Speak with many voices

Characters and landscapes of international cooperation in research and innovation

Speak with many voices

copyright 2013 APRE Responsibility for the information and views set out in this publication lies entirely with the authors. Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged. Authors Li Daoliang Director of China-EU Center for ICT in Agriculture (CICTA) Beijing China Nina Genovese Master candidate of Laws, Catholic University Leuven Belgium Copyright images Monique Bossi Epaminondas Christofilopoulos (Guatemala)

This publication was realised thanks to INCONTACT the Network of National Contact Points for International Cooperation Activities funded in the 7th Framework Programme of the EU. GA 243834.

Speak with many voices

Characters and landscapes of international cooperation in research and innovation

Contents

Introduction A continent in search of integration The challenges of scientific and technological progress Strategic tools International RTD cooperation policies Coordination and support actions The association in mobility programs Opening of research programs Sharing scientific research initiatives and large installations New strategies for international cooperation in research and Innovation Case studies

Dear Friends, Today, the world is getting richer, healthier, better educated, more peaceful, and better connected and 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 our life support is diminishing, debt and economic insecurity are increasing, climate change continues, and the 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 catastrophic results. 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 are requested in food production, in disease management, energy production, and in the mitigation of environmental 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 of violent 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 EU Research and Innovation programme which puts emphasis on excellent science, industrial leadership and tackling societal challenges. At the same time H2020 is a magnificent international programme giving the opportunity to researchers around the world to join forces for addressing the problems facing humanity. This publication is produced by INCONTACT, an EU supported project, and aims exactly to highlight this international dimension of H2020. Epaminondas Christofilopoulos INCONTACT Coordinator

Japan, 2013

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 on our level of effort. And I believe that Research & Innovation are the best way to go over all kind of barriers: economic, social and linguistic ones. And the results coming from the activities of the project carried out until now just respond to the 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. Innovation drives to growth, makes the difference between the size of the GDP of developed and developing economies. Iain Gillespie, Head of Science and Technology Policy Division, OECO.

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 sense that occur in the context of relationships and exchanges between sovereign states: this is still the condition of the E.U. member States after more than half a century of efforts towards their integration. Even the so-called common policies, in essence, turn up in the constant effort to coordinate and, if possible, to harmonize regulations and behaviours that are strictly national. Moreover, in spite of undeniable achievements and progress, national governments and their administration, along with lobbies and interest groups, continue to safeguard any possible degree of autonomy, sometimes even with disconcerting recourse to protectionist measures. And yet the largest part of humanity lives and thrives outside the citadel of the E.U., with different graduations of economic and social development, reaching sometimes-unexpected levels of growth thanks to the performances of their potential. In the last few decades, in fact, several countries that used to belong to the underdeveloped world, rapidly emancipated from the restraints of poverty and are now firmly engaged on the path of industrial development, innovation and social progress for vast masses of their population. Many of these new actors show huge demographic characteristics, not limited to quantity, but extended to culture, education, and health care with the support of impressive infrastructure. Meanwhile, the European Community widened its borders expanding the number of its members, failing however to deepen the roots of its action through the creation of a federal model or even a credible evolution of its decision-making process. Therefore we need to have recourse to a broader concept of international cooperation, to identify the E.U. member States common policies and action towards third Countries politically and geographically outside the borders of the E.U. that however have their own influence on the dynamics of global relations, each one with its characteristics.

Tanzania, 2012

FP71 is an instrument that makes possible to establish links of cooperation between many other regions, one of this is Central America. ENLACE is a network that is working to build relationships in the field of science and technology between EU countries and Central America. [] The results could impact also relationships between governments, Academia and industrial sectors and indeed the characteristic of ENLACE is to promote and try to improve the relations among these different sectors. Scientific cooperation is one of the main dimensions of the international Cooperation 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-private partnerships. Liliana Proskuryaova, INCO NCP Russia

The 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 it was designed to build on the achievements of its predecessor towards the creation of the European Research Area, and carry it further towards the development of the knowledge economy and society in Europe.

China, 2012

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 that currently make up the E.U. have asserted undeniable intellectual supremacy on a global level, attaining indisputable 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 trends dramatically 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 on Research and Technological Development (RTD) later extended also to Innovation, which co-exists with national policies with understandable ambitions towards coordination and harmonization. This need generated the adoption of Framework Programmes (FP), the main tool for the implementation of the E.U. RTD policy. We should also add to this scheme a specific peculiarity of the F.P.: the so-called associated 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 seek agreements beyond its borders: even if several of its member States have reached first class positions in scientific and technological development and in the consequent industrial applications, worldwide cooperation is still necessary to get external contributions and to achieve the critical mass to assure planetary expansion. After a pioneering experience on the ground of cooperation with developing countries, mostly former colonies of some member States, therefore privileging humanitarian aid and emphasizing medical research, agriculture and environmental issues, the EU international RTD policy adopted vigorous guidelines towards common initiatives with industrialized countries and, later, with emerging economies which were rapidly growing, often as a result of investment and relocations from Europe itself. 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 of Central America), by economic conditions (developing Countries, industrialized Countries, emerging Economies) or for political and historical background (N.I.S. of the former Soviet Union). The aim was to gradually open the access to F.P. calls for proposals to scientists and researchers from all over the world, 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 borders of Europe, including the aim of reaching industrial production agreements through peaceful and friendly 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 innovative initiatives. Finally, to meet the need to join forces, more and more necessary in a context of

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. Institutions have not always been, in this respect, unquestionably in favour. Just to give an example, the program Science and Technology for Development was not accepted in the first PQ and consequently could not rely , for some years, on a multi-annual certain and specific budget which had to be proposed and voted in year by year in the course of the budgetary procedure.

Cyprus, 2011

The first opening programs to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe have been carried out at the request of the beneficiary countries which had to put heavy diplomatic pressure in their negotiations concerning 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 of the European Parliament which spent its political and legal influence within the 1992 budgetary procedure to set up the Copernicus program which in the following years led to the association to the F.P. of central European Countries and contributed then to their full integration within the E.U. A similar, parallel program aiming at the countries of the former Soviet Union was progressively erased from the F.P. and entrusted to a non-profit organization under Belgian law, which funded a large number of small projects with little ambition. In the meantime a significant number of scientists from Eastern Europe and the New Independent States largely participated in other international calls for proposals and tenders, while many of them migrated to the United States, where they were quickly integrated within the local scientific community. The appointment of several scientific attachs within the EU Delegations with prestigious partners of the major industrialized countries, emerging economies and developing countries does not seem to have fully contributed to increase the number and quality of scientific projects launched in common in the context of the EU FP. Conversely, the creation by the Commission of a solid network of National Contact 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 countries has shown some political importance but rather poor impact, due to the lack of specific financial resources.

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 national programmes, together with the Community programmes, to address research topics that, due to the nature of the field, are better addressed jointly or which could not have been addressed independently.2 Jrn Sonnenburg, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research ANIMA is a EU funded project set up as a part of the Barcelona Process. Its key objective is networking between Investment Authorities in order to promote investments in this part of the world. The idea of establishing this network is truly wonderful because it succeeded in bringing together all the Investment Authorities in the region. The Mediterranean region is very attractive for European Union investors who are important partner for both trade and investment.3 Waff 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 EU has a strong record of technology transfer between research centers and industry. MEDIBTIKAR is an important project to benefit the Mediterranean countries.4 Hani Barakat,, Ministry of Trade and Industry, Egypt

ERA.Net RUS provides support for the transnational networking and co-ordination of bilateral research programmes that will improve both the efficiency and the effectiveness of Europes research efforts. It will also contribute to mutual learning, j oint strategy development and joint funding activities in EU Member States (MS), Associated Countries (AC) and Russia. Particular emphasis is placed on actively involving Russian programme owners in the planning, implementation and assessment of a pilot joint call and the organisation of a sustainable Science and Technology (S&T) programme.
3

The ANIMA project has worked to create an environment for investments, aiming at developing enterprises, exchanging technologies and improving competitiveness and innovation.
4

MEDLBTIKAR (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.

Madagascar, 2011

3. Strategic tools The European Research Area (ERA) Although the budget in support of the E.U. Science and Innovation policy has been growing steadily during the last decades, more than 90% of the global expenditure in this field all over the territory of the E.U. stays firmly in the hands of the Member States. It seems reasonable that each Country keeps the control of the guidelines of this crucial policy, to adapt them to the different needs and potentials of the respective social, economic and industrial structure: it is clear to everybody that huge imbalances 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 left without 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 reinforce the partnership of its member States to improve scientific excellence and support economic and social growth: in other words, European research institutions, businesses and enterprises should more and more 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 out of 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 and mention 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 dispose of 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 main E.U. Institutions to implement European partnerships in the field of international cooperation for research and innovation. It provides the ground to its partners for periodic exchanges of information and 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. Yearly work programmes set up the guidelines of action, while the periodic reports summarise what has been done and achieved. Specific initiatives are in progress concerning RTD cooperation with three emerging economies (China, India and Brasil) and with the U.S.A. Substancially one more meeting point for national and E.U. civil servants which however offers useful opportunities of exchange and coordination in exchange of a modest financial burden. The information platform on European research and innovation systems and policies (ERAWATCH)

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 Joint Research 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 and innovation.

FEED has helped bring together European and Australian researchers in emerging research areas where there were clear opportunities for pooling resources, capabilities and knowledge. These collaborations have delivered results in various fields such as health and information and communication technologies.5 Rado 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 of constrains these people are facing in the export markets. The information that is generating within this study is very useful for guiding the international buyers to see what kind of products they are buying.6 Sivakumar, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, India

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 the exchange 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 of Fresh Produce) is a groundbreaking project, funded by the EU under its 7th Framework Programme, with the specific aim of providing reliable methods to assess the impacts of climate change and globalisation on food safety, and to develop response mechanisms to eliminate or minimise the resulting risks. With 23 partner organisations, including universities, research institutes, SMEs and large industrial companies, VEG-I-TRADE has a truly international scope, which matches the global nature of the issues it is addressing. Participants come not only from around Europe, but also from Egypt, India, Brazil and South Africa.

Indonesia, 2013

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 become excellent research centers gaining monitoring tools to evaluate the success of the project. Edlira Muedini, CIVET, Albania In West Balkans there is a great need to develop to be competitive in the region but also on the European level and to be recognized as research institutions for EU projects and joint initiatives.7 Viktor Nedovi, Ministry of Education and Science of Montenegro My International Incoming Fellowship (IIF) experience started in March 2012. In January 2011 I was working on my PhD in Chemical Engineering at Washington University in Saint Louis (USA) and I was also stressing out about my future with questions like these: Academia or Industry? USA or elsewhere? Same field or a different one? Who will pay for it? You should consider the best opportunities because a good postdoc position is strategically vital for an academic career, especially when the job market is increasingly competitive. I think that Marie-Curie Fellowships are the unique chances to reach your dream career and build your life. IIF gives great opportunities to work on a world-class scientific project: putting you on the cutting-edge of science; giving you training in novel techniques; hopefully resulting in several significant publications; gaining new skills valuable for your future career with mobility between countries and teams, planning and managing a scientific project; writing a good grant is itself a very important skill; networkingyou will develop collaborations and meet people; generous funding for a few years; prestigious fellowships in your resume may open new opportunities.8 Evgeniy A. Redekop, Gent University, Belgium

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: priority setting, networking, training, policy dialogue and strategic coordination. 8 The ICKARUS (Intrinsic Catalytic Kinetics Analyzed and Reconciled with Industrial Conditions) project studies propane dehydrogenation over novel bimetallic catalysts.

Jordan, 2008

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 on the 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 actions 2. The association in mobility programs 3. The opening up of research programs including the coordination with national programs of member States 4. 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 cooperation and to make more visible its potential and results. Although modest for the number of calls and for their 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 ERANET, INCO- NET, BILAT, ACCESS4EU, EURAXESS, INCONTACT. Doubts might however emerge if some preliminary figures are confirmed, showing that the participations of a few third Countries concern mostly if not only this kind of actions, which therefore should 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 Curie actions, 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 and vocational training, promoted by other Community programs. Judgements and evaluations are largely positive; comments by beneficiaries complain only the inadequacy of available funds to cover a growing over subscription. In addition to qualify for a grant, the researchers have the opportunity to experience living abroad not only in Universities and Research centres but also in the laboratories of industrial companies belonging to the private sector: They can therefore enhance their training with skills or disciplines relevant to their career: a way to promote excellence and the innovation in Europe.

Grants are allocated to various profiles of researchers. The beneficiaries might be in the initial phase of their career, with less than 4 years research experience, having not yet earned a doctoral degree. They might also be much more experienced researcher with doctoral degree or 4 years of full-time research. Marie Curie Actions have a strong international dimension: researchers participating in these actions have come up to now far from around 130 different countries. Top beneficiaries from third Countries who decided to improve their scientific qualifications in Europe come mostly from India, China, Russia, the USA and Canada. The majority of European winners of Marie Curie scholarship decided to choose as their host Country the USA, China, Brazil, Australia and Russia.

Italy, 2012

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 with the general guidelines of the E.U. external policy and more in particular its strategy of aid to development, taking also into account the special links with Countries linked to several member States by advanced collaboration and the setting up of ad hoc education programmes, joint University chairs and laboratories. Therefore, the Science and Technology for Development (STD) program was launched, still outside the legal and financial envelope of the F.P., requesting specific budgetary provision to be sought year by year during the budgetary procedure. This yearly procedure was the occasion for interesting debates within 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 Berlin Wall and the first essays to associate in some way to the F.P. the Countries of Central and Eastern Europe and those of the former Soviet Union. In the meantime, relationships with a large number of industrialized countries had been rapidly intensifying, leading to the integration of a specific program of international cooperation within the F.P., in harmony with the guidelines of the European Research Area (ERA), just sketched out. Basically almost all third Countries were invited to participate in calls for proposals 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 the member States and the scientific communities and not always positive, due to different opinions concerning the genuine parity of roles, and therefore the attribution of tasks and responsibilities within the projects, the overall distribution of resources, the soundness of the results and their exploitation. 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 of project 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 scientific mobility projects, but accompanying measures in support of possible cooperation. The overall figures mention thousands of collaborations with third Countries researchers and yet the actual figures appear at least modest if compared to the immense potential of a framework for cooperation extended across the whole globe. In a nutshell, the overall F.P. financial investments granted to external partners and/or coming from their own resources reach only a small portion of the financial commitment in favour of single member States or associated Countries with modest demographic and economic weight.

It is worth mentioning also that, even if in F.P.7 the overall costs related to grants for third Countries reached 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 to external 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 of participations and their costs however covered, emerge from official data, it is much more difficult to evaluate the quality of third-Countries participations, the role and powers granted in the context of individual projects and the practical implications for the quality of the results, particularly when compared to indicators such as industrial applications, prestigious publications and citations. In the specific 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 distributing forms of aid rather than at promoting scientific excellence.

India, 2010

"Without cross-border European co-operation and funding, we would never be able to achieve our goals. One big problem in the field is genetic heterogeneity and clinical diversity. As such, conventional approaches, such as classical human genetic or classical pharmacological approaches, fall short when searching for improved diagnostics and novel therapy. SYSCILIA, the way we see it, uses systems modelling and network analysis methods developed or applied by us to acquire knowledge on the overarching principles of systems failure in these diseases. This knowledge we want to turn into clinical applications."9 Marius Ueffing, Eberhard Karls Universitys Medical, Germany

The 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 with dysfunction caused by mutations in inherited ciliopathies, applying a systems biology approach. The Duke University (USA) is one 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.

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, forwardlooking and extremely expensive initiatives. Leaving aside for a moment the justified enthusiasm for the 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 by persisting uncertainty about the achievement of the expected results.

Guatemala, 2012

ITER, a large-scale scientific experiment that aims to demonstrate that it is possible to produce commercial energy from fusion, imposes a disproportionate financial burden on the European partners, corresponding to a good fifty percent of the total costs, compared to a modest ten percent made available by the United States and Japan, a Country that has obtained the appointment of the general coordinator of the project and the location on its territory of the centre for scientific research in exchange for the concession to locate the pilot installation in France. GALILEO, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is still under construction with a serious shifting of the deadlines for completion and an impressive upwards revision of costs. The project, launched by the E.U. and the and the European Space Agency (ESA) aims to provide a high-precision positioning system to allow European nations full independence from other existing systems which belong to other nations and might be disabled in times of conflict. The project is still in the in-orbit validation phase with 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 implementation of the project within this deadline are justified by the unbelievable sequence of rearrangements and the efforts to find within the E.U. budget the resources to cover unexpected rise of costs and to compensate the refusal by industrial partners to take care of a large part of the costs in exchange for the project execution contracts. Encouraging opinions are expressed by international impartial observers about the initiative European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) which gathers participants from 14 EU Member States, Switzerland, Norway and several countries of sub-Saharan Africa in a common purpose to fight plagues such as HIV / AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. The U.E. has so far covered about half of the 400 M invested, to fund more than 200 projects, more than 300 scholarships and sixty clinical trials. Deadlines seem to have been respected, scientific results and quality of the activities are judged favourably. Positive opinions also welcome the GANT project co-funded by the E.U.: a huge hub of networks for research and education. The project has 41 partners, including 38 European National Research and Educational Networks (NRENs), and associates 50 million users and more than 10,000 institutions throughout Europe. It has rapidly turned into an indispensable tool to support research mainly in the fields 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 lies at the heart of the EUs e-infrastructure strategy, aims at delivering fast and efficient provisioning of advanced services, develop operational support across management domains and enhance security to ensure service integrity and protection of network resources. One more example comes from the project Human Frontier Science Programme (HFSP): more than twenty years of activity in support of innovative and interdisciplinary basic research about the biological mechanisms of living organisms. Research is funded at all levels of biological complexity from bio molecules to the interactions between organisms. The results so far delivered show interesting

achievements. An important aspect of the initiative is the promotion of joint research activities that unite biologists, physicists, chemists, experts in information technology and engineers. The project Management 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 United Kingdom, the United States of America.

Nepal, 2010

Although several possible solutions to improve both the environmental compatibility and sustainability of concrete production in the building industry have already been proposed, further research is still needed to address the potential of recycled and renewable materials. The relevance of concrete sustainability for emerging countries was a key motivation for gathering both European and non-European partners within this research initiative. This is why European research institutions from Italy and Portugal are currently implementing a staff-exchange programme with nonEuropean counterparts from Argentina and Brazil. Significant emphasis has been placed on sustainable construction practices by Brazilian 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 years10 Flavia 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 markets with less purchasing power and generate appropriate levels of profit. Through capacity building and by strengthening scientific and technological knowledge in the field of staple food-based approaches in Africa and Europe, the project is making a significant contribution towards improving the quality of diet of young children and their mothers living in resource-poor areas in subSaharan Africa. The knowledge gained during the project will also strengthen the competitiveness of local SMEs targeted at production of foods with increased nutritional value 11 Brouwer, Wegeningen University, The Netherlands

10

The 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. The consortium also aims to stimulate the exchange of ideas and experience on using recycled and renewable constituents to obtain 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 Kenya and other Sub-Saharan countries to identify practical way of boosting the iron and zinc content of daily food. The project is being conducted by research from Europe and Africa.

Brazil, 2013

New strategies for international cooperation in research and Innovation There might be different opinions, not always converging on positive conclusions concerning the achievements of more than twenty years of heavy engagement towards a living, fruitful and active RTD cooperation 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 which inspired this particular branch of a key E.U. policy and the need to proceed forwards and further strengthen its objectives in order to take full advantage of what has been achieved. Of course, all due lessons must be drawn from severe and constructive criticism based on mistakes and shortcomings, for the protection of the European tax payer and in the interest of education, culture, innovation and formation within and outside the E.U. It is not easy the E.U. and its Member States recognize deficiencies and shortcomings, since shortsighted calculations of national interest tend to emerge in the context of common decisionmaking procedures. And yet, the way of proceeding in common is not optional but it is an indisputable necessity. The achievement of ever-increasing levels of scientific excellence, high innovation and industrial competitiveness 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 in addition 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 the major industrialised and competitive powers and still now sit proudly among the World leaders in the production and exports of goods and services. It is no more possible to sustain these admirable achievements individually: the globalisation processes require large, strong policies associating huge economic, financial, intellectual and demographic forces. Time has come for the E.U. to work out its internal contradictions, solving social delays that continue to separate the conditions of the member States still extremely far from a real harmonisation. These aims might be achieved also by a further opening up of its borders to international collaborations and strengthening the E.U. common foreign policy. Concepts which are easy to grasp, still very difficult to put 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 in the 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 third Countries through more effective actions that take full advantage of their potential, meeting their needs 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 for new developments. We are far from exciting prospects, with many member States held back by a

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

USA, 2011

Case studies: BORASSUS The three-year project on sustainable agriculture project aims at promoting reforestation and agroforestry, providing financially deprived farmers with supplementary income and opening up also perspectives of future employment. The project involved around 60 scientists from Belgium, Brazil, China, Gambia, Hungary, Lithuania, South Africa, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Vietnam. The scheme involves making special waffle-like mats from the tough and plentiful Borassus aethiopum palm tree leaves that are then pinned to the ground to protect crops, prevent soil erosion and stop water pollution. The BORASSUS Project has and is making positive contributions to improve the environment 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 in Brazil, 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 houses on these slopes. InfrArtSonic Development of a novel and integrated portable non-destructive analysis system for the documentation of artworks: this project developed a novel and integrated non-destructive portable system for the scanning on the spot of mural artworks through the determination of artworks paint layers profile in depth as well as the local distribution of the pigments in each of the paint layers. The system combines two modalities: acoustic microscopy and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. Data acquired with the two modalities in the same areas of analysis are jointly processed and correlated to trace the depth profile of the paint layers (ultrasound modality) and to map the pigments in each respective paint layer. The coordinator of the project is the research centre of a nuns monastery located in eastern Greece with high specialisation in scientific research and the production of religious paintings. The participants are eminent European research centres and the Center for Documentation of 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.

Mozambique, 2011