what is an ncp roles and responsibilities sources of ... ncp system in horizon 2020 building...

Building Bi-regional Partnerships for Global Challenges

CAAST-Net Plus is funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n0 311806. This document reflects only the author’s views and the European Union cannot be held liable for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.

What is an NCP Roles and responsibilities

Sources of Information for NCPs

caast-net-plus.org

George Baroutas FORTH/PRAXI Network 4th February 2017

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Outlook


The role of NCPs, services

Sources of Information

Partner search facilities NCPs systems

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NCP system in Horizon 2020


Mission:

Highly professional support services operating

nationally will form an essential component of

Horizon 2020 implementation. By spreading

awareness, giving specialist advice, and

providing on-the-ground guidance, they will

ensure that the new programme becomes

known and readily accessible to all potential

applicants, irrespective of sector or discipline.

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What is an NCP system


A National Contact Points (NCPs) system

is national structure/network established and financed

by governments of the EU member states and associated

countries, as well as of ICPC, to support the promotion of

the EC main funding instrument for Research and

Innovation

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The NCPs


NCPs form the main structure for providing guidance, practical information and assistance on all aspects of participation in H2020 NCPs give personalized support on the spot and in proposers’ own languages

National Contact Points for Horizon 2020


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Guiding Principles for NCPs


Guiding principles for setting up the NCPs system in H2020 have been agreed by representatives of all countries involved –Described in: «Minimum standards and Guiding principles for setting up systems of National Contact Points (NCP systems) under Horizon 2020»

http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/data/support/20131125_NCP%20Minimum%20standards.pdf

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Key principles and minimum standards for NCPs (1)


NCPs guarantee transparency and equal access to calls under Horizon 2020

Confidential information that comes into the possession of NCPs is treated accordingly

NCPs must be free from conflicts of interest between their NCPs activities and the rest of their professional activities Service should be accessible by e-mail and phone during working hours, with appropriate back-up arrangements

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Key principles and minimum standards for NCPs (2)


NCP should be fully conversant with the objectives, principles and content of that programme part for which they are the nominated specialist (NCP) NCPs should be knowledgeable about all aspects of Horizon 2020, beyond their specialist area.

NCPs should be ready to participate actively in transnational networks.

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Tasks of an NCP


Information & awareness raising on H2020

Assisting

Advising

Training

Signposting

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Informing, awareness raising


Organise information and promotional activities

infodays (thematic or generic on H2020) special seminars newsletters dedicated web sites (for providing info on H2020) promotional material for H2020 use of social media

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Assisting


NCPs support researchers and organisations (in particular new actors and SMEs, to increase their participation in Horizon 2020, by: Assisting participants choose the most appropriate topic Explaining the scope and the modalities of funding schemes applied in Horizon 2020 Assist in partner search activities notably by using internet based tools and thematic networks Create links with other cooperation networks, European Enterprise Network partnership services for SMES etc. choosing the proper topic.

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Advising


NCPs offer advise on administrative procedures, rules and other participation modalities such as: Role and responsibilities of participants in a consortium Rights and obligations of participants Cost handling and reporting Ethical rules and gender issues How to handle IPR

Legal & Financial issues (in cooperation with L&F NCP) Management structures

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Training


Organise courses and training sessions on Horizon 2020 for researchers, intermediaries and information multipliers to ensure high quality of advice Organise workshops for specific target groups (SMEs, universities, business organisations, women in science etc) Organise training seminars on specific topics (legal aspects, modalities for participation, financial rules etc)

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Signposting and cooperation


Signpost to other business support network services related to internal market, technology transfer, IPR or regional development

- (examples include EEN, EIB, Structural Funds, other thematic networks and initiatives, or other international multilateral platforms)

Signpost to national funding agencies, programmes and networks

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Sources of Information for NCPs

Participant Portal

NCP peers (own personal Networks)

The projects of the NCP Networks and their tools!!

The European Commission Project Officers

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Participant Portal – PP (1)


The PP is the single gateway to funding-related interactions between applicants and the E.C. It provides information related to open or forthcoming calls for H2020

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Participant Portal – PP (2)


Find H2020 & FP7 reference documents: • legal documents • Commission work programmes • model grant agreements • guides for specific actions and horizontal issues

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NCP Networks


Peer NCPs on each thematic area (NCP Networks) o NCPs in each thematic area form the NCP Network. oThese NCPs receive official information and training from E.C. On a continuous basis

o They can provide assistance and advise

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The projects of the NCP Networks


Receive funding from the EC as NCP Networks to improve the support offered the development of tools and the implementation of training and networking activities such as: Information days and specific trainings Twinning and staff exchange Participation in brokering activities

Funding is available in some cases for NCPs in ICPC countries as well Partner search tools

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E.C. Project Officers


In each thematic priority there is one (or more) appointed E.C. project officer for the NCPs

The EC Officer can assist by pointing to additional information or by clarifying unclear issues

The EC Officer can liaise and introduce the NCP to the NCP Network or other relevant networks / initiatives

The EC Project Officer can answer to specific queries related to their thematic priority (queries with regards to the work programme)

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Partner Search


An important pre-requisite for a promising funding application is a suitable and appropriate consortium of project applicants Project consortia must have a minimum of three partners from three Member States or Associate countries, but this is usually not enough as these are complex project and demand an amagalmation of different skill sets

NCPs are the main channels in the search for partners

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Electronic Partners Search Systems

These are tools to assist applicants, researchers & enterprises to: Find partners to create a consortium Advertise their expertise to improve chances of participating in a consortium They are developed by the projects of the NCP Networks and are the most commonly used tools used for Partner Search

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Partner Search Facilities - CORDIS


European Commission provides a tool that includes all the participants under H2020 projects

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NCPs in Horizon 2020


• National NCP Coordinator

• Legal and Financial aspects

• SMEs

• Access to Finance*

• European Research Council

• 'Future and Emerging

Technologies';

• 'Marie Curie actions on

skills, training and career

development';

• 'European research

infrastructures;

• 'Information and

Communication

Technologies (ICT)';

• 'Nanotechnologies,

advanced materials and

advanced manufacturing and

processing';

• 'Space';

• 'Health, demographic

change and wellbeing';

• 'Food security, sustainable

agriculture, marine and

maritime research and the

bio-economy'; &

'Biotechnology';

• 'Secure, clean and efficient

energy';

• 'Smart, green and

integrated transport';

• 'Climate action, resource

efficiency and raw materials';

• 'Inclusive, innovative and

secure societies';

• Security'

•Joint Research Centre

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Partner Search Facilities - Information and

Communication Technologies


•Thematic Network of ICT: http://ideal-ist.eu/ •Project idea distributed to over 85,000 international contacts in the ICT programme

•Unique quality labelled partner search tool to connect newcomers and experienced researchers •Helps you submit EOIs to other proposer’s projects

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Partner Search Facilities - Nanotechnologies,

advanced materials and advanced manufacturing

and processing


• Thematic Network of NMP: www.nmpteam.com

• An on-line database where labs and companies can post their Partner Search / Offer;

• 1 300 registered users • from 61 countries • 325 partner offers • 46 partner requests

• Validated by NCPs (each NCP for their country / sub-theme) • Free access to all with contact details (of NCP also)

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Partner Search Facilities - Space


• Thematic Network of Space: www.b2match.eu/h2020spacetour • An on-line database that contains

• All the brokerage events for the sector • Infodays • Cooperation profiles

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Partner Search Facilities - Health, demographic

change and wellbeing


•Thematic Network of Health: http://www.fitforhealth.eu/

• Searching for a cooperation profile (field of expertise or project idea) • Submitting a cooperation profile

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Partner Search Facilities - Secure, clean and

efficient energy


•Thematic Network of Energy: http://www.c-energyplus.eu/

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Partner Search Facilities - Smart, green and

integrated transport


•Thematic Network of Transport:

transport.ideal-ist.eu/

• Searching for a cooperation profile

• Submitting a cooperation profile

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Partner Search Facilities - Europe in a changing

world inclusive, innovative and reflective societies


•Thematic Network of Socio-economic Sciences and Humanities:

http://www.net4society.eu/

• Information

• News • Events • Partner search tool • Submitting a cooperation profile

• Detailed profile with short description of the proposal for specific call

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Partner Search Facilities - Climate action,

environment, resource efficiency and raw materials


• Thematic Network of Environment

• Partner search tool: https://www.nks-umwelt.de/partneringtool

•Cooperation profile catalogue created by the NCP network:

http://www.irc.ee/envncp/

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Partner Search Facilities - Secure societies -

protecting freedom and security of Europe and its

citizens


•Thematic Network of Security: http://www.security-research-map.eu/

• Searching for a cooperation profile or project idea

• Submitting a cooperation profile

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Partner Search Facilities - Food security,

sustainable agriculture, forestry and bio-economy


• Thematic Network of Food

• Currently being set-up / available soon at www.ncp-biohorizon.net

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!BACK! to the operation of the NCP System

Each Member State / Associated Countries and ICPC country are responsible for the selection of the hosting organisation(s) for their own NCP system

In order to ensure the coherence and overall operational consistency, a co-ordination mechanism should be put in place

This mechanism should be a light, non-bureaucratic, easy to co-ordinate and cost efficient


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NCPs – a system with flexibility and diversity


The NCP systems in the different countries show A wide variety of architectures, from highly centralised (All NCPs are affiliated to one organization) to decentralised networks (Scattered thematic NCPs) A number of very different actors, from ministries to universities, RTOs and special agencies to private consulting companies

flexibility to each country to establish a tailor-

made NCP structure

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NCPs in 3rd Countries in Horizon 2020


Each country can adopt any structure to facilitate the dissemination of information about Horizon 2020

This national structure is not necessary to be communicated to the EC, but there is no harm in doing so

Matching the European NCP structures betters your chances for enhanced service provision (getting the right information to the right people on time) as these are models that have been tested for quite some time no

YOU SHOULD INVEST IN IT!!!

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Tips – Lessons learnt


Be careful who you appoint / Be careful who you send to the Commission

Make sure the NCP is fully aware of what is expected – its real support through service provision

Dedicate resources to making noise – promote country capabilities/strengths

Networking with EU and continental counterparts matters

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Search for your NCP


The contact details of your national H2020 National Contact Point or those of your potential partner's country are available on the Participant Portal. http://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/portal/desktop/en/ support/national_contact_points.html

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How to create an NCP system


The Ministry that would like to host the NCP should write a formal letter of appointment

The formal letter should be sent through the Ministry of Foreign Afairs of the interested country to the European Commission Delegation of your Country, or if there is no Delegation, directly to the European Commission

Directorate-General for Research and Innovation European Commission, ORBN 2/65 B-1049 Brussels - Belgium

CAAST-Net Plus Building bi-regional partnerships for global challenges

CAAST-Net Plus is funded by the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement n0 311806. This document reflects only the author’s views and the European Union cannot be held liable for any use that may be made of the information contained herein.

Thank you

caast-net-plus.org

Constantine Vaitsas FORTH/PRAXI Network 29 May 2015

what is an ncp roles and responsibilities sources of ... ncp system in horizon 2020 building...

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