TUBITAK Preparation for the 7 th Framework Programme

The Scientific and Technological Research Council’s (TUBITAK) Preparation for the 7th Framework Programme and Turkey’s Performance in the 6th Framework Programme

1. TUBITAK’s Preparation for the 7th Framework Programme 1.1. The Preparation of Turkey’s National Opinion on the 7th Framework Programme EU 7th Framework Programme (FP7) Proposal was announced by the European Commission on April, 6, 2005 and after a long-lasting debate, FP7’s approval process was finalized.

The publication of first project proposal calls is foreseen for November 2006.

TUBITAK EU 6th Framework Programme National Coordination Office (NCO) started its FP7 preparations by forming Turkey’s opinion on the FP7 Proposal which based on the European Commission’s “Science and Technology, the Key to Europe’s future” Proposal. Turkey’s National Opinion Document was submitted to the European Commission on December 2005 and the updated version depending on the decision taken on the 11th Supreme Council for Science and Technology was submitted on April 2005. This document was published on European Commission’s Science and Technology Portal, CORDIS .

1.2. Information Notes about EU Research and Technological Development Programmes and Identification of the Critical Assets concerning Turkey On April 2005, the date that the Proposal for the EU FP7 was published, two Pre-Evaluation Reports on FP7 and Competitiveness and Innovation framework Programme (CIP) were prepared with the contribution of TURBO that acts as an R&D Correspondence Office in Brussels.

Besides the updated 2006 version of those reports, documents on European Technology Platforms, Participation Rules to the FP7 Projects and Main Aspects of Project Management are presented in the official website of TUBITAK FP6 NCO www.fp6.org.tr.

Moreover, the studies on the possible scenarios within the context of FP7 proposal are conducted and the issues that thought to be critical for Turkey (within the context of analysis of FP7 proposal) are presented to the EU Directorate General of Research.

1.3. Interviews with the European Commission Delegates Depending on the decision taken at the 12th Supreme Council for Science and Technology and the Prime Ministry Circular, “in coordination with the Foreign Ministry, the General Secretariat for EU Affairs (ABGS) and the State Planning Organization (DPT), the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) is identified as the responsible institution that is in charge of the negotiations with the European Commission over 7th Framework Programme.” In accordance with this decision, coordination meetings are initiated with the related Ministries and the Public Institutions. An evaluation meeting was held with the European Commissioner for Science and Research Janez Potocnik and his cabinet under the presidency of TUBITAK’s Acting-President with the participation of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Secretariat for EU Affairs and State Planning Organization representatives.

1.4. TUBITAK International Science and Research Days and Information Days of EU Research Institutions’ European Commission Representatives made presentations on FP7 in the TUBITAK’s International Science and Research Days in between October 17-21, 2005. Starting from that period, information activities are realized with the participation of High Level JRC, COST, EUREKA, ESD, EUROCORES and EMBOEMBL representatives that provides project preparation opportunities that can be also thought as the preparatory level in order to set up consortiums for the EU Framework Programmes. It should be noted that Turkey’s participation especially to COST projects are doubled in the last year. On the other hand, Turkish researchers are included in the advisory and steering committees of EU Research Institutions. Lately, a Turkish researcher included in the Life Sciences Advisory Board.

1.5. Strengthening the institutional and administrative structure of TUBITAK EU Framework Programmes National Coordination Office The structure of TUBITAK EU Framework Programmes National Coordination Office (NCO) is strengthened within the context of FP7 preparation.

Accordingly the number of staff has been increased and lately it is over 30 and the strategies and objectives are identified for the years 2007-2013.

Moreover, a comprehensive database is established that provides the analysis of Turkey’s performance on EU Research and Technological Development Programmes.

FP7 focus group is established within NCO in order to coordinate the FP7 preparations in a systematic manner.

A similar focus group is established as to inform the Turkish Research Area on the European Technology Platforms and provide that the Turkish researchers take place in those platforms.

Both focus groups conduct comprehensive studies and the reports and the information documents are being published in the official website of TUBITAK EU FPs NCO (www.fp6.org.tr), moreover the announcements have been send to the researchers via NCO’s electronic announcement systems. In the beginning of the year 2006, five reports were published on the issues indicated above.

1.6. Project Proposal Submission Trainings for Framework Programmes One of the most crucial steps taken for the FP7 preparations is the Project Submission Trainings for Framework Programmes. More than 200 information events, workshops and similar activities have been organized that include general information on EU FP6. Additionally, in the year 2005, specific trainings have been organized in the 6 different provinces with the participation of 350 experts in order to enhance the project preparation capacities of the SME’s. A broader training programme has been initiated at the end of the year 2005. In this context, NCO scheduled two different training programmes in order to strengthen the project proposal preparation capacity and encourage the participation to the EU Research and Technological Research Programmes by taking into account the provinces that submitted projects to FP6, the number of institutions and associations in those provinces and the number of the researchers.

NCO has devised a roadmap and accordingly Project Proposal Submission trainings have been initiated for the participation of 78 universities and research institutes from 38 different provinces, around 200 experts and researchers from chambers and SMEs. These trainings have been realized in 18 different provinces with the participation of experts and researchers in 2006. In this context, project management trainings were organized in Ankara and Istanbul.

The training scheme is devised by taking into account the success of the provinces in FP6 and the existing number of the researchers. Two separate training programmes are designed for the provinces that have more and less than 10 project proposals. Trainings include practical information such as general information on FP’s, financial and legal practices, project partner search techniques, project proposal submission and web based modules.

The schedule of the programmes is published in the www.fp6.org.tr in a monthly basis.

1.7. Awareness Programmes for Specific Sectors Additionally Industry and Public Awareness Programmes are launched in June 2006. These programmes are established as a consequence of the evaluation of FP6 performance. Both programmes aim to contribute in increasing the awareness of FP’s and the success of those specific sectors in FP7.

Within the context of Public Awareness Programme 30 training events are scheduled to be held to inform the public institutions about the specific thematic priority areas concerning their area of interest, international cooperation, Mobility, ERANET+ and Joint Research Centres.

Industry Awareness Programme aims to increase the project preparation skills of the industry and SME’s in order to promote their participation in the Framework Programmes. In this context, a training programme is devised for the experts in the private sector. The training include information on EU R&D Policies, General Information on the Framework Programmes, FP7 “priority areas”, instruments, partner search, document centres (CORDIS, TUBITAK Web Sites that provides updated information in Turkish), Electronic Proposal Submission System (EPSS) and financial aspects of FP7. In the second part of the training, participants work in groups on the case studies and prepare project proposals with the guidance of the TUBITAK moderators.

1.8. SME Site Visits (For Project Coordinators in FP6) SME Industry Site Visit Programme is launched within the context of the FP7 preparations. The aim of the Site Visits is to identify the financial and management challenges of the SME’s and industrial organizations conducting FP6 Projects and to deal with those challenges. Moreover, it is aimed to increase the competencies of SME’s and industrial organizations on the financial management of FP6 projects.

This initiative is executed by the representatives of the Financial Help Desk in TUBITAK FPs NCO that is launched in the year 2005.

1.9. Initiative for Promoting Turkey’s Research Potential Initiatives are taken as to introduce Turkey’s research potential in abroad.

In this context, Turkish R&D Researcher’s Catalogue that includes key information for Turkish Researchers dealing with Framework Programmes is published. Besides this, Turkish Science and Technology Policies are introduced and presented in many research institutions at EU level. Starting from 2004, similar initiatives are taken at the level of European Parliament, EU Commission Directorate General of Research, JRC, COST, EUREKA, ESF, OECD, NATO and ESA. The challenges of the Turkish Researchers regarding the participation to the Framework Programmes are dealt by TUBITAK FPs NCO and as to overcome the identified challenges the initiatives at the level of EC Directorate General of Research are taken.

On the other hand, it should be noted that Turkey’s research potential had great impact on the EU institutions.

Two Turkish Researchers was working in the Joint Research Centres that are (7 centres in different EU countries) under the EU Commission, in 2004 and by now it was increased to 10. The number of the researchers participated to the JRC workshops is over 150. In autumn, it is planned to organize Turkey Research Area Day in accordance with the invitation from JRC in Italia.

In this stage, the negotiations concerning Turkey’s participation to FP7 continues in the technical level. Turkey’s participation will be clarified with the decision that will be taken by the Council of the Ministers.

http://www.cordis.lu/fp7/debate_national.htm

NEST : New and Emerging Technologies
SME : SME Activities
INCO : International Cooperation
COORD : Coordination of Research Activities
R&I : Research and Innovation LIFE : Lifesciences, Genomics and Biotechnology for Health
IST : Information Society Technologies
NANO : Nanotechnologies, Nanosciences, Knowledge-Based Multifunctional Materials, new production processes and materials
AEROSPACE: Aerospace
FOOD : Food Quality and Safety
SUSTDEV : Sustainable Developlent, Global Change and Ecosystems
CITIZEN : Citizens and Governance in a Knowledge Based Society
INNOV : Research and Innovation
MOBILITY : Marie Curie Actions
INFRA : Research Infrastructures
S&S : Science and Society

2. Turkey’s Performance in the 6th Framework Programme In the eve of Turkey’s performance for the last four years in the Framework Programmes, it is possible to say that each year the performance of the participating institutions has been increased. The approval rate of the project consortia participated by Turkish institutions has risen to 20.6 % from 10.5 % over the last two years.

This figure is almost parallel to the EU average. Moreover, even if Turkey is the only candidate country that fully participated to the FP6 for the first time, it has a reasonable success when compared with the other candidate countries.

TUBITAK EU FPs National Coordination Office prepared the graphics that include the data on the existing situation of the Turkish institutions in FP6, in June 27, 2006.

Graphic 1: Turkey’s Success in the 6th Framework Programme Graphic 2: Project Submissions from Turkey in terms of Project Partners Graphic 3: Number of the Turkish Partners in the funded FP6 Projects in terms of Areas .

3. TUBITAK’s Evaluation regarding Turkish Institutions’ Participation in the EU Framework Programmes.