COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept

Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept. 2000

COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH

Science, research and development European Commission

Virtual Institutes First Experiences from Evaluations of Expressions of Interest and Proposals

Søren BøwadtMeasurement & Testing, Infrastructure




What should a Virtual Institute achieve?

• Rapid transfer and exploitation of research results• Yield support to industry (including SME’s)• Link geographically scattered complementary

research facilities and industrial elements to form a unity

• Create strong marked oriented networks between academia, industry, research centers and institutes

• (Disseminate RTD results to standardisation bodies)




What could a Virtual Institute do?• Provide services on a commercial basis to industry, governmental and

international bodies• Connect industries to the most appropriate and efficient research

facility (research broker) • Establish the “state of the art” within the specific area of the VI• Identify future research needs (e.g. long-term projections)• Act as information center for research results• Facilitate mobility among researchers between universities, research

centers and industry (Note! Funding for mobility is not provided through the Thematic Network contract)

• Facilitate the connection of partners for future research activities/proposals (partner search facility)




Re-iteration of the Key Elements of a Virtual Institute

• Strong knowledge and technology based network• Sound business plan• Strong management• Sound legal structure• Wide European coverage and accessibility (global

reach)




Results of Previous Evaluations

for Virtual Institutes

Support for Research

INFRASTRUCTURES




Expression of Interest - Time Table

PublicationCall for

expressionsof interest

(EoI)

Close forexpressionsof interest

(EoI)

TentativeCut-off

dates forevaluation

Actions resultingfrom the

evaluation.Publication dateof Dedicated call

Deadlinefor

receptionof

proposals

Indicative budget

Expecteddate forstart of

contracts

30.04.19991st Dedicated call

15.07.1999 15.12.1999 2 MEuroApril2000

15.06.19992nd Dedicated call

15.10.1999 15.03.2000 8 MEuroSummer

2000

15.12.19993rd Dedicated call

14.04.2000 15.09.2000 6 MEuroDecember

2000

15.06.20004th Dedicated call

13.10.2000 15.03.2001 June 2001

Open from16.03.1999

until30.04.2001

30.04.20015th Dedicated call

15.10.2001 15.03.2002 June 2002




Steps of Evaluation Procedure for Expressions of Interest (EoI)

• Expert collects Supporting Document + Evaluation Form Assessment

• Moderator collates these views Discussion by the Experts + Moderator if necessary (Changes and merging of EoI’s are performed if recommended by the experts)

• Moderator prepares Consensus Report

• Consensus Report is agreed upon and signed by the Experts

• Verification by Head of Unit Task completed




Evaluation of EoI’s

• Within the scope of the Growth programme

• Priority of the need and relation to the workprogramme (very high/high/medium/low)

• Quality of the supporting documents:

- Suitable as received/minor revisions

- Suitable with improvements/clarifications

- Not suitable




Evaluation of EoI’s - Common Selection Criteria

Evaluation by 3-4 independent experts:

• (Scientific & technical excellence, innovation)

• Community added value

• Answering to the needs of society

• Economic development and S&T perspectives

• (Resources, partnership, management)




Evaluation of Expressions of Interest 1

Generalised topics EoI's Topicsevaluated published

Recycling 4 1 (1)Laser technology 3 1Tribology technology 2 1 (2)Manufacturing industry 5 (2)Construction industry 5 (1)Modelling and simulation 4 1 (1)General engineering 3 2 (1)( ) to be published 13/10-2000




Evaluation of Expressions of Interest 2 Generalised topics EoI's Topics

evaluated publishedMetrology 2 (1)Transport 1 1Process chemistry 2Food & Environment 1Nanotechnology 1 1Materials 1Training 1Technology transfer 1

( ) to be published 13/10-2000




Steps of Evaluation Procedure for Thematic Network Proposal

• Expert collects Parts A & B + Evaluation Form (+ Supporting Document) Assessment

• Moderator collates these views Discussion by the Experts + Moderator if necessary

• Moderator prepares Consensus Report

• Consensus Report is agreed upon and signed by the Experts

• Verification by Head of Unit Task completed




Evaluation Procedure for Thematic Network Proposal - Allocating Marks

• Marks from 0 - 5 given for five main criteria (a threshold for each must be attained to qualify)

Ensuring Scientific & Technical Excellence [3]

Quality of Approach,Partnership & Management [3 for RTD, 4 for Networks,Virtual Inst.,Conc.Action]

Stimulating Community Added Value [4]

Answering to Societal Needs [3]

Economic Development and S & T Perspectives [3]

• Additionally, a total mark of at least 18 must be achieved to recommend proposal for funding




Organisational Structure so far

• 1a) Mainly academic partners with only little input from industry

• 1b) Mainly consultants with few (if any) partners from academia or industry

• 2a) Democratic management with steering committee• 2b) Centralised management with main workload on

one partner




Problem Areas Identified

• a) Concept of business plan

• b) Envisioned legal structure

• c) Management structure




Future EoI’s and Proposals

• a) New ideas for the implementation of VI’s are encouraged

• b) New areas where VI’s can be implemented (e.g. European Research Area related)

• c) More emphasis on the use of new ICT tools (grid structure, real-time access)




Virtual institutes

• 36 Expressions of interest evaluated

• 8 Dedicated calls published (+ 9 to be published in October

• Until now 7 proposals evaluated - 1 project funded

• ? proposals to be evaluated in October

Summary

– Quality of EoI’s and proposals is increasing!

– New ideas needed!




Virtual institutes

• Brochure:‘Support for Research Infrastructures & Expressions of Interest / Dedicated Call Mechanism’

• Growth helpdesk: [email protected]

• http://www.cordis.lu/growth(e.g. call text, supporting documents, partner search)

• http://europa.eu.int/comm/research/growth

• Contact point: Søren Bøwadt [email protected]

Some information sources ...

Documents

COMPETITIVE AND SUSTAINABLE GROWTH Science, research and development European Commission Søren Bøwadt, M&T,I Workshop on Virtual Institutes 28th of Sept