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European Research Funding

Notes from a presentation given by Dr. Neil T. M. Hamilton, Executive Director, Forum for European-Australian Science and Technology Cooperation (FEAST) at University of Sydney, 26 September, 2005

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About FEAST

What is “FEAST”? - A catalyst
Forum for European-Australian Science and Technology Cooperation
“We are committed to make optimal use of the Forum for European – Australian Science and Technology Co-operation as the key vehicle in this process”
FEAST has an intergovernmental mandate
Australia and the EU: an agenda for cooperation
– 2003 Ministerial Consultations

Aims:

  • To highlight;
  • To promote; and
  • To facilitate research collaboration
    between Europe (EU & Member states) and Australia

Why FEAST?
“While Australia is treading water the rest of the world is using research and development as the prime drivers of productivity and economic growth.” Ian Chubb, Chair Go8

FEAST aims to foster:

  • Research: new forms, new structures
  • Ideas: Isolation breeds contempt…..
  • Competition: the World is a Nasty Dark Place
  • Markets: does the EU know you exist?

FEAST Activities:
FEAST IS ABOUT MAKING THINGS HAPPEN!
- Information collection and dissemination;
- Network development;
- Workshops and Conferences

FEAST's "Hidden Agenda"
- Build consortia
- Identify and Target areas of interest
- Create opportunities and activities
- Foster deeper relationships
- Ensure Australia’s collaboration with European researchers is enhanced!

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The European Research System

Total EU research spend 1.9% of GDP
EC target 3% of GDP by 2010
"European" investment in R&D 17% of total
European Commission (FPs) investment 5% of total
Member state investment DOMINATES 95%

Europe produces 1/3 of global research output
25 member states with high public sector investment in R&D:
- Germany 17 billion Euro / year
- UK 13 billion
- France 13 billion
- Italy 8 billion
Research Intensity is High
- 2% across EU25 (GERD as % of GDP)
- Sweden (4.3% of GDP)
- Finland (3.5%)
- Germany (2.5%)
- France (2.2%)
- UK (1.9%)

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Collaboration between Australia and Europe

Current status:

  • We don’t know……………
  • Allen Report: $50 million on EU collaboration
  • FP4: 34 projects
  • FP5: about 75 projects, 100 participants
  • FP6: about 60 projects, + others
  • COST: 5 actions
  • With Member States: ???????

European Research Funding

  • All national systems within Europe have money for collaboration: learn their systems!
  • It funds Europeans (mostly…..)
  • "Research" funding is difficult, support funding is easier
  • Build Trust
  • Think laterally, and Bi-laterally!
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6th Framework Programme (FP6)

Basic principles:

  • Focusing and integrating European research
  • Structuring the European Research Area
  • Strengthening the foundations of the European Research Area
  • Concentration: on selected priority research areas
  • Coordination - simplification
  • Structuring effect: through a stronger link with national, regional and other European initiatives

Features:

  • Top down
  • Funds research not undertaken by member states
  • Big, multi-disciplinary projects
  • Targeted Calls for Proposals
  • We can, and do, participate
  • National contact points
  • BYO research funds – it’s their money!

FP6 Thematic Priorities
Genomics and biotechnology for health
Advanced genomics and its application for health

  • Fundamental knowledge and basic tools for functional genomics in all organisms
  • Application of knowledge and technologies in genomics and biotechnology for health

Combating major disease

  • Application-oriented genomic approaches to medical knowledge and technologies
  • Cancer
  • Major poverty-linked infectious diseases

Information society technologies
Applied IST research addressing major societal and economic challenges
Communication, computing and software technologies
Components and microsystems
Knowledge and interface technologies

Nanotechnologies and nanosciences, knowledge-based multifunctional materials and new production processes and devices

Aeronautics and space

Food quality and safety
Epidemiology of food-related diseases and allergies
Impact of food on health
“Traceability” processes all along the production chain
Methods of analysis, detection and control
Safe and environmentally friendly production methods and healthier foodstuffs
Impact of animal feed on human health
Environmental health risks

Sustainable development and global change
Sustainable energy systems
Sustainable surface transport
Global change and ecosystems

Citizens and governance in the European knowledge-based society
Knowledge-based society and social cohesion
Citizenship, democracy and new forms of governance

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International Co-operation
Participation of third countries* in the thematic priorities
+
Specific activities (in support of the EU’s foreign policy and development aid policy)
* Third countries are countries which are not members of the EU and not associated with the Framework Programme. Australia is a “third country with an S&T agreement with the EU.”

Want to Move?
Human resources and mobility*

  • Host-driven actions: MC (Marie Curie) research training networks, MC host fellowships for early stage research training, MC host fellowships for the transfer of knowledge, MC conferences and training courses
  • Individual-driven actions: MC intra-European fellowships, MC outgoing/incoming international fellowships
  • Excellence promotion and recognition: MC excellence grants, MC excellence awards, MC chairs
  • Return and reintegration mechanisms
    * Europe will be short of more than 500,000 researchers by 2010
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7th Framework Programmes (FP7)

Objectives:

  • Excellence through collaboration
  • Human resources
  • Research infrastructure
  • Coordination of national programme Basic research through competition (new)
  • Technology initiatives (new)

Features:

  • Creating European centres of excellence through collaboration between laboratories
  • Launching European technological initiatives
  • Stimulating the creativity of basic research through competition between teams at European level
  • Making Europe more attractive to the best researchers
  • Developing research infrastructure of European interest
  • Improving the coordination of national research programmes
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European Co-operation in Science and Technology (COST)

  • Adds value by co-ordinating, integrating and synthesising results from national research
  • Does not fund research itself, but co-ordination, management, workshops and meetings
  • Stimulates research by bringing researchers together in “Actions”
  • Actions are proposed by scientists: “bottom up”

COST Actions – what is supported

  • Science management meetings
  • Scientific workshops and seminars
  • Short Term Scientific Missions
  • Training Schools and Research Conferences
  • Evaluations and Studies
  • Dissemination
  • Website: http://www.cost.esf.org/

How do I Participate?

  • Understand the processes – it is critical!
    Read the Work Programmes
  • Calls for Proposals
  • Information Sessions, NCPs
  • Join Consortia – existing or new
  • Submission
  • Evaluation
  • SUCCESS…………………..

Australian support for Collaboration

  • International Science Linkages (DEST)
  • NH&MRC, ARC
  • Rural R&D Corps, CRCs
  • Academies and universities
  • European embassies
  • Many other opportunities: HFSP, etc
    Remember: we already spend $50 million!
  • International Science Linkages round 8
    $1.5 million for Australian participation in FP6 projects
    $1.1 million for Australian participation with EU and USA

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