French National NCP System for the Seventh Framework Programme Progress & prospect by Paul JAMET

1. French National NCP System for the Seventh Framework Programme Progress & prospect by Paul JAMET French NCP National Co-ordinator paul.jamet@recherche.gouv.fr http://eurosfaire.prd.fr

2. CONTENT: • Basics: facts and figures • The work of FP7 NCPs • Management and funding • Organisations & people involved in providing services • The French information service on European Research • Main issues • Conclusion

3. Basics: facts and figures • No National(common)structure such as in AT, IL, … • Adispersed systembringing togetherMajor Research Institutions, mainly public and financed by MESR (Ministry of Higher Education and Research) • NCP systemmanaged by MESR– Office for European Affairs • A common websitefed both by MESR and NCPs

4. The work of French NCPs (1) EoI: expression of interest – August 2006 for setting up the French NCP system for FP7 • Basic services as set out in “Guiding Principles” – such as spreading information, website, phone/fax/e-mail helpdesk, seminars, workshops, one-to-one consulting, feedback to DG Research, Exchanging information with and signposting clients to EEN etc. • Personalised support to researchers preparing proposals and contracts;

5. And: Advises to MESR and other Ministries on FP7 matters: close relationships with National representatives to PC, follow up and feedback on the calls, rough statistical analysis after a call, etc. Support during project (particularly legal and financial NCPs) Links with other European business support networks (EEN, IPR helpdesk) to be developed Links between NCPs participating to the same CSA The work of French NCPs (2)

6. Management and funding • Who manages the NCP system as a whole? • Ministry of Higher Education and Research • General Directorate for Research and Innovation • Strategy Directorate - Office for European Affairs • Who finances the provision of support services Ministry of Higher Education and Research • Lump sum, additional costs • Host organisations (salaries, overheads) • No charge for the support provided

7. Organisations & people involved in providing services • Major Research Institutions : • Research institutes • Universities • Agencies • Associations • 100 persons or so involved; not including those working only for their Institutions, for Regional authorities, … Only 69 of them in CORDIS database.

8. Office liaison in Brussels • CLORA is the common liaison office for Major Research Institutions in Brussels, etc. • Members:44 research organisations (mostly public) and French universities interested in EU programmes. 11 members have permanent representatives in Brussels - Several Regions are members • CLORA is a member of IGLO • Activities: • Provides information (notes and brief notes) and advice (Web site: www.clora.net), partner search via IGLO, assistance, etc. • Organises meetings in Brussels on a monthly basis • Offers facilities in Brussels (meeting rooms, librairy, etc.) •  Hosts one NCPs: ERC

9. French NCP system • Reflects the diversityof the French structure research system, the French NCP system is a “dispersed system” with: • 21 consortia bringing together the main actors of the domain ; • The French NCP system is managed and partly funded by the MESR (Ministry of Higher Education and Research) • a common website for communication and storage of information

10. The French information service on European Research(1) • Objectives : • Gate towards useful web sites (EUROPA, CORDIS) • Common web site of the French NCPs and MESR URL :http://eurosfaire.prd.fr EUROSFAIRE is a main source of information in French on the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7)

11. The French information service on European Research (2) 21 web sites • One per NCP (NCPs have their own autonomy inside a common web site) • Databases(MySQL) • News Dynamic web pages 27 Flux RSS • General Library • Specific Library for NCPs  Dynamic web pages • Calls (still under construction)  Timechart

12. News service on • News: • News service covers all European related research developments • Central information platform for news, mainly written by NCPs but also by MESR – European Affairs Office (Re-Publication licence signed with CORDIS) • Six headings: • General news • Calls (New calls, information on calls) • Events (infodays, at Regional, National and International level) • National Thematic Groups (One per Thematic Priority) • Partner search • Regions

13.  Frontpage Environment NCP website 

14. More and more Regional support systems Some examples – Several Regions concerned Regional authorities: • Other Regional support systems: • CCI/CRCI • OSEO(with other partners) • Miscellaneous (Agropolis) ARI’s: Regional agencies for innovation (Region, OSEO, MESR)

15. French reflection seminar in Toulouse - November 2005 SWOT analysis (1) • Strengths: • Main public research institutions involved • Coordination and Visibility • Relationships with National Representatives • Weaknesses: • A dispersed system (several Institutions; geographical location) • Weak relationships with private sector

16. French reflection seminar in Toulouse - November 2005 SWOT analysis (2) • Opportunities: • NCPs’ SCA; partner search, exchange of good practices • Relays in Regions • FP7: 7 years • Threats: • Need to be more professional • Weak relationships with EC

17. Main issues What at stakes? • NCP’s are actors in: • Building the ERA – Deeply involved in scientific cooperation • Communicating EU research and science • Participating in the change of paradigm in producing and managing knowledge • Involving end-users and stakeholders Think Regional/National, Act European

18. Conclusion (1) • NCPs more and more visible in the French research landscape • Website: a common tool to communicate and also to manage the network • The European Research & Innovation Exhibition in Paris: an opportunity for NCPs to take the floor to present EU programmes to visitors, not only to researchers or SMEs

19. Conclusion (2) • But: • NCPs are not only info multipliers • NCPs need to be more professional: how totransform activities into competencies ? Such as project management! Communicating science! • What is the added-value of NCPs activities?

20. Some thoughts How to foster Austrian-French cooperation in FP7? • 1 - Regular exchange of information • Lists of main/key contacts both in Austria and France • Partner searches published on our websites • Announcements during the infodays organised by MESR and NCPs • Etc. Any additional idea? 2 - Participation of Austrian NCPs to the SERI - European Research and Innovation Exhibition in Paris (June 3rd - 5th, 2008): • Presentations of several domains of FP7 (Austrian & French NCPs) • Conferences with Austrian & French scientists on topics of mutual interest (Success stories?) • More ideas?