that an extremely large number of national strategies should not be leftwithout a common effort of harmonization towards some common aims. In this perspective, and

    winning over serious doubts and suspicions, the European research Area has been created to reinforcethe partnership of its member States to improve scientific excellence and support economic and socialgrowth: in other words, European research institutions, businesses and enterprises should more andmore promote initiatives, be able to compete and co-operate across national borders.At the same time, through the coordination of their efforts, member States should be get the most outof research investments in terms of financial, trade and industrial output.The ERA yearly Facts and Figures Reports show interesting data on the progress of this initiative andmention also the comments of its most important stakeholders. One might think that some of them

    have of course vested interest in its survival of ERA rather in the genuine attainment of its aims,however there is no serious criticism concerning its usefulness, the low costs and the need to disposeof such a tool.

    The Strategic Forum for International Science and Technology Cooperation (SFIC)

    Supports the international dimension of the ERA: a forum for debate and an advisory body to the mainE.U. Institutions to implement European partnerships in the field of international cooperation forresearch and innovation. It provides the ground to its partners for periodic exchanges of informationand to pave the way for consultation mainly with the objective to find agreement on common

    priorities and possible joint initiatives with third countries and specialised international fora. Yearlywork programmes set up the guidelines of action, while the periodic reports summarise what has beendone and achieved. Specific initiatives are in progress concerning RTD cooperation with three emergingeconomies (China, India and Brasil) and with the U.S.A. Substancially one more meeting point fornational and E.U. civil servants which however offers useful opportunities of exchange andcoordination in exchange of a modest financial burden.

    The information platform on European research and innovation systems and policies (ERAWATCH)

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    Center of information on European, national and regional research and innovation systems, policies,and programmes within and outside the E.U.with the participation of 28 is gathered by the JointResearch Centre of the Commission also through external experts. It produces a Joint inventory of

    policy measures which provide updated information on international policies on research andinnovation.

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    FEED has helped bring together European and Australian researchers in

    emerging research areas where there were clear opportunities for poolingresources, capabilities and knowledge. These collaborations have deliveredresults in various fields such as health and information and communicationtechnologies.

    5Rado Faletic, The Australian National University

    We are contacting the farms, looking at the process, we are looking at the cost

    as it is evolving, what kind of quality issues are happening, what kind ofconstrains these people are facing in the export markets. The information that isgenerating within this study is very useful for guiding the international buyers tosee what kind of products they are buying.

    6Sivakumar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India

    5 FEED (FEAST extension, enhancement and demonstration project) is the Forum for European-Australian Science and

    Technology Cooperation and this project coordinated by the Australian National University is pivotal for supporting theexchange of best practices as well as promoting cutting edge research between both continents.6

    Established in 2010 and planned to run for four years, VEG-I-TRADE (Impact of Climate Change and Globalization on Safety ofFresh Produce) is a groundbreaking project, funded by the EU under its 7th Framework Programme, with the specific aim ofproviding reliable methods to assess the impacts of climate change and globalisation on food safety, and to develop responsemechanisms to eliminate or minimise the resulting risks. With 23 partner organisations, including universities, researchinstitutes, SMEs and large industrial companies, VEG-I-TRADE has a truly international scope, which matches the global natureof the issues it is addressing. Participants come not only from around Europe, but also from Egypt, India, Brazil and South

    Africa.

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    Indonesia, 2013

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    Being an excellent research location is a good objective and at the same time its

    a challenge for the Western Balkans. The participation of Western Balkans in the

    European Regional project is an opportunity for these countries to becomeexcellent research centers gaining monitoring tools to evaluate the success of theproject.

    Edlira Muedini, CIVET, Albania

    In West Balkans there is a great need to develop to be competitive in the regionbut also on the European level and to be recognized as research institutions forEU projects and joint initiatives.

    7Viktor Nedovi, Ministry of Education and Science of Montenegro

    My International Incoming Fellowship (IIF) experience started in March 2012. InJanuary 2011 I was working on my PhD in Chemical Engineering at WashingtonUniversity in Saint Louis (USA) and I was also stressing out about my future withquestions like these: Academia or Industry? USA or elsewhere? Same field or adifferent one? Who will pay for it?You should consider the best opportunities because a good postdoc position isstrategically vital for an academic career, especially when the job market is

    increasingly competitive. I think that Marie-Curie Fellowships are the uniquechances to reach your dream career and build your life. IIF gives greatopportunities to work on a world-class scientific project: putting you on thecutting-edge of science; giving you training in novel techniques; hopefullyresulting in several significant publications; gaining new skills valuable for yourfuture career with mobility between countries and teams, planning and managinga scientific project; writing a good grant is itself a very important skill; networking-you will develop collaborations and meet people; generous funding for a fewyears; prestigious fellowships in your resume may open new opportunities.

    8

    Evgeniy A. Redekop, Gent University, Belgium

    7 The aim of WBC-INCO NET (Coordination of research policies with the Western Balkan Countries) is enhancing the

    cooperation between EU countries and West Balkans in the field of science and technology trough these activities: prioritysetting, networking, training, policy dialogue and strategic coordination.8 The ICKARUS (Intrinsic Catalytic Kinetics Analyzed and Reconciled with Industrial Conditions) project studies propanedehydrogenation over novel bimetallic catalysts.

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    Jordan, 2008

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    International RTD cooperation policies

    The involvement of foreign countries into the E.U. RTD policy and therefore within specific programs

    and projects should take into account a number of assumption in order to shape policy cooperation onthe basis of the needs and potential of the various partners considered as individuals or groups.The main guidelines so far followed have been:

    1. Coordination and support actions2. The association in mobility programs3. The opening up of research programs including the coordination with national programs of

    member States4. Sharing scientific research initiatives and large installations

    In fact, the E.U. has gradually moved beyond this schema adding new initiatives.

    Coordination and support actions

    Several initiatives have been launched by the latest F.P. to encourage international RTD cooperationand to make more visible its potential and results. Although modest for the number of calls and fortheir costs, practically all specific programs have launched this type of action. Because of its specificity,the INCO program dedicated to international cooperation has launched various initiatives such as ERA-

    NET, INCO- NET, BILAT, ACCESS4EU, EURAXESS, INCONTACT.Doubts might however emerge if some preliminary figures are confirmed, showing that theparticipations of a few third Countries concern mostly if not only this kind of actions, which thereforeshould be considered of, limited impact.

    Mobility programs

    Without doubt the main initiative in this area created and supported by the F.P. are the Marie Curieactions, European fellowships that can be assigned with no regard to age, gender, nationality or level

    of experience. These programs are in synergy with parallel initiatives in support of technical andvocational training, promoted by other Community programs. Judgements and evaluations are largelypositive; comments by beneficiaries complain only the inadequacy of available funds to cover agrowing over subscription. In addition to qualify for a grant, the researchers have the opportunity toexperience living abroad not only in Universities and Research centres but also in the laboratories ofindustrial companies belonging to the private sector: They can therefore enhance their training withskills or disciplines relevant to their career: a way to promote excellence and the innovation in Europe.

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    Grants are allocated to various profiles of researchers. Thebeneficiaries might be in the initial phase of their career, withless than 4 years research experience, having not yet earned a

    doctoral degree. They might also be much more experiencedresearcher with doctoral degree or 4 years of full-timeresearch. Marie Curie Actions have a strong internationaldimension: researchers participating in these actions havecome up to now far from around 130 different countries. Topbeneficiaries from third Countries who decided to improvetheir scientific qualifications in Europe come mostly from India,China, Russia, the USA and Canada. The majority of Europeanwinners of Marie Curie scholarship decided to choose as their

    host Country the USA, China, Brazil, Australia and Russia.

    Italy, 2012

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    Opening of research programs

    Since the early days the E.U. research policy, back in the 80s of the last century, a clear need emerged

    to extend at least part of its activities to a wide range of developing countries, to be consistent withthe general guidelines of the E.U. external policy and more in particular its strategy of aid todevelopment, taking also into account the special links with Countries linked to several member Statesby advanced collaboration and the setting up of ad hoc education programmes, joint University chairsand laboratories.Therefore, the Science and Technology for Development (STD) program was launched, still outside thelegal and financial envelope of the F.P., requesting specific budgetary provision to be sought year byyear during the budgetary procedure. This yearly procedure was the occasion for interesting debateswithin the budgetary authorities, the European Parliament and the Council of Ministers, leaving often

    the impression of a lower level policy, linked to an unpleasant touch of neo- colonialism.The first serious breakthrough turned up a few years later, in the early 90's, with the fall of the BerlinWall and the first essays to associate in some way to the F.P. the Countries of Central and EasternEurope and those of the former Soviet Union. In the meantime, relationships with a large number ofindustrialized countries had been rapidly intensifying, leading to the integration of a specific programof international cooperation within the F.P., in harmony with the guidelines of the European ResearchArea (ERA), just sketched out. Basically almost all third Countries were invited to participate in calls forproposals issued by the F.P. and, with the exception of Countries with advanced economies, even to

    receive the necessary financial support at certain conditions.

    The judgment about the validity of this type of initiative has been sometimes divisive among themember States and the scientific communities and not always positive, due to different opinionsconcerning the genuine parity of roles, and therefore the attribution of tasks and responsibilities withinthe projects, the overall distribution of resources, the soundness of the results and theirexploitation. The mixed opinions, all respectable and undoubtedly inspired by constructive aims,confronted with the cold logic of figures show that, despite the clear interest for the widening ofproject consortia in a context of rapid globalization, less that only 20% of FP 7 projects include non-E.U.

    partners. Moreover, several of the external participations do not concern genuine research or scientificmobility projects, but accompanying measures in support of possible cooperation. The overall figuresmention thousands of collaborations with third Countries researchers and yet the actual figures appearat least modest if compared to the immense potential of a framework for cooperation extended acrossthe whole globe. In a nutshell, the overall F.P. financial investments granted to external partnersand/or coming from their own resources reach only a small portion of the financial commitment infavour of single member States or associated Countries with modest demographic and economicweight.

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    It is worth mentioning also that, even if in F.P.7 the overall costs related to grants for third Countriesreached almost 900 million, corresponding to less than 2.50% of the total, there are still areas of

    international co-operation supported by F.P. resources, whose statistics do not show the destination toexternal participants and huge initiatives involving third Countries, such as ITER, ESA and CERN.

    In any case, and with all the necessary precautions, if some doubts concerning the number ofparticipations and their costs however covered, emerge from official data, it is much more difficult toevaluate the quality of third-Countries participations, the role and powers granted in the context ofindividual projects and the practical implications for the quality of the results, particularly whencompared to indicators such as industrial applications, prestigious publications and citations. In thespecific case of calls requiring the necessary participation of third parties, these have been judged in

    several occasions as purely cosmetic, aiming at reaching the minimum consortium or at distributingforms of aid rather than at promoting scientific excellence.

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    India, 2010

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    "Without cross-border European co-operation and funding, we would never beable to achieve our goals.

    One big problem in the field is genetic heterogeneity and clinical diversity. Assuch, conventional approaches, such as classical human genetic or classicalpharmacological approaches, fall short when searching for improved diagnosticsand novel therapy.SYSCILIA, the way we see it, uses systems modelling and network analysismethods developed or applied by us to acquire knowledge on the overarchingprinciples of systems failure in these diseases. This knowledge we want to turninto clinical applications."9

    Marius Ueffing, Eberhard Karls Universitys Medical, Germany

    9The aim of the SYCILIA (A systems biology approach to dissect cilia function and its disruption in human genetic disease)

    project is identifying the molecular mechanisms characterizing cilium function, and the discrete perturbations associated withdysfunction caused by mutations in inherited ciliopathies, applying a systems biology approach. The Duke University (USA) isone of the 17 partners. The project consists of a network of 18 different international teams at various centres. Altogether,participants are operating at 16 universities across six EU countries and the United States.

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    Sharing scientific research initiatives and large installations

    Taking into account the opinions of international observers and specialised technical experts, shadows

    seriously compete with lights, due primarily to the results so far delivered by such ambitious, forward-looking and extremely expensive initiatives. Leaving aside for a moment the justified enthusiasm forthe vision and audacity produced by the launch of frontier enterprises such as ITER and GALILEO,international observers are puzzled by unjustified delays in the implementation of the programs and bypersisting uncertainty about the achievement of the expected results.

    Guatemala, 2012

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    ITER, a large-scale scientific experiment that aims to demonstrate that it is possible to producecommercial energy from fusion, imposes a disproportionate financial burden on the Europeanpartners, corresponding to a good fifty percent of the total costs, compared to a modest ten percentmade available by the United States and Japan, a Country that has obtained the appointment of thegeneral coordinator of the project and the location on its territory of the centre for scientific researchin exchange for the concession to locate the pilot installation in France.GALILEO, theglobal navigation satellite system (GNSS) is still under construction with a serious shiftingof the deadlines for completion and an impressive upwards revision of costs. The project, launched bythe E.U. and the and the European Space Agency (ESA) aims to provide a high-precision positioningsystem to allow European nations full independence from other existing systems which belong to othernations and might be disabled in times of conflict. The project is still in the in-orbit validation phasewith only four satellites launched so far. Additional satellites will be launched to reach the initial

    operational capability and should be fully operational by 2019. Doubts concerning the implementationof the project within this deadline are justified by the unbelievable sequence of rearrangements andthe efforts to find within the E.U. budget the resources to cover unexpected rise of costs and tocompensate the refusal by industrial partners to take care of a large part of the costs in exchange forthe project execution contracts.Encouraging opinions are expressed by international impartial observers about the initiative Europeanand Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) which gathers participants from 14 EUMember States, Switzerland, Norway and several countries of sub-Saharan Africa in a commonpurpose to fight plagues such as HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The U.E. has so far coveredabout half of the 400 M invested, to fund more than 200 projects, more than 300 scholarships andsixty clinical trials. Deadlines seem to have been respected, scientific results and quality of theactivities are judged favourably.Positive opinions also welcome the GANT project co-funded by the E.U.: a huge hub of networks forresearch and education. The project has 41 partners, including 38 European National Research andEducational Networks (NRENs), and associates 50 million users and more than 10,000 institutionsthroughout Europe. It has rapidly turned into an indispensable tool to support research mainly in thefields of energy, environment, space and medicine. Within this initiative, the project GN3plus has been

    much praised: it is the extension to the third term of the successful GANT networking project that liesat the heart of the EUs e-infrastructure strategy, aims at delivering fast and efficient provisioning ofadvanced services, develop operational support across management domains and enhance security toensure service integrity and protection of network resources.One more example comes from the project Human Frontier Science Programme (HFSP): more thantwenty years of activity in support of innovative and interdisciplinary basic research about thebiological mechanisms of living organisms. Research is funded at all levels of biological complexity frombio molecules to the interactions between organisms. The results so far delivered show interesting

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_navigationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satellite_navigation
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    achievements. An important aspect of the initiative is the promotion of joint research activities thatunite biologists, physicists, chemists, experts in information technology and engineers. The projectManagement support parties (MSP) are currently the EU and 13 Countries: Australia, Canada, France,Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Norway, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UnitedKingdom, the United States of America.

    Nepal, 2010

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    Although several possible solutions to improve both the environmental

    compatibility and sustainability of concrete production in the building industryhave already been proposed, further research is still needed to address thepotential of recycled and renewable materials.The relevance of concrete sustainability for emerging countries was a keymotivation for gathering both European and non-European partners within thisresearch initiative. This is why European research institutions from Italy andPortugal are currently implementing a staff-exchange programme with non-European counterparts from Argentina and Brazil.Significant emphasis has been placed on sustainable construction practices byBrazilian policy-makers. They are developing structures and infrastructures

    needed for the organisation of the next Football World Cup and Olympic Games,which will be held in Rio de Janeiro in the coming years

    10Flavia Martinelli, University of Naples, Italy

    We are trying to convince the food industry to go for economies of scale that

    through lower prices and greater volume they can open up big new marketswith less purchasing power and generate appropriate levels of profit.Through capacity building and by strengthening scientific and technologicalknowledge in the field of staple food-based approaches in Africa and Europe,the project is making a significant contribution towards improving the quality ofdiet of young children and their mothers living in resource-poor areas in sub-Saharan Africa.The knowledge gained during the project will also strengthen thecompetitiveness of local SMEs targeted at production of foods with increasednutritional value

    11Brouwer, Wegeningen University, The Netherlands

    10The EnCoRe (Environmentally friendly solutions for Concrete with Recycled and natural components) project was conceived

    to bring together a number of research groups capable of injecting innovation into the issue of concrete sustainability. Theconsortium also aims to stimulate the exchange of ideas and experience on using recycled and renewable constituents toobtain a greener structural concrete.11

    The five and a half-year European Union- funded INSTAPA (Novel staple food-based strategies to improve micronutrient

    status for better health and development in sub-Saharan Africa) project undertook extensive research on the ground in Kenyaand other Sub-Saharan countries to identify practical way of boosting the iron and zinc content of daily food. The project isbeing conducted by research from Europe and Africa.

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    Brazil, 2013

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    New strategies for international cooperation in research and Innovation

    There might be different opinions, not always converging on positive conclusions concerning theachievements of more than twenty years of heavy engagement towards a living, fruitful and active RTDcooperation with scientist and researchers living and working outside the E.U.It seems out of question, however, that there is large consensus about the general guidelines whichinspired this particular branch of a key E.U. policy and the need to proceed forwards and furtherstrengthen its objectives in order to take full advantage of what has been achieved. Of course, all duelessons must be drawn from severe and constructive criticism based on mistakes and shortcomings, forthe protection of the European tax payer and in the interest of education, culture, innovation andformation within and outside the E.U.It is not easy the E.U. and its Member States recognize deficiencies and shortcomings, since short-

    sighted calculations of national interest tend to emerge in the context of common decision-making procedures.And yet, the way of proceeding in common is not optional but it is an indisputable necessity. Theachievement of ever-increasing levels of scientific excellence, high innovation and industrialcompetitiveness are vital objectives for the E.U. as a whole and will be even more in the future,considering the rapid levels of development attained by a large number of emerging economies inaddition to the strength of the traditional industrialised Countries.A large number of the E.U. member States have been for quite a long time, worldwide, among themajor industrialised and competitive powers and still now sit proudly among the World leaders in theproduction and exports of goods and services. It is no more possible to sustain these admirableachievements individually: the globalisation processes require large, strong policies associating hugeeconomic, financial, intellectual and demographic forces.Time has come for the E.U. to work out its internal contradictions, solving social delays that continue toseparate the conditions of the member States still extremely far from a real harmonisation. These aimsmight be achieved also by a further opening up of its borders to international collaborations andstrengthening the E.U. common foreign policy. Concepts which are easy to grasp, still very difficult toput into the practice of concrete actions while persist serious imbalances in the development rate of

    the member States. Political parties and national administrations still follow out of date strategies inthe relations with their own partners and neighbours.The map of the strategic cooperation with all international partners should be constantly updated,

    having quite clear the E.U. common aims and then strengthening the policy of openness towards thirdCountries through more effective actions that take full advantage of their potential, meeting theirneeds in the context of their regional and economic homogeneity.The guidelines of the new Horizon 2020 program provide hints of interest that could pave the way fornew developments. We are far from exciting prospects, with many member States held back by a

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    worrying economic and social crisis which is seriously threatening levels of development and socialachievement acquired not so long ago.This does not seem to be the time for generous and imaginative initiatives in favour of foreignpartners, and yet the absolute need for industrial, social and economic growth leaves no alternative toa strong joint commitment and partnership with global partners on the complex path of scientificknowledge and the exploration of new technological horizons.

    USA, 2011

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    Case studies:

    BORASSUSThe three-year project on sustainable agriculture project aims at promoting reforestation andagroforestry, providing financially deprived farmers with supplementary income and opening up alsoperspectives of future employment. The project involved around 60 scientists from Belgium, Brazil,China, Gambia, Hungary, Lithuania, South Africa, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. Thescheme involves making special waffle-like mats from the tough and plentiful Borassus aethiopumpalm tree leaves that are then pinned to the ground to protect crops, prevent soil erosion and stopwater pollution. The BORASSUS Project has and is making positive contributions to improve theenvironment and living conditions of many people in the developing world. There are many examples,including the development of cottage industries making mats in Brazil, The Gambia, South Africa and

    Vietnam. Environmental education and awareness programmes are in progress in rural communities inBrazil, China and The Gambia. Using the technology, some unstable slopes on the edge of urban slums(favelas) in Brazil have been stabilised. In the past, severe storm events led to loss of lives and houseson these slopes.

    InfrArtSonicDevelopment of a novel and integrated portable non-destructive analysis system for thedocumentation of artworks: this project developed a novel and integrated non-destructive portablesystem for the scanning on the spot of mural artworks through the determination of artworks paintlayers profile in depth as well as the local distribution of the pigments in each of the paint layers. Thesystem combines two modalities: acoustic microscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Dataacquired with the two modalities in the same areas of analysis are jointly processed and correlated totrace the depth profile of the paint layers (ultrasound modality) and to map the pigments in eachrespective paint layer. The coordinator of the project is the research centre of a nuns monasterylocated in eastern Greece with high specialisation in scientific research and the production of religiouspaintings. The participants are eminent European research centres and the Center for Documentationof Cultural and Natural Heritage affiliated to Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the Royal scientific society of

    Jordan, UOTHB in Lebanon and ENALIAN Cyprus, a famous centre for the restoration of artefacts.

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    Mozambique, 2011

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