Supporting scientific cooperation between the EU and associated countries and Eastern Europe and Central Asia

The partnership between the countries of the European Union and Eastern Europe/Central Asia (EECA) is of utmost importance for the political, economic, and social development of both regions. Linking the scientific potential and resources has in fact a huge impact on economic growth, social prosperity, and welfare, as well as on public stability.

The IncoNet EECA project addressed policy stakeholders from the EU/AC and EECA countries. The aim was to establish and sustain three dedicated S&T Policy Dialogue Platforms: one biregional EU/AC with all Eastern European and Central Asian countries, and two bilateral platforms for the respective dialogues of EU/AC with Russia and with Ukraine.
The existing policy framework for cooperation was hereby highlighted and improved. Special focus was the field of S&T to develop new opportunities and links between the scientific and research communities of the countries involved.

The activities of the project included all the necessary actions that initiate and sustain the policy dialogue, and aimed at:

• An increased participation of researchers from EECA in FP7 through the organization of information days and brokerage events, the identification of barriers, the training, support and networking of NCPs/NIPs, the formulation of proposals for Specific International Cooperation Activities (SICAs) in the FP7 Themes, etc.
• The analysis of key issues and the preparation of reports that feed the policy dialogue (improvement of S&T indicators, review of S&T cooperation patterns, mapping of outstanding research institutes, and review of national policies towards global challenges.

Moreover, a series of important dissemination activities provided the necessary visibility to the project, for both the scientific community and the policy makers and stakeholders.
Among these activities, we could mention:

• The setting up of a Central Information Office continues to inform interested stakeholders from science, industries, and policy making about opportunities for an enhanced S&T cooperation and will foster active networking among the science communities and R&D oriented innovative industries in the MS, AC and the EECA partner countries.
• The organization of EECA sessions in major European scientific conferences, as well as the organization of conferences and events at the highest political level that promote and consolidate the EU EECA S&T.

The activities have been continued in follow-up projects.

Team:

• DI Martin Felix Gajdusek (project leader)
• Ing. Gabriela Cikikyan, MA
• Magª. Elke Dall
• Magª. Désirée Pecarz
• Mag. Dr. Klaus Schuch
• Mag. Manfred Spiesberger
• M.A. Gorazd A. Weiss

Section: Research Policy & Development

Partners:

• International Centre for Black Sea Studies (Coordinator)
• Academy of Sciences of Moldova - Centre of International Projects
• Archimedes Foundation
• Austrian Research Promotion Agency
• Azerbaijan National Academy of Sciences
• Belarusian Institute of System Analysis and Information Support of Science and Technical Sphere
• BULGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
• Center of Ideas and Technologies
• Centre for Scientific and Technical Information and Innovation Promotion of Ukraine
• Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas - FORTH
• Georgian National Science Foundation
• Higher School of Economics
• Independent Experts Consulting Board to Promote Scientific Research Activity in Kazakhstan
• Indo Uzbek Center on Promotion of Science and technical cooperation Association
• Institut of Fundamental Technological Research, Polish Academy of Sciences
• National School of Political Studies and Public Administration
• Project Management Agency at the DLR (German Aerospace Center)
• Research Council of Norway
• Suomen Akatemia
• Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovation Systems - SVENSKA VERKET FOER INNOVATIONSSYSTEM
• TUBITAK Scientific and Technologcial Research Council of Turkey

Related Articles:

• Publication: Financial, legal and administrative management of INCO-NET projects. Difficulties, solutions and recommendations for the future
• News: Call for a Team Leader - S&T Policy Mix Peer Review in Kazakhstan
• News: IncoNet EECA Benchmarking Exercise
• Publication: INCO-NET EECA White Paper on STI Cooperation
• News: Inco.Net EECA: S&T Policy Mix Peer Review Report to Kazakhstan presented to the President of Kazakhstan on 23 October 2012
• Publication: Analytical paper on the use of Lifelong Learning Programmes

Tags: Central Asia, Eastern Partnership countries, European Research Area, internationalisation, research cooperation, Russia, scientific networks, Ukraine