Abstract. The presentation will address the following issues:
The experiences from 5 years of co-operation with the European Commission in the field of R&D and higher education programmes will be presented and proposals for actions to be taken at different levels (individual research teams, universities, state administration) will be discussed. |
INTRODUCTION
Poland as also other East Central European (ECE) countries has
6 years of experience in co-operation in higher education, science
and technology with the European Union and other international
organisations. When 6 years ago numerous opportunities to develop
co-operation opened there was no institutional knowledge and no
institutional mechanisms to deal with them. Today Polish researchers
and academic teachers participate successfully in several types
of international actions and programmes: EUREKA, COST, European
Union programmes like: TEMPUS, PECO, COPERNICUS, INCO-COPERNICUS.
There is certain level of knowledge and experience in the Polish
research community accumulated by individuals and teams which
pioneered in these activities. In last 6 years significant progress
has been made thanks to opportunities to participate in assistance
programmes like TEMPUS or PECO which are directed specifically
to ECE researchers. However now when Poland is preparing to enter
the European Union the next step should be made: preparation for
participation in the EU RTD programmes as a Member State. This
is an important element of Polish S&T policy in the pre-accession
period. It requires, however, creation and development of specific
mechanisms and institutional arrangements.
Following comments and observations result from my experiences
with launching TEMPUS programme in Poland in 1990/1991 and from
my present work with SCI-TECH Phare programme: Reform Programme
for the Science and Technology Sector in Poland. (The overview of the SCI-TECH Programme - Annex 1).
Two objectives of this programme are relevant
for the discussion:
strengthening Polish participation in the RTD programmes
of the EU with a focus on Fourth and Fifth Framework Programmes
development of mechanisms promoting technological
innovation and supporting technology transfer.
 | This presentation describes actions and projects undertaken within the SCI-TECH Phare Programme and aimed at achieving these objectives. |
WHY SHOULD ECE RESEARCHERS BE INTERESTED
IN PARTICIPATING IN THE EU HIGHER EDUCATION AND R&D PROGRAMMES
integrated effect - participation
in large or complicated projects which no single country could
undertake and which require international co-operation
access to research results and know-how
of other members of a team
entering information networks on an
international scale
development of co-operation with industry
access to funding source alternative
to the state budget
WHAT SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED FROM CO-OPERATION
WITH EU PROGRAMMES
(The following list is based on most commonly asked questions)
funding for ECE research teams during
the pre-accession period in those programmes of the 4th Framework
Programme which are not specifically designed for the ECE countries
approval of research projects which
can be successfully conducted in one state (or even two states)
and which are important only for this state
approval of basic research projects
- even of high quality - which have no industrial relevance
lowered criteria or special conditions
during the evaluation process in the Commission for projects from
associated countries (in the pre-accession period) or new Member
States
WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES FOR ECE COUNTRIES
ON THE WAY TO EU HIGHER EDUCATION AND R&D PROGRAMMES
Information
| lack of general information on philosophy and basic mechanisms of the European Commission (EC) in the field of education and research quick / on time information on specific programmes, application requirements and deadlines |
Know-how
| lack of know-how on how to read information packages (euro-speak) how to search for partners and how to negotiate partnership how to prepare application how to implement and manage complex international projects requesting a lot of planning and co-ordination |
State S&T policy
| need for clearly set R&D priorities information policy funding and co-funding mechanisms |
Funding
| lack of funding for preparation of proposals for covering costs of participation in the EU approved projects in the pre-accession phase |
Industrial links
| difficulties with getting Polish industry interested and involved in R&D projects |
Psychological attitudes:
| natural animosity of researchers towards bureaucracy, formalities, documents etc. |
WHAT SIMPLE STEPS CAN BE MADE TO OVERCOME
THE OBSTACLES
Activities undertaken within the SCI-TECH Phare Programme
in 1995-1996
1. Information action
7 regional seminars in main Polish academic centres;
about 400 institutions invited (Polish Academy of Science institutes,
university departments, industrial institutes), about 300 persons
participated;
4 specialised seminars dedicated
to specific scientific disciplines:
2 seminars covering chemistry, biochemistry
and ecology
2 seminars covering informatics and
telematics
Content of seminars:
information session - general information
on RTD programmes of the EU, advise on how to search for partners,
how to prepare applications and how to manage projects
consultancy sessions - assistance
to advanced teams in preparation of applications to the 4th FP
Direct assistance to selected institutes
in the development of their international strategy
in the framework of the International
Cooperation project five institutes will be assisted in building
their international strategy and developing contacts with potential
partners in the EU countries
in the framework of the Restructuring
Scheme for Institutes project six industrial institutes selected
for assistance in restructuring are making their international
strategy a part of their general development strategy
2. Information network
Assistance in creating a Polish Innovation Relay Centres
network (Description of the network - Annex 2)
3. Information tools
Creation of a data base intended to provide access
to information on Polish RTD activities to potential partners
in the EU Member States and on actual Community's science market
needs to Polish RTD units via the access to CORDIS.
4. Funding schemes
feasibility awards
- small grants (2,000 or 5,000 ECU) for preparation of proposals
to the EU RTD programmes (advertisement - Annex 3)
grants for co-funding of EU approved
projects (up to ??% of costs of a project) awarded on a basis
of an evaluation and selection procedure conducted by the State
Committee for Scientific Research (KBN).
5. Innovation Promotion and Technology Transfer
The Foundation for Polish Science
was assisted by the experts of Phare SCI-TECH Programme in developing
a network of technology transfer centers- INCOME
programme (description of the INCOME programme - Annex 4) which
supports technological innovations.
technological consultancy capacity
of research institutes and Bussiness Support Centers is being
developped in Technology Acquisition Scheme, a project aimed at
promoting technological innovations in SME sector
The activities of the SCI-TECH Programme are aimed at:
individual researchers
research teams
research institutions
Researchers are given an opportunity to get informed and get trained.
The attitudes, however, can be changed only through direct
experiences, both positive and negative. The negative ones can
and shall be used as a training session.
Most effective actions and projects
of the SCI-TECH Programme will be continued and further developed
in the SCI-TECH 2 Programme. The Programme is planned for years
1996-1999 with a budget of 35 MECU.
All these obstacles are aggravated by the fact that there are
no institutions or mechanisms supporting researchers in this new
situation and transferring experiences from the EU.
Since we are not talking about assistance programmes (like TEMPUS
or INCO-COPERNICUS) there is no question of getting additional
money for research from abroad. Now in the pre-accession period
ECE researchers have to cover costs of their participation from
national sources. Later once Poland and other ECE countries become
members of the EU we will be paying our contribution to the EU
budget. Then the question will be how skilled we are in getting
back those money in grants for research projects. At that stage
participation in the Framework Programme will also mean an end
to the monopoly of the state funding institutions. Because R&D
state funding for R&D will go through two channels: one through
national institutions (in Poland through State Committee for Scientific
Research, KBN) and another through Brussels mechanisms.
BENEFIT
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