News

COST Open Call for Proposals to support Scientific and Technical Collaboration in Europe

COST invites researchers throughout Europe to submit proposals for research networks and use this opportunity to exchange knowledge and to embark on new European perspectives.

COST’s main objective is to stimulate new, innovative and interdisciplinary scientific networks in Europe. COST activities (Actions) are carried out by research teams to strengthen the foundations for building scientific excellence in Europe. This continuous call is thematically open. COST invites proposals for new COST Actions contributing to the scientific, economic, cultural or societal development of Europe. Proposals playing a precursor role for other European programmes involving young groups’ ideas are especially welcome.

Next deadline for Preliminary Proposals is September 26, 2008.

Read more at wbc-inco.net website

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Potocnik sets out aims for SE Europe

'Our intention - and my ambition - has always been to help the South Eastern European region to take its rightful place within the European Research Area,' Janez Potocnik, EU Science and Research Commissioner, told delegates at the Science, Higher Education and Innovation Policy Forum in Budva, Montenegro.

The aim of the meeting was to adopt a forward-looking approach to the governance of higher education, science and innovation in the region. It was organised by UNESCO (the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation).

Read more at CORDIS website

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Opportunities for Montenegro in the European Research Area

Speech by Janez POTOČNIK: Read more at the website of the European Commission

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Slovenia looks back on a successful presidency

'We were warned that our programme is too ambitious; however, today we are proud to say we have succeeded.' With these words, Slovenia's Minister for Higher Education, Science and Technology, Mojca Kucler Dolinar, summed up her country's achievements in the field of research policy during its presidency of the EU.

Minister Dolinar was presenting Slovenia's work to the European Parliament's Committee on Industry, Research and Energy on 26 June. She was particularly proud of the work done by the presidency on the European Research Area (ERA), for example through the launch of the 'Ljubljana Process'.

Read more at CORDIS website

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Western Balkan NCP Workshop on networking in Brussels

In order to strengthen the National Contact Point network for the Seventh EU Frameworkprogramme in Europe, including the Western Balkan region, a trainingworkshop on international networking is organised in Brussels in April 2008 (5th of April-11th of April).

In the frames of the project ERA West Balkan+ a training for Western Balkan National Contact Points will take place in Brussels, organised by the Helmholz Institute (DE). The internship training aims at creating a deeper understanding of the organisation of research funding by the European Commission.

One of the main focuses of the training is also to allow the NCP's to build up and deepen their personal contacts with EU policy makers and to get an insight into the "Brussels machinery".

Several Meetings with EU policy makers like the European Parliament are planned as well as personal talks with administrative and scientific officers of the European Commission.

Beyond the networking aspect the NCPs will also gain practical information on how to build up a liaison office for RTD in Brussels.

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Call for Application: 1st Young Scientists Forum on Central and South East Europe

The Institute for the Danube Region and Central Europe (IDM) is organizing the Young Scientists Forum on Central and South East Europe on December 4-6, 2008 in Vienna, Austria. Applications can be handed in till April 1, 2008

Aims of the project

• Motivation and reinforcement of young scientists to engage in the region Central and South East Europe;
• Presentation of research projects for the public;
• Promoting exchange of information and creation of networking;
• Promotion of mobility;
• Publication of the lectures in a well-known journal.

Target group
Young scientists from/residing in Austria, Central and South East Europe dealing with South East Europe in the fields of economics, geography, history, law, political sciences and sociology.

Read more at www.wbc-inco.net

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Office for Supporting FP7 proposal preparation launched

The Ministry of Science of Serbia opened an office to provide support for preparing proposals for EU Framework Programme 7 on March 4, 2008.

The office will inform institutions of details of Calls and deadlines as they are announced by the Commission. The office will provide advice and guidance to individual Serbian scientists on opportunities within FP7 for funding project ideas and how to put together a successful consortium of partners. It will also provide occasional advice and guidance to scientists during proposal preparation to facilitate as many successful FP7 proposal submissions as possible.

Regular training workshops on good proposal preparation will be organised, together with occasional courses on other relevant topics to meet the specific needs of scientists. FP7 proposals are expected to be written in English and scientists wanting to use the services provided by the office should be conversant in the English language. Outlines or first drafts of proposals will be reviewed by the Office Director on a first come-first served basis. The Director will also discuss with scientists how any proposal that failed to be funded could be improved for a resubmission.

Read more at www.wbc-inco.net

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NATO Science for Peace and Security Programme (SPS) Special call for applications for Advanced Research Workshops

The NATO SPS Programme is soliciting applications for grants for Advanced Research Workshops (ARW) to be organised by scientists, experts and policy makers of NATO member states and of countries that are associated with NATO through the Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council and through the Mediterranean Dialogue, in the following areas:

1. Maritime Security
   Threats and challenges of the maritime environment; maritime transportation and commerce security; maritime infrastructure security and recovery; harbour protection; terrorist and piracy threats; sensor and detection technology for monitoring capabilities; border issues.
2. Energy Security
   Energy production and infrastructure protection; risk assessment and crisis management; energy and environment security; fossil fuel depletion; renewable and new energy sources; energy needs and consequences on security
3. Weapons of Mass Destruction
   Detection methods; assessment of WMD threat; effects of Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear WMD; countermeasures for WMD.
4. Cyber Security
   Security-related aspects of information system and networks; measures for preventing and detecting cyber attacks; cryptography; privacy and data protection; back-up and physical protection; risk assessment and management; security policies and standards; infrastructure security and reliability; security tools and network services

Read more at the NATO "Science for Peace and Security" website

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Reminder: Erasmus Mundus programme

Erasmus Mundus will offer new possibilities for the Western Balkan countries to promote exchange of students (undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and post-doctoral candidates as well as academic staff).

The December 2006 European Council underlined the desirability of promoting people-to-people contacts by also making available more scholarships for the students of the Western Balkans region. This statement was reiterated by the June 2007 Council.

In addition to the general possibilities offered to the students from all the third countries under the Erasmus Mundus Programme, the Commission has been offering through the pre-accession instrument an increasing number of scholarships specifically for students from the Western Balkans.

Read more at the www.wbc-inco.net

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Training for life-science researchers

The Brussels Office of the Helmholtz Association is coordinator of the EU project ReMaT, which develops a programme of research management training for PhD students and early-career researchers in the field of life sciences.

This project organises Research Management Training workshops and provides stipends for travel and accommodation the target group from Western Balkan Countries. The dates are April 14-15, 2008 in Budapest, Hungary and on June 9-10, 2008 in Stockholm, Sweden.

The project aims to add value to existing bioscience doctoral training programmes across the European Higher Education Area.

The ReMaT project is based on a study of doctoral training programmes from across Europe and focus groups with PhD students, to identify the strengths and weakness of existing training programmes. On the basis of this research the intensive two-day ReMaT workshop has been developed to strengthen existing training programmes, focusing on research and commercially based management skills training.

Further information and the contact details are available on ReMaT project homepage.

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SEE Transnational Cooperation Programme

The Transnational Cooperation Programme South East Europe (SEE) is part of the new European Territorial Cooperation Objective for the programming period 2007 - 2013.

As a global objective the South East Europe co-operation programme shall develop transnational partnerships on matters of strategic importance to improve the territorial, economic and social integration process and to contribute to cohesion, stability and competitiveness.

The Western Balkan countries are fully eligible for this programme.

The operational programme can be found in the document service of wbc-inco.net at http://www.wbc-inco.net/doc/3230.html!

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OSI Returning Scholars Fellowship Programme

The Open Society Institute's Returning Scholars Fellowship Program invites applications from scholars who seek university positions and academic careers in their home countries after studying abroad. The Western Balkan countries are eligible for this programme.

The program, a part of the Academic Fellowship Program (AFP), welcomes scholars from the eligible countries who have received (or will receive by September 2008) an internationally competitive postgraduate degree in the following fields: anthropology, area/cultural studies, gender studies, economics, history, political science, international relations, psychology, public administration, philosophy, social work, sociology, public health, human rights & public law, or journalism/media studies. The program does not support scholars in philology, the visual and performing arts, or business.

The program supports placement of Returning Scholars only in AFP partner departments. An interested scholar already associated with a department that is not supported by AFP either will be ineligible or may discuss the possibility of relocating to a qualifying department at another university. A list of current AFP partner departments can be found on the OSI website, though the list is subject to change for the 2008/09 academic year.

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Montenegro joins EU competitiveness programme

Montenegro is the fourth country of the group of candidate and potential candidate countries to join the EU's Competitiveness and Innovation Programme (CIP) after Croatia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia in October 2007 and Turkey in February 2008.

Under the CIP, the European Commission promotes innovation, entrepreneurship and growth in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). European Commission Vice President Günter Verheugen and Mr Branimir Gvozdenovic, Minister for Economic Development of the Republic of Montenegro, signed a Memorandum of Understanding formalising the Republic’s entry to the Entrepreneurship and Innovation pillar of CIP on March 3, 2008.

Read more at the website of EU.

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IPA Information and Communication Programme

Support for actions promoting a better informed public debate about EU enlargement in the candidate and potential candidate countries

Broad public support for the enlargement process is essential as well as maintaining the reform momentum and the credibility of the enlargement policy in the candidate and potential candidate countries. Therefore, DG Enlargement intends to support a series of projects aimed at enabling and promoting a better informed debate about the EU and its policies with particular emphasis on subjects related to the EU' s enlargement policy.

The main objectives of this initiative are:

• To familiarise media professionals with sources of information as well as information tools and techniques with a view to strengthening their professionalism and to contribute to the development of free and independent media;
• To better equip media professionals in the candidate and potential candidate countries, to inform about EU policies as well as subjects related to the reform process on the way to EU membership in a user-friendly language and form accessible to the general public or relevant specific audiences;
• To encourage researchers in academia and/or think tanks to promote the dissemination of research results about benefits and challenges of the preparation for membership;

Read more at the Website of European Commission

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Central European Initiative: Co-financing Possibilities for the ASO-Call

Among other roles the Central European Initiative (CEI) can be considered a donor organisation which provides co-financing to various projects proposed by its 18 Member States (Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Ukraine).

Since the issues regarding the environment and energy are high on the list of priorities of the Central European Initiative (CEI), the following instrument would be recommended for co-financing projects within the ASO-Call "South Eastern Europe's Scientific Response to: Biodiversity protection, climate change and energy scarcity":

CEI Cooperation Fund: within this fund, the CEI offers co-financing of seminars, workshops, conferences, etc. in various sectors. Eligible projects should have regional character and involve participants from several CEI countries, especially non EU countries. In this framework, the CEI supports projects up to 50% of its total cost, but not more that EUR 30.000 per project.

Next deadline for application: April 1st 2008

Read more at the Homepage of Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices

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Montenegro signs up to FP7

Montenegro has signed up to the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7), thereby giving its researchers the opportunity to participate in all calls for proposals and compete for funding on an equal footing with scientists from across Europe.

'Today's decision is a very positive and important one, not only for the scientific future of Montenegro, but also for its political future,' said Commissioner Potocnik. 'Full participation in the research framework programme brings Montenegro into the European Research Area and I believe this is important in helping Montenegro prepare itself for membership of the EU.

Read more at CORDIS website

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Slovenia sets out Presidency research priorities to MEPs

The first of the new EU Member States to hold the reins of the EU Presidency, Slovenia highlighted its research priorities to members of the European Parliament's Committee for Industry, Research and Energy (ITRE) on 24 January.

'Europe has entered a period of new opportunities, which have to be used efficiently to achieve appreciable sustainable progress in strategic areas such as upgrading research infrastructure, establishing the European Institute of Innovation and Technology and the Joint Technology Initiative,' said Slovenian Minister of Higher Education, Science and Technology, Mojca Kucler Dolinar.

Topping the bill will be concluding the adoption of initiatives under article 169 of the Treaty; namely the Ambient Assisted Living (AAL) and EUREKA EuroSTARS initiatives. With Slovenia currently holding the chairmanship of EUREKA, it has plans to conclude the adoption procedure on EUROSTARS so as to encourage and provide financing for market-oriented industrial research conducted by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Read more at CORDIS-Website

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EU eases visa restrictions for five Balkan countries

An agreement relieving visa restrictions for citizens of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia travelling to the EU entered into force on Tuesday (January 1st).

Read more at the Website of Souteast European Times

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Bilateral Agreement between Albania and Italy

Premier Berisha and Premier Prodi signed the Agreement on Extradition between Republic of Albania and Republic of Italy, as addition to the European Convention on Extradition, dated December 13, 1957 and European Convention on Juridical Assistance for Penal Issues, dated April 20, 1959. The Agreement aims at facilitating their implementation. Additionally, Albanian Minister of Economy, Trade and Energy Genc Ruli and ENEL's representative Director-General Fulvio Conti signed Memorandum of Understanding between ENEL and the Albanian Ministry of Economy, Trade and Energy.

The Agreement of Scientific and Technological Cooperation opened the new bilateral call for proposal in the following thematic areas:

• Health and hospital organization
• Agronomy, Veterinary and Zootechnic
• Geology and Forestalls Sciences
• Energy and Environment
• Urban studies
• New technology applied to the alimentary industry
• Telecommunications
• New technology applied to the infrastructure
• Information for public services
• Archaeology and protection of cultural heritage

Read more at wbc-inco.net

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Albania to participate in FP7 on equal footing

Albania has signed a Memorandum of Understanding allowing it to participate in the EU's Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) on an equal footing with all EU Member States. The agreement was signed on 17 December.

The new 'Associated status' allows Albania to participate in all calls for proposals as of 1 January 2008. The agreement is regarded as an important step in the application process for EU membership as it allows scientists, universities and companies to forge links with their counterparts across Europe. The Commission expects that this will enable Albania to build up its scientific expertise, including in the scientific fields crucial to implementing some of the EU's legislation.

Read more at CORDIS website

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S&T in Serbia

The main ambition of the Ministry of Science of Republic of Serbia (MS) is to allow for the best possible influence of research and development activities on the economy and society. By choosing high quality projects and inclusion into international collaboration, the Ministry wants to initiate and realise the creation of a research infrastructure which is necessary for the development of Serbia as a modern society where innovation, originality and knowledge are the most significant development factors.

The new, accessible and competitive economy of Serbia will be able to take part in the global processes of the world economy optimally using opportunities for a rapid and sustainable development.

Read more at wbc-inco.net

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The WEB-MOB Project: Development of Researchers Mobility Policy Guidelines for the Region of Western Balkans

The WEB-MOB project (a Specific Support Action financed by the European Commission under the 6th Framework Programme) started operating in September 2005, with the objective of developing guidelines related to issues of policy on researchers’ mobility in the region of Western Balkans. Taking into consideration the importance placed by the European Commission on issues of incoming and internal mobility in the Western Balkans region, WEB-MOB’s main objective was to attract to the region researchers from other regions (inter-regional mobility) or from other countries (intra-regional mobility) – geographical mobility –, and to promote the intersectorial mobility (mobility between industry and academia) and intra-national mobility in the Western Balkan partner countries in order to raise regional cooperation and prevent brain drain in the region.

Read more at wbc-inco.net

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WBC Participation in FP7

At the beginning of November 2007, see-science.eu was able to access the database of the European Commission for information on the participation of the Western Balkan countries in the first calls of FP7 and also obtained an update just before publishing this table in December 2007.

It became clear that not all data on closed calls had been entered in the database, as evaluation proceedures are still ongoing and figures change almost daily. But some conclusions can still be drawn. The table focuses on the number of proposals submitted and the success rate for applicants (note that usually the number of applicants from one country is higher than the number of proposals submitted).

Read more at wbc-inco.net

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A new Regional Research Promotion Programme in the Western Balkans (RRPP) for Social Sciences

The Regional Research Promotion Programme in the Western Balkans (RRPP) aims at strengthening research capacities in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo/UNMIK, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia.

The programme has an implementation perspective of ten years and will support the development of research capacities in the area of social sciences, especially in transformation-relevant topics. It should offer a cooperation platform to researchers in the region, particularly those who are to become the driving force of higher education reforms and can effectively promote greater recognition of the social sciences and above all the significance of research in this area. The programme should respond to explicit needs put forward by local researchers and their respective institutions. Therefore, great emphasis is on the transfer of ownership to regional structures in order to ensure sustainability of results and capacities that will be further developed during the implementation phase of the programme.

RRPP is currently in its inception phase, while its implementation is expected to begin by mid 2008. The programme is sponsored by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and the University of Fribourg has been entrusted with its implementation.

Read more at wbc-inco.net

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New Report published on Mobility Issues in ERA

This thematic report, called “Barriers to international mobility and the integration of researchers from Western Balkan Countries (WBC) in the European Research Area (ERA)”, describes the most common obstacles to researchers mobility in Europe and the Western Balkan countries. Typical mobility problems that occur in the Western Balkan region are analysed and a special focus on each individual country is given.

Furthermore, the report looks at the ERA mobility strategy of the European Commission and summarises its content and the most relevant actions for its implementation, which range from legal and administrative measures to operative information portals. For each operative action the added value and importance for the Western Balkan region are identified and discussed.

Read more at wbc-inco.net

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European Innovation Policies - Priorities 2007-2009

A presentation made available for see-science.eu introduces Europe INNOVA and PRO INNO Europe as flagships of European innovation policy and presents the current ideas and objectives for the 2008 calls for proposals that DG Enterprise and Industry will launch next year.

Read more at wbc-inco.net

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Slovenia approves tax incentives for R&D

Slovenia's Government has approved a decree allowing regional tax incentives for research and development (R&D).

The initiative is intended to encourage investment in R&D, increase the competitiveness of Slovenia's economy and attract foreign investors.

The Corporate Income Tax Act states that a taxable legal person can deduct from the tax base a general investment incentive amounting to 20% of the amount invested in internal R&D activities or spent on the purchase of R&D services.

Read more at CORDIS website

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ERA-NET proposes Regional Programme for Cooperation with South-East Europe

The SEE-ERA-NET has published a raft of recommendations aimed at bringing the scientific community in the Western Balkans closer to that of the EU. Proposals include the establishment of a Regional Programme for Cooperation with South-East Europe.

ERA-NETs were designed to encourage the coordination of national and regional programmes. The SEE-ERA-NET was established to promote integration between EU Member States and southeastern European (SEE) countries within the European Research Area (ERA).

The network has published a white paper linking the research systems of southeast Europe, and an accompanying Joint Action Plan.

Read more at CORDIS website

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Two Calls for proposals for scientific networking and project cooperation in South East Europe (SEE) launched by the Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices Ljubljana and Sofia

The Austrian Science and Research Liaison Offices (ASO) Ljubljana, Slovenia, and Sofia, Bulgaria, coordinated by the Centre for Social Innovation (ZSI), launched on 15 October 2007 two Calls for proposals for scientific networking and project cooperation.

Funding of a maximum of 12,000 Euro per project is provided by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Science and Research and the Austrian Development Agency. The Calls for proposals are addressing research institutions in Austria, Bulgaria, Slovenia and South East Europe (Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, FYR of Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Kosovo

Deadline for submission is 31 January 2008.

The main purpose of the Calls is to promote networking, the exchange of research results and know-how, comparative studies and know-how exchange on European standards and practices in the chosen research areas. The activities should build on already existing scientific results.

Eligible participants are universities, non-university research institutions and tertiary education organisations.

Find more information on the two ASO Calls, such as the Call texts and the minimum partnership requirements under www.aso.zsi.at/en/all/ausschreibung/list

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EU Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik urges stakeholders to take responsibility for creation of the European Research Area (ERA)

Following the end of the Green Paper consultation on the formation of the European Research Area (ERA), the Commissioner called at the annual meeting of Germany's Fraunhofer Gesellschaft in Bonn on stakeholders to take responsibility for the creation of the ERA and to focus on European added value. According to him it was not up to the Commission to build the European Research Area, 'either by law or by wishful thinking'

`A genuine European Research Area will only be created if all researchers, their institutions and companies, the Member States and regions as well as the Commission work together in partnership, with each accepting their responsibility for making it happen,' he said.

The Commission is currently working on developing key messages on the ERA for an informal summit in October, and preparing the ground for the ERA to be debated at the November Competitiveness Council.

Read more at ec.europa.eu/research/era/index_en.html

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Only six Member States meet researcher visa deadline

Friday, 12 October 2007, was the deadline for making the 2005 Directive to allow third country nationals into the EU in order to conduct scientific research national law. By that date, only Austria, Belgium, Germany, Hungary, Portugal and Romania had complied fully. A further four Member States (France, Latvia, Lithuania and the Slovak Republic) had notified the Commission of partial implementation.

The Commission is now entitled to take steps to open infringement proceedings against those Member States that have not yet notified the Commission of the Directive's implementation, as well as those who have given notification of partial implementation only.

The decision allowing researchers from third countries to work in the Union was agreed by the Justice and Home Affairs Council in the summer of 2004. At the time, the Commission welcomed the decision, but was disappointed that the instrument approved by the Commission was not as far-reaching as the original proposal. The Commission would have liked to see more provisions for researchers' families, as splitting families often acts as a deterrent to mobility.

Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potocnik urged the Member States to 'honour their commitment to create a system for scientists from outside the EU who want to carry out their research here. If Europe is to be a world leader in science, then it must be open to the world,' he said.

Read more at ec.europa.eu/eracareers/index_en.cfm?l1=25

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Report on Barriers to international Mobility and the Integration of Researchers from Western Balkan Countries (WBC) in the European Research Area (ERA)

Within the framework of the project see-science.eu a report on "Barriers to international mobility and the integration of researchers from Western Balkan Countries (WBC) in the European Research Area (ERA)" was elaborated by the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG).

The report aims to provide an overview on researchers' mobility in Europe with a special focus on the Western Balkan Countries (WBC). It is describing the most common obstacles influencing advancement and development of researchers' mobility. Analyzing problems that occur in the Western Balkan region special focus on each individual country is given.

This mobility report is a fundamental summary and a survey for everyone wishing to get a general picture of the developments to European mobility during the last few years. It gives the reader an added value on what kind of impact these actions have on the Western Balkan region.

Download the mobility report here

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Janez Potocnik, EU Science and Research Commissioner, calls for research policies in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Janez Potocnik, the EU Science and Research Commissioner, has made a direct appeal to members of the Bosnia and Herzegovina Academy of Sciences and Arts to assist the government in reforming research and education.

The Commissioner also had advice for the Government on where to focus available resources. He also pledged support for Bosnia and Herzegovina's accession to the EU and offered the country formal association to the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

He said that he would like to see Bosnia and Herzegovina join the EU, and that an important step on the road to this is integration into the European Research Area (ERA).

Read more at CORDIS website

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Slovenia to receive EIB support for energy projects and environmental improvement

The European Investment Bank (EIB) has granted three loans for energy projects in Slovenia for two modern power plants and a number of smaller energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.

These projects shall help to secure and diversify the energy supply in Slovenia and make a positive contribution towards meeting increased energy demand. Furthermore, they shall contribute to secure electricity supply as well as to creating jobs in a convergence region.

Since the beginning of 2006, the EIB, as the EU's long-term financing institution, has provided loans of more than €6 billion for energy investment within the EU. This year it made energy lending its top priority, attempting to increase renewable energy, energy efficiency and energy saving, research and development in energy, as well as security and diversification of supplies.

For further information, please visit: www.eib.org

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International network for education and research set up in Croatia

As reaction to the European unification process and continuous globalisation bringing a great challenge to education systems in Europe, an international network for education and research was set up in Zagreb, Croatia. As part of the TEMPUS 'Learning for Europe' project, the Centre for European Education was opened on 25th September 2007, with the aim to investigate different approaches to educational reforms.

The Centre for European Education is the first German-Croatian institution of higher education for educational issues in Europe. In addition to the two lead institutions, universities from Ankara (Turkey), Cluj Napoca (Romania), Hagen (Germany), Klagenfurt (Austria), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Novi Sad (Serbia), Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina), Skopje (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia), Tilburg (the Netherlands), and Zadar (Croatia), are participating in the project.

The centre's focus is on practice- and research-oriented programmes in the fields of education policy and education reforms in Europe. Besides the coordination of national approaches, the centre will develop new courses of study for managers in the field of education and offer a one-year masters programme in 'Management and Counselling for European Education' for postgraduates.

For further information, please visit: www.lecee.eu

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1^st issue of ERA WESTBALKAN+ newsletter published

On 3 September the first of several ERA WESTBALKAN+ newsletters to be published has been finalized and can be downloaded now at Useful Links and Documents.

The current newsletter aims to inform and raise awareness among the scientific, research and academic communities as well as among the SMEs and the industrial sector of the West Balkan Countries (WBCs) regarding the 7th Framework Programme (FP7).

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Slovenia takes over EUREKA chairmanship: Priority is the enlargement of EUREKA's geographical boundaries - Western Balkan

On 1 July, Slovenia, member of EUREKA since 1994, will take over the reigns of EUREKA, the European network for market-led research, from the current chair Italy.

Among its priorities will be further strengthening the network's position within the European Research Area (ERA); expanding the network towards the Western Balkans; and providing better support to research-performing small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs).

This is the first time that Slovenia has held the EUREKA chair, which comes at a very opportune moment. 'Our ambition is to combine the advantages of the EUREKA Chairmanship and the Slovenian Presidency of the EU (from January 2008) along with the cooperation with the EUREKA network and the European Commission, making a significant contribution to the European research policies,' says Ales Mihelic, who will head the Slovenian EUREKA chairmanship team. Slovenia also plans to expand the network's cooperation with representatives from industrial research in the Western Balkans. Already the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro are EUREKA members, and the hope is to further expand membership in the Western Balkan region.

For more information on EUREKA, please visit: http://www.eureka.be
For information on the Slovenian EUREKA chairmanship, please visit: http://www.eureka-chair.si

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Three Western Balkan countries and Turkey join FP7

Following the signature of Memoranda of Understanding with the European Commission, the republic of Croatia, the republic of Serbia and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia joined the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7) and are eligible to compete on an equal basis with EU Member States in FP7. A similar agreement was also recently signed between Turkey and the European Commission.

In gaining 'associated status' the agreement offers researchers form these countries the same rights for participation as EU Member States in all the research cooperation and supported actions funded under FP7.

Find the source and relevant links in the FP7 newsroom.

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Simpler approach for FP7 financing: Lump sums for International Cooperation Partner Countries

The European Commission finalised the arrangements for lump-sum payments to International Cooperation Partner Countries (ICPC) taking part in FP7.

Flat rate lump-sum amounts can be incorporated in grant agreements concluded under FP7, making the grant-agreement process, as well as project administration, far simpler than was the case with the traditional reimbursement of eligible costs.

The lump-sum amounts have been defined on the basis of World Bank data on gross national income levels in the different countries. Individual partners can opt for the lump-sum system of payment or, alternatively, may request the standard reimbursement of eligible costs.

The lump sum covers all the costs of the ICPC involved, personnel and travel costs, costs for equipment and consumables, and indirect costs.

For further information, please read the DRAFT Guide to Financial Issues for FP7 Indirect Actions.

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West Balkan Research database supports coordinators in finding suitable project partners

Based on research on the priorities and needs of the Western Balkan countries the first joint call by SEE-ERA.NET was a pilot case for the cooperation of the project partner countries in the field of research funding. Funded thematic research areas were Information and Communication Technologies, Food, Agriculture and Biotechnology, and Environmental Technologies. Deadline for SEE-ERA.NET pilot call was 31 March 2007.

A Greek coordinator from the Institute for Space Applications and Remote Sensing in Athens succeeded in finding suitable project partners for his project proposal through the West Balkan Research database. Three research institutes in the Western Balkan were successfully integrated into the project proposal "Earth observation network in South Eastern Europe (SEE-EONet)", aiming at establishing a research network for the exchange of latest achievements, research results and experiences in the field of Earth Observation and Remote Sensing. In total, seven research institutes and universities from 6 countries are forming the project network, among them the following three, registered in the West Balkan Research database:

• Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Faculty of Mining and Geology, Stip, FYROM
• University of Belgrade, Institute of Physics, Centre for Solid State Physics and New Materials, Belgrade-Zemun, Serbia
• Hydro Engineering Institute Sarajevo, Bosnia-Herzegovina

More information about the SEE-ERA NET initiative can be found at www.see-era.net

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  The ERA WESTBALKAN+ project is funded by the European Commission under FP6
Project coordinator is FFG - Austrian Research Promotion Agency, European and International Programmes (EIP)