INTAS

International Association for the promotion of co-operation

with scientists from the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union (NIS)

Dr. Gulnara Roll

Voronezh, 10 February 2005

INTAS

An independent international association formed by the European Community, the European Union

member states and like-minded countries in 1993, INTAS promotes scientific co-operation between researchers in the New Independent States of theformer Soviet Union (NIS) and its member states.

INTAS members and partners

33 member states12 NIS Partners

INTAS 33 members and 12 partners

MEMBERS: 25 member states of the European Union, Bulgaria, Iceland, Israel, Norway, Romania, Switzerland, Turkey and the European Community

NIS PARTNERS: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan

INTAS objectives (1)

• promote scientific co-operation the NIS and INTAS member states through various grants and actions

INTAS objectives (2)

• help preserve the valuable scientific potential in the NIS

through international co-operation

• encourage NIS scientists to participate in European

RTD programmes (FP6)

• encourage networking and mobility between the NIS and

European partners focus on young NIS scientists

INTAS budget

Major part comes from the European Community (INternational COoperation)

2002 - 2006 ~70 M Euro

In kind (staff) and financial contributions from members + Financial contribution from co-sponsors in jointly funded projects 2002 – 2006 ~10 M Euro

The international dimension of the European Research Area

• Scientific cooperation with scientists from countries outside of the EU brings additional knowledge and expertise, helps to expand the European pool of innovative ideas&research agendas;

• Unrestricted opening of the Sixth Framework Programme (FP6) "thematic" part to all third countries, with possible access to the relevant funding in some cases;

Common interests for research between scientists from FP6 countries and the NIS

(formulated by participants of INTAS social sciences

and humanities workshop, Brussels, November 2004)

- Development of new models and comparison of existing modes of modernisation and civil society building;- Research of threats: secuity issues, human trafficking, - Migration issues and its potential aspects destabilising

the transitional process- Social, political and economic transformation in societies; growth studies;   

- Dialogue of cultures between Europe and NIS countries; - Mapping of the research potential in Europe and the NIS

 

Low participation of NIS scientists in EU FP6 

EU FP6 Thematic Area “Citizens and governance in a knowledge-based society” Call 2003:

• Only 31 organisations from NIS countries were involved in proposals in FP6 Priority 7 CITIZENS-3 Call;• Only 3% of the projects with participation of NIS scientists were accepted for funding to compare to the overall success rate for proposals in the same Call, which was 10%

Challenges to the participation of NIS scientists in FP6 (1)

From FP6 countries’ side:• Lack of contacts (how to find a right partner?), • Language differences, • Different styles of academic work, especially of academic publications, • Economic problems of NIS countries social scientists, • Problems of involvement - how to ensure that this would be an equal cooperation and not neo-colonialism?  

Challenges to the participation of NIS scientists in FP6 (2)

From NIS scientists side:• How to link with quality proposals, which can get through the highly selective process in the FP6?• How to present true added value to potential European consortia to be invited as a partner into a EU RTD project in a situation when in overall there are no incentives for European consortiums to especially involve NIS partners? • How to manage to conduct research administration in the same way as European research institutes?

Recommendations to NIS scientists onhow to get involved with FP6 projects (1)

(Dr. Gabrielle Griffins, FP6 project coordinator) • Show your competence in the scientific field, mention your publications;• Not only major research institute get involved, also smaller ones Participate in FP6 projects, if have expertise;• Check the CORDIS website regularly for new calls information andfor partner search – partner search boards and projects databases; • Try to get into a new or ongoing project – IP, NoE;• Register as an evaluator; being an evaluator for the FP6 allows to get an insight on how to prepare successful proposals;

Recommendations to NIS scientists onhow to get involved with FP6 projects (3)

(Dr. Gabrielle Griffins, FP6 project coordinator)

• Try small scale Special Support Action (SSA) projects to prepare for the submission of a more comprehensive proposal – STREP, etc.• If you are not successful with a proposal, try it again. “Recycle”proposals to submit to other research funding organisations; However, be aware that proposals have to be written in different Styles to different research funding organisations; • Make yourself known; participate in meetings and pursue active networking; • Be aware that there are different cultures and academic traditions,which can cause problems.

INTAS funding policies

• Search for scientific excellence

• Cover all scientific areas

• Include fundamental and applied research

• Support international scientific collaboration

• Select proposals on the basis of independent evaluations

• Allocate min. 75% of the funds to NIS teams

• Focus on young scientist initiatives

• Encourage NIS partners to participate in FP6

INTAS funding instruments

• Grants for research projects and networks,

• Pre-/post PhD fellowships,

• Innovation activities,

• Summer schools, scientific policy workshops,

• Conference grants (new);

• Infrastructure actions: e-library (not funded in Russia)

INTAS procedures

• Offers complementary funding, i.e. grants which are in addition to scientists’ normal funding sources and which enable them to engage in international scientific cooperation• Regular calls for proposals• A two-step peer review evaluation procedure• Only online submission, evaluation&management of proposals

Research, networks and infrastructure projectsOpen call for proposals 2005

• Deadline: a two-stage call – aprl spring and autumn 2005• 24, 30 or 36 months duration• Min of 4 teams: min. 2 different INTAS states & 2 NIS• CO from INTAS member state• Btwn 40,000 & 300,000 Euro for duration of project• Annual max. of 100,000 Euro• Min. 75% of budget to NIS teams. • Max.25% to INTAS Members

INTAS Thematic Calls planned for 2005 - 2006

Thematic Calls (are in preparation stage) on Energy, Biotechnology, Social and Human Sciences, Information Technologies, possibly in Environment

2005 Calls conditions are in preparation. Eligibility criteria for Calls 2004 were: Research projects 2 NIS + 2 INTAS membersNetwork: 3 NIS countries + 3 INTAS members

Funding: max € 100,000 for grant duration, Duration: 18 or 24 months

INTAS workshops, conference grants bringing together European and NIS scientists

P

“Refugees, IDPs and Migration

Issues in the Caucasus and

Central Asia: the Role of Multilateral

Organizations”, Oslo, Norway,

June 2004

INTAS Young Scientists Summer Schools

P

INTAS FP6 NIS Information Network

promotes the involvement of NIS scientific communities in European Research Area (ERA), and their participation in FP6

Activities• Support to network of FP6 NIPs in the NIS• Information dissemination & networking• Scientific community-targeted activities / events

To get information on INTAS 2005 funding opportunities, please check regularly its website www.intas.be or sign to receive information by

email by writing to info@intas.be

Thank you!