eunbil · GT0N1604 · 2006-07-14 00:00:00 — The activity will include measures to counter the risk of "brain drain" from developing countries and emerging economies and measures to create networks of European researchers working abroad. These actions will be implemented in line with the international activities under the "Capacities" Programmes. Specific actions to support the creation of a genuine European labour market for researchers, by removing obstacles to mobility and enhancing the career perspectives of researchers in Europe. Incentive measures for public institutions that promote the mobility, quality and profile of their researchers. AM 256 Furthermore, awards to improve the public awareness of actions and their objectives will be provided. This part of the Framework Programme will enhance research and innovation capacities throughout Europe and ensure their optimal use. This aim will be achieved through: Optimising the use and development of research infrastructures. Strengthening innovative capacities of SmEs and their ability to benefit from research. Supporting the development of regional research-driven clusters. Unlocking the research potential in the EU"s convergence and outermost regions. Bringing science and society closer together for the harmonious integration of science and technology in European society. Support to the coherent development of research policies. Horizontal actions and measures in support of international cooperation. Optimising the use and development of the best research infrastructures existing in Europe, and helping to create in all fields of science and technology new research infrastructures of pan-European interest needed by scientific community to remain at the forefront of the advancement of research, and able to help industry to strengthen its base of knowledge and its technological know-how. Research infrastructures play an increasing role in the advancement of knowledge and technology and their exploitation. The importance of such infrastructures is already well established in areas such as energy, space and particle physics and is increasing in other areas. For example, radiation sources, data banks in genomics and data banks in social science, observatories for environmental and space sciences, systems of imaging or clean rooms for the study and development of new materials or nano-electronics, are at the core of research. They are expensive, need a broad range of expertise to be developed, and should be used and exploited by a large community of scientist and customer industries on a European scale. The development of a European approach with regard to research infrastructures, including computing and communication based e-infrastructures and virtual infrastructures, and the carrying out of activities in this area at Union level, can make a significant contribution to boosting European research potential and its exploitation and contributing to the development of Research Area. While Member States" role will remain central in the development and financing of infrastructures, the Community can and should play a catalysing and leveraging role by helping to ensure wider and more efficient access to, and use of, the infrastructures existing in the different Member States, by stimulating the development of these infrastructures, and their networking, in a coordinated way and by fostering the emergence of new research infrastructures of pan-European interest in the medium to long term. In this respect, on Research Infrastructures (ESFRI) plays a key role in identifying needs and a roadmap for European research infrastructures. Activities carried out in this field will be executed in the whole field of science and technology. They will be implemented in close cooperation with the activities taking place in the thematic areas to ensure that all the actions undertaken at European level in the Community framework respond to the needs for research infrastructures in their respective area including international cooperation. The activities will be the following: Support to existing research infrastructures integrating activities to structure better, on a European scale, the way research infrastructures operate in a given field and promote their coherent use and development, in particular through trans-national access, to ensure that European researchers, including researchers from industry and SMEs, may have access to high performing research infrastructures to conduct their research, irrespective of the location of the infrastructure; AM 266 research e-infrastructure by fostering the further development and evolution and global connectivity AM 268 of high-capacity and high-performance communication and grid infrastructures and reinforcing European computing capabilities, as well as encouraging the adoption by user communities where appropriate, enhancing their global relevance and increasing the level of trust and confidence, on the achievements of GEANT and infrastructures and based on open standards for interoperability AM 268. Support to new research infrastructures Construction of new infrastructures and major upgrades of existing ones focussing mainly on preparatory phases, to promote the emergence of new research facilities, in accordance with the principle of "variable geometry", primarily AM 269 upon the work conducted by ESFRI . design studies, through a bottom-up approach of calls for proposals, to promote the creation of new research infrastructures by funding exploratory awards and feasibility studies for new infrastructures. Infrastructures projects proposed for funding in this respect will be identified on the basis of a series of criteria including in particular AM 272: Inability of existing mechanisms to achieve the objective. Added value of Community financial support. Capacity to offer a service in response to the needs of users from the scientific (academic and industrial) community throughout Europe, including added value to Research Area. Relevance at international level. Contribution to technological development capacity. Contribution to developing "research-based clusters of excellence". Technological and organisational feasibility. Possibilities for European partnership and strong financial and other commitment of Member States and other major stakeholders, as well as the possible use of EIB loans and . Construction and operating costs evaluated. As far as the construction of new infrastructures is concerned, the potential for scientific excellence of the convergence regions as well as the outermost regions should be taken into account, whenever appropriate. AM 273 An efficient coordination of the Community financial instruments, Framework Programme and in particular, will be ensured. RESEARCH FOR THE BENEFIT OF SMEs Strengthening the innovation capacity of European SMEs and their contribution to the development of new technology based products and markets by helping them outsource research, increase their research efforts, extend their networks, better exploit research results and acquire technological know how, bridging the gap between research and innovation. SMEs are at the core of European industry. They should be a key component of the innovation system and in the chain of transformation of knowledge into new products, processes and services. Faced with an increasing competition in the internal market and globally, European SMEs need to increase their knowledge and research intensity, enhance the exploitation of research AM 275, expand their business activities on larger markets and internationalize their knowledge networks. Most Member states actions relevant to SMEs do not encourage and support trans-national research cooperation and technology transfer. Actions at EU level are necessary to complement and enhance the impact of actions undertaken at national and regional level. In addition to the actions listed below, the participation of SMEs will be encouraged and facilitated, and their needs taken into account, across the Framework Programme. Specific actions in support to SMEs are conceived to support SMEs or SME associations in need of outsourcing research: mainly low to medium tech SMEs with or no research capability. Research intensive SMEs may participate as providers of research services or outsource research to complement their core research capability. Actions will be carried out in the entire field of science and technology with a bottom-up approach. Actions will include support of demonstration and other activities to facilitate the exploitation of research results, ensuring complementarity with the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme. AM 276 Financial means will be allocated through two schemes: Research for SMEs: To support small groups of innovative SMEs to solve common or complementary technological problems. Research for SME associations: To support SME associations and SME groupings to develop technical solutions to problems common to large numbers of SMEs in specific industrial sectors or segments of the value chain. The clear focus will be to support research projects. In addition, support will be granted to national schemes providing financial means to SMEs or SME associations to prepare proposals for actions under "Research for the benefit of SMEs". AM 280 During the implementation of the Community RTD Framework Programme, complementarity and synergy will be ensured with the actions of the Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme. The Competitiveness and Innovation Programme will encourage and facilitate the participation of SMEs in the Framework Programme through its horizontal services in support of business and innovation. Complementarity and synergy with other Community programmes will be ensured. Strengthening the research potential of European regions, in particular by encouraging and supporting the development, across Europe, of regional "research-driven clusters" associating universities, research centres, enterprises and regional authorities. Regions are increasingly recognised as important players in the EU"s research and development landscape. Research policy and activities at regional level often rely on the development of "clusters" associating public and private actors. The Pilot on "Regions of Knowledge" demonstrated the dynamic of this evolution and the necessity to support and encourage the development of such structures. The actions undertaken in this area will enable European regions to strengthen their capacity for investing in RDT and carry out research activities, while maximising their potential for a successful involvement of their operators in European research projects and facilitating the emergence of clusters, thereby promoting regional development in Europe. Actions will facilitate the creation of regional clusters which contribute to the development of Research Area. The new Regions of Knowledge initiative will involve and bring together regional actors involved in research such as universities, research centres, industry, public authorities (regional councils or regional development agencies). Projects will cover joint analysis of research agendas of regional clusters (in coordination with other activities on the broader issue of regional innovation clusters) and the elaboration of a set of instruments to address them in specific research activities, including through "mentoring" of regions with a less developed research profiles by highly developed ones and support to emerging Regions of Knowledge. This will comprise measures aiming at improving research networking and access to sources of research funding as well as better integration and linking of research actors and institutions in regional economies. These activities will be implemented in close relationship with Community regional policy (structural funds) AM 286 and the Competitiveness and Innovation Programme and the Education and Training Programmes. In the context of the specific activity of "Regions of Knowledge" synergies will be sought with the Community regional policy as well as with relevant national and regional programmes, AM 287 in particular with regard to convergence and outermost regions. Stimulating the realisation of the full research potential of the enlarged Union by unlocking and developing existing or emerging excellence in the EU"s convergence regions and outermost regions , and helping to strengthen the capacities of their researchers to successfully participate in research activities at Community level. Europe does not fully exploit its research potential, in particular in less advanced regions remote from core of research and industrial development. In order to help researchers and institutions , whether in the public or private sector, of these regions to contribute to the overall European research effort, while taking advantage of the knowledge and experience existing in other regions of Europe, this action aims at establishing the conditions that will allow them to exploit their potential and will help to fully realise Research Area in the enlarged Union. The actions will build on past and existing measures such as Centres of Excellence in the then Acceding and Candidate Countries in the Fifth Framework Programme and for the Transfer of Knowledge. The action in this domain will comprise support to: Trans-national two-way secondments of research staff between selected organisations in the convergence regions, and one or more partner organisations; support to selected centres of existing or emerging excellence for the recruitment of incoming experienced researchers from other countries. The acquisition and development of research equipment and the development of a material environment enabling a full exploitation of the intellectual potential present in the selected centres of existing or emerging excellence in the convergence regions. The organisation of workshops and conferences to facilitate knowledge transfer; promotion activities as well as initiatives aiming at disseminating and transferring research results in other countries and on international markets. "Evaluation facilities" through which any research centre in the convergence regions can obtain an international independent expert evaluation of the level of their overall research quality and infrastructures. Strong synergies will be sought with the Community regional policy. Actions supported under this heading will identify needs and opportunities for reinforcing the research capacities of emerging and existing centres of excellence in convergence regions which may be met by Structural and Cohesion funds. Synergies will also be sought with the Competitiveness and Innovation programme in order to promote the regional commercialisation of R&D in collaboration with industry. With a view to an open, effective and democratic European Knowledge society, the aim is to stimulate the harmonious integration of scientific and technological endeavour, and associated research policies in social web, by encouraging at European scale reflection and debate on science and technology, and their relation with the whole spectrum of society and culture. The influence of science and technology on our daily lives becomes increasingly profound. Products of the social activity and shaped by social and cultural factors, science and technology nevertheless remain a remote domain far from the daily concerns of a large part of the public and of policy decision makers, and continues to be the subject of misunderstandings. Contentious issues relating to emerging technologies should be addressed by society on the basis of well informed debate leading to sound choices and decisions. The substantial and integrated initiative undertaken in this field will comprise support to: Strengthening and improving science system, and will address the following issues: improving the use and monitoring the impact of scientific advice and expertise for policy-making (including risk management); the future of scientific publications; measures to make scientific publications more accessible to members of the public wishing to consult them; safeguards for scientific domains open to misuse; and frauds, trust and "self regulation". AM 291, 293 Broader engagement of researchers and the public at large, including organised civil society, on science-related questions, to anticipate and clarify political and societal issues, including ethical issues. Reflection and debate on science and technology and their place in society, drawing on disciplines such as history, sociology and philosophy of science and technology. Gender research, including the integration of the gender dimension in all areas of research and the promotion of the role of women in research and in scientific decision-making bodies. Creation of an open environment which triggers curiosity for science in young people, by reinforcing science education at all levels including schools and promoting interest and full AM 295 participation in science among young people from all backgrounds. Strengthening the role of research based in universities and other higher education institutes and their engagement in the challenges of globalisation. Improved inter-communication and mutual understanding between the scientific world and the wider audience of policy-makers, the media and the general public, by helping scientists better communicate and present their work and by supporting scientific information, publications AM 296 and media. These activities will take the form of, in particular, research projects, studies, networking and exchanges, public events and initiatives, prizes, surveys and data collection. In many cases they will imply international partnerships with organisations from third countries. SUPPORT TO THE COHERENT DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH POLICIES Enhancing the effectiveness and coherence of national and Community research policies and their articulation with other policies, improving the impact of public research and its links with industry, and strengthening public support and its leverage effect on investment by private actors. Increasing investment in research and development up to the objective and improving its effectiveness is a top priority of the strategy for growth and employment. Thus, developing effective policies to leverage public and private research investments constitute a major concern of public authorities with a view to accelerate the transition towards a competitive knowledge based economy. This calls for adaptability of research policies, the mobilisation of a broader range of instruments, coordination of efforts across national boundaries and the mobilisation of other policies to create better framework conditions for research. The activities undertaken under this heading will complement the coordination activities under the Cooperation programme and will aim at improving the coherence and impact of regional, national and Community policies and initiatives (e.g. funding programmes, legislation, recommendations and guidelines). The activities will be the following: - Monitoring and analysis of research related public policies and industrial strategies, including their impacts AM 262 and development of indicators to provide information and evidence in support of the design, implementation, evaluation and trans-national coordination of policies. - Strengthening, on a voluntary basis, the coordination of research policies via actions to support the implementation of the open method of co-ordination (OMC) and bottom-up trans-national cooperation initiatives undertaken at national or regional level on issues of common interest. ACTIVITIES OF INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION To become competitive and play a leading role at world level, Community needs a strong and coherent international science and technology policy. The international actions carried out under the different programmes within the Framework Programme will be implemented in the context of an overall international cooperation strategy. This international policy has three interdependent objectives: - To support European competitiveness through strategic partnerships with third countries in selected fields of science and by engaging the best third country scientists to work in and with Europe. - To facilitate contacts with partners in third countries with the aim of providing better access to research carried out elsewhere in the world. - To address specific problems that third countries face or that have a global character, on the basis of mutual interest and mutual benefit. Cooperation with third countries in the Framework Programme will be targeted in particular at the following groups of countries: Countries neighbouring the EU, partner countries, Western countries (WBC) and the Eastern European and Central Asian countries (EECA) ; Developing countries, focusing on the particular needs of each country or region concerned; The theme-oriented international cooperation actions are carried out under the "Cooperation" programme. The international actions in the area of human potential are carried under the "People" programme. Under the "Capacities" programme, horizontal support actions and measures with a focus other than a specific thematic or interdisciplinary area covered in "Cooperation" programme, will be implemented, and could be supplemented, in a limited number of cases, by specific cooperation actions of mutual interest. AM 299 Efforts will be undertaken to improve the coherence of national activities by supporting the co-ordination of national programmes on international scientific cooperation. Taking into account the experience gained through INTAS and on its work in the framework of cooperation with the Eastern European and Central Asian countries, activities providing continuity will be undertaken through this programme and the specific programmes Cooperation and People. The overall coordination of the international cooperation actions under the different programmes of the Framework Programme, as well as with other Community instruments, will be ensured. NON-NUCLEAR ACTIONS OF THE JOINT RESEARCH CENTRE To provide customer driven scientific and technical support to the Community policy making process, ensuring support to the implementation and monitoring of existing policies and responding to new policy demands. The JRC"s independence of special interests, whether private or national, combined with its technical expertise enable it to facilitate communication and consensus between stakeholders (industry associations, environmental action groups, Member States" competent authorities, other research centres etc.) and policy makers, especially at the Community level. Through scientific and technological support the JRC helps to make the Community policy process more effective, transparent and based on sound science. Where and when appropriate, research conducted by the JRC should be coordinated with the research undertaken under the "Themes" of the"Cooperation" Specific Programme, in order to avoid overlap and duplication. The usefulness and credibility of the JRC"s support to Community policies is closely linked to the quality of its scientific expertise and its integration in the international scientific community. The JRC will therefore continue investing in research and networking with other centres of excellence in relevant fields. It will participate in indirect actions in all its aspects with emphasis on common scientific reference systems, networking, training and mobility, research infrastructure and participation in Technology Platforms and co-ordination instruments where it has the relevant expertise to produce added value. The JRC will actively pursue promoting the integration of New Member States and Candidate Countries in its activities to the level currently enjoyed by the EU15.