What is an INCO-NET?*
1. What is an INCO-NET and what is the driving force behind the creation and implementation of the INCO-NET projects? An INCO-NET is a network of high-level institutions-nationally mandated authorities such as government agencies or ministries-aiming to boost science and technology (S&T) cooperation between the EU and different regions of the world. A new type of project which did not exist in past research and technological development framework programmes of the European Union, INCO-NETs are an instrument of the FP7 Capacities Specific Programme. The Capacities programme aims predominantly to contribute to the development of enhanced conditions for the implementation of S&T cooperation projects involving European and third countries (non-EU or associated countries). The possibility of mobilising Europe's best scientists and those from other regions through joint projects creates a win-win situation if the best conditions for cooperation are enabled and is therefore linked to a core objective of the European Community at large: greater international S&T cooperation Notwithstanding many successful projects in previous framework programmes, it is however clear there is still significant room for improvement in the degree of involvement of third countries in collaborative research. Indeed analysis of the barriers for third country participation revealed the need to launch new type of projects aimed at catalyzing the conditions for enhanced S&T cooperation between European and third countries. The concept of an INCO-NET project was thus launched under FP7 to meet this challenge. It is envisaged that that this new scheme might contribute in significant ways to stimulating and facilitating the interaction between the different regions at stake. 2. How are INCO-NETs structured? Who participates in an INCO-NET? INCO-NET projects aim to establish coordination platforms bringing together policy-makers, researchers and various stakeholders of the EU and of third countries from a given target region. As such INCO-NET projects typically cover the following types of activities: 1. Supporting the definition of S&T cooperation between EU and third countries in the target region though the promotion of a bi-regional dialogue. 2. Identifying S&T priorities for the cooperation between the regions at stake. 3. Raising awareness through dissemination activities with a view to strengthening the participation of the countries of the target regions in FP7. 4. Providing support to National Contact and National Information Points in the countries of the target region and promoting the exchange of experiences. 5. Monitoring and reviewing cooperation activities with a view to better defining S&T policies and priorities. As briefly mentioned above, the participants in INCO-NET projects are typically institutions with a key role in S&T policy-making, funding or monitoring of the national S&T systems in both regions. 3. CAAST-Net is the INCO-NET for sub-Saharan Africa. What other INCO-NETs exist and what regions of the world do they serve? INCO-NETs exist for the following target regions: Western Balkan Countries; Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Mediterranean Partner Countries; South-East Asia; Latin America ; Caribbean; Central America; Gulf Countries; South Caucasus and Central Asia; South East Asia see http://www.inco-connect.eu/. 4. INCO-NETs have different activities and challenges, which are shaped according to the particular dynamics affecting research cooperation between the EU and different regions. What are some of the particular activities and challenges for CAAST-Net given the sub-Saharan Africa-EU research cooperation landscape? CAAST-Net has an important role to play in contributing to fostering research cooperation between European and Sub-Saharan African countries. However there indeed are a series of key challenges, which I outline below. 1. An overarching challenge faced by CAAST-Net to a greater degree than other INCO-NETs is the asymmetry that exists between the two regions. That asymmetry has many ramifications but essentially creates barriers to the equitable partnerships which CAAST-Net has been created to promote. In the S&T discourse between Europe and Africa it is impossible not to engage in a dialogue on capacity building, despite CAAST-Net's primary focus on research cooperation. 2. The low number or even non-existence of officially nominated FP7 National Information/Contact Points in several countries within the region, poses a series of challenges to the systematic dissemination of information about the opportunities for participation in FP7. 3. In most instances the scientific communities of the countries in both regions do not know each other sufficiently, partly because of a shortage of opportunities to meet or develop joint activities. Among its other activities CAAST-Net offers some solutions to, such as opportunities for the dissemination of information about FP7, promoting bi-regional S&T dialogue, and drawing attention to other projects involving S&T cooperation between the two regions. Indeed, CAAST-Net seeks actively to build on the results of previous cooperation efforts and to encourage the implementation of new cooperative initiatives and projects. 5. What evaluation mechanisms are in place to ensure the INCO-NETs are effective in their efforts to foster research cooperation bi-regionally? The effects of CAAST-Net are not necessarily direct and there is a lag time between the efforts that are being undertaken and the impacts and results that are to be expected. It is also difficult to separate the impact of CAAST-Net from the impact of the many other initiatives in the broader landscape seeking to advance international cooperation. However, there are several evaluation tools which are designed to measure impact of the EC's international cooperation projects, some of which were the subject of discussion at the 2009 meeting of the EC's International Learning Network-a network initiated to provide a forum for INCO-NET information sharing and dialogue. The 2010 mid-term assessment of FP7, which includes an assessment of international cooperation activities, is also likely to yield important information about the effectiveness and impacts of the scheme. 6. Where can readers find more information about the FP7 INCO-NET projects and related issues in international research cooperation between the EU and its target regions? There are a series of important publications of the EC's Directorate-General for Research on the INCO-NET projects, which can be accessed via the EC's International Cooperation portal see http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm?lg=en&pg=allpublications. See INCO-NET Projects: Supporting International Science and Technological Cooperation with Major Regions of the World (2008) for a general description of the background and objectives, dialogue activities, implementation and dissemination activities and monitoring and review activities for each of the six INCO-NETs launched in 2008. See also Scientific Cooperation between Africa and the European Union (2009)-accessible via the link given above. Hard copies available from the EC. *This interview does not reflect the views of the European Commission. *Interview with Mr. José Bonfim of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology.
1. What is an INCO-NET and what is the driving force behind the creation and implementation of the INCO-NET projects? An INCO-NET is a network of high-level institutions-nationally mandated authorities such as government agencies or ministries-aiming to boost science and technology (S&T) cooperation between the EU and different regions of the world. A new type of project which did not exist in past research and technological development framework programmes of the European Union, INCO-NETs are an instrument of the FP7 Capacities Specific Programme. The Capacities programme aims predominantly to contribute to the development of enhanced conditions for the implementation of S&T cooperation projects involving European and third countries (non-EU or associated countries). The possibility of mobilising Europe's best scientists and those from other regions through joint projects creates a win-win situation if the best conditions for cooperation are enabled and is therefore linked to a core objective of the European Community at large: greater international S&T cooperation Notwithstanding many successful projects in previous framework programmes, it is however clear there is still significant room for improvement in the degree of involvement of third countries in collaborative research. Indeed analysis of the barriers for third country participation revealed the need to launch new type of projects aimed at catalyzing the conditions for enhanced S&T cooperation between European and third countries. The concept of an INCO-NET project was thus launched under FP7 to meet this challenge. It is envisaged that that this new scheme might contribute in significant ways to stimulating and facilitating the interaction between the different regions at stake. 2. How are INCO-NETs structured? Who participates in an INCO-NET? INCO-NET projects aim to establish coordination platforms bringing together policy-makers, researchers and various stakeholders of the EU and of third countries from a given target region. As such INCO-NET projects typically cover the following types of activities: 1. Supporting the definition of S&T cooperation between EU and third countries in the target region though the promotion of a bi-regional dialogue. 2. Identifying S&T priorities for the cooperation between the regions at stake. 3. Raising awareness through dissemination activities with a view to strengthening the participation of the countries of the target regions in FP7. 4. Providing support to National Contact and National Information Points in the countries of the target region and promoting the exchange of experiences. 5. Monitoring and reviewing cooperation activities with a view to better defining S&T policies and priorities. As briefly mentioned above, the participants in INCO-NET projects are typically institutions with a key role in S&T policy-making, funding or monitoring of the national S&T systems in both regions. 3. CAAST-Net is the INCO-NET for sub-Saharan Africa. What other INCO-NETs exist and what regions of the world do they serve? INCO-NETs exist for the following target regions: Western Balkan Countries; Eastern Europe and Central Asia; Mediterranean Partner Countries; South-East Asia; Latin America ; Caribbean; Central America; Gulf Countries; South Caucasus and Central Asia; South East Asia see http://www.inco-connect.eu/. 4. INCO-NETs have different activities and challenges, which are shaped according to the particular dynamics affecting research cooperation between the EU and different regions. What are some of the particular activities and challenges for CAAST-Net given the sub-Saharan Africa-EU research cooperation landscape? CAAST-Net has an important role to play in contributing to fostering research cooperation between European and Sub-Saharan African countries. However there indeed are a series of key challenges, which I outline below. 1. An overarching challenge faced by CAAST-Net to a greater degree than other INCO-NETs is the asymmetry that exists between the two regions. That asymmetry has many ramifications but essentially creates barriers to the equitable partnerships which CAAST-Net has been created to promote. In the S&T discourse between Europe and Africa it is impossible not to engage in a dialogue on capacity building, despite CAAST-Net's primary focus on research cooperation. 2. The low number or even non-existence of officially nominated FP7 National Information/Contact Points in several countries within the region, poses a series of challenges to the systematic dissemination of information about the opportunities for participation in FP7. 3. In most instances the scientific communities of the countries in both regions do not know each other sufficiently, partly because of a shortage of opportunities to meet or develop joint activities. Among its other activities CAAST-Net offers some solutions to, such as opportunities for the dissemination of information about FP7, promoting bi-regional S&T dialogue, and drawing attention to other projects involving S&T cooperation between the two regions. Indeed, CAAST-Net seeks actively to build on the results of previous cooperation efforts and to encourage the implementation of new cooperative initiatives and projects. 5. What evaluation mechanisms are in place to ensure the INCO-NETs are effective in their efforts to foster research cooperation bi-regionally? The effects of CAAST-Net are not necessarily direct and there is a lag time between the efforts that are being undertaken and the impacts and results that are to be expected. It is also difficult to separate the impact of CAAST-Net from the impact of the many other initiatives in the broader landscape seeking to advance international cooperation. However, there are several evaluation tools which are designed to measure impact of the EC's international cooperation projects, some of which were the subject of discussion at the 2009 meeting of the EC's International Learning Network-a network initiated to provide a forum for INCO-NET information sharing and dialogue. The 2010 mid-term assessment of FP7, which includes an assessment of international cooperation activities, is also likely to yield important information about the effectiveness and impacts of the scheme. 6. Where can readers find more information about the FP7 INCO-NET projects and related issues in international research cooperation between the EU and its target regions? There are a series of important publications of the EC's Directorate-General for Research on the INCO-NET projects, which can be accessed via the EC's International Cooperation portal see http://ec.europa.eu/research/iscp/index.cfm?lg=en&pg=allpublications. See INCO-NET Projects: Supporting International Science and Technological Cooperation with Major Regions of the World (2008) for a general description of the background and objectives, dialogue activities, implementation and dissemination activities and monitoring and review activities for each of the six INCO-NETs launched in 2008. See also Scientific Cooperation between Africa and the European Union (2009)-accessible via the link given above. Hard copies available from the EC. *This interview does not reflect the views of the European Commission. *Interview with Mr. José Bonfim of the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology.
Version 7.1 last modified by CAAST-Net Editor on 17/03/2011 at 13:06
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