D1.3: 2 nd Annual Report Project Number: 212879 Reporting period: 1/11/2008-31/10/2009 PROJECT PERIODIC REPORT Grant Agreement number: 212879 Project acronym: EURORIS-NET Project title: European Research Infrastructures Network of National Contact Points Funding Scheme: CSA (Coordination and Support Action) Date of latest version of Annex I against which the assessment will be made: 25.7.2008 Periodic report: 1 st 2 nd * 3 rd 4 th Period covered: from 1 st Nov 2008 to 31 st October 2009 Name, title and organisation of the scientific representative of the project's coordinator: National Hellenic Research Foundation (EKT/ NHRF) Tel: +30-210-7273954 Fax: +30-210-7246824 E-mail: dfarma@ekt.gr Project website address: www.euroris-net.eu
1. Publishable summary The term Research Infrastructures (RIs) refers to facilities and resources that provide to the scientific community essential services needed for the performance of leading edge research in both an academic and/or industrial environment. Research Infrastructures should be open to researchers, to the scientific community and to the Industry and cover the whole range of scientific and technological fields. The Research Infrastructures are of high importance in order to strengthen the knowledge base of Scientific Communities and the technological know-how of Industrial sector across Europe. The EuroRIs-Net project aims to support the efficient implementation of the Research Infrastructures Programme and to promote the benefits offered by the RIs, in order to enhance the Research Excellence, the competitiveness and the growth of Europe. Moreover and according to the objectives of the project it is expected to improve the effectiveness of the Research Infrastructures (RIs) NCPs network through the upgrade of the level of the transnational cooperation, which will result in more consistent services provided to the customers/clients across Europe. The starting date of the project was November 1 st, 2007 and its duration is 48 months (closure date: October 31 st, 2011). The consortium consists of 35 partners, which are the RIs NCPs from MS, AS, & Russia, Canada and S. Africa, as well as the UK RIs NCP, as observer (joined in 2008). So far, at the end of the 1 st reporting period of the project, a substantial effort has been made in order to implement an operational NCP Network for Research Infrastructures, starting with the Kick-off meeting of the project in November 13th, 2007. The end of the 2 nd reporting period finds EuroRIsNET network in quite a mature and productive phase. In the middle of the lifespan of the project, the Consortium has managed to establish a stable pace and become a coherent, interactive human network of NCPs for the Research Infrastructures Programme, already fulfilling most of the goals and objectives of the project itself, supported by new tools and good practices, while at the same time promoting the visibility and efficacy of the RI programme. Twinning visits, training sessions and the extensive usage of the Virtual Help Desk of the project have supported the knowledge base of this network and have provided the basis for better services. All RI stakeholders receive from our network accurate and reliable support and up-to-date information on the RI programme. 1. Training Seminar 1 (trainees view) 2. Training Seminar 2 (Aula view) 3. VHD screenshot 2
The project also performed value-added activities, such as: Synergy events with other FP7 NCP Networks (aiming to identify specific or overall synergies and develop cooperation practices), Survey for the exploration of needs of existing RIs for new research communities usage (through the questionnaire on New Users for Existing RIs, as recommended at the 1 st workshop of the Network, that stated the importance of focus on existing Research Infrastructures and the optimisation of their use), Promotion of international cooperation, and exchange of EoIs (especially for the last two RI Calls, which closed at the end of 2009) and has successfully and adequately disseminated the RI programme through a series of European & national RI-related events. Picture from Synergy event in Iceland, May 09 Picture from Research Connection 2009, Prague Picture from Copenhagen, Sept 09 Significant achievements for this period can be summarized as follows: The website of the project has been restructured and is being continuously updated by the coordinator, with the participation and input of all members of the Consortium (both public and private area). See home page of the website at www.euroris-net.eu 3
An efficient communication flow has been established among the members/partners of the Consortium, already from the 1 st reporting period, based on both the web internal tools (such as the Discussion Forum and the Virtual Help Desk and mailing lists implemented for the whole Consortium for work packages and specific tasks, as well as smaller - customized subgroups. Project meetings (Kick off, 1 st and 2 nd Annual Meetings, 4 PMB meetings one of which through Skype and one informal PMB meeting, in parallel to the 2 nd Annual Meeting) were successfully organized, in order to facilitate coordination aspects, monitor project implementation and create consensus among partners. Picture from 1 st Annual Meeting Picture from 2 nd Annual Meeting Picture from 1 st EuroRIsNET Workshop The 1 st EuroRIsNET Workshop was also effectively implemented under the French Presidency, in CNRS, Paris, creating a vivid dialogue among RI stakeholders and handling issues more than the limitations of the scope of the event (initially focusing on the exploration of the role of RI NCPs in the new area and above FP7, towards the FP8). The Project Handbook, prepared during the first months of the project, turned into a comprehensive Guide for Consortium members, through its first revision. It includes additional descriptions of dissemination procedures and practices, as well as a useful dissemination plan (informal dissemination plan to this point), in order to facilitate the usage and exploitation of dissemination material and tools, which were implemented during the project. Based mainly on the answers of all partners to a specific questionnaire on Exchange of Good Practices, prepared in the beginning of the project, as well as a subsequent SWOT analysis, EuroRIsNET supports all beneficiaries, both by providing a basic level of knowledge, through a knowledge base of FAQs - embedded in an operational Virtual Help Desk environment available to the Consortium, and by exchanging good practices, also through the identification and activation of the twinning pairs and the main topics for the preparation of two of the three scheduled training seminars, implemented in Y2. Twinning pairs and the topics of the 1 st Training Seminar have already been identified and agreed among partners in Y1. 7 twinning pairs have already accomplished their task within Y2 and there will be a consideration of repeating the procedure, according to the results of the repetition of the survey among the Consortium members. Moreover, partners from Russia and France benefited from the twinning and training coordination, and received on the job training related to already scheduled twinning and training days. Two additional questionnaires, one related to the role of NCPs (internal survey) as well as a questionnaire regarding New users for existing infrastructures, addressed mainly to the Coordinators of the RI funded projects, were developed and further elaborated (results will be shortly available for delivery to EC project officer) The first drafts versions of the Structured Lists (RI projects funded through the FP7 RI programme Calls namely Calls 1 & 2, 3 & 4) were prepared and are publicly available through the website, while statistics on the representation of RIs in the context of geographic regions and scientific fields were prepared (supported by a relevant methodology), in order to support specific transnational awareness activities towards target groups less familiar to RIs. The two datasets are already presented in combination within our intranet, whereas main conclusions of the statistical analysis have already been presented in targeted events related to less favored themes of FP7 (synergy events with Net4Society SSH, ResPotNET Research Potential, C-Energy Energy, as well as various presentations at National Events throughout Europe) 4
A first approach on the establishment of the continuous dialogue with other NCP networks has been performed as well as a first perspective on establishing an exchange point between the Network & ESFRI. This perspective was presented and further discussed in distinct sessions within the framework of the 1 st Workshop of the project, organized in December 2008, at CNRS, in Paris, within the scope of the French EU presidency Promotion and dissemination material for the project (leaflet, standard presentation, poster, press releases, success stories, as well as e-newsletters) has been accomplished in a great extent. Four e-newsletters of which 3 issues during the 2 nd reporting period), 2 press releases, various presentations, many leaflet and posters were disseminated) but, most important, the EuroRIsNet Video RIs Why so Important (IPPT-PAN), available in DVD - prepared March 2009 has been presented and disseminated already to various national and European events (5 workshops / seminar / meetings, 9 conferences / congress / exhibitions & 44 national events) Dissemination has been done both at the level of national stakeholders, through the national contact lists and through participation to National and European RIs events, as well as via presentations of the project at Information Days regarding relevant RI programme EC Calls. Forthcoming activities include: The continuation of exchange of good practices and knowledge among partners through training activities (next Training Seminar is planned for the last trimester of 2010) The organization of Regional, International or thematic European Workshops on RIs, additionally to the 2 nd European Workshop, foreseen to be organized towards the end of the project The continuation of e-newsletters publication and dissemination, in order to raise awareness of the Programme to all scientific communities, in parallel to continuous update of Structured Lists (planned to be transformed into an searchable database environment, additionally to the obligations of the project, as described in Annex I) and the Statistical Analysis of RI Call results (for internal project use), recently facilitated by the availability of statistical analysis data on RI calls, provided in CIRCA environment, although in some delay & e-corda The scheduling of multiple representations of the Network to Pan-European conferences, workshops or other events (supported by partners teams or NCP per country), with simultaneous coordination or participation in other, focused NCP Network Forums along with the sound support of the available Video on RIs and other dissemination material & the support of the dissemination plan of the Networks. Systematic cooperation with other NCP networks at the basis of continuation and possible formalization of the exchange of practices as well as synergy identification in terms of training and dissemination activities. NCP Networks coordination meetings, as already established by the relevant EC services is in favor and supports such actions and could possibly accelerate project s impact on synergy effects. The identification of specific policies, measures, surveys and methodologies for the analysis usage and exploitation of RIs throughout the ERA ecosystem, considering issues such as the training demand planning for focused scientific communities and the role of the Industry in the wider economic development that RIs imply. Several data sources will be exploited, such as relevant projects or RI instruments All activities are expected to result in: A more efficient RI NCP Network, with a concrete and well focused role (present & future) in the RIs Programme, as well as the establishment of a stable framework of collaboration with the NCP Networks of other thematic Priority Themes. An insight at the issue of the Regional Impact of RIs, through case study presentations and exchange of experience at the national & regional level An increase of visibility of the RI programme and projects, with simultaneous support of Scientific Communities less familiar with the RIs Programme, to participate in the Programme Coherence and high-level services of the network, including knowledge exchange and preservation concerning the RI Programme, competence and guidance to end users 5
For more information, contact: Project Coordinator: Mrs Dora Farmaki National Documentation Centre (EKT/NHRF) 48, Vas. Constantinou Avenue 116 35 Athens GREECE Tel: +30-210-7273954, Fax: +30-210- 7246824 E-mail: dfarma@ekt.gr / URL: www.euroris-net.eu WP4 leader (Pan European Awareness & Dissemination activities): Mr Wieslaw Studencki National Contact Point (IPPT-PAN) al.zwirki I Wigury 81 02-091 Warszawa, Poland Tel: +48228287483, Fax +48228285370 E-mail: wieslaw.studencki@kpk.gov.pl / URL: www.kpk.gov.pl 6