strengthening the strategic cooperation between the eu and western balkan region in the field of ict...

Strengthening the Strategic Cooperation

between the EU and Western Balkan Region

in the field of ICT Research

Key Barriers & Challenges in ICT Research: Regional and EU context

Soumi Papadopoulou, PLANET & René Wintjes, MERIT

Conference “Towards an Information Society for the Western Balkans”, Belgrade, 11-12 December 2008

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Barriers and challenges to ICT research

● The Regional context

● The EU context

● The EU FP7 context

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The Regional Context

● Research capabilities in the Western Balkan region have been severely affected by the rapid political changes and transformation from state run to market economies

● What are the barriers faced by Western Balkan research institutions in their R&D activities and their efforts to participate in EU Framework Programme projects?

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Institutional barriers to ICT research

● Lack of defined government policies for ICT research

● Weak communication channels between policy makers and researchers

● Insufficient encouragement policies for the collaboration between business and academic communities for ICT research

● Difficulties with researchers’ mobility exchange (i.e. visa, residence permits, work permits etc.)

● Political instability in the countries/region hinders cooperation within the region and with the EU

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Financial barriers to ICT research

● Low level of national funds for ICT research (significantly lower than EU average)

● Absence of defined financial support policy for participating in FP projects

● Lack of investments from the business sector in R&D

● Lack of financial incentives for collaboration between universities and businesses

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Education related barriers to ICT research

● Low motivation for students who could be involved in FP projects.

● Lack of willingness by academic leadership to engage in FP projects

● Lack of specialized ICT professors

● Education system not in line with needs of ICT industry

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Human resource barriers to ICT research

● Skilled ICT researchers leaving the country (brain drain).

● Weak local and regional organised ICT research networks

● Lack of professionals able to provide assistance on FP proposal writing and project management

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ICT business sector related barriers

● Limited ICT research in the business community / private sector.

● Insufficient collaboration between the ICT industry and universities.

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Infrastructure barriers to ICT research

● Insufficient ICT research infrastructure, both o basic infrastructures: e.g. broadband coverage across

country

o More specialised infrastructures:● business incubators, innovation centres, centres of excellence

etc.

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Cultural & other barriers to ICT research

● Lack of familiarity with FP and other funding programs.

● ICT R&D projects, after being completed, disappear without producing a real impact.

● Low appreciation of international cooperation in R&D (resulting in low levels or EU-regional and intra-regional R&D collaboration).

● Low international reputation of the “scientific image” of countries.

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The EU context: characteristics of ICT, trends

● Pervasive, general purpose technology (ICT research and innovations are important to all sectors);

● High degree of globalisation;

● Most innovative EU sector;

● Very short product life-cycles;

● shift from manufacturing towards ICT software and services;

● Importance of networking, clustering;

● Growing importance of innovative SMEs

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EU context: National drivers of ICT innovation

R&D activities

Skills

Small Average firm size

Inter-national

orientation

Venture capital

Testing independency National ICT sector innovation performance

Innovation performance - Levels

*** *** ** ** ***

Innovation performance - Growth

** ** ***

ICT Innovation performance based on: export, patents, factor productivity

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EU context: barriers to ICT research & innovation

● Lack of high-educated human resources;

● Regulatory incoherence, lack of European integration, fragmented ERA;

● Financing research and innovation

● Poor valorisation of research, insufficient commercialisation of results

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EU context: drivers and barriers at firm level

Drivers for innovation Barriers to innovation

Internal

1- management /leadership 2- in-house R&D 3- special knowledge 4- capacity for building partnerships

1- resources for testing new ideas 2- organisational structures 3- IP management

External

1- customer involvement in R&D 2- international partnerships with firms 3- cooperation with research institutes

1- appropriate regulation at EU level 2- access to top-HR 3- Innovation culture for ICT in EU

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EU context: 4 future ICT trajectories (EU ICT Task Force)

● 1) Networked, Mobile, and Scalable;

● 2) Embedded and Invisible;

● 3) Intelligent and Personalised;

● 4) Content-rich, Interactive and Experiential.

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EU context: challenges for research policy

● To increase ICT research in Europe in view of the gap vis-à-vis other parts of the world.

● To reduce fragmentation of public funded research and to promote co-operation and coordination in order to increase focus and critical mass.

● To develop the ERA; promote mobility of researchers, more excellence in universities, grants for research co-operation, improvement of the linkages between Science and Industry

● To develop more effective systems for technology transfer, research exploitation and valorisation.

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EU context: challenges in systemic policy making

● Systemic forms of governance are most relevant policy tools to promote ICT research & innovation.

● Good practice policy formats are: o cluster policies, technology platforms, thematic collaborative

research programmes, Lead Market Initiatives, Joint Technology Initiatives, etc.

● Such systemic tools facilitate: o demand-driven co-operation,

o open innovation;

o alignment of strategic research agendas;

o thematic focus to research;

o and interaction between ICT producers and users.

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The FP7 context: Challenges to EU-WB collaboration

Key findings from SCORE project consultations with over 320 ICT stakeholders in Albania, BiH, FYR of Macedonia and Serbia:

● Although a number of support actions have been completed in the region, there is still a need for support to organizations with regards to understanding the FP programme and procedures.

● Need for stricter evaluation and review procedures with regards to the sustainability and impact of ICT R&D projects (both at the proposal and project implementation phases).

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The FP7 context: Challenges to EU-WB collaboration (cont’d)

● Need for targeted FP calls in the Region: In previous FP6 calls, targeted objectives for the region enabled Western Balkan organisations to participate more successfully. The same approach should be retained in future FP calls.

● Need for research & development in ICT application areas such as eGovernment, eBusiness and eLearning which are key common priorities for the region.

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Discussion: your views

● What other barriers should be included?

● What are the 3 top barriers to EU-WB research collaboration?

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Thank you

● For further information:o René Wintjes (R.Wintjes@MERIT.unimaas.nl)

o Soumi Papadopoulou (soumi@planet.gr)