Networking on priorities in FP 6

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Networking on priorities in FP 6

• Dan Dascalu
• Coordinator of ROMNET-ERA
• ROMNET-ERA workshop, 26th of April, 2004

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Contents

1. Networking
2. Networking in FP 6
3. Networking in ROMNET-ERA
4. A regional role
5. First results

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Network?

• Networking creating and using networks.
• A network a system of connexions (connections)
  between various entities (nodes), basically
  between people.
• A connexion is here a channel for transmission of
  information.
• In a scientific network, the nodes are exchanging
  not only information, but also knowledge
  (information in context).
• The direct contact between scientists is
  essential. A true scientist has a strong
  appetite for this exchange of knowledge.

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A bottom-up, self-organising process

• The organisations have to provide a background
  for this exchange, across their borders. They
  should facilitate this exchange of knowledge
  through electronic communication, scientific
  events and publications, as well as through
  exchange of people. This comes sometime in
  contradiction with the famous IPR (intellectual
  property rights). In many cases, the
  organisational culture does not favour strong
  interactions, such as should be participation to
  the FP 6 networks of excellence which aims at
  creating new virtual institutions with
  participants from various countries.

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Networks are everywhere!

• Even in very well organised systems which are
  intended to control the information flow, the
  information which is crucial for people is
  circulating rapidly through an invisible,
  unofficial network of human connections. Ignoring
  this spontaneous networking may be sometimes a
  disaster for the management (things are not going
  according to the rules and instructions). In
  knowledge-based era ones has to pay attention to
  the bearers of knowledge, which are the people
  themselves.

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Existing, invisible networks

• In the broad sense, networking includes any
  system of connections for information/knowledge
  exchange. Even a traditional scientific
  publication provides such a networking between
  authors and readers. However, this is a very slow
  process, in sequences which take a lot of time
  and has a great chance to be interrupted. More
  efficient are the direct contacts taking place
  during scientific conferences, meetings etc.
  Notes a) American style conferences b) a new
  approach in some events organised by the European
  Commission.

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Contents

1. Networking
2. Networking in FP 6
3. Networking in ROMNET-ERA
4. A regional role
5. First results

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Establishing networks .

• The connexions have to be established rapidly, in
  order to prepare in time a common project or to
  develop some unexpected features of an existing
  one.
• A group preparing a proposal for FP 6 is also a
  network (a system of connexions between potential
  partners), in the broad sense of the world.

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Formalised networks

• The existence of formalised networks of
  organisations may give a certain stability and
  perspective to a system of connections. However,
  the internal (and external) connexions should
  also be extremely flexible, if necessary. E.g. in
  NoEs partners in and partners out.
• Apart from some difficulties in launching some
  NoEs, accompanied by the dissatisfaction of
  unsuccessful consortia, there are NoEs which are
  advancing very well.

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New instruments in FP6

• New instruments have promoted consortia with a
  larger number of organisations. One definition on
  ERA is a network of networks.
• It is argued that the multiplicity of connections
  is promoting an efficient multi-disciplinary
  research. These rapidly forming connections are
  also favouring the rapid development of science
  and technology.

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Synapses in the brain!

• An analogy the activity of the brain.
• Synapse a region where nerve impulses are
  transmitted across a small gap from an axon
  terminal to an adjacent structure, as another
  axon (Webster).
• The multiciplicity of synapses makes our brain
  such a powerful computing (and knowledge
  processing!) machine.

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Advanced computing

• Take also the power of parallel (and
  distributed!) computing. GRID type networks for
  high-performance computing sustained by the
  European Commission.

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Contents

1. Networking
2. Networking in FP 6
3. Networking in ROMNET-ERA
4. A regional role
5. First results

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Networking on priorities of FP6

• ROMNET-ERA should promote participation of
  Romanian high-quality centres of research in
  FP 6 in particular and in ERA in general.
• The networking will be done on priorities. Four
  networks are envisaged. One network does not
  correspond exactly to one priority.

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List of networks

• Four networks are envisaged at the beginning of
  the project. The tentative domains are
• micro and nanotechnologies (priorities 2 and 3)
• new materials and production processes (priority
  3)
• new materials and technologies for health
  (priority 1)
• technologies for food and security (priority 5)

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An umbrella network

• Some centres may participate to more than one
  network.
• This system will form a network of networks
  related to New materials and technologies, with
  a special emphasis on the applications related to
  the quality of life, with some common databases
  and synergies between their activities.
• See the nanoLINK initiative later.

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The objectives of these networks

• Collecting and disseminating information about
  the resources (competences and technical
  resources, e.g. equipments).
• Establishing contacts and facilitating common
  proposals, especially in European programmes
• Note The main actors in these networks should be
  the so-called research centres presented before.

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Methodology to implement the work package
activities, selection relevant to networking (1)

• The communication platform will be implemented.
  The data about public and private research
  organizations will be compiled from various
  sources and used to pursue these organizations to
  complete the databases.
• The information coming in (databases for
  registration) and information going out
  (distribution list, e-newsletter, and web pages)
  will be continuously monitoring in order to
  create a dynamic, self-generating structure.

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Methodology to implement the work package
activities, selection relevant to networking (2)

• The selection (screening) of high-quality
  research centres and their distribution on
  priorities will be performed by the Consultative
  Council. The process will be continuous, with the
  possibility to apply for re-evaluation.
• Networking for the four priorities will proceed
  to self-organization, with a board composed from
  the representatives of the most significant
  organizations in the field. Each priority network
  will have a web page accessed through the web
  portal of the project. All networks will be
  designed to interact between them and with
  networks from other ACC or MS, as well as with
  pan-European networks.

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Methodology to implement the work package
activities, selection relevant to networking (3)

• The networks organize contacts and meetings,
  bringing together researchers with similar or
  complementary interest, including foreign
  scientists. The catalyst will be the increased
  chance to participate to FP 6.
• Identification of SMEs using selected (best)
  sources of information and promoting registration
  of new actors. These SME should be also
  incorporated in networks, even if their main
  mission is not research.

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Methodology to implement the work package
activities, selection relevant to networking (4)

• One characteristic of this methodology is the
  central role of communication and
  self-organisation.
• The conventional means are complemented by new an
  innovative means of electronic communication,
  characteristic to the knowledge based society.
• Even the project management benefits from such
  techniques which improves its efficiency.

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Pilot network

• Apart from mobilising the actors in Romania, the
  project should promote extensive contacts with
  external partners. The last feature will be
  exemplified below.
• The first network, on micro and
  nanotechnologies should be a pilot network for
  the other three (may be also for others).

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Previous experience

• Here a experience at the national level exists,
  see the networks financed from MATNANTECH). Two
  of them, CENOBITE and NANOMATFAB are virtual
  centres of research, based on a network of
  centres of excellence (the model of NoEs from
  FP6). The first of them (inaugurated in 2002) was
  mentioned on Cordis (February 2003).

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Contents

1. Networking
2. Networking in FP 6
3. Networking in ROMNET-ERA
4. A regional role
5. First results

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Synergy with other projects

• Two other SSA will be important for their
  contribution to external connections.
• One of them is MINAEAST-NET (Micro and
  NAnotechnologies going EAST through NETworking)
  and is devoted to networking in Eastern Europe
  and it is coordinated by IMT-Bucharest. It will
  start at 1st of May 2004 and last for 24 months.

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NEXUS PLUS (1)

• Another SSA (financed by IST DG, micro and
  nanosystems) is called NEXUS Supporting IPs
  and NoEs, ensuring SME representation and
  introducing ACC partners (acronym NEXUS PLUS).
• NEXUS is the biggest network in microsystems and
  nanotechnologies, based in Europe (Grenoble,
  France).

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NEXUS PLUS (2)

• The NEXUSPLUS project will maximise the
  exploitation potential of technologies, processes
  and products that are developed in both IST and
  NMP Integrated Projects (IPs) and Networks of
  Excellence (NoE) in the area of Micro and
  nanosystems. It will also identify potential SMEs
  and Associated Candidate Countries (ACC) partners
  and provide entry points for them to join
  existing and future IPs and NoE. The project will
  last for four years (2004-2007). The project is
  coordinated by NEXUS. LETI (Grenoble, France) is
  the contractor. The bulk of the work will be done
  by subcontractors.

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NEXUS PLUS (3)

• Recently, IMT-Bucharest was selected as a
  subcontractor in NEXUS PLUS. IMT will cover again
  the Eastern Europe, promoting the participation
  of research centres, as well as SMEs in NoEs and
  IPs from candidate countries and (since 1st of
  May 2004) new member states of EU.
• On 14-15 May 2004, in Brussels, NEXUS will
  organise presentations of existing NoEs and IPs,
  to facilitate contacts with possible new partners
• EURONET presentation of NoEs for the first time,
  in Sinaia, Romania (Sept. 2003)

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IMT in other networks in FP6

• Participation of IMT in a number of other
  networks from FP 6 is also important. In the
  PATENT NoE, for example, IMT has special
  responsibilities related to ACC countries.

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Contents

1. Networking
2. Networking in FP 6
3. Networking in ROMNET-ERA
4. A regional role
5. First results

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ROMNET-NANO

• Results in ROMNET-ERA (networking, databases).
• A national network in nanosciences and
  nanotechnologies (27th of January, 2004)
• Partner matching in FP 6, NMP call from December
  2003
• Statistics related to the interest /resources of
  54 Romanian research centres

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NMP (nanotechnology, materials, production)
priority in PC6 domains 1. Nanotechnologies
and nanosciences 2. Knowledge-based
Multifunctional Materials 3. New Production
Processes and Devices 4. Integration of
nanotechnologies, new materials, and new
production technologies
Total number of centres
54
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• NMP (nanotechnology, materials, production)
  priority in PC6 Nanotechnologies and
  nanosciences (competence/ resources)
• Long-term interdisciplinary research into
  understanding phenomena, mastering processes and
  developing research tools
• Nano-biotechnologies
• Nanometre-scale engineering techniques to create
  materials and components
• Development of handling and control devices and
  instruments
• Applications in areas such as health and medical
  systems, chemistry, energy, optics, food and the
  environment

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• NMP (nanotechnology, materials, production)
  priority in PC6 Nanotechnologies and
  nanosciences (proposal/ interest)
• Long-term interdisciplinary research into
  understanding phenomena, mastering processes and
  developing research tools
• Nano-biotechnologies
• Nanometre-scale engineering techniques to create
  materials and components
• Development of handling and control devices and
  instruments
• Applications in areas such as health and medical
  systems, chemistry, energy, optics, food and the
  environment

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Other priorities?

• The nanoLINK initiative a network of networks
  related to New materials and technologies, with
  a special emphasis on the applications related to
  the quality of life,
• nanoLINK is an umbrella for a number of
  projects/networks

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Appreciation .

• IMT was prised as a pioneer of integration
  in ERA in Eastern Europe
• Commissioner for Research
• Philippe Busquin
• 6th of February, 2004