Strengthening the Strategic Cooperation

between the EU and Western Balkan Region

in the field of ICT Research

Input to panel discussion:Concrete actions & recommendations for

regional cooperation (EU & regional dimension)

Ulrike Kunze, International Bureau of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research

Conference “Towards an Information Society for the Western Balkans”, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

2Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

WBC-INCO.NET consultation session on Dec. 10

Aims:

1. Definition of regional ICT research priorities- as input for the SEE-ERA.NET PLUS call- as input for the FP7 ICT Work Programme- as input for a regional strategy of the WBC

2. Recommendation for major generic activities to be implemented at regional level

3. recommendations with regard to a WBC Ministerial conference planned and possibly funded by IPA in 2009

3Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

WBC INCO.NET consultation session on Dec. 10

Invited stakeholders:

• Delegations from WBC (policy maker, NCP, ICT experts from higher education/research institution, expert from industry)

Procedure for discussion:

● basis: Table with priorities

● only take into account “readiness”

● add priority “Environmental sustainability and energy efficiency” as request from SEE-ERA.NET PLUS consortium

● count the number of marks/countries for each priority

● establish ranking list

4Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Results of consultation session

Regional ICT research priorities (nr. of counts):

1. ICTs for Enterprises & eBusiness (6)

2. ICTs for Government & eGovernment (5)

3. Network technologies (Internet & Broadband Technologies, Mobile Technologies, Network technologies) (5)

4. ICTs for Learning & eLearning (5)

5. ICTs for Health & eHealth (5)

6. Environmental sustainability, energy efficiency (4)

7. Software Engineering (3)

8. [ Mobile Technologies (1) ]

5Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

What is SEE-ERA.NET PLUS?

● a network project for the integration of Western Balkan countries into the European Research Area (ERA).

● funded under FP 7● consortium of 17 partners from 14 countries● will launch a joint call for Joint European Research

Projects (JERPs) in spring/summer 2009 with a planned budget of around EURO 3.5 Mio

● call will engage scientists and key actors in R&D policy making including EU member states, Associated States and all WesternBalkan countries

6Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

SEE ERA.NET PLUS‘ task:

● “Specific scientific priorities will be chosen for the scope of the call, based on the regional collaboration needs of the participating countries and bearing in mind the priorities of the 7th EU Framework Programme on Research and Technological Development (FP7).

● A careful selection of scientific priorities will help to combine the two goals of enhancing cooperation with the WBC on the one hand and of fostering scientific excellence on the other.”

● Input from WBC-INCO.NETneeded

7Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Priorities defined as input for …

● SEE-ERA.NET PLUS

● FP7 ICT Work Programme

● WBC Regional strategy

8Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

WBC Ministerial Conference

● planned and possibly funded by IPA in 2009

● Science Ministries but linkage with other Ministries

● use it to promote R&D and its importance for the economic development

● joining EU is a driver for putting R&D high on the agenda

● synergies with RCC (Regional Cooperation Council) and public authorities

9Conference, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

Recommendations for major generic activities to be implemented at regional level

● mapping the needs of the society („desire“ for research results)

● Living labs

● networking activities

● synergies with RCC (Regional Cooperation Council)

● synergies with eSEE agenda PLUS

● foresight analyses are needed (national and regional level; different scenarios with more or less promising ICTs

● registration of researchers to EC evaluators database

● …. (your suggestions)