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BILAT USA & Link2US: Strengthening S&T Ties Between Europe and the US to Address Grand Challenges |
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bridges vol. 26, July 2010 / Noteworthy Information
By Earl Lane
While scientists from the United States and Europe have collaborated on research projects for decades, there is a new push to strengthen transatlantic ties, including boosting American participation in a key European Union research program. Called the 7th EU Framework Program for Research, Technological Development and Demonstration, or FP7, it is the European Union's main instrument for funding research and development activities across all scientific disciplines. The program runs from 2007 to 2013 and will distribute €50 billion or about $61.8 billion. The 7,000 approved projects were selected from 43,000 submissions, a 16 percent success rate.
There are US participants in about 260 of the 7,000 projects funded so far under the seven-year program, according to figures presented at a session of the annual AAAS Forum on Science and Technology Policy on May 13, 2010.
Panel at the AAAS Forum, from left: Alex Dehgan (USAID), Mary Minch (European Commission), Maria Cristina Pedicchio (ERAB), and Moderator Tom Wang (AAAS).
The Forum session, called “New Approaches to International S&T Engagement: Trans-Atlantic Perspectives” was attended by about 97 Forum participants and took a look at mechanisms for international research cooperation from a transatlantic perspective. The session was organized by the leaders of two complementary projects aimed at bringing together scientists in the US and in Europe to tackle important questions in fields such as health, agriculture, biotechnology, and nanotechnology. During the two-part session, speakers spoke about “New Approaches to Science Engagement Taken by Governments in the US and Europe for Capacity Building and Development and Diplomacy,” along with “New Approaches to US-EU Collaboration to Address Global Challenges.”
Sabine Herlitschka
There is "still a lot of work to do to improve transatlantic joint activities and tackle the grand challenges that are out there," said Sabine Herlitschka, director of the Austrian Research Promotion Agency's division of European and international programs. She coordinates the project called BILAT-USA, aimed at strengthening the transatlantic dialogue and increasing American participation in the European FP7 research program through a range of activities. A flip-side effort, Link2US, is coordinated by Tom Wang of the AAAS International Office and seeks to raise awareness among European scientists about cooperative research opportunities in the United States.
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NAFSA Conference in Kansas City |
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May 30 – June 4, 2010, in Kansas City, Missouri, USA
bridges vol. 26, July 2010 / Noteworthy Information
More than 7000 people attended the 62nd NAFSA conference in Kansas City. NAFSA is the Association of International Educators, a member organization promoting and advancing international education and exchange and global workforce development. For five days, the NAFSA conference brought together educators and international student advisors, exchange program developers, university administrators and faculty members, and others. Attendees could take part in training workshops and educational sessions or take advantage of the networking opportunities.
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Trust Researchers Initiative |
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bridges vol. 26, July 2010 / Noteworthy Information
The "Trust Researchers" Initiative was launched in February 2010. Its Declaration summarizes its key messages regarding simplification of and a new philosophy for European Research funding.
The crucial points:
- Funding of research in Europe should be based on mutual trust and responsible partnering
- All actors for funding research throughout the different programs should share a consistent vision that avoids unnecessary technical and administrative details and instead promotes key funding principles based on an appropriate level of accountability
- Funding principles should be effective, reliable, and stable
- An appropriate level of tolerable risk is vital for success and should be supported by European research programs.
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How International are Austrian Firms in Terms of R&D? Study on the Internationalization of R&D Activities by Joanneum Research Ltd. |
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bridges vol. 26, July 2010 / Noteworthy Information
 Firms increasingly internationalize their R&D activities. Research cooperation as well as the establishment of own research laboratories abroad are ever more frequent. An additional new dimension is the extended spatial scale. Whereas in previous times, these activities were restricted to technology-leading countries (like the US), nowadays locations like China or India are targeted as well.
This internationalization poses new challenges for firms as well as for policy makers. Many European research and innovation funding agencies have already set up programs for the support of firms' R&D activities and cooperation outside Europe. Austria - namely the Federal Ministry of Economy, Family and Youth (BMWFJ) - is preparing programs to support Austrian firms in setting up R&D cooperation with partners outside Europe.
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Austrian Academy of Science (OeAW). The foundation has placed particular emphasis on research projects focusing on "labor and the strengthening of social balance and peace." Once a year, the Hannes Androsch Foundation also awards the Hannes Androsch Prize, which is worth €100,000.
