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Networks of Excellence objectives

Reinforce or strengthen scientific and technological excellence on a given research topic

by integrating the critical mass of expertise needed to provide European leadership and be a world force

around a Joint programme of activity (JPA) Structuring European research by …

integrating research capacities across Europe.

Durable integration To progress knowledge on a particular theme

Overcome the fragmentation of European research

To act as a “Virtual Centre of Excellence”

To spread excellence beyond the partners

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Example

Situation before the network: good isolated research teams in Europe fragmented effort, redundancy of work, multiplication of effort on basic

research tools such as software libraries etc… a huge gap with US, Japan in terms of quality of deliverables and

impact links to industry very sparse

The network: Brings together between 8 to 15 the best teams in Europe Between 50 and 150 researchers per year EU funds are a small part of the total effort Helps emerge common research work between ALL team members Fosters exchange of knowledge, coordination of activities, buillds links with the US, Japan,… Common deliverables, co-written papers and common research tools

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Example

Main outcomes Solid research community with coordinated activities common software libraries incorporating all advances

brought by all teams agreement on common open standards,

methodologies for data representations, for visualisation , for problems handling....

From coordination to common programmes.. Wider dissemination of activities to SMEs, etc..

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Strengthen excellence by tackling fragmentation

Excellence: Publication (ranking), conference organization, prices,

patents, expertise for public and private organizations, journals, …

Integration: Show how the network will be structured, e.g. how

coordination and cooperation is facilitated (as detailed as possible)

A durable structuring on the way to carry out research Structuring effect: Reduce overlapping in research by coordination,

e.g. “Virtual Center of Excellence” concept

Sustainable: Long term commitments from the institutes, labs,... :

e.g. by structuring their research with respect to the NoE; might be

stated in a letter of support

Key Elements

The proposal should clearly answer the above points

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Integrating activities

Jointly executed research

Activities to spread excellence

NoE Build around a JPA

Joint Programme of Activities aimed primarily at

creating durable integration of the research capacities of network partners, while at the same time advancing knowledge on the topic

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Integrating Activities

Coordination and adaptation of participants activities in research

Sharing tools and platforms facilities: coordination of software development, integration of tools, joint use of infrastructures, …

Exchange of personnel, including relocation

Integrated management of knowledge

Electronic flow of information: development of tools and

infrastructure to share information And others

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Joint Research

Supporting Network goals a strong programme of joint research: define joint

research projects, establish working groups, … co-advisoring of thesis, e.g. Ph.Ds, M.Sc., … joint participation in Integrated Projects

Common use of platforms, tools, etc

Generating new knowledge

Sharing knowledge: methods, algorithms, etc

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Spread Excellence

Dissemination and communications

Training SMEs researchers

Building relationship with new groups

Exploitation of results

Impact of results

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Hints for Success

Address all evaluation criteria

An Noe should last after the contract: it should be more difficult to disband it than to continue it

Research as such is not funded: show links with other projects, e.g. European or national projects, grants

Negotiation will be difficult: financing, technical content

Develop a clear Consortium agreement

Review your ideas with Commission officials

Do not wait!

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Key issues in the evaluating an NoE

Relevance to the objectives of the programme (S&T, policy objectives of WP)

Participants excellence (R&D, suitability, critical mass)

Potential impact (strenghthening S&T excellence, ambition,

spreading excellence, durable structuring)

Degree of integration & JPA (deep and durable

integration, quality)

Organisation and management (organisational structure,

network)